Kellie L Johnson

I began investing with my first mutual fund purchase in 1983. I've continued studying investments and financial planning ever since, becoming a member of the American Association of Individual Investors in 1984. I earned the Associate of Science in Electronics, from Gavilan College in 1986, the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (cum laude) at Chapman University in 1995, Master of Business Administration at Columbia College of Missouri in 2002. I completed Boston University’s Online Program for Financial Planners in 2006, and most recently earned the Master of Science in Finance & Economics at West Texas A&M University in 2024. I began formally helping others reach their financial goals in 1991, as the Command Financial Specialist aboard USS Dixon (AS 37), as part of the US Navy’s then-new Personal Financial Management program. I served in the same position at Afloat Training Group in Yokosuka, Japan. After completing a Navy career, I worked at Bank of America, first in Northwest Dealer Banking, and was soon promoted to Investment Specialist in Retirement Services. I enjoy helping others apply principles of financial management to their personal situations and teach courses in: Personal Financial Planning; Business Finance; Principles of Real Estate; Investments; and Micro and Macro Economics for Columbia College in Oak Harbor and Marysville. I also taught Personal Finance & Investments for Skagit Valley College from 2004 through 2016. Penn Cove Financial, LLC was established in 2005 and began offering Financial Planning & Investment Management services to the public in March 2006.

Paul Murk is the sole advisor at Sequoia Planning & Investments LLC in La Conner, WA, holding the CFP® designation along with Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. He has 27 years of industry experience and has been with Sequoia Planning and Investments since 1998. Sequoia Planning & Investments provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, families, high-net-worth clients, and trusts. The firm employs a research-driven, long-term strategic asset allocation approach using primarily low-cost mutual funds and ETFs, with a focus on tax efficiency and client approval before trades.

Michael Moore is the sole advisor at Peak Investments in Oak Harbor, WA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials with seven years of industry experience. He has operated a related business, Retirement Income Planners, since 2015, focusing on insurance products such as fixed and equity-indexed annuities. Peak Investments is an independent advisory practice serving individuals, small businesses, and sponsors of qualified retirement and profit-sharing plans. The firm offers personalized investment management and financial planning, emphasizing discretionary portfolio management, retirement planning, and plan-sponsor consulting.

Wayne Best is a financial advisor at Tamalpais Asset Management with 24 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at Marin Wealth Advisors, LaSalle St. Investment Advisors, and other firms before joining Tamalpais. He is also the owner of Align Financial Services, which is compensated based on assets under management at Tamalpais. Tamalpais Asset Management is a team-based, SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, endowments, qualified retirement plan sponsors, and business entities. The firm emphasizes passive investing through DFA mutual funds and ETFs within a process informed by modern portfolio theory, while also employing longer-term trading and tailored portfolio management.

Michael Herlevi is a financial advisor at TCFG Investment Advisors, LLC with eight years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at Edward Jones and Heritage Bank/Whidbey Island Bank prior to joining TCFG in 2021. In addition to his advisory role, he is also an insurance agent with TCFG Insurance Solutions. TCFG Investment Advisors manages approximately $639 million in client assets and serves individuals, profit-sharing plans, charities, and businesses. The firm offers discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and access to third-party money managers, employing a range of analytical strategies and reviewing portfolios annually to align with client objectives.

Richard Keppler is a financial advisor at First Advisors National, LLC with 14 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked with Alliance Fund Distributors, Inc. since 1995. In addition to his advisory role, Keppler is an independent insurance agent servicing clients in Coupeville, WA. First Advisors National provides investment management, asset allocation advice, and retirement plan consulting primarily to individual clients, overseeing approximately $506.8 million in discretionary assets. The firm focuses on selecting and monitoring third-party money managers and integrates tactical and strategic asset allocation methodologies with fundamental analysis.