About Crystal Rau, CFP®
Current Role
Founder, Beyond Balanced Financial Planning
Expertise
- Equity Compensation
- Oil & Gas Investments
- Education Planning
- Investment Planning
- Student Loan Planning
- Retirement
Achievements
- Best Financial Planner For Midland’s Readers’ Choice Awards 2022
Certifications & Degrees
- Certified Financial Planner™
- MBA from University of Texas El Paso, Bachelor of Business Administration in finance from Texas A&M University (Corpus Christi)
Personal Finance Experience
Crystal started her career in personal finance working at a large investment management company where she provided advice to young and old investors just trying to do better for themselves. It motivated her to learn more and be better for her clients. She continued her education and training, earning the certified financial planner (CFP®) designation, as well as her chartered retirement planning counselor (CRPC®) designation and accredited asset management specialist (AAMS®) designations.
As her knowledge and expertise grew, it inspired her to start Beyond Balanced Financial Planning, a fee-only registered investment advisory firm that focuses on young professionals and families who strive to be good stewards of the wealth, and to be better and do better for their families and their community.
Latest from Crystal Rau, CFP®
Maine HELOC Rates and Lenders
A home equity line of credit (HELOC) allows you to borrow money based on the equity in your home. It’s a revolving line...
How the 401(k) Student Loan Match Works
In the past, many employees have had to choose between saving for retirement or making student loan payments. Because student loans often have...
How to Calculate Discretionary Income for Student Loans
Understanding how to calculate your discretionary income for student loans is important if you’re exploring...
When Do Student Loans Start Accruing Interest?
College is an investment in your future, and if you use loans to pay for...
Is It Illegal to Spend Student Loan Money Outside of School?
Student loans have strict guidelines regarding how the funds can be spent because they’re intended...
Best All-in-One HELOCs
All-in-one home equity lines of credit (HELOCs) combine your credit line with your checking account—and sometimes even your mortgage—into one product. A key...
Can You Refinance a Reverse Mortgage?
It is possible to refinance a reverse mortgage, and with home values going up in many areas across the country, it may even...
Personal Loans With No Prepayment Penalty
Loan prepayment is when a borrower pays off an installment loan ahead of the schedule set by the lender. Some lenders charge a...
Is It Hard to Get a Personal Loan?
Personal loans allow you to borrow a single lump sum, which is repaid over time in monthly installments. The ease of getting one...
Reverse Mortgage Counseling
If you’re at least age 62, you may be considering a reverse mortgage to cover living expenses, home repairs, and other costs. Unlike...