Richard L. Ward
CPA/PFS, CFP®
Richard Leon Ward, CPA/PFS, CFP® believes there's more to personal financial planning than analyzing numbers on a balance sheet through a standardized process. Every client is different and should be treated as such. His practice puts an emphasis on two things, personal client service combined with long-term financial planning. As the CPA Financial Planner and Wealth Advisor for Capital Configuration, Richard takes the time to understand clients' personal and professional goals, their needs, and overall relationship expectations.
Richard is responsible for monitoring the financial health of his clients and providing timely updates to their financial plans. To effectively monitor a client's financial well-being, he must practice good listening skills and attention to detail as he obtains a firm grasp on their life passions and goals. It is Richard's job to initiate productive conversations where he can utilize his Personal Financial Specialist (PFS) credential to provide the powerful combination of extensive tax expertise and comprehensive knowledge of financial planning to the unique emotional elements of a client's life.
Richard began his career working for KPMG LLP, a Big Four Accounting Firm, in Washington, D.C. During his time at KPMG he was one of a few new hires specially selected to attend and represent KPMG USA at the 2008 Global Audit Training in Athens, Greece along with new hires from 12 other countries. Richard worked for Morgan Stanley Wealth Management for 2 years before pursuing the opportunity to provide his clients with more value-added services and establishing Capital Configuration, LLC in July of 2014.
Richard earned the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) designation in 2011. In addition to his CPA, Richard earned the designation of Personal Financial Specialist in December 2018 after completing the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) examination and obtaining the designation in November 2018, illustrating his commitment to education.
A Pennsylvania native, Richard is the first in his family to graduate from college. He is a proud alumnus of Penn State University, where he graduated from the Smeal College of Business with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting. He is an active life member in the Penn State Alumni Association. Richard is also an active member in both the American (AICPA) and Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA). He formerly served as an inaugural Board Member for the PA CPA Foundation as well as a Board Member for the PICPA. Richard is currently a new member of the AICPA's National CPA Financial Literacy Commission and Vice President of the PICPA Greater Pittsburgh Chapter.
Over the years Richard has been acknowledged for Five Star Wealth Manager and PICPA Young Leader awards. He was recognized in 2015 as one of Pittsburgh's 50 Finest by Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Richard is a graduate of AICPA's Leadership Academy Class of 2016 and the recent recipient of AICPA's 2019 P. Thomas Austin Scholarship.
During his free time, Richard enjoys traveling, golfing, and spending time with family and friends.
The difference between a dream and a goal, is having a Plan!
For any questions please call us at (412) 532-8111 x103