NOTE--Meeting Location  
Cleveland Park Library 
2nd Floor Meeting Room 
3310 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 
(map) 

Panelists: 
Jina Etienne, CPA, Etienne & Associates, LLC 
Geoff Galster, American Express Financial Advisors 
Bob Greene, Berthoud/Greene Consultants LLC 
Taren Coleman, West Financial Group      

Description: 

Insurance, investments, lifestyle, taxes, retirement planning--we're faced with many options but often lack at least some of the information we need to make wise selections. Because the choices we make impact our other options, and everything affects taxes, informed decisionmaking is even harder. To help with the financial conundrums we all face, we've brought together a team of experts to give us information we can use now, as the year 2004 draws to a close. Using this information we will be better prepared to evaluate where we are and to create a plan that can help speed us toward our goals. 

The presentations of the panelists will be followed by a question and answer session, so gather your concerns and questions and join us this Saturday at 12:30 pm. 

Panelists:   

Jina Etienne, CPA, has 15 years of public accounting experience. She began her career with Deloitte & Touche, where her focus was tax planning and compliance for corporations, partnerships, and S corporations ranging from government contractors and vending companies to hospitality and retail firms. When she left Deloitte & Touche, her focus shifted to the needs of small- and medium-sized businesses. 

With her own practice, Jina Etienne provides a wide range of accounting services for businesses and individuals, including tax planning and preparation, and business consulting. Her client base is diverse, including retail and service-based businesses as well as consultants and contractors. For individuals, her services generally include tax return preparation and tax planning, including tax research and representation before IRS.  

Ms. Etienne earned an M.S. in taxation in 1993 and a B.S.B.A. in accounting in 1989 from American University. Jina has also taught accounting as an adjunct professor at American University and currently teaches QuickBooks at local accounting seminars and conferences. 

Geoff Galster is an associate financial advisor with American Express Financial Advisors. He offers his individual and small business clients comprehensive financial planning via a wide variety of investment tools, insurance products, and solutions tailored to each client's specific needs and goals. His client-centric practice focuses on education (financial literacy), empowerment, and community building throughout the metropolitan Washington, DC, area. 

Geoff holds a bachelor's degree in political science from Kalamazoo College and a master's in international relations from American University. 
 
Bob Greene is a Managing Member of Berthoud/Greene Consultants LLC, an organization development consulting firm in the Washington, DC, area. As a  leadership coach and consultant, he helps local and national clients set  priorities, consider possibilities, make plans, and achieve their goals. Bob has been a consultant for 9 years and is qualified to administer the Myers-Briggs Type Inventory (MBTI). 

Bob Greene earned his master's degree in program planning and evaluation from Cornell University. His company's Web site is www.bgcllc.net. 

Taren Coleman is a Financial Advisor with West Financial Group, an agency of the MassMutual Financial Group. Taren has worked in the financial services industry for 10 years and began offering personal financial planning in 2001. Specializing in retirement planning and insurance planning for business owners and professionals, Taren maintains securities licenses (series 7, 65, and 63) and life/health licenses in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC. Taren is also an investment advisor representative of MML Investors Services, Inc. 

West Financial Group is a diversified financial services organization providing insurance protection products and financial products and services for individuals, businesses, and employees. Previous professional experiences include AXA Advisors, LLC; The Nasdaq Stock Market, and the IBM Corporation. 

Taren Coleman is a graduate of Rutgers University with a B.S. in Accounting. 

Agenda 

12:30  pm	Check-In   Refreshments (pizzas, salads, soft drinks)
1:00 pm	Welcome & Announcements
1:10 pm	Panelists 1 and 2
1:55 pm	Break
2:05 pm	Panelists 3 and 4
2:50 pm	Q&A
3:05 pm	Closing announcements
3:10 pm	Informal queries, conversation, networking

Presentation Description | Speaker Information | Meeting Agenda | Location  | Sponsors | Registration 

Location: One-half block south of the Cineplex Odeon Uptown movie theatre on Connecticut Avenue, NW, Washington, DC. (There are many restaurants suitable for pre- or post-meeting gathering/networking/refreshment in the block north of the library.) 

Parking: Very small lot, off Macomb St., to left of library. 

Metrorail--Cleveland Park Station on the Red Line (on Connecticut Avenue, just 1.5 blocks north of meeting site)