Financial planner earns national ‘Fresh Approach’ recognition

New Jersey financial planner Jeff Gitterman of Manalapan has earned the nickname “The Educator’s Educator” for specializing in helping college and university professors understand their relationship to money and teaching them how to use smart money management as a vehicle for achieving their dreams.

For nearly 15 years, Gitterman has made educators feel comfortable as students — teaching them about money issues through “lunch-and-learn” seminars and providing participants the chance to ask questions and identify their own financial goals in a non-intimidating environment free of sales pressures, according to a press release.

For his unique approach to financial planning, Gitterman is featured in Money magazine’s April issue as part of a series called “A Fresh Approach.” ING U.S. Financial Services, the Financial Planning Association and Money magazine started the program to recognize innovative financial planners.

Gitterman’s approach to focusing on education and personal goals has been a successful formula. More than 3,000 educators have become clients of his firm, Gitterman & Sacks LLC, an independent retirement planning group in Wood-bridge.

“Many college educators don’t view themselves as money-savvy — they didn’t go into teaching to become wealthy,” says Gitterman. “Our challenge is to help educators understand their relationship with money and to teach them how to use it as a means to an end in achieving their larger life’s goals.”

Gitterman values the many long-term personal friendships he’s gained through his work in financial planning.

“My clients are like family to me,” he says. “I really view my role as a financial planner as being less about focusing on money and more about helping people find fulfillment in their lives.”