Susan is a private wealth specialist creating customized solutions for high-net-worth individuals and families. Susan's extensive estate, insurance, and tax planning expertise is the basis for the comprehensive, multi-generational plans that she develops for her clientele and family offices.

Susan’s expertise in the life and long-term care insurance area comes from her work as a Senior Manager at Price Waterhouse and the many years that followed working with the industry’s brightest minds as an independent broker and consultant. Susan is the driving force behind the AICPA’s risk management track at Engage, the annual Advanced Personal Financial Planning conference, and currently chairs the conference subcommittee.

Susan is also actively involved in women's empowerment to help women take charge of their finances, especially before any of the 6Ds occur: Death, Divorce, Disability, Disaster, Dementia, and Debt. Be Prepared Not Scared® is her motto. She runs an annual women’s panel at Engage to help women share experiences, fears, and best practices to increase gender equality in the industry.

Susan carries numerous professional certifications and designations and is recognized among her peers for her leadership, advocacy, and philanthropy, and is a frequent speaker at industry events. Much of Susan's expertise was acquired while she was a senior tax manager at PriceWaterhouse, LLC (1987- 1992), and as a senior tax consultant with Deloitte, Haskins & Sells (1984-1987). She founded her firm in 1992.

Susan graduated magna cum laude from Fairfield University in 1984 with a BS in Accounting and lives with her husband in Naples, Florida. She enjoys photography, painting, and traveling. She is a proud member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She is most proud of launching her two adult children!

Susan has earned the right to use the Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Personal Financial Specialist (CFS), and Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation.

About Us:

Beacon Wealth Consulting South (BWC) is a boutique firm located in Naples, Florida which specializes in creating tailored financial plans for high net worth families. Susan's expertise in estate, insurance, and tax planning is the basis for the comprehensive, multigenerational plans that she develops for her clients.

BWC is also an independent insurance brokerage firm that often partners with other planners who do not have insurance expertise. BWC customizes life insurance plans for the high net worth clients in the context of the family’s overall financial plan, often integrated with sophisticated estate and retirement planning strategies.

BWC prides itself on successful collaboration with the clients’ team of advisors and/or family office. Susan Joy Bruno, the firm’s founder, and is a nationally recognized CPA/PFS for her work in life insurance planning.

Susan recently launched “The Beacon Method” which is a consulting service to help CPAs launch a financial planning practice or simply help financial planners take their practices from good to great. Some of the topics she will cover include:

• How to leverage junior staff members to help them grow while also making your clients happier
• How and why to add women to your practice
• How to use the 6Ds fire drill to motivate your clients
• How to add more graphics for your visual learners
• How to add life insurance consulting or brokerage to your practice without compromising your objectivity or integrity