About Crystal Rau, CFP®, CRPC®, AAMS®
Current Role
Founder, Beyond Balanced Financial Planning
Expertise
- Equity Compensation
- 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™
- CRPC®
- Accredited Asset Management Specialist
- 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 their wealth and to be better and do better for their families and their community.
Latest from Crystal Rau, CFP®, CRPC®, AAMS®
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If you’re searching for a quick cash advance, you’ve probably wondered whether the app or lender you’re using is legit. With scams getting...
Gold IRAs With Sign-Up Bonuses
A gold individual retirement account (IRA) can allow for portfolio diversification and help you protect your wealth. To add to the benefits, companies...
Apps Like Tilt (formerly Empower)
Tilt, known as Empower prior to August 2025 company rebrand, is a holistic financial wellness app. Its headline features include cash advances and...
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...
Can You Refinance a Reverse Mortgage? How It Works, Pros and Cons, and When It’s a Good Move
Refinancing a reverse mortgage is possible to access more equity, secure a lower interest rate,...