BETHESDA, Md.—August 3, 2022—Divergent Planning is proud to announce that Lead Advisor Karly Holland, CFP®, has achieved the Certified Tax Specialist™ (CTS™) designation. With the designation, Holland demonstrates her mastery of personal income taxes and methods to reduce tax liability.
“I am thrilled to be awarded this credential, as it expands on my expertise in helping clients reduce their tax burden,” Holland said. “Our goal at Divergent Planning is to help clients become financially independent. Paying less in taxes certainly works toward that end.”
Divergent Planning is a fee-only, fiduciary Registered Investment Advisor headquartered in Bethesda, MD. It serves DC area professionals, including midcareer professionals, pre-retirees and retirees, and federal employees.
The Institute of Business & Finance (IBF), a San Diego-based nonprofit provider of financial education and designations to financial services professionals, awarded the CTS™ designation to Holland after she completed 135-plus hours of education.
The IBF reports that the graduate-level designation is the only nationally recognized tax designation. It requires mastery of the basic income tax formula and its computation, retirement plans, deductions, credits, capital gains, depreciation, payroll taxes, and tax planning.
“No one likes to talk about taxes,” the IBF reported in announcing Holland’s achievement. “Most people are intimidated by the subject matter. Yet tax reduction can be surprisingly easy.”
As a CTS™ designee, Holland passed two comprehensive exams, completed a written case study, and agreed to adhere to the IBF Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice as well as the fulfillment of annual continuing-education requirements.
In addition to the CTS™ designation, Holland has the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®) designation. As Lead Advisor at Divergent Planning, she helps prepare comprehensive financial plans, including tax planning and tax review, to help clients achieve their goals. She graduated magna cum laude from the University of Georgia with a Bachelor of Science in financial planning.
About Divergent Planning
Divergent Planning is a fee-only Registered Investment Advisor in Bethesda, MD, helping clients feel confident that they are on the right path to financial independence. The firm specializes in providing financial planning, investment management, and tax planning to mid-career professionals, pre-retirees and retirees, and federal government employees. For more information, visit divergentplanning.com.
About the Institute of Business & Finance
Founded in 1988, IBF is a non-profit provider of financial education and designations to members of the financial services industry. IBF is the fourth oldest provider of financial certification marks in the United States. In 1988, IBF launched its first certification program, CFS® (Certified Fund Specialist®). Today IBF offers six additional financial designation programs: CAS® (Certified Annuity Specialist®), CES™ (Certified Estate and Trust Specialist™), CIS™ (Certified Income Specialist™), CTS™ (Certified Tax Specialist™), CSS™ (Certified Social Security Specialist™), and CDS™ (Certified Divorce Specialist™).