Fred Tan, CFP®, CEPA®

Senior Principal

Boca Raton

Client Advisory

Biography

Fred is a Senior Principal based in our Boca Raton office, covering all of South Florida. As a seasoned wealth advisor, with over 30 years of experience, Fred is passionate about helping successful families navigate the complexities of wealth with clarity and confidence.

Fred works closely with business owners, senior corporate executives, retirees, and non-profit organizations to manage comprehensive financial plans that align their goals, values and life-purpose. His practice integrates complex solutions that address investment, estate, tax, business succession, charitable giving, and retirement needs.

Prior to joining Cerity Partners, Fred was a Wealth Advisor at Goldman Sachs Ayco, BNY Mellon, RBC, and Merrill Lynch. Earlier in his career Fred was President of Banorte Securities International, LLC., Regional Vice President at Fidelity Institutional Investment Services, Inc., and a Commodity Trader at Philipp Brothers/Solomon Brothers. Fred lives in Hollywood, Florida and enjoys spending his free time gardening and playing pickleball.

Education

  • B. A. form Colgate University
  • MBA from NYU’s Stern School of Business

Highlights

  • CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER®
  • CERTIFIED EXIT PLANNING ADVISOR®
  • FINRA Series 65 License holder
  • Life, Accident & Health License Holder
  • Long-term Care License Holder
  • Member, Investment Committee of YWCA South Florida
  • Co-Chair, Miami and Fort Lauderdale Chapters of The Financial Executives Networking Group
  • Past Board Member at Our Fund Foundation and Stonewall Foundation
  • Past Advisor, PhilanthropyMiami

Q & A

Q:

Was there a specific incident in your life that made it clear you were made for this career?

While working as a wealth advisor early in my career, a client of mine sadly passed away. His wife found herself facing a maze of financial decisions during an already overwhelming time. She turned to me for guidance in identifying and organizing her assets and their estate, navigating her through the probate process, and helping her understand her new financial landscape. Together we established a financial and investment plan tailored to support her lifestyle, honor their shared legacy, while caring for her children. Being able to provide my client with the peace of mind and clarity that she needed to move forward with her life was immensely fulfilling. It made me realize that I had made the right career choice.

What kind of clients work best for you?

I work best with successful business owners, senior corporate executives, philanthropists, and non-profit organizations because they face unique and often complex financial decisions that require thoughtful, personalized strategies. I thrive in helping clients bring structure to complexity – whether it’s managing concentrated stock positions, ensuring that executive benefits and awards are being optimized, navigating a business transition, designing impactful giving strategies, or creating a legacy plan. I’m able to leverage the deep and technical experience of my firm, by assembling a deal team tailored to each client’s needs. I enjoy blending our firm’s technical knowledge with care and advocacy, allowing me to serve both as a strategic and trusted advisor, throughout every stage of my client’s life and leadership.

What should your clients know most about you?

I care deeply about the people whom I serve – not only about their investment portfolios and financial plans but their lives, aspirations, families, and values. I take time to listen and understand what matters most to them, what keeps them up at night and what they aspire to, in order to provide guidance that’s grounded in both expertise and empathy. My goal is to ensure that each client feels seen and heard, supported, and secure in their financial journey.

What do you do in your personal life that helps you with your clients?

I’ve enjoyed a meditation practice for over 20 years and have taught meditation for 10 years. I believe meditating enriches my ability to advise clients. It helps me remain grounded, present, and attuned – qualities that I feel are essential when guiding people through complex financial decisions and life transitions. Meditation allows me to remain clear and calm, to listen and to respond with intention. It also allows me a unique perspective on finances and wealth, one rooted not only in numbers and goals, but also as a reflection of values, aspirations, and purpose.

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