Andrew S. Barninger, Andrew S. Barninger, CFP®, CDFA®, CEPA®

Andrew S. Barninger
Andrew S. Barninger


Beyond the dollars and cents, financial planning is about establishing a platform upon which clients can make informed and disciplined decisions. My role in this process is to facilitate discussions that allow our clients to think critically about how to better position themselves and their families for long-term success and protect what they have built along the way.

— Andrew S. Barninger

Andrew is passionate about helping our clients think critically about their objectives. Who and what is most important to them? How do they want to spend their time? How do they accomplish short-term goals without jeopardizing their future? He believes that a financial plan aimed at specific goals is essential to the long-term success of his clients.

Andrew’s areas of focus include

  • Helping pre-retirees plan for a smooth transition into retirement
  • Income planning and investment strategies for retirees
  • Business transition planning for business owners
  • Divorce settlement and post-divorce financial planning

Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Arts in Finance, Economics, and Accounting from Mercyhurst University
  • CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER certification
  • Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA®) Certification
  • Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA®) Certification
  • FINRA Series 7, 63 and 65

Personal

  • Andrew enjoys providing financial education sessions for local associations and businesses.
  • He and his wife, Leah, have been married since 2017 and spend time traveling, hiking and exploring downtown Lancaster.
  • An avid golfer, Andrew also enjoys camping and training for endurance sports.

What do you enjoy most about financial planning?

Quite often, I will meet with a client who is feeling uncertain about a financial situation and looking for answers. I enjoy when our clients leave the meeting feeling informed, empowered and confident that they can make wise decisions. Our role as advisors is to provide clarity and guidance so that our clients can do just that, and few things make me happier than being part of that relationship.

What’s the biggest challenge?

We all know that our current financial system is overly complex. Some examples are the 80,000 pages that make up our nation’s tax code and the over 500 claiming options for Social Security. It is a major challenge to keep up with the current rules and laws, as well as stay on top of all the changes.

What would you be doing if you weren’t at PWA?

I am very passionate about maintaining a healthy lifestyle and being active. We have a major issue in our country where people believe that being healthy or losing weight requires a major effort or secret system. If I weren’t at PWA, I know I would be helping people to work toward a healthy and happy lifestyle through simple diet changes and exercise. Those two things can make a world of difference for most people, and providing that kind of help would be very rewarding.

What do you do for fun?

From my previous answer, it’s obvious that I enjoy exercising. For me, that means anything other than distance running. I rarely turn down a round of golf or a fishing trip and will make time to play tennis as much as possible.