Greetings to our current and prospective Chapter Members and welcome to the American Financial Education Alliance (AFEA) chapter website for Bluffton, SC #4990!

As an IRS approved, 501(c)(3) NonProfit Organization, our mission is to empower Americans to take control of their finances by providing local communities with objective financial education. It is our pleasure to educate our local communities and share how AFEA works to provide all Americans the education and experience they need to enhance their financial understanding and management.

AFEA specializes in providing high-level financial education classes and events at establishments of all types:

Libraries  ♦  Universities, Colleges, Junior Colleges  ♦  Businesses  ♦  Nonprofit and Fundraising Organizations

Class offerings include:

A Guide to 401k Rollovers  ♦ The ABCD’s of Medicare ♦  Advanced Estate Planning ♦ An Introduction to Annuities  ♦ Business Continuation Planning ♦ College Planning ♦ The Essentials of Estate Planning  ♦ Financial Planning Basics ♦ Investing for Women ♦ IRAs, Annuities, and Other Sources of Retirement Income  ♦ Living a Tax-Free Retirement ♦ Most Common Financial Mistakes ♦ Myths and Facts About Annuities ♦ Planning for Long-Term Care  ♦ Retirement Basics ♦ Retirement Income Planning ♦ Roth IRA Conversions ♦ Safe Money Principles of Retirement Planning ♦ Social Security Benefit Options  ♦ Special Needs Planning ♦ Understanding Your IRA ♦ Understanding Your Roth IRA ♦ Variable Annuities ♦ Women and Money ♦ Your Employee-Sponsored Retirement Plan

We invite you to attend our local workshops and become an active member by participating in our educational events throughout the community.

Thank you for visiting your local Chapter’s website; we look forward to seeing you in a class soon!

I was raised in Hilton Head, South Carolina but had the opportunity to live abroad in Europe and Asia for school and work. Through this world perspective, I gained a great appreciation for the Lowcountry and always wanted to make my way back. After finishing my time as a Big 4 accountant where I earned my CPA designation, I made my way back to the Lowcountry to follow in my father’s footsteps.

My father, Todd Crutchley, grew his practice from the early 90s until I joined the team in 2018. He was able to grow the business through the good times and the bad by staying true to a core philosophy of respecting clients, providing top notch service, and maintaining the highest of integrity. This philopshy is what attracted me to enter this business.

When I started in this industry in 2018, I ran my practice with my clients at the heart of it. Who they are, what they are trying to accomplish, and how I can get them there; that’s what drives what I do in the office every day.

My Investment Principles are:

• “The Habit” is the Cornerstone of Investing: The habit of contributing and reviewing your assets is more important than the amount invested or the vehicles you use. You can always scale up or down but the habit provides the foundation.
• Invest in Great Companies. I firmly believe that great investing means investing in great companies. A great company is one that has a chance to grow… a lot over time. They have a competitive advantage, have great people, and set themselves up for the long-term.
• Be prepared for the “What Ifs.” There are so many unexpected things that happen in this life. Career changes, health challenges, or the sudden loss of a loved one. Many of life’s changes bring with them a change in needs and priorities. I firmly believe in planning for those “what if” scenarios through a customized wealth management plan.

Life Outside of the Office

When I am not at the office you can find me with my wife, daughter, and two dogs enjoying the outdoors. Most of our time is spent on the water in the boat or paddling the creeks that we call home. We love our local community and are always looking for ways to support and give back. Providing financial education is an added plus.