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Lassus Wherley Wealth Management Building Better Futures

Diahann W. Lassus, MBA, CFP®, CPA/PFS

Diahann W. Lassus, MBA,CFP®, CPA, PFS President and Co-founder Lassus Wherley

In 1985, Diahann W. Lassus co-founded Lassus Wherley, a wealth management firm with offices in New Providence, New Jersey and Bonita Springs, Florida. Diahann is President, Chief Investment Officer and is responsible for compliance and marketing.

Licenses, Degrees and Designations

  • CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification –CFP® Board of Standards, 1986
  • Certified Public Accountant – New Jersey State Board of Accountancy, 1992
  • Personal Financial Specialist – American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), 2005
  • BS Management – Florida State University, 1976
  • MBA University of North Florida, 1977

Experience

Diahann held positions in accounting and line operations for Blue Cross Blue Shield, Xerox Corporation and AT&T from 1970 to 1984. She was the Field Operations Manager for the 1984 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

Noteworthy Achievements

2012 and 2011 FIVE STAR Wealth Manager℠ – New Jersey Monthly.

Among the Top 25 Leading Women Entrepreneurs & Business Owners in New Jersey-Own It Ventures and New Jersey Monthly, 2011

One of 50 Top Women in Wealth-AdvisorOne, 2011

Named to 150 Top Advisors for Doctors – Medical Economics, 1998, 2006, 2010.

Robert J. Underwood Distinguished Service Award – National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA), 2010.

Honored as the Inaugural Speaker in 2004 for the Female Entrepreneurship Series - Rothman Institute of Entrepreneurship, 2010. Authored Chapter 18, “Creating a Business from Scratch,” an excerpt from the speech in 2004, in the Rothman Institute's 20th Anniversary compilation book, Entrepreneurship and Innovation: Global Insights from 24 Leaders.

One of the Top 50 Women in Wealth Management – Wealth Manager, 2008, 2009, and 2010.

TV Appearances on NBC’s The Today Show, My9/WWOR TV, American Public Media's “Marketplace”, and CNBC.

Contributed to Biz Brain articles in The Star-Ledger of New Jersey, and authored articles for Investment Advisor, AICPA Wealth Management Insider, New Jersey Business, and Garden State Woman. Authored a chapter for Inside the Minds: Wealth Strategies for Executives.

Named seven times to Worth Magazine’s Top Financial Advisors beginning with the first list in 1994.

Honored as one of the Women of Influence in Finance – Women’s Fund of New Jersey, 2007.

Quoted in Chicago Tribune, Boston Globe, Financial Advisor, FORTUNE, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Business Week, USA Today, Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, and Tax Hotline.

Profiled in Dow Jones Investment Advisor Magazine, CPA Wealth Provider, Journal of Financial Planning and Financial Advisor.

Participated on the Investment News Regulatory Roundtable, Journal of Financial Planning Economic Crisis Roundtable and Dow Jones Interview Roundtable for Wall Street Journal Special Edition.

Named to Business News New Jersey and NJBIZ: The Business News 100,

Twenty Six Intriguing Women of New Jersey Business, Top Women in Business, Women of Influence 2004, and Top Women in Business 2006, 2007.

Honored by Executive Women of New Jersey in their Salute to Policy Makers, 2006.

Appointed by President Bill Clinton - Retirement Savings Summit, Washington, DC, 1998.

Appointed by NJ Governor Christine Whitman - New Sources of Capital Board, 1996.

Delegate to the White House Conference on Small Business, chaired the NJ Capital Formation Committee, 1995.

Elected President of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) from 1998-99. Diahann's service to that organization and the NJ Association of Women Business Owners has been recognized in many ways.

Professional Affiliations

  • Currently serving on the Financial Planning Coalition as a NAPFA Representative. In this role, Diahann testified before the House Committee on Financial Services in Washington, DC, on regulation of the financial planning profession.
  • Member of the NJ State Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and the Rothman Institute of Entrepreneurship Advisory Board.
  • National Board Chair-NAPFA, 2008-2009 and Industry Issues Chair, 2006-2008.
  • Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Board of Governors, 1994-97.
  • Member of the Board of Directors for the Center for Women's Business Research, 1994 to Present.
  • Service on Corporate and Advisory Boards including Charles Schwab Institutional, Women's Financial Network at Siebert and National Advisors Trust Company, FSB.