San Diego – August 21, 2018:   Dowling & Yahnke was honored by Schwab Advisor Services as one of three firms in the nation to receive the 2018 SOLUTIONS® Operational Excellence Award. Dowling & Yahnke was recognized for enhancing and modernizing the client experience, providing innovation regarding fraud protection including cybersecurity, and increasing its overall operational productivity and efficiency. Mark Munoz, Dowling & Yahnke’s Chief Operating Officer, received the award on stage at Schwab SOLUTIONS, a live, one-day event that takes place in 12 cities from July to August each year. Schwab SOLUTIONS offers prescriptive and action-oriented educational sessions on Schwab technologies and prevalent industry topics like regulation and fraud.

“We are honored to be nationally recognized by Schwab Advisor Services for our operational excellence,” according to Mark Munoz.  “Key to our success is our high-caliber team of not only advisors but also our support staff.  The team is what allows us to provide a superior client experience. Additionally, we are appreciative of our long-standing relationship with Schwab which continues to be a great service provider for our clients.”

Dowling & Yahnke received this award for implementing numerous business practices including ⁽¹⁾ digital tools which enhanced client reporting and communication, ⁽²⁾ revised funds transfer protocols and safeguards, ⁽³⁾ boosted cybersecurity through monitoring technology and client education.

“We are thrilled to recognize these firms for their savvy use of digital tools to evolve their business models and meet client expectations while growing their firms,” said Jalina Kerr, senior vice president, integrated solutions, Schwab Advisor Services. “Integration and automation allow advisors to streamline routine tasks, minimize errors, and spend more time focusing on what matters most: counseling their clients. Our Operational Excellence Award winners demonstrate how best practices in these areas benefit clients and the firm itself. We are committed to helping all of our clients realize the benefits of technology adoption.”

Winning firms were selected by Schwab Advisor Services. As part of the award, Schwab will make a $500 donation to the Foundation for Financial Planning on behalf of each winning firm.

About Dowling & Yahnke, LLC

Since 1991, Dowling & Yahnke has provided customized solutions in investment management, retirement planning, and charitable giving.  As a fiduciary, fee-only adviser, Dowling & Yahnke places clients’ interests first, giving them peace of mind in a complex financial world.

Dowling & Yahnke is one of the largest independent, wealth management firms in San Diego as measured by discretionary assets under management.  For the eleventh consecutive year, Dowling & Yahnke has had an adviser recognized on the Barron’s Top 100 Independent Advisers List.*

For more information, visit www.dywealth.com.

*The ranking reflects the volume of assets overseen by the advisors and their teams, revenues generated for the firms and the quality of the advisors’ practices. The scoring system assigns a top score of 100 and rates the rest by comparing them with the winner. Barron’s requested Dowling & Yahnke to apply for the ranking.  The information for the ranking was compiled by the advisor and may or may not be verified by Barron’s.  It is unknown as to the number of applicants considered for the ranking and the percentage of applicants that made the ranking.  The award should not be viewed as representative of any one client’s experience and should not be taken as an indication of performance by Dowling & Yahnke and any of its clients.  While Dowling & Yahnke did not pay a fee to apply for the award, the firm does purchase goods or services from the publisher of the award (such as subscriptions to the publication, reprints of the ranking, and payment to be included in other Barron’s-published lists).

About SOLUTIONS® Awards

The awards recognize independent investment advisory firms that have demonstrated excellence through digital tool adoption and operating discipline that is designed to help ⁽¹⁾ increase their productivity and efficiency, ⁽²⁾ enhance and modernize their client experience, and ⁽³⁾ shield their firm and clients from fraud. The award includes a $500 donation to the Foundation for Financial Planning on behalf of the firm.

Dowling & Yahnke is not owned or affiliated with Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (“Schwab”), and its personnel are not employees or agents of Schwab. The SOLUTIONS® Award is not a referral to, endorsement or recommendation of, or testimonial for the advisor with respect to its investment advisory or other services. Schwab Advisor Services® serves independent investment advisors and includes the custody, trading, and support services of Schwab. Independent investment advisors are not owned by, affiliated with, or supervised by Schwab. The Foundation for Financial Planning is not affiliated with or employed by Schwab.