Karen Altfest (CFP®, MA, PhD)

Karen Altfest focuses in the
following client markets or areas of practice:

  • Divorce Planning
  • Estate & Generational Planning Issues
  • High Net Worth Client Needs
  • Investment Advice with Ongoing Management
  • Retirement Plan Investment Advice
  • Women's Financial Planning Issues

Planning Specialties

Karen Caplan Altfest, CFP, Ph.D., is a Principal Advisor at Altfest Personal Wealth Management. She helps many of the firm’s clients on a variety of investment and financial planning issues.

Karen is a former Chairperson of the Northeast Region of the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA) and a former President and Chairperson of the New York Chapter of the Financial Planning Association (FPA).

Karen is frequently a speaker on the subject of women and money and conducts educational seminars for recent widows and people looking to retire. Her Financially Savvy Woman™ programs, including the Women’s Financial $pa™, are popular with clients.

In 2017, Forbes named Karen Altfest to the inaugural list of "America's Top 200 Women Advisors." Investment News identified her among the "Top 20 Most Influential Women to Watch" in 2015, and Financial Times placed Karen on their list of "Top 100 Women Financial Advisors" in 2014. Previously, InvestmentNews recognized her with their Community Leadership Award and in 2013, Financial Planning recognized Karen for empowering women and pushing the financial planning industry to higher levels.

Karen holds the CFP® designation. She serves as Treasurer of Temple Shaaray Tefila in Manhattan. Karen is a member of the Professional Advisory Council of the Central Park Conservancy, sits on McGill’s Alumni Board of New York, and is a founder and former chair of the Yorkville Common Pantry.

Additional Information

Recognition for Altfest Personal Wealth Management

  • 300 Top Registered Investment Advisors
    • Financial Times, 2014, 2015, 2017
  • Top 10 Rated Wealth Advisors in New York, NY
    • AdvisoryHQ, 2016, 2017
  • Leading Registered Investment Advisors
    • Financial Advisor 2012-2017

Recognition of Our Principals

  • America’s Top Next-Generation Wealth Advisors Forbes
    • Andrew Altfest, 2017
  • America’s Top 200 Women Advisors
    • Forbes – Karen Altfest, 2017
  • Top 1,200 Financial Advisors in the Country
    • Barron’s – Lew Altfest, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
  • Top 100 Independent Financial Advisors
    • ?Barron’s – Lew Altfest, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
  • Top 20 Most Influential Women to Watch
    • InvestmentNews - Karen Altfest, 2015
  • Top 100 Women Financial Advisors
    • Financial Times – Karen Altfest, 2014?
  • The Influencers - Lifetime Achievement Award
    • Financial Planning - Lew and Karen Altfest, 2013
  • NAPFA's 30 Most Influential 
    • NAPFA - Lew Altfest, 2013
  •  Invest in Others Charitable Foundation: Community Leadership Award
    • InvestmentNews - Karen Altfest, 2012
  • The 50 Distinguished Women in Wealth Management
    • Wealth Manager – Karen Altfest, 2008-2009

NAPFA Start Date

July 24, 1994

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Disclaimer: Limitations. This list only serves as a resource to assist an individual in identifying a potential advisor for their review and consideration. The appearance of an adviser on the list is not endorsement by NAPFA of that advisor's services. There can be no assurance that you will experience a certain level of results or satisfaction if you engage a listed advisor. Except for the NAPFA membership fee, the listed advisor did not pay NAPFA a separate fee to appear on the list.
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Disclaimer: Limitations. This list only serves as a resource to assist an individual in identifying a potential advisor for their review and consideration. The appearance of an adviser on the list is not endorsement by NAPFA of that advisor's services. There can be no assurance that you will experience a certain level of results or satisfaction if you engage a listed advisor. Except for the NAPFA membership fee, the listed advisor did not pay NAPFA a separate fee to appear on the list.

Submit