Krista Zipfel

Krista S. Zipfel, CFA is a Director with ACA Group. Krista has over 25 years of experience working with investment advisers across all sizes, asset classes, and types of clients served. She currently manages several client relationships providing annual compliance reviews and consulting on regulatory, compliance, and internal control matters. She is a regular speaker at numerous regional and national conferences. Krista began her career in 1994 with Palley-Needelman Asset Management, Inc. During her 8 years at Palley-Needelman, she went from serving as a portfolio administrator and database administrator to completing her MBA, earning the CFA designation, passing the Series 7 and 65 exams, and becoming a Portfolio Manager and Director-Managed Account Operations. She later served as Managing Director for Finance 500 Advisory Services, Inc. and was responsible for all aspects of the firm’s operations and compliance program. In 2003 Krista founded Advisor Solutions Group, Inc. (ASG) and has been the firm’s President and CEO for more than 15 years. She grew the firm from a solo practice to a team of 9 and supported over 200 RIA firms with their compliance programs. She helped advisers get registered, create compliance programs, and keep their programs current with changes in the business or regulations. In 2018 Krista joined Focus 1 as Director to focus her time on serving the compliance needs of investment advisers. In addition to consulting with advisers, she served as a member of the Strategic Planning Committee, working closely with other committee members to uphold Focus 1’s values and service-level objectives while also assisting with the operational and growth objectives of the firm. In 2022, Focus 1 merged with ACA Group. During her career she has been involved in in the examination process in both a firm and consultant role. She has prepared and submitted hundreds of regulatory filings. She has worked in the areas of compliance, portfolio management, client service, marketing, research, portfolio administration, operations, trading, and accounting. She has provided valuable advice to CEOs, Presidents, CIOs, portfolio managers, analysts, and administrative and operational staff and understands an RIA’s organization and compliance needs. Krista graduated Summa Cum Laude with a BA in Management and Business Administration from Pacific Christian College. She holds an MBA with a Finance emphasis from California State University, Fullerton. She holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation from the CFA Institute. Krista is a member of and past Board of Director for the National Society of Compliance Professionals (NSCP); she continues to serve on NSCP's Financial Committee. She is a member and Past President of the Southern California Compliance Group. She is a frequent speaker on regulatory topics at NSCP, CFAOC, and other events. She is a member of the CFA Institute, a member and former president of the CFA Society of Orange County (CFAOC). She is the founder and former chair of the CFA Society of Orange County Foundation.