McKean, TAG merge

In 1976, Susie McKean was the first female certified financial planner in San Diego County. Working from a spare bedroom in her home in La Jolla, she hung her shingle and started McKean Financial.

After 32 years of success, McKean has announced a merger with the San Diego-based accounting consultancy firm TAG.

As part of the deal, McKean has broken off MKF Financial, Inc., a private fiduciary services company and will retain 100 percent ownership. In addition she will assume the title of senior vice president of TAG.

Located at 7542 Fay Ave., McKean Financial manages the day-to-day financial affairs of individuals.

“I think of this business as more of a mission than a business,” said McKean. “We are a support system to many attorneys, accountants and financial planners in the community helping them do a better job for our clients.”

With 35 employee-owners and anticipated sales of $4 million for 2008, the merger with McKean Financial represents a 25 percent increase in revenues for TAG, according to its founder and president Robert Sherer.

“I was attracted to the company because of its amazing reputation and its well-respected leader,” said Sherer.

Annike Stender, vice president of TAG’s Family CFO Division, is overseeing operations of the new organization. She said that, aside from the new name, clients should expect very few changes to occur.

McKean said she looks “forward to working with Anneke and TAG as a new dimension to be able to offer more to my clients.”

“I did my homework just as I do for any business situation. I put a great deal of thought, a great deal of due diligence and a great deal of prayer into it so that when I made the decision I wanted it to be the right one.”