Founder, The Institute for Financial Independence

John E. Girouard is founder and president of CAPITAL Asset Management Group of Bethesda, Maryland, formed in 1984 to provide average investors with the same professionalism, expertise, and freedom from conflict of interests enjoyed by the wealthy and corporations. The company currently manages assets of more than $180 million with a team of professionals serving more than 3,500 clients.

Girouard’s life mission and the focus of his business has been to educate clients about the inner workings of the financial services industry and to help them avoid the pitfalls and exploit the strategies used by corporations and individuals to create, grow, and protect wealth.

In 2006, Girouard took all of his investment-teaching experience and techniques and put them together under the umbrella of The Institute for Financial Independence, a unique investor-learning-center concept. The first Institute location opened in 2007 in Bethany Beach, Delaware, a community which has attracted a large number of people who are transitioning from their working years to retirement.

He documented his strategies and solutions in his popular 2007 book, “The Ten Truths of Wealth Creation,” which explains the concepts and strategies he teaches at The Institute. He has appeared on numerous radio and television programs, and been quoted in print and web articles.  He also educates his colleagues, speaking at investment trade events, training professional investment advisors interested in following his independent approach.

He has served as an advisory board member of AETNA Financial Services (ING), American Capital Corporation, American Skandia (Prudential), National Planning Corporation (NPC), and AssetMark Investment Services among others.  He has also received numerous industry recognitions including the Million Dollar Roundtable, the National Quality Award and the Joint Chiefs of Staff of Lafayette Life, the Presidential Council of Aetna and Guardian Life, and the Advisors Circle Award of the Oppenheimer Funds.

Girouard earned a BA in Economics from the University of Maryland and began his career by founding AGI Financial Services Inc. in Washington D.C., helping nonprofit and government executives and employees negotiate employment contracts and establish employee benefit and retirement programs. The success of AGI led to the founding of CAPITAL Benefit Planning Group, an employee benefits firm.

Girouard has earned numerous industry certifications including Certified Financial Planner (CFP® ), Chartered Financial Consultant, Certified Fund Specialist, Chartered Life Underwriter, Certified Estate Analyst and Certified Senior Advisor.

He has served as a member of the Board of Visitors to the University of Maryland College Park Foundation, and chair of the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences Finance Committee for the Alumni Association.  He contributes his services to the National Children’s Center, a Washington, D.C. organization that works with children with developmental disabilities, the Washington Animal Rescue League, and The Human Incentive and Research Education Institute.

John Girouard lives in the District of Columbia with his wife of twenty years, a daughter and a son, and a menagerie of pets. His hobby is cooking.