Marie Stark Joins Forum Partner Group

Marie Stark, CPA has been named a partner for Forum Financial Management. She joined Forum as a financial advisor in 2016. Marie is the second advisor to move up internally from the Forum advisory team to the Forum partner group in less than five years. Karma Forrestal was named partner in 2016 after entering the firm in 2012.

As one of the founders of Stark & Basila Certified Public Accountants, P.C., Marie has assisted accounting clients for more than 30 years from her offices in Cohoes, New York. Her new role as a Forum partner presents an opportunity to share her financial planning experience and extensive knowledge of the field of tax and accounting.

 Marie said, “A uniting factor of the Forum partners is our shared investment philosophy, but I also feel that strength is drawn from our diverse backgrounds, areas of expertise and communication styles. I am looking forward to adding my perspective to the partner group and helping to grow the firm while supporting the ideals that have brought Forum to what it is today.”

Forum Partner Mary Pat Wesche, CPA, PFS, CDFA®, CFP® said, “Marie is a great addition to the Forum partnership. Her value system and skill set represent what a Forum partner should be. With her clients’ best interests at heart, Marie takes the time to get to know clients to determine the optimal strategies that will work for them. She is well respected within the partner group, and we have valued the different opinions she has brought to the table since she joined Forum as a financial advisor.”

 Marie regards her decision to become a financial advisor in 1999 as the turning point in her professional career. She said, “I have the opportunity to develop deep relationships with clients, to understand who they are and truly partner with them to ensure that their short- and long-term goals fit into their overall financial plan. Utilizing my experience in tax and accounting to help clients not only develop but implement a comprehensive financial plan with a focus on tax efficiency is truly rewarding.”