Catherine Barbier has worked in the financial services industry, as a full time consultant, since 1998, and started working part-time with her father's CPA firm in 1994, where she learned how to shelter income, preserve assets, minimize taxes and plan for her own retirement. It was there she noticed, while increasing her knowledge, she wanted to share this information and help others in her community. She became registered shortly thereafter, and has continued to help those in need of sound advise, for 19 years.

 

Catherine began her career after graduating Mercy College, working in the marketing and product development arena. As a product development manager, within the protective clothing arena, she was responsible for developing high-tech, domestically manufactured, U.S. Government contracted items for the Army, Navy, as well as fire service and EMS workers. Through industry attrition and a decrease in demand for domestically manufactured goods, in the late 1980's, Catherine focused on planning for her own retirement, without having to depend on corporate pensions or future Social Security income.

 

She began the process of transition from product development to the financial services industry and became registered in 1998, as a representative of Met Life. She then worked as a Financial Consultant at various banks such as First Union, Wachovia, Sovereign, Independence Community, PNC and Lakeland Bank. Catherine has provided sound financial guidance, through the planning process, for clients in retirement, education and estate planning and preservation. Working in conjunction with estate planning attorneys and CPAs, Catherine provides an all-encompassing individualized approach in designing custom strategies to address her client's needs.

 

As an experienced, trusted advisor, Catherine is very active within special needs communities, where she is a resource for families who need specialized financial guidance, strategies and legacy planning. She resides in Ringwood, with her husband of 25 years, and is parishioner of St. Catherine of Bologna Church. She is also an American Heart Association neighboorhood volunteer, a member of the Ringwood Garden Club and a community volunteer for special needs related projects.