Helen Huntley
Helen Huntley was a trusted source of financial guidance for St. Petersburg Times readers for more than two decades as the newspaper's personal finance editor and columnist. That role gave her the opportunity to interview and learn from some of the brightest people in the financial world, from giants like John Templeton and Jack Bogle to TV pundits. It also brought her hands-on financial experience serving on the committee that oversees the Times' pension and profit sharing plans and on the board of the Times Staffers Federal Credit Union, helping shepherd it through its merger with Suncoast Schools Federal Credit Union. She has been a speaker for professional organizations, including the Financial Planning Association and the Society of American Business Editors and Writers.
Helen has a bachelor's degree from the University of Florida, a master's degree from the University of South Florida and a Certificate in Financial Planning from Florida Institute of Technology. She also has taken financial courses for journalists through the Knight Center for Specialized Journalism at the University of Maryland and the Foundation for American Communications. Helen recently passed the rigorous two-day CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ exam and is in the process of completing the requirements for certification. She also passed the Series 65 Uniform Investment Adviser Law Examination administered by FINRA.
Helen was a Times writer for 37 years, covering education, local politics and social services before joining the business news staff in 1985 and being named personal finance editor in 2002. Most recently she received acclaim for her award-winning coverage of the Lou Pearlman investment scam. Helen retired from the Times in 2008, although she still writes a column for the "Lifetimes" section every other month. She is excited to have the opportunity to move from giving broad general advice to thousands of readers to providing specific recommendations to a select group of clients. Helen is a member of the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors, the premier organization for fee-only planners.
A native Floridian who grew up in Dunedin, Helen has been active in community and church affairs. She is a former president of the Suncoast Tiger Bay Club and the Leadership St. Pete Alumni Association. She is a former moderator of the Presbytery of Tampa Bay and former president of its Board of Trustees. She is married and has two adult children. Helen enjoys music (choral, classical and country), hiking and cheering for the Gators.
