Get to know me...
I have been practicing financial planning for over a decade.
Tan Phan, MS Financial Planning 2016 and GGU adjunct instructor, has been named to InvestmentNews’ 40 Under 40 List by InvestmentNews.
Born in Vietnam, Tan and his family immigrated to the United States when he was five years old. In college, Tan took the advice of a college professor who suggested he become a financial advisor to help his mother and others like her make good financial choices. Tan did just that.
“My passion is to increase financial literacy within my community and help people accumulate and protect their wealth. I have been in this field for over a decade, built my own firm, and also teach FI 422 Retirement & Employee Benefits Planning at GGU. Education is very important to me and I want to thank GGU for getting me to this point in my life.”
I shared simple, actionable planning strategies for Bay Area families and how investors can respond to stock market uncertainty.
My key messages?
Use high volatility as an opportunity:
• Consider a Roth conversion, as qualified distributions from Roth accounts are tax-free
• Sell investments at a loss to realize capital losses, which can offset capital gains and up to $3,000 of earned income*
• Gift assets strategically to beneficiaries to reduce the taxable estate
• Rebalance our asset allocation to stay aligned with our long-term goals
• Stay invested because no one can predict the future
I also shared a powerful investing insight: If we invest consistently over 40 years, more than half of the final portfolio value comes from the first 10 years of investing. This principle holds true across different rates of return.
I had the opportunity to speak with the graduating class of Minerva University at UC Law San Francisco about personal finance and investing. More than just numbers, we talked about how to take control of your financial life from the start.
We started with credit. I walked them through the basics of credit scores, how to check their reports annually at www.AnnualCreditReport.com, how to be reactive with credit monitoring and credit alerts, or take proactive steps like a credit freeze or credit lock, and why building a strong credit foundation can open doors later in life. From there, we moved into investing. I introduced strategies professional financial planners use every day, like tax-efficient accumulation strategies, withdrawal planning, and account diversification. We discussed real-world formulas to help evaluate what to do with extra cash and how small decisions today can shape future outcomes. Many of these foundational strategies are available on my website at www.TanPhan.com for those looking to dive deeper.
My presentation slides were intentionally different because I wanted to show that things don't have to be perfect. Life doesn’t follow one path. Each of us moves forward at our own pace, and that’s more than okay. The key is to start. To stay curious. To be thoughtful with your choices and intentional with your goals.
Financial education is one of the most powerful tools we have. When we understand how money works, we make better decisions, feel less stress, and gain more freedom. That’s the message I hope stayed with them as they begin their next chapter and to see every decision as a step toward something meaningful.
Thank you Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory (SF) for inviting me as a guest speaker to present to their seniors on the importance of financial literacy. We always hear about how personal finance should be introduced and taught in high school and I’m happy to be a part of that initiative.
If we never ask, the answer is always no!
I was at City Hall and noticed a group of photographers doing a portfolio shoot with their models. I approached them and asked if I could model, explaining that I'd love to use the photos in my personal finance educational videos—and they said yes! A great reminder that opportunities often come simply by having the courage to ask.
In July 2018, I was invited to attend mayor Libby Schaaf’s re-election with community leaders to talk about how we are all working together to make a positive impact in Oakland by building more affording housing, solving the homeless challenge, programs to educate and support students so they can attend college, and how we can improve Oakland’s economy.
As the 2015 Co-chair of the Ambassadors Club for the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, I represented the organization by distributing awards at the Ebbies Gala to honor innovative business leaders and show appreciation to community organizers.
I am proud to volunteer at the Bay Area Rescue Mission.
San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee.
In 2014, my team and I went to the Vietnamese Community Center of San Francisco to give away backpacks with school supplies to promote young boys and girls to stay in school because I was a new comer from Vietnam at age 5 and experienced many of the same challenges that the kids face today.
RadioShack CEO, Joe Magnacca.
San Francisco Commissioner, Ms.Alexander.
Volunteering at the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank.
On June 19, 2015, I had the honor of participating in the Warriors parade and being chosen by Golden Gate University to represent the community. It was a great experience riding on the float, meeting politicians, the Warriors team, cheering on with the fans, and representing my hometown – Oakland. Congratulations to all!
52nd Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi.
San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee.
Right before Christmas in 2015, I was invited to Fogo de Chao’s private opening ceremony. The Brazilian steakhouse, located on Howard & 3rd, is a great addition to the heart of SOMA San Francisco.
The 2015 Ebbies Award Gala is the most highly regarded business awards program in the Bay Area. This year we honored businesses such as: AirBnB, SquareTrade, SFMade, and Virgin America. I was able to meet with former Mayor Willie Brown and NBC Chief Investigative Reporter Tony Kovaleski (my co-host).
The Lotus Collaborative is an eating disorder recovery center that recently opened in San Francisco. It was great meeting the Lotus team and seeing their passion in helping their clients obtain health and happiness.
I had an interesting conversation with California State Treasurer, John Chiang, about an important state-sponsored retirement savings program for workers without coverage from their employers. The state sought advice from the private sector on the best way to construct and roll out the California Secure Choice Retirement Savings Program to approximately 7.5 million employees who currently do not have access to an employer-based retirement plan. California can be the first state to take action and we can pave the way for the future. You can learn more about this initiative here: CalSavers Retirement Savings Program.
I had a great dinner with Congressman Eric Swalwell and other young professional leaders after work. We discussed important issues relevant to our generation with a focus on education and student loans. The conversation was thought-provoking, especially hearing about the impact student loans has on many and the different ways to help alleviate debt.
It was a pleasure to be invited to the private viewing of "Oscar de la Renta: The Retrospective" at the de Young Museum. Much like the detail and amount of attention presented in his designs, Oscar demonstrated the same with his clients. He was often described as a man "who makes you feel like his only client." I learned a lot about Oscar's work and admire his philosophies on life and building relationships.
I had a great time volunteering at The Salvation Army San Francisco with the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors in 2016. Here's something interesting I learned: Hotels usually dispose of their toilet paper rolls and other toiletries once they have been used half way. In an effort to recycle, hotels donate the used items to Salvation Army so we can repackage them into hygiene kits for people in need.
March 25, 2017 – During this time of cold and rainy weather, it's easy to take shelter and warmth for granted. Many people in the city aren't as lucky and lack resources for food and housing. As I was volunteering today with the Golden Gate University Alumni Association at Glide Memorial Church, I learned that the organization serves an impressive 600 people in 1.5 hours, three times a day year round. I would encourage everyone to take some time and give back to the community. It's a truly humbling experience.
It was great meeting fellow Vietnamese business owners both internationally and locally in the Bay Area! We discussed different ways we can boost each other's local economy through trades, investments, and tourism. Thank you, California Waste Solutions, for hosting the event! The Consulate General of Vietnam in San Francisco, The Chairman of Vinh Phuc Province, San Francisco - Ho Chi Minh City Sister Cities, Vietnamese American Business Association.
I was the recipient of the Golden Gate University Master of Science in Financial Planning "Outstanding Student Award". This award was given to only one individual from each department based on academic achievement and contributions to the university.
One of my passions in life is to help other people achieve their financial goals and ensure security in their retirement. I am a firm believer in the power of planning to reach goals and attain success. I worked full-time in one of the most competitive fields while pursuing my Masters. This whole experience has taught me the value of time, to appreciate my loved ones, and the importance of continuous learning. I believe that creating a strong plan, broken down into actionable steps, will ultimately lead to results.
It was a fun dinner with a group of community leaders. Everyone was inspirational and placed much emphasis on higher education and the future of technology – something we are all passionate about.
I am proud to announce that I obtained the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®) certification after a year of rigorous studying and preparation. The CFP® certification is the gold standard in the comprehensive financial planning industry. These type of services demand professionalism, intellectual, emotional, and spiritual investment of oneself. Personal finance is not traditionally taught in school. Therefore, I believe in using my knowledge and expertise to help improve people's financial literacy so they can make the best life decisions.
The journey to obtaining the CFP® certification was challenging. However, I developed an excellent habit of reading and taking notes for 90 minutes every weekday morning before the sunrise. Now, I still maintain this routine because learning can never stop. Life is about continuous education and pushing yourself to be the best you can be.
I overheard a story recently from a foster mom about how her daughter was treated differently in school because she didn't know her biological parents. I learned more about the foster program she participated in. In 2016, my team and I had the privilege to support Uplift Family Services Foster Care and Adoption by donating backpacks filled with school supplies. It might not be much to us, but it could mean to the world to these kids to go back to school with brand new backpacks. Learn more about this initiative here: Uplift Family Services.
Pictured with Ms. Rosie Rios, 43rd Treasurer of the USA. She worked on currency design and was instrumental in getting the first woman, Harriet Tubman, on the $20 bill.
This year I am spending Lunar New Year in Vietnam. It’s been 10 years since I came back, but I feel like this time around I learned a lot more about my Vietnamese culture and traditions. My family is always giving back to the local community, and I am happy to be a part of the tradition by donating rice to the less fortunate in my hometown. Happy New Year/Chúc mừng năm mới!
Over 500 families signed up for the 9th Annual Financial Planning Day in San Francisco!
Popular questions asked during my session:
- How should I save for retirement?
- How does my variable annuity work and should I keep it?
- Is this how I should invest my 457(b)?
Special thanks to the San Francisco Public Library, San Francisco Assessor, Carmen Chu, City and County of San Francisco Treasurer, Jose Cisneros, Financial Planning Association (FPA), San Francisco Office of Financial Empowerment, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ practitioners, Certified Public Accountants, and volunteers for their time and support.
Financial education can be complicated and confusing, but it's a learnable skill and should be accessible to everyone. I have informative personal finance videos on my blog which is open to anyone interested in learning more.
My first day teaching a graduate-level course on Retirement Planning and Employee Benefits at Golden Gate University. I received my MS in Financial Planning at GGU and now it's come full circle after a decade in this profession. I'm excited to guide and educate the next generation of financial professionals.
About the program: Golden Gate University - Financial Planning Program is the first to offer a MS in Financial Planning degree in the world. The program is designed for students who want to become investment advisers to practitioners who want to increase their expertise in areas of financial planning. "GGU's was also one of the first five programs registered with Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (CFP Board) in 1986."