Gary L. Brown, owner of Patriot Financial Group in Barnegat and Toms River townships, recently received Certified Financial Planner status. Brown specializes in helping families, individuals and small business owners in the areas of retirement planning, college planning and insurance. 

Brown said the CFP designation identifies those individuals who have met the rigorous experience and ethical requirements of the CFP Board, have successfully completed financial planning course work and have passed the CFP certification examination covering the following areas: the financial planning process, risk management, investments, tax planning and management, retirement and employee benefits, and estate planning.

He said CFP professionals also agree to meet ongoing continuing education requirements and to uphold the CFP Board’s code of ethics and professional responsibility, rules of conduct and financial planning practice standards.