CERTA Story
CERTA Financial Planning was founded in 2019 by German Ramirez following more than 15 years as an industry veteran. Steven Balch joined the firm in 2022, bringing complementary experience and a shared philosophy around thoughtful, client-first planning. In 2024, Chris joined the team, further strengthening CERTA’s ability to serve clients with depth, continuity, and care. Today, CERTA is represented by a growing team of financial professionals with two offices serving clients across the South Florida market and the North Jersey / NYC metro area.
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The meaning behind CERTA is intentional. Derived from the Latin root certus, it represents determination, dependability, and discernment, qualities that guide how we work with clients and how we approach every financial decision.
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Just as building, preserving, and implementing wealth is a lifelong process, CERTA itself reflects the culmination of German’s and Steven’s professional journeys and lived experience within an increasingly complex financial landscape.
From German achieving financial independence at age 16 as the son of first-generation immigrants, to German and Steven’s early collaboration guiding clients through the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis, to years spent “in the trenches” at both large institutions and boutique advisory firms, each chapter has shaped CERTA’s standard of client care. That standard is brought into every client conversation, every financial plan, and every investment decision, with the goal of helping clients move forward with clarity and confidence.
Meet the Team
Certa Financial Planning has partnered with Independent Financial Partners (IFP) to provide the technological, compliance, and operational support we need. Through our alliance with IFP, we have access to a wide variety of tools and resources to support plan sponsors, plan participants and private investors.
IFP fully supports advisor independence, allowing us to take advantage of the many services they offer while putting your interests above all else. We’re also able to leverage their network of financial advisors and subject matter experts from across the nation to help address even the most complex needs of our clients.
Independent Financial Partners is a broker-dealer and registered investment adviser based out Tampa, Florida. Their firm’s independent platform empowers advisors through freedom of choice and a constantly evolving technology suite that’s designed to help build better client experiences.
