James Robert Files

I help tech professionals turn equity compensation into lasting wealth. Before co-founding Bellwether’s growth practice, I managed client assets at Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management and traded California municipal bonds at Franklin Templeton. I then spent several years in AI Product Management leadership at Workday and Intuit, so I know RSUs, options and concentrated stock from the inside, not just on paper. Prior to this role I was head of AI PM at Intuit Quickbooks CRM. Today I’m a Managing Director and Partner at Bellwether Capital Management, a fee-only fiduciary firm. I work with a small number of families on investment management, tax-aware diversification, and planning for big moves like a home purchase, a career change, or stepping away from corporate work. CFA charterholder. UCLA Anderson MBA. Based on the Peninsula.

I am an independent 'Fee-Only' financial planner and advisor. I am a fiduciary focused on giving objective, holistic, and comprehensive financial advice. I also work with individuals helping to navigate whatever stage of life you are in, from building wealth all the way to preserving what you’ve already worked hard to build. My background is in finance and financial planning. After receiving my Bachelor of Science degree from Sacramento State's Financial Planning program, I continued to advance my financial planning and advisory experience and knowledge by obtaining various credentials, including the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® marks, also known as the CFP® marks. This noteworthy designation is generally considered to be the 'Gold Standard' in financial planning. With my prior firm, I was responsible for creating many of the most complex financial plans. Additionally, I was on the firm's Investment Committee, playing a role in the direction of the various portfolio allocations and recommendations that were used for clients. I also provide outsourced financial planning services for other advisors through Foundation Financial Planning. In doing this work, I continue to improve and hone my planning skills by gaining valuable insight into how financial plans are done with a firm that specializes in doing plans for all sorts of advisors. I currently reside in Rocklin CA, with my wife and young growing family. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my family, exploring the outdoors, BBQing, and tinkering with things around the house.

Elizabeth “Liz” Daffner founded Diligence Wealth Management with a simple idea: financial planning should be about more than accumulating money. It should help you build a life you actually want to live. Working in financial services since 2010, Liz has built an intentionally small, personal practice serving clients in Roseville, California, the greater Sacramento area, and beyond. Her clients work directly with her, not a revolving team of advisors, because she believes some of life’s biggest financial decisions deserve a relationship with someone who actually knows your story. Liz specializes in retirement planning and wealth management, including investment management, retirement income strategies, Social Security planning, Roth conversions, and tax-aware financial planning. She also helps people navigate the moments when life suddenly changes the financial plan: retirement, divorce, the loss of a spouse, or receiving an inheritance. Her philosophy is practical: money is a tool, not the finish line. A good financial plan should give you the confidence to make smart decisions while still enjoying the life you worked so hard to build. That philosophy carries into Liz’s own life. When she isn’t working with clients, you’re more likely to find her on the back of a horse, riding a motorcycle, traveling, or chasing the next adventure. She believes a successful financial life isn’t just measured by what you leave behind. It’s also measured by what you get to experience along the way.

Mark Dyer is a financial advisor at Mechfi in Sacramento, CA, with nine years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has previously worked at Merrill, Bank of America Corp, Edward Jones, J.P. Morgan Securities, Comerica Securities, Motif, and Lumity, Inc. Outside of his advisory role, he is a 25% owner of Mary's Mobile Kitchen, a restaurant business, for which he creates marketing materials. Mechfi provides fee-based advisory services to individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and employer-sponsored retirement plans. The firm’s investment process follows Modern Portfolio Theory and uses diversified portfolios of ETFs, mutual funds, REITs, individual equities, and fixed income, with ongoing monitoring and client education through newsletters and seminars.

Ryan Demartini is the sole advisor at JC Financial Services, an independent firm based in Loomis, CA. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 10 years of industry experience. In addition to his advisory role, Demartini provides bookkeeping and tax preparation services through his separate business, JC Bookkeeping. JC Financial Services serves individual investors and small businesses with financial planning, investment management, and retirement plan services. The firm focuses on passive portfolio construction using index mutual funds and ETFs, incorporates third-party managers when appropriate, and offers ongoing planning with periodic reviews. Its affiliation with an in-house bookkeeping and tax practice supports integrated client services and employer retirement plan education.

Matthew Pederson is the sole advisor at MP3 Finance LLC, an independent firm based in Cameron Park, CA. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has one year of industry experience. Prior to founding MP3 Finance LLC, he worked at Life Time Fitness and Sutter Health. Outside of financial advising, Pederson operates a personal training business and runs an educational YouTube channel. MP3 Finance LLC offers discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, coaching, and SEP IRA services for individuals across various life stages. The firm employs a combination of fundamental and technical analysis with a focus on long-term holdings in stocks, bonds, and ETFs, incorporating options strategies and limited use of digital asset ETFs and margin for suitable clients.