John Kozak III

MY MISSION The first time I remember standing up for injustice was on the playground during 2nd grade recess. A couple of bullies were picking on a scared girl. I marched up and gave these bullies a piece of my mind and the girl and I become best friends. After entering the Financial Services industry in 2007, I quickly realized there were many “bullies” that used their knowledge to intimidate clients into pricey products and services. What About Us Financial was founded in 2019 to stand up against the status quo in Financial Services. We are the 99% that deserve our own beautifully successful life. Money is power. It brings us security and confidence. Saving and investing is not only for the rich. We can all prosper and thrive through thoughtful budgeting, savings and investing. This is my mission in life – to empower the underserved so they may obtain financial freedom and success. MY EXPERIENCE I’m a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERTM Professional (CFP®), a Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC®), and hold a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) in Management Innovation & Change. I have the letters to demonstrate knowledge, but it is more important to convey my heart to demonstrate compassion. I am a Fiduciary, which is the highest standard of client care. I must always act in the client’s best interest, even when it’s in opposition to mine. (This is big stuff! Do some Googling to see the efforts to hold all advisors to this standard. They have failed, so it’s still a scary world.) MY OFFICE My office is located inside my home in Bellbrook, Ohio. I see no reason to tax environmental (and personal) resources to open a fancy office space. We can meet at your favorite coffee shop, restaurant, office or kitchen table. And there is always video conferencing through Zoom, FaceTime or Skype.

My goal is to help bring order to your financial life and help you make smarter financial decisions. I do this by focusing on what you care about the most – your spending ability. Together, we will figure out how much you can safely spend each year and how much you need to save. We will look for ways to safely increase your standard of living. My clients seek advice on a wide variety of issues. But they all share one thing in common… they want professional guidance and support to help them navigate the complexities of their financial life. We will work collaboratively because it is important that you be a part of the financial planning process. We will have real discussions about money and the things you want to accomplish in life. We will figure out how to put you back in charge of your finances and on the path to financial freedom. I grew up in Lexington, Massachusetts and then attended college in Tampa, Florida where I earned an undergraduate degree in finance from the University of South Florida. After graduating from college, I moved to San Diego, California where I lived for about 15 years working mostly in finance and accounting. In 1986, I obtained my California CPA license. In 1992, I became a Certified Financial Planner. In 1996, I returned to Massachusetts to become a partner in a local CPA firm and also obtained my Massachusetts CPA license. And then in 2004, I founded Spillane Financial Planning, Inc. to better serve the financial planning and investment needs of my clients. In 2023, after more than 25 years in Massachusetts, my wife and I decided to relocate to the historic town of Lebanon, Ohio. Over the years, I have gained valuable knowledge, experience, and insight that will benefit my clients. I look forward to hearing from you.