BALTIMORE ACCOUNTANT WINS AICPA UNIT’S SERVICE AWARD

Lyle K. Benson Jr. has devoted considerable time and effort toward turning certified public accountants into financial planners and increasing awareness of the Personal Financial Specialist designation. Now, the accounting industry has given something back.

The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Personal Financial Planning Division presented its distinguished service award to the president of Baltimore-based L.K. Benson & Co. at its recent Technical Conference in Orlando.

“Lyle’s contributions and dedication to the PFP Division really speak for themselves,” said Phyllis J. Bernstein, director of the financial planning division. “He has repeatedly given his time freely to help CPAs break into this highly competitive business and has labored long and hard to help raise awareness of the PFS designation.”

As a three-year member of the financial planning division’s executive committee, Mr. Benson was chairman of the institute’s first investment planning conference. He also has served as president of the Licensed Independent Network of CPA Financial Planners since 1993, and is past president of the Baltimore Association for Financial Planning.

Mr. Benson was designated a Worth Magazine top-ranked financial adviser two years in a row, has twice been named one of the 100 most influential people in the accounting profession by Accounting Today, and was elected the independent network’s planner of the year in 1992. He is also an adjunct professor at the University of Baltimore.