Marguerita M. Cheng CFP®, RICP®
Chief Executive Officer
Navigating life's financial complexities has always been more than just a career for me—it's a deeply personal mission. The seeds of this journey were planted early in my life, shaped by experiences that taught me the importance of preparation and compassion.
When I was 10, my aunt suddenly passed away. My uncle hadn’t considered life insurance for her, leaving him without the means to pay for her funeral. My aunt was a stay-at-home parent. He turned to my dad for a loan, but my dad responded, “No, I won’t give you a loan. I will take care of this because you should not have to go through this emotional turmoil and then have to burden the stress of this financially.” That moment was pivotal for me. My dad explained that while we can’t predict life’s challenges, being prepared can ease the burden. He would show me the family safe and explain that if anything happened to him or my mother, everything I would need would be there for me.
My father’s foresight and compassion were a huge inspiration. The year before I gave birth to my third child, he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease, and our lives changed forever. As I was raising my younger daughter I also evolved into the role of caregiver. While my mother was still alive and caring for him, it was my responsibility to take him to his medical appointments and coordinate his care with his case manager and medical providers. I took care of him until he passed away in 2015. His strength and wisdom continue to guide me in my career and personal life.
Today, I am the Chief Executive Officer at Blue Ocean Global Wealth. My professional journey began with roles as an Analyst and Editor at Towa Securities in Tokyo, Japan, and as a Financial Advisor at Ameriprise Financial and I hold several certifications, including Certified Financial Planner® (CFP), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor® (CRPC), Retirement Income Certified Professional® (RICP), and Chartered SRI Counselor (CSRIC®).
My work extends beyond the office. As a financial writer and speaker, I’ve contributed to Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, CNBC, Reuters, Kiplinger, Investopedia, Entrepreneur, Huffington Post, U.S. News and World Report, Time, Yahoo! Finance, NerdWallet, Financial Advisor, Be Inkandescent, and more. In 2023, I was honored to be named the #2 Most Influential Financial Advisor in the Investopedia Top 100, a Woman to Watch by InvestmentNews, and a Top 100 Minority Business Enterprise (MBE®) by the Capital Region Minority Supplier Development Council (CRMSDC). I’m also a recipient of the prestigious Japanese Monbukagakusho Scholarship.
In my role as a Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards (CFP Board) Ambassador, I helped educate the public, policymakers, and media about the benefits of competent, ethical financial planning. I also serve as a Women’s Initiative (WIN) Advocate and subject matter expert for the CFP Board, contributing to the development of examination questions for the CFP® Certification Examination. From 2013 to 2015, I served on the Financial Planning Association (FPA) National Board of Directors and am a past president of the Financial Planning Association of the National Capital Area (FPA NCA). Additionally, I have been a spokesperson for the AARP Financial Freedom Campaign. Presently I serve on the Board of Directors of CFP Board.
https://www.cfp.net/about-cfp-board/board-of-directors/marguerita-rita-cheng
My mantra is inspired by A.J. Reb Materi: “So many people spend their health to gain wealth, and then have to spend their wealth to regain their health.” This philosophy drives my commitment to helping clients achieve a balanced approach to financial and personal well-being.
I was also honored by receiving the 2024 Financial Planner of the Year, Financial Planning Association. (Click here to learn more about the organization: financialplanningassociation.org)
Source: Women To Watch Awards
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Source: Investopedia
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