Reid Johnson

President

Reid@theplanninggroup.com

Reid S. Johnson is a noted authority, author, consultant, and lecturer.  For the past 37 years, he has advised individuals throughout the country in the areas of investment, tax, retirement, insurance, and estate strategies.  He is a contributing author of the seven estate and financial planning books: Wealth Enhancement Preservation - Practical Answers from America’s Experts; Ways and Means; Maximize the Value of Your Retirement Savings; 21st Century Wealth – Essential Financial Planning Principals; Strictly Business – Planning Strategies for Privately Owned Businesses; Giving – Philanthropy for Everyone;  Love, Money, Control; and Living & Learning – Achieve Retirement and Education Security.

Reid is the President of The Planning Group of Scottsdale, LLC, a Wealth Management Firm, a Registered Investment Advisor with the SEC, and a partner/owner in four other financial/investment firms. He spent 10 years as a regional estate-planning specialist with the firms of Merrill Lynch (handling 9 offices) and EF Hutton/ Shearson/Solomon Smith Barney/Morgan Stanley(handling 16 offices).

In addition, Reid has been an adjunct faculty member of the College for Financial Planning (for their CFP courses), the American College (for their CLU & ChFC courses), as well as Parkland College where he designed and then later taught their first financial planning program for the public. He has served as an educational consultant for the National Center for Financial Education and has been a featured financial columnist for newspapers in Arizona and Illinois, as well as a noted speaker on KFNX weekly radio programs. Reid has spoken at various programs across the United States, including the advanced estate-planning program at Purdue University, the MDRT’s Top of the Table, as well as other national, state, and local groups . Reid is also the Chief Compliance Officer for the RIA firm Meridian United Capital, a member of FINRA.

Degrees and Professional Certifications

• MSFS Master of Science in Financial Services
American College, Bryn Mawr, PA
• MSM Master of Science in Management
American College, Bryn Mawr, PA
• CFP Certified Financial Planner
College for Financial Planning, Denver, CO
• CIMC/CIMA Certified Investment Management Consultant
Institue for Investment Management Consultants - Former
• Fellow of the Esperti Peterson Institute
The Global Center for Wealth Strategic Planning
• AEP Accredited Estate Planner
National Association of Estate Planners
• ChFC Chartered Financial Consultant
American College, Bryn Mawr, PA
• CLU Chartered Life Underwriter
American College, Bryn Mawr, PA
• CRPC Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor
College for Financial Planning, Denver, CO
• CAP Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy
American College, Bryn Mawr, PA
• CEBS Certified Employee Benefit Specialist
The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
• RFC Registered Financial Consultant
• RHU Registered Health Underwriter
National Association of Health Underwriters
• LUTC Life Insurance Training Consultant
National Association of Health Underwriters
• RFP Registered Financial Planner

Scott Christie

Senior Planning Consultant

scott@theplanninggroup.com

Scott has worked in the financial services industry for 27 years.  After graduating from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota, he spent the next 20 years working with his father at their firm Life Designs Associates, Inc.   Scott was instrumental in developing the “Life Planning” strategy used by Life Designs in its primary market focus, the senior executive market, in the Minneapolis, St. Paul area.  Scott joined The Planning Group in 2001 and brings a wealth of experience and planning knowledge to the firm and its clients as a Senior Plan Advisor.

Scott holds several professional designations, including the American College’s CLU – Chartered Life Underwriter, and the ChFC Chartered Financial Consultant designations.  In addition, Scott is a registered representative with the NASD holding Series 6, 22, 63 and 66 licenses.