Our News

OUR NEWS

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL SHARES OUR INSIGHT ON SOCIAL SECURITY INCOME
Is Social Security taxable? It’s a great question and one that we hear often. The answer…YES! Find out what this means for your retirement including tips from our President, Debra Brennan Tagg in this WSJ article.

D CEO Features Debra on Economic Watch List for Business Owners
In D CEO’s Ask the Expert, we give our ideas on risks and opportunities for business owners in today’s economy.

Entrepreneur Magazine Shares Our Advice to Aspiring Entrepreneurs
Thinking of joining the Great Resignation? Ready to live the life you want? In this article for Entrepreneur, we cover important ways to get your financial portfolio ready too. Read on for tips to start your new life right.

D CEO Names Debra One of the Most Powerful Business Leaders in North Texas
Debra Brennan Tagg has been included as part of the Dallas 500 for 2022, a special edition by D CEO Magazine that profiles the most influential leaders in Texas, across a wide spectrum of industries. She is honored to be included on this esteemed list once again.

Wealth Report Solutions Features Debra Who Breaks Down How Financial Advisors Can Best Engage with Tax Advisors to Operate Successfully
Our President, Debra Brennan Tagg tells Wealth Solutions Report about the importance of tax smart financial strategies for Gen X families and business owners. Read the full story to learn why FAs and their clients benefit from strong relationships with tax advisors:

D CEO Shares What We are Most Excited About for the Future
The September issue of D CEO focuses on the strategies that DFW leaders are using to affect progress in diversity, equity, and inclusion. Turn to page 60 of the digital issue to see what has our President, Debra Brennan Tagg, CFP®, most excited about the future.

MarketWatch Shares Our Advice to Investors On Retirement and Inflation
Our own Sergio Garcia, CFP®, tells MarketWatch about the value of a well-diversified portfolio in these inflationary times.
For the full story and great tips for building a retirement plan, read on.

Entrepreneur Magazine Shares Our Advice to Business Owners
At BFS, we live to help clients and fellow entrepreneurs design a plan that leads to success. Sometimes we get the opportunity to share the love, like in Entrepreneur Magazine's article featuring the four things successful entrepreneurs learned during the pandemic, which we like to call the “risk lab.”
Want to know the 4 ways to make sure your business survives the unexpected? Read on.

D CEO features Debra on Salary Negotiations: Addressing the Confidence Gap
The June/July issue features Debra in its "Ask the Expert" column. In the interview, Debra discusses the negotiation skills that we believe women would benefit from as we all navigate our new normal. We believe that everyone should be able to use their money to have the lives they want, so we focus on ways to help women not only close the wage gap and design — and ask for — a fulfilling work environment.

D Magazine Names Sergio Garcia a 2020 Best Financial Planner
We strive for excellence, and our own Sergio Garcia, CFP®, is achieving it. He has been named to D Magazine’s list of 2020 Best Financial Planners in Dallas.

Debra Chosen as a 2020 InvestmentNews Woman to Watch
Debra Brennan Tagg’s commitment to advancing women in the financial planning industry was recognized in 2020. She is humbled to be among the 2020 InvestmentNews Women to Watch.

Forbes features Debra’s challenge to use Covid-19’s disruption as an opportunity
In this article for Forbes, Debra Brennan Tagg challenges readers to use Covid-19’s disruption as an opportunity to re-evaluate what they truly want out of life. She shares six questions that can help readers focus on that most precious goal.

Mastering the Art of Negotiation While Working From Home
In this article for Forbes, Debra Brennan Tagg shares five key tools readers can use for successfully negotiating—like for a raise, leadership role or the ability to work from home.

A Keynote Conversation with Debra Brennan Tagg at the Annual Women’s Conference 2020
Debra Brennan Tagg was honored to speak at the Annual Women’s Conference of the US India Chamber of Commerce DFW. She highlighted the importance of knowing how negotiation and money skills can help women achieve their goals and live the life they want.

Communities Foundation of Texas Hopes to Inspire Corporate Citizenship with New Recognition Program
This D Magazine article highlights the Be In Good Company initiative and quotes Debra Brennan Tagg, who helms the effort as a Communities Foundation of Texas Trustee.

Investment Strategies During the Covid-19 Crisis
D Magazine interviewed Debra Brennan Tagg about investment strategies readers should consider during the Covid-19 crisis. She shared five strong tips as well as a common mistake investors should avoid.

COVID-19 has Proven the Crucial Role of Financial Advisers
This InvestmentNews article spotlights Debra Brennan Tagg’s dedication to keeping her local community strong through the Be In Good Company initiative, which she spearheads as a Communities Foundation of Texas Trustee.

How much should you have in savings at each age?
Our team member Sergio Garcia, CFP®, shared his insights on building an emergency fund for this Bankrate article that was also published on MSN.com.

Debra named to Forbes Top Women Wealth Advisors 2020 list.
We are honored to be named to this prestigious list. You can learn more about the methodology behind this award here.

Debra and Lindsay guest on Investment News' podcast Her Mentorship Matters
Steering a mentee's career in a new direction: InvestmentNews’ Liz Skinner and Audrey Rose Joseph sit down with Debra Brennan Tagg, president of Brennan Financial Services, and her mentee Lindsay Zentner, a successful portfolio analyst and CFA.

Debra has been named to Forbes Magazine's Best-In-State Wealth Advisors 2020 list
We are thankful to be recognized and included on this list for the second consecutive year. You can learn more about the criteria that goes into this prestigious honor here.

Debra featured in RIA Intel article about female wealth managers
Debra discusses the industry-wide struggle to recruit women advisors to the field, as well as her efforts to help improve the statistics.

Debra wins D CEO Magazine Corporate Citizenship Award
Financial planners are tasked with helping clients preserve their wealth. So, it may seem counterintuitive that Debra Brennan Tagg encourages those she advises to give their money away. It’s a philosophy that was cultivated by her father, Dave Brennan, who founded Brennan Financial Services in 1983. Over the years, thousands of clients have been encouraged to build philanthropy into their investment portfolios, creating a ripple effect across the community. Debra also lends her financial expertise and leadership skills to countless organizations. Corporate citizenship, she says, means “understanding your responsibility to the whole community—in the employees you hire, the services and products you offer, the policies you put in place, and the way you improve the world around you.”

Debra's Importance of Negotiation speech wins Audience Award at 2019 Advisor Group W Forum.
After being selected as one of four W Forum Visionary speakers, Debra presented her Negotiation speech to the national Advisor Group W Forum conference in Indianapolis. You may recall last year's Money + Mindset event that focused on negotiation tactics, which formed the basis and inspiration for the presentation. Following the conference, Debra's presentation was awarded "Audience Favorite" by the attendees.

Debra has been named to Forbes Magazine's Best-In-State Wealth Advisors list.
We are very excited to be selected to this list. You can learn more about the criteria that goes into this prestigious honor here.

Debra has been selected to the Board of Trustees for Communities Foundation of Texas.
According to CFT Board Chair Jim Bass, “We are fortunate to have outstanding business and community leaders who [have] accept[ed] the call to be trustees. The varied experience and knowledge that Matrice, Gunjan and Debra are bringing to our board will help guide CFT as we work together to strengthen North Texas and improve lives across our entire state and beyond.”

Debra named to Dallas Business Journal's Network 200 list.
Each year, the Dallas Business Journal names its Network 200 list, highlighting the preeminent leaders across nine industries. Debra is featured on the Finance and Financial Services list, with a nice profile about her leadership style.

Debra was a featured speaker 2018 Advisor Group W Forum in New Orleans.
Advisor Group's annual conference offers education and networking opportunities for all women in the Advisor Group network. Valerie Brown led a panel of advisors that included Patti Brennan & Debra Brennan Tagg, each discussing her experiences growing in the industry and how focusing one's power can lead to success.

Debra selected as a DBJ 2018 Women in Business Honoree
The Dallas Business Journal has selected Debra as one of its top 30 business leaders in North Texas, an honor that highlights "decision makers that shape North Texas through legal and financial services, human resources, civil service, nonprofits and more." You can read her interview here.
Investment News accepts nominations of professionals from all areas of the financial advisory industry and determines nominees. Eligibility for the 40 Under 40 list based on the following criteria: accomplishments to date, contribution to the industry, leadership and promise. Financial professionals do not pay a fee to be considered for the award.
The 2020 Best Financial Planner is presented by D Magazine. Nominees are selected by Certified Financial Planners in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. A group of financial planners selects the recipient.
The 2020 Investment News Women to Watch selects recipients based upon accomplishments, contribution to the industry, leadership and community involvement. Nominations of Professionals from all areas of the financial advisory industry are selected by Investment News as winners. Winning Financial Professionals may select promotional materials about this award for a fee.
The Forbes ranking of America's Top Women Wealth Advisors, is based on an algorithm of qualitative and quantitative data, rating thousands of wealth advisors with a minimum of seven years of experience and weighing factors like revenue trends, assets under management, compliance records, industry experience and best practices learned through telephone and in-person interviews. There is no fee in exchange for rankings.
The Forbes ranking of Best-In-State Wealth Advisors is based on an algorithm of qualitative criteria, mostly gained through telephone and in-person due diligence interviews, and quantitative data. Advisors that are considered have a minimum of seven years experience, and the algorithm weights factors like revenue trends, assets under management, compliance records, industry experience and those that encompass best practices in their practices and approach to working with clients. Portfolio performance is not a criteria due to varying client objectives and lack of audited data. Forbes does not receive a fee in exchange for rankings
The executives chosen for the Dallas Business Journal Network 200 were selected by the Dallas Business Journal editorial staff based on the staff’s assessment of the executive’s involvement in new, ground-breaking or evolving businesses in their respective industries. This recognition is not reflective of the recipient’s abilities as a financial advisor.
The D CEO Dallas Top 500 Business Leader award recipients are chosen by the editors of D CEO magazine and is not reflective of the recipient’s abilities as a financial advisor.
Inclusion in the 2022 D CEO Dallas 500 special edition is predicated on a year-long research initiative conducted by the editors of D CEO Magazine. Selections are made based on extensive contacts in local business circles and hundreds of interviews. This award is not based on any other criteria and should not be understood to convey any particular client experience or and other qualification of the recipient. Third-party recognitions are no guarantee of future investment success and do not ensure that a client or prospective client will experience a higher level of performance or results. This recognition should not be construed as an endorsement of the advisor by any client nor is it representative of any client's evaluation.
The Dallas Business Journal Women in Business Honorees are selected by a panel of Women in Business alumni and other community leaders. Selection is based on proven leadership success in the honoree’s business/industry, as well as community involvement.
The D CEO Nonprofit and Corporate Citizenship Awards recipients are chosen by the editors of D CEO Magazine. Selection is based on professionals and organizations in the nonprofit world that make a positive impact on the community as well as corporations that support local nonprofits through executives volunteering their time on boards to lending support through financial donations, in-kind services, and sponsorships.
The Working Mother’s Top Wealth Advisor Moms is issued by “Working Mother” and Shook Research, LLC. It is granted independently to female wealth advisors with at least one child, under the age of 18, living at home. Recipients are determined by Shook Research and the ranking is determined by an algorithm based on qualitative measures derived from telephone and in-person interviews. The surveys focus on the following: service models, investing process, client retention, industry experience, review of compliance records, firm nominations, etc.; and quantitative criteria, such as assets under management and revenue generated for their firms.
Third-party rankings and recognitions are no guarantee of future investment success and do not ensure that a client or prospective client will experience a higher level of performance or results. These ratings should not be construed as an endorsement of the advisor by any client nor are they representative of any one client’s evaluation.