When Michael H. Sharp founded The Sharp Financial Group in 1993, he realized that its long-term success would hinge on the firm’s ability to be more than just another financial services firm. At the onset of the firm’s inception, Mike encouraged his colleagues to think and act like owners in serving its set of privately-held business owner clients. Mike astutely believed that, in doing so, clients’ needs could be more effectively served. Still today, this mindset is well-employed by leaders at The Sharp Financial Group.
Mike’s vision was of a firm that could offer a forward-thinking, holistic approach to the needs of business owners and their families. Sharp became an integrated financial management firm that blends business consulting & advisory, accounting, tax and wealth management services to create the highest and best outcomes for its clients.
“When I started out in the industry as an entrepreneur and CPA, I didn’t like the way other traditional firms operated,” Mike explained. “While accounting firms knew how to effectively balance credits and debits, they did not know how to view potential issues through a business lens. They lacked the ability to help clients make improvements in ways that would grow their businesses. I realized that every facet of a business owner’s operations was interrelated and needed to be managed and addressed holistically or else information would be lost in translation.”
Unlike siloed service firms and advisors who look myopically at their area of expertise, an integrated financial management firm looks at the collective goals of a company, an owner and even a family and unifies financial and advisory services toward achieving them. For example, a business owner is likely to be underprepared when it comes to comprehensive planning both before and after a liquidity event such as the sale of his/her company. In this case and others, Sharp takes a holistic view, bringing in leaders within the firm to consider how the event will impact the owner’s personal balance sheet, long-term legacy plan, tax implications, investment strategies and more.
From Sharp's headquarters in Horsham, PA, the firm established a foothold in the Mid-Atlantic region and gained firsthand knowledge of the business needs and operations unique to the area. The firm later added offices in New York City and New Jersey to better serve clients located throughout the Northeast as well as to attract talent with expert knowledge of their field and an understanding of when and how other financial expertise should be brought to bear.
The Sharp leadership team is made up of highly skilled interdisciplinary professionals who work together to understand clients' challenges, requirements and goals. With its 35-strong team of financial experts, Sharp provides a unified approach for managing the financial lives of business owners and entrepreneurs through the following:
Time and again, Sharp clients have testified to the results achieved for their businesses including tax structuring, federal and state income tax planning, negotiated buyout of partners and financing arrangements to operational improvements that create higher profit margins, and even personal wealth investments.
Over the years, Sharp has navigated against the competition (many of which are traditionally siloed financial services firms) and distinguished itself by taking a total view of clients' businesses and personal finances. This is how better outcomes are achieved. This is the promise of integrated financial management.
Disclosures
Sharp Financial Services, LLC d/b/a The Sharp Financial Group (“Sharp Financial”) is a registered investment advisor. Advisory services are only offered to clients or prospective clients where Sharp Financial and its representatives are properly licensed or exempt from licensure.
The information provided is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice and it should not be relied on as such. It should not be considered a solicitation to buy or an offer to sell a security. It does not take into account any investor's particular investment objectives, strategies, tax status or investment horizon. You should consult your attorney or tax advisor.
All information has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but its accuracy is not guaranteed. There is no representation or warranty as to the current accuracy, reliability or completeness of, nor liability for, decisions based on such information and it should not be relied on as such.
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
