Natalie June Pace

Benjamin Smith, CFP®, is the founder and owner of Briarwood Financial, a comprehensive financial services firm providing wealth management, tax preparation, accounting, and business consulting for individuals and business owners nationwide. Benjamin enjoys working directly with clients to help them navigate the complexities that wealth inevitably brings. His approach combines financial planning, tax strategy, and business advisory services—ensuring that every piece of a client’s financial picture works together efficiently and intentionally. Before launching Briarwood, Benjamin served as a Financial Advisor at Cetera Investment Services, an independent broker-dealer. There, he specialized in developing customized investment portfolios guided by long-term strategic planning. His drive to offer clients more holistic, tax-integrated advice led him to expand his practice beyond traditional advising and establish Briarwood Financial as a full-service firm. Benjamin holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration with a concentration in Economics from Seattle Pacific University and is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Professional. Earlier in his career, he gained valuable experience in sales, operations, and management within the telecommunications industry—skills that helped shape his practical, results-oriented approach to leadership and client service. At the heart of his philosophy are integrity, honesty, and competence. He believes true financial planning is built on trust, clarity, and a genuine commitment to helping clients make informed, confident decisions that align with their values and long-term goals.

Jacy Hixon is the president and chief compliance officer of Crossroads Advisor Network LLC and has 20 years of experience in the financial industry. He is also president and co-owner of Advisor Systems Inc., a technology company serving financial advisers. Prior to his current roles, he has been self-employed as a business consultant since 2015. Crossroads Advisor Network LLC provides discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and pension consulting services for pooled vehicles, institutional retirement accounts, businesses, trusts, and individual clients. The firm’s investment approach incorporates technical, cyclical, and fundamental analysis and may include options strategies, margin, and derivatives in separately managed accounts.

Jeremy Despain is a financial advisor at Advent Capital Strategies, LLC, with eight years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has previously worked at Key Investment Services and Key Bank. Outside of his advisory work, he is actively involved with Bible Baptist Church. Advent Capital Strategies provides discretionary investment management and retirement-plan consulting to individuals, families, trusts, employer-sponsored plans, and various institutional clients, including pension and profit-sharing plans. The firm emphasizes passive, asset-class-based portfolios primarily using index mutual funds and ETFs, tailoring asset allocation to client objectives and risk tolerances while also offering plan-level services like investment menu design and participant education.

Terry Bradford-Crane is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® practitioner with over 25+ years of financial services industry experience as a financial advisor and registered representative, financial literacy advocate, guest speaker, educator, and adjunct faculty member for MBA and CFP® education and certification programs. Terry helps clients create pathways to financial and professional wellness by aligning values, financial and non-financial resources, and a clear vision for a fulfilled quality of life. Terry is also the managing partner and financial officer of Allied Approach Group, LLC, an aviation test and evaluation consulting firm. She volunteers for the Foundation for Financial Planning and multiple business leadership and mentoring programs. Terry is a member of the XY Planning Network and the Financial Planning Association of Puget Sound. Terry holds a Bachelor of Science in Political Science from the United States Naval Academy, a Master of Business Administration from California Lutheran University, and is a Taekwondo Master, 4th Dan.

Alexander Morrow is a CFP® with eight years of experience in the financial services industry. He is the sole advisor at Faire Capital Group, an independent registered investment adviser based in Gig Harbor, WA. His prior work includes roles at KPMG, CPWM, and involvement with private investment entities such as APAM, LLC and Faire Capital Partners, LLC, where he manages private funds. Faire Capital Group primarily serves individual clients, providing portfolio management and financial planning services. The firm also sponsors and manages private investment partnerships, offering clients access to pooled vehicles not commonly available through typical independent advisers.

Andrew Thibeault Jr. is a CFP® professional with 30 years of experience in financial advising, currently with Conestoga Wealth Partners in Gig Harbor, WA. He has previously worked at Commonwealth Financial Network and Wells Fargo Advisors. Thibeault also serves as a FINRA arbitrator in non-public dispute resolution. Conestoga Wealth Partners is a team-based firm serving clients with comprehensive wealth management services.