“I always enjoyed finance,” says Patrick McGinnis, professional consultant for the Kukla/Schick Team. “I like the numbers aspect. But financial planning is really about helping people accomplish their goals, and that is certainly a more satisfying part of my work.” Patrick has more than eight years of experience in the financial industry. He joined Moneta Group in 2001.

As a Family CFO, Patrick’s strengths lie in his ability to be analytical. “I am able to take complex situations, analyze them and then put them into a simple format so clients can understand their options. The most important thing we do is help clients achieve their goals, and we do that not only through the technical details of each plan, but also by preparing them for the inevitable ‘bumps along the road.’ The interaction with clients is what makes each day interesting and rewarding.”

A seasoned consultant—and one of the youngest holders of the Chartered Financial Analyst designation—Patrick is still honing his Family CFO skills. “If it was only about numbers, most people wouldn’t need the kind of services we provide,” he says. “But the answers aren’t always yes-or-no for clients. When it comes to decisions about issues like estate planning, retirement plans, family issues—things are rarely clear cut. I know that having technical expertise is important,” he says, “but even more critical is the ability to understand each client’s values and dreams. That’s really the job of a Family CFO.”

Patrick and his wife, Emily, are the parents of a son, Liam.