The Father of Life Planning
Author, international thought leader, and life-planning pioneer George Kinder has been at the forefront of the financial services industry for more than 35 years, spearheading a movement to put the lives that clients desire to live at the center of their financial plans. Through books, workshops, and speaking engagements, George has trained thousands of professionals globally in the field of financial life planning. After 30 years as a practicing financial planner and tax adviser, he founded the Kinder Institute of Life Planning in 2003. His three books on money, The Seven Stages of Money Maturity (1999), Lighting the Torch (2006), and Life Planning for You (2014), are considered foundational and essential works in the field of financial life planning, for both professionals and consumers.
George’s client-centered and values-driven money-management philosophies challenge many unexamined assumptions in economics, our approaches to democracy, and our knowledge of our own hearts. He is known for his dynamic presentation skills and “outside-the box” thinking, and inspires audiences everywhere to discover, design, and deliver their greatest values into their lives.
A graduate of Harvard University, George earned the Bronze Medal in Massachusetts on the National Uniform Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam in 1975 and soon after started his own tax practice in Cambridge, MA. In 1994, he co-founded “The Nazrudin Project,” an influential think tank of national financial advisers dedicated to exploring the human and spiritual aspects of money and personal finance. In 2000, Investment Advisor Magazine awarded him its Portfolio Management Award, which is given to those who have “contributed significantly to the art and science of portfolio management.”
A mindfulness teacher and artist, George’s thought leadership extends beyond finance as reflected in his books of poetry and photography, as well as books on mindfulness and civilization. He has taught mindfulness for 35 years, now to a global community. To learn more about George’s creative projects, visit www.georgekinder.com. George resides in Massachusetts and spends several months per year in London and in Hana, Hawaii.
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George's many accomplishments include:
- Financial Planning Association’s first Heart of Financial Planning Award in 2006, recognizing “individuals who demonstrate commitment and passion in doing extraordinary work to contribute or give back to the financial planning community and/or the public.”
- The Transparency Task Force’s Transparency Trophy (2017), recognizing his role in “helping to navigate the industry towards a more transparent, competitive and enlightened state.“
- “One of 20 People Who Shaped the Financial Planning Industry” (“50th Anniversary of Financial Planning” Special Edition, InvestmentNews, 2019).
George has appeared on many radio and television programs, and his expertise has been featured in FP Today, The Financial Times, Forbes, InvestmentNews, The Journal of Financial Planning, New Model Adviser, The New York Times, Time Magazine, and The Wall Street Journal.
