Serving the Fort Worth, Dallas Area For More Than 40 Years

Education Planning

College costs are a growing concern for many future students, with tuition and room and board rates increasing steadily each year. Many of our clients have a desire to partially or completely cover the future college costs of their children, grandchildren, or other loved ones.

 
Fortunately, the government offers two tax-advantaged Section 529 college savings plans that we can help clients navigate and, if applicable, manage. Turn to us at Diesslin Group, Inc. for excellent education planning.

Prepaid Tuition Plans

Prepaid tuition plans are purchased at a certain cost and provide guaranteed coverage for a certain amount of future tuition rates at in-state colleges (and can be applied to private or out-of-state public universities at an established “exchange” rate). These plans offer a hedge against future tuition costs.

College Savings Plans

College savings plans are investment accounts that clients can contribute to and are designed to be used for post-secondary education costs. Contributions are tax-deferred and avoid taxation entirely if they are used for qualified education expenses, which include tuition, as well as room and board for full-time students, and several other approved costs.

How We Can Help

For clients interested in prepaid tuition plans, we can assist in deciding whether this is an effective solution for their needs and provide guidance and advice as necessary in establishing the plan and incorporating it into their long-term financial plan.

For clients who establish college savings plans, we can assist with selecting the specific plan (there are many plans that states make available to non-state residents), as well as providing investment selection guidance.

Graduation Cap Thrown in the Air

Education Plans Based on Your Needs

College savings plans typically offer a limited range of mutual fund or index investment choices, and we can assist in allocating investment selections to best reflect the rest of the client’s portfolio. We provide portfolio statements that incorporate the client’s college savings plans and manage portfolio allocations based on the client’s total portfolio, including college savings plans.

We also offer analyses and guidance on anticipated future college costs and help clients develop an appropriate education contribution strategy while ensuring their own portfolio will continue to meet their needs. We can also help clients build education savings strategies beyond college savings plans, including the use of Trusts and Coverdell Education Savings Accounts.

Meggan Jamison

Meggan Jamison

Compliance Associate

Meggan M. Jamison is a Compliance Associate and works with the Chief Compliance Officer in overseeing the firm’s compliance policies and procedures. She holds a BBA degree in finance from Texas Christian University and an MBA from Oklahoma City University. Meggan joined Diesslin Group, Inc. in February 2010. Prior to joining the firm, she spent 10 years in the banking industry.

Natalie Georgen

Natalie Georgen

Financial Planning Associate

Natalie M. Georgen is a Financial Planning Associate at Diesslin Group, Inc. She received her BBA in risk, insurance, and financial services from the University of North Texas and plans to sit for the CFP. She joined Diesslin Group, Inc. in 2022.

Edie C. Peplinski

Edie C. Peplinski

Senior Executive Assistant

Edie C. Peplinski is the Senior Executive Assistant to David Diesslin. Her responsibilities include time management and scheduling, arranging travel, coordinating and scheduling meetings, overseeing event planning, and assisting with office and administrative responsibilities at the firm.

Edie has over 40 years of experience in executive-level administrative and personal assistant positions and previously worked for the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra Association. Edie attended Tarrant County College and has worked at Diesslin Group, Inc. since 2003.

Stephanie A. Dacanay

Stephanie A. Dacanay

Client Services Associate

Stephanie A. Dacanay is a Client Services Associate at Diesslin Group, Inc. She has many responsibilities, including scheduling meetings, corresponding with clients, providing administrative assistance, and planning team events. She joined Diesslin Group, Inc. in 2021.

Tristyn L. Williams

Tristyn L. Williams

Asset Management Associate

Tristyn L. Williams is an Asset Management Associate at Diesslin Group, Inc. Tristyn received a BS in Agricultural economics from Texas A&M University and planned to sit for the CFP exam in November 2022. He joined Diesslin Group, Inc. in 2021.

Luke Hockett, MBA

Luke Hockett, MBA

Portfolio Manager

Luke Hockett is a Portfolio Manager at Diesslin Group, Inc. He conducts investment and risk-return analysis, performance measurement, diagnostic procedures, and asset allocation for client portfolios.

Luke received his BBA in entrepreneurial management from Texas Christian University in 2014 and his MBA in finance from Dallas Baptist University in 2020. He previously worked at Diesslin Group, Inc. from 2014 to 2019 and left to join the Hedge Fund Operations team at IQEQ before rejoining Diesslin Group, Inc. in 2022.

Olivia F. Partin

Olivia F. Partin, CFP®

Financial Planner

Olivia F. Partin is a Financial Planner at Diesslin Group, Inc. and assists with various client and firm projects. Olivia received her BS in Interdisciplinary Studies from Texas A&M University. She also holds her AAMS® and FPQP certifications and CFP certifications. She joined the firm in 2021.

Angela L. Woodson

Angela L. Woodson

Client Services Associate

Angela L. Woodson is a Client Services Associate at Diesslin Group, Inc. She assists with servicing client requests and ongoing account administration. Angela received a BS in counseling education from the University of North Texas. She joined the Diesslin Group, Inc. team in 2019.

Mark M. Michel, CFA, MBA

Mark M. Michel, CFA, MBA

Chief Investment Officer and Portfolio Manager

Mark M. Michel, CFA, MBA, is Diesslin Group, Inc.’s Chief Investment Officer and Portfolio Manager. He conducts investment analysis, risk-return analysis, performance management, and asset allocation for client portfolios. Mark is also involved in the analysis of the firm’s alternative investments.

Prior to joining Diesslin Group, Inc. in 2021, Mark worked as an Associate Portfolio Manager for American Beacon Advisors and a Senior Portfolio Analyst at JPMorgan. Before entering the financial services industry, he served in the U.S. Army and was deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan.

Mark received an MBA from Southern Methodist University and a BS in mechanical engineering from Pennsylvania State University. He is a CFA charter holder and a member of both the CFA Institute and the CFA Society of Dallas-Fort Worth.

Sherry L. Redden, FPQP™

Sherry L. Redden, FPQP™

Client Services Director

Sherry L. Redden, FPQP, is Diesslin Group, Inc.’s Client Services Director. She has numerous responsibilities—some of which include serving as a client liaison and financial planning associate—and helps ensure each division of the firm functions successfully.

In addition to being a certified paraplanner, Sherry has over 20 years of professional experience as an executive assistant and outside sales representative. She joined Diesslin Group, Inc. in 2012.

Scott B. Reasor

Scott B. Reasor

Relationship Manager and Senior Portfolio Manager

Scott B. Reasor is a Relationship Manager and Senior Portfolio Manager at Diesslin Group, Inc. He conducts investment and risk-return analysis, performance measurement, diagnostic procedures, and asset allocation for client portfolios. Scott also serves as an advocate and primary point of contact for clients, maintaining ongoing communication with them while monitoring and executing projects to help them meet their financial goals.

Scott received a BBA in finance from the University of Texas at Arlington and has been with Diesslin Group, Inc. since 2004.

Shawn L. Gray

Shawn L. Gray

Principal, Chief Compliance Officer, and Chief Technology Officer

Shawn L. Gray is Diesslin Group, Inc.’s Chief Compliance Officer and Chief Information Security Officer, as well as a principal of the firm. Shawn manages the firm’s computing, networking, and programming solutions. He also develops retirement and cash flow projections and models stock options for clients.

He received a BBA in finance from the University of Texas at Arlington and worked in the banking industry prior to joining Diesslin Group, Inc. in 1992.

Norman R. (“Rocky”) Farr, CFP, EA, ATA

Norman R. (“Rocky”) Farr, CFP, EA, ATA

Principal, Managing Director, and Relationship Manager

Norman R. “Rocky” Farr, CFP, EA, ATA, is Diesslin Group, Inc.’s Managing Director as well as Relationship Manager and principal of the firm. Rocky oversees the firm’s daily operations and coordinates the efforts of the financial planning, client services, and asset management divisions. He specializes in estate and tax planning.

Rocky has held his certified financial planner mark since 1982. He also holds an Enrolled Agent license from the Internal Revenue Service and an Accredited Tax Advisor license from the Council for Accounting and Taxation. Rocky joined Diesslin Group, Inc. in 1992. Prior to moving to Texas, he played hockey professionally.

David H. Diesslin, CFP®, MBA

David H. Diesslin, CFP®, MBA

Founder

David H. Diesslin, is the founder of Diesslin Group, Inc. Dave founded the firm as Diesslin & Associates, Inc. in 1980 and has provided fee-only financial planning and investment management ever since.

He has been honored for his work as a financial advisor in Worth, Medical Economics, Fort Worth Inc., and Money magazines, and has been endorsed by the Consumers’ Research Council of America as one of “America’s Top Financial Planners.”

Throughout his professional life, Dave has worked diligently to promote and advance the financial planning profession both nationally and internationally. In addition, he has served as a chairman of the Board of Governors on the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards as well as chairman and president of the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA).

Dave received an MBA from the University of Dallas and a BS in Business Management from Indiana University. He has held his CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ mark since 1983. Prior to entering the financial planning profession, Dave served as First Lieutenant for the U.S. Army Signal Corps.