September 19, 2011
Need
some help preparing for a sound financial future? Just speak with
John J. Ceparano ’85CBA, CPA, PFS, M.Tax, CFP, one of the St.
John’s community’s very own economic experts.
An accomplished alumnus, Ceparano is currently
the Private Wealth Manager and Director of Tax and Financial
Planning at Joseph Capital Management, LLC. He participated in the
most recent Meet the Experts event, a program in which financial
professionals shared their advice on estate planning and how to
adequately weather the tough economic climate.
Ceparano views the experience as a welcome
return to the University he loves.
“I had been touching base with people on
campus about getting more involved and about recruiting some
students for my business,” Ceparano explained, “so that’s how I
started to get back in touch with St. John’s. Eventually that led
to my helping out at a recruiting event the University held on Long
Island and, after that, I was asked to join the panel of experts
due to my credentials. I can’t tell you how glad I am to have
participated and to have helped fellow alumni out.”
From explaining complicated tax rules to
suggesting ways to save for the future, Ceparano provided
invaluable information to all of the guests. He stressed the
importance of establishing a coordinated economic strategy.
“Many clients come to me with what I call a
‘hodge-podge plan,’ or a lack of a plan altogether,” he noted.
“Oftentimes their assets are in too many places at once and they
listen to too many different people. They’ll have a CPA and an
investment professional who don’t talk to each other, and that
winds up costing the client more money in taxes and fees. My
biggest recommendation, therefore, is to get consistent and
long-term planning, and that’s precisely what my company does – we
create a personalized plan that’s fully comprehensive while, at the
same time, designed and customized to meet a client’s personal
needs.”
Ceparano is glad to help out the St. John’s
community, particularly because it harkens back to his days as an
undergraduate. As a student, he was active in a variety of
on-campus organizations and even served as a cheerleader during the
Johnnies’ storied 1985 Final Four run.
“I got to meet a lot of people by being a
cheerleader and had a ton of fun in the process,” he said. “From
one perspective, you could say that I was gaining experience in
what business is all about – traveling, making contacts and
networking. But also in terms of sheer fun, it was an unparalleled
opportunity – I got to know great people like Lou Carnesecca ’50C,
’60GEd, ’00HON, Chris Mullin ’98CBA and Bill Wennington ’85SVC.
Wennington ended up being a great friend of mine who came to my
wedding.”
Helping out at the Meet the Experts event was
just the tip of the iceberg for Ceparano – he hopes to continue to
participate at alumni events and share his expertise with the rest
of the St. John’s family.
“I enjoy the fact that I’ve been embraced by the University,
that I’ve helped them and am viewed as an ‘expert.’ It’s a great
opportunity for me to gain exposure, but it’s especially nice just
to remain connected with St. John’s. I still have a personal
feeling of loyalty to the University, and I’m glad that hasn’t
diminished.”