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®
Debt-to-Income Ratio for Student Loan Refinance: What to Know About DTI [With Calculator]
Your debt-to-income ratio (DTI)—your monthly debt payments divided by your gross monthly income—is a crucial...
New York HELOC Rates and Lenders
Home equity lines of credit (HELOCs) allow homeowners to turn the equity in their home into cash. As secured loans, HELOCs typically offer...
Denied a Student Loan With a Cosigner? 7 Smart Next Steps
Being denied a student loan, even with a cosigner, can be disheartening, but it doesn’t...
Can You Get Student Loans Without the FAFSA? Yes—Here’s How
Filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) helps you find out the...
Personal Loans for Investments
It’s often best to avoid personal loans for investing because the risks are high, and it makes little financial sense. But can it...
What LTV Is Needed for a Home Equity Loan or HELOC?
Maximum loan-to-value (LTV) requirements for home equity loans and HELOCs vary depending on many factors,...
How to Check My Student Loans
Checking your student loans isn’t difficult. We’re sharing all the tools and resources you can use to track down your federal and private...
What Is a HELOC Promissory Note?
A home equity line of credit can provide you with flexible access to cash. Before you can get the money, you'll need to...
First-Lien HELOC: How It Works, When It Makes Sense, and Top Lenders
A first-lien HELOC could provide you with access to equity and savings on your mortgage....
How to Fund Flight School With Student Loans in 2025
Student loans for flight school are available, although there aren’t as many options as with...