Business Details
35 Years
experience
Your Trusted Partner for Financial Planning & Wealth Management
We are Ithaca's premier financial services firm, dedicated to providing comprehensive financial planning, investing, insurance, and CPA services for families and businesses. As independent advisors, we prioritize your interests above all else, operating under a fiduciary standard that legally obligates us to recommend only the most beneficial solutions. Our team of experienced professionals combines specialized expertise in tax preparation, wealth management, and risk protection to create personalized strategies aligned with your values and life goals. With decades of combined experience, we take pride in our community involvement, having founded The Strebel Fund for Community Enrichment which has donated over $175,000 locally since 2008. Our unique 'Whole Person' approach considers all aspects of your financial life to develop holistic solutions that evolve with your changing needs.We maintain strict ethical standards and continuous professional development to ensure our clients receive the highest quality service. Our commitment to excellence extends to our proprietary financial planning process that integrates cutting-edge technology with personalized guidance. We offer specialized services for Cornell employees managing 403(b) accounts and provide outsourced CFO solutions for businesses. Our fee-based advisory model aligns our success with our clients' financial well-being, and we maintain transparent communication through regular status reports and secure information handling. As a locally owned firm, we combine national-level expertise with deep regional market knowledge to deliver exceptional value to our clients.
Services
Comprehensive Financial Planning
Insurance & Risk Management
Business Tax Services
Individual Tax Services
Wealth Management
Retirement Plan Management
Bookkeeping Services
CFO Services
Estate Tax Planning
Socially Responsible Investing
Details
- Year established: 1991
Highlights and features
- We operate under a strict fiduciary standard legally requiring us to act in your best interest
- Our team includes Certified Financial Planners and Certified Public Accountants with specialized expertise
- We offer integrated financial solutions combining tax, investment, and insurance planning
- Our proprietary 'Whole Person' approach considers all aspects of your financial life
- We maintain transparent fee structures and provide regular portfolio performance reporting
Associations and certifications
- SEC Registered Investment Adviser
Services
Comprehensive Financial Planning
Our holistic financial planning service creates customized strategies considering your income, timeframe, goals, and risk tolerance. We integrate tax planning, estate considerations, and investment management to develop actionable roadmaps for achieving financial milestones. Our fiduciary advisors use advanced software to model various scenarios and ensure your plan evolves with life changes while maintaining alignment with your personal values.
Wealth Management
We design and manage diversified investment portfolios tailored to your risk profile and financial objectives. Our services include asset allocation, portfolio rebalancing, and performance monitoring for retirement accounts, 403(b) plans, and beneficiary IRAs. We offer socially responsible investing options and specialized strategies for high-net-worth families, including estate tax planning and dynasty trust management.
Business Tax Services
Our CPA team provides comprehensive tax solutions for businesses of all structures including sole proprietorships, partnerships, and corporations. Services include quarterly tax filings, W-2 preparation, and strategic tax planning to minimize liabilities. We help business owners optimize retirement savings, manage payroll taxes, and navigate complex tax regulations while maintaining compliance with federal and state requirements.
Insurance Planning
We offer customized insurance solutions including life, disability, and long-term care coverage. Our independent advisors evaluate multiple carriers to find optimal policies that protect your family's financial security. We help clients determine appropriate coverage amounts, structure policies for maximum benefit, and integrate insurance into overall financial plans to mitigate risks while considering tax implications.
Retirement Plan Management
We specialize in managing employer-sponsored retirement plans including 401(k), 403(b), and SIMPLE plans. Our services cover plan design, investment selection, compliance monitoring, and employee education. For Cornell employees, we offer specialized 403(b) management that optimizes investment allocations and ensures alignment with individual retirement timelines and risk tolerance levels.
People
Paul Strebel
Founding Partner, Certified Public Accountant, Certified Financial Planner
With over 30 years of experience, Paul founded The Strebel Planning Group in 1991. He specializes in integrating tax planning with comprehensive financial strategies, holding both CPA and CFP certifications. Paul leads business development and mentors our advisory team.
Leslie Strebel
Managing Partner, Insurance Specialist
Leslie oversees insurance and risk management services, bringing expertise in life and long-term care insurance. As a Certified Long Term Care specialist, she helps clients protect assets while maintaining independence and quality of life.
Angela O'Neill
Partner, Certified Financial Planner
Angela specializes in financial planning and retirement strategies, holding the CFP and CLTC certifications. She focuses on creating customized investment portfolios and guiding clients through major life transitions while maintaining fiduciary standards.
Kevin Tarnovski
Partner, Compliance Officer
Kevin ensures regulatory compliance across all services, bringing expertise in investment advisory regulations. He works closely with clients on wealth management strategies while maintaining the firm's adherence to SEC guidelines as a registered investment adviser.
Bill Brumsted
Certified Financial Planner
Bill specializes in retirement planning and investment management, helping clients navigate complex financial decisions. He focuses on creating sustainable income strategies and optimizing portfolio allocations to meet long-term objectives.
Questions
What makes The Strebel Planning Group different from other financial advisors?
We operate under a fiduciary standard, legally required to act in your best interest. Our team includes both Certified Financial Planners and Certified Public Accountants, allowing integrated tax-aware financial planning.
Do you work with clients outside the Ithaca area?
Yes, while based in Ithaca, NY, we serve clients nationwide through virtual consultations and digital document management systems while maintaining the same high service standards.
What types of retirement plans do you manage?
We manage 401(k), 403(b), SIMPLE, and SEP plans for businesses, along with individual retirement accounts and beneficiary IRAs, providing comprehensive retirement income planning strategies.
How do you handle investment management?
We create customized portfolios using mutual funds, ETFs, and alternative investments, with regular monitoring and rebalancing. We offer socially responsible investing options aligned with client values.
What accounting services do you provide?
We offer business tax preparation, payroll tax filings, and strategic tax planning for various business structures, along with personal tax services including estate and gift tax planning.
Reviews (7)
Matt Werder
Jun 24, 2018
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Efficient and easy to work with for tax preparation. Was able to submit everything online, but could still get in touch with actual people when I had questions.
Bromleys Mom
Jun 13, 2018
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The Strebel Planning Group is a terrific organization. They are calm, kind, reliable, supportive, welcoming, and I have always been happy with their services. Their office is beautiful and peaceful but not ostentatious, and they are excellent hosts so it is easy to be comfortable while doing business there. They explain things clearly and work with the client at the client's own level. I never mind that they are not right downtown because the way there is so pretty and the destination so pleasant.
Alex Bodell
Jun 09, 2018
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Working with Jim at Strebel has been great. It's reassuring to know that my taxes are being properly filed, especially as my company grows and the finances become more complicated. I highly recommend Strebel's services.
Carol Chernikoff
May 31, 2018
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I cannot recommend Strebel and Strebel highly enough! I suddenly found myself responsible for filing five years of taxes for an elderly relative. I didn't know what was needed nor how to obtain what was needed. They were incredibly helpful, patient and very good natured! It took a few months to gather all of the documentation and they were in constant contact with me, checking in to be sure I had the information needed.
My calls for help and additional information were always answered right away. I found their fee for all of this work very reasonable too. An added delight is the variety of snacks they always have at their office. I would definitely use their tax services again.
My calls for help and additional information were always answered right away. I found their fee for all of this work very reasonable too. An added delight is the variety of snacks they always have at their office. I would definitely use their tax services again.
Vermont Small Engine
Nov 30, 2017
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I love working with Strebel & Strebel, they have helped me make great decisions for my small business! Doing taxes like a professional would, giving us good advice on things we can do to properly manage our taxes.
Ken Birman
Nov 04, 2017
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I moved my tax filings to Strebel from a much more expensive company in town, feeling that I wasn't getting all that much for my extra expense. As it turns out, Strebel not only saved me money on fees, they actually have done a much better job in terms of helping me understand broader financial decisions, performance of investments, and the right strategies to use so that I just won't pay more tax than I should.
Beyond that, they stepped in to help a relative of mine whose accountant got overwhelmed and messed up her accounting in a dreadful way; I was very impressed at how quickly they had her back on track. So five stars in my book!
Beyond that, they stepped in to help a relative of mine whose accountant got overwhelmed and messed up her accounting in a dreadful way; I was very impressed at how quickly they had her back on track. So five stars in my book!
Mitch Bobrow
Nov 03, 2017
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Chris Strebel and his team have been doing my taxes for about eight years. Our return is complex since my wife and I are self employed and our investments are varied. Chris has always responded to my questions quickly and has been ready to offer advice that has always proven helpful. His integrity and intelligence makes him easy to trust and the staff has always been helpful. I highly recommend him to my friends all the time.
