Sebastian Ruiz

Evan Schmidt is a Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®) with 16 years of industry experience. He has been with Schmidt Financial Management since 2019 and previously worked at Schmidt Financial Group, Inc. from 2009 to 2024. Schmidt Financial Management provides discretionary investment management and financial planning services to individual and high-net-worth households, including trusts, estates, and retirement accounts. The firm uses a customized, non-model portfolio approach combining fundamental and technical analysis, delegating manager due diligence to an external provider while conducting regular account reviews and financial planning updates.

Ronald Chan is a CFA® charterholder and the sole advisor at Lakeside Financial Inc. in Kirkland, WA, with 13 years of industry experience. He has been with Lakeside Financial since 2015. Outside of investment advisory, he spends significant time providing management consulting services, including financial analysis and strategic recommendations, notably for a corporate client in the furniture industry. Lakeside Financial is an independent, state-registered firm managing approximately $35 million for around 34 clients. The firm serves individuals, including high-net-worth clients, and business entities, offering investment management, financial planning, and management consulting. Its investment approach incorporates intrinsic-value, quantitative, and qualitative analysis across multiple asset classes and geographies, with features such as the use of margin, securities lending, and performance-based fee arrangements.

Nathan Frerichs is a financial advisor at Blue Mountain Wealth Management with a Series 65 designation and one year of industry experience. Prior to his advisory career, he served 20 years in the United States Coast Guard. Blue Mountain Wealth Management is a registered investment adviser providing wealth management and financial planning services primarily for individuals and high-net-worth clients. The firm employs a fee-only, discretionary management approach that integrates Modern Portfolio Theory, fundamental analysis, and both passive and active investment vehicles, offering tailored portfolios and project-based financial planning.

Dwayne Reinike is a financial advisor at Valiant Financial Planning, LLC in Kirkland, WA, holding CFP® and ChFC® designations with five years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Edward Jones and First Command Brokerage Services Inc, as well as service in the United States Navy. Valiant Financial Planning, LLC is an independent, fee-only firm serving individual clients, including high-net-worth households, with comprehensive financial planning and discretionary investment management. The firm employs customized asset allocation strategies combining passive and active investments, guided by Modern Portfolio Theory and client-specific goals, and uses a tiered, fixed annual fee structure based on asset thresholds.

Justin Rolfe is a CFA® charterholder and the sole advisor at Rare Wolf Capital LLC in Bellevue, WA, with seven years of industry experience. He worked at Bank of America for nine years before spending six years at Bristlecone Advisors, LLC. Rare Wolf Capital LLC serves high-net-worth individuals, trusts and estates, pension and profit-sharing plans, and corporate entities with discretionary portfolio management and financial planning. The firm employs a multi-strategy investment approach combining fundamental, technical, quantitative, and sector/cyclical analysis, managing a variety of asset classes while offering limited bill-pay administrative services.

After spending 15 years in corporate finance as a CPA I felt the desire for a more fulfilling career path. I made the switch to personal financial planning in 2014, earned the CFP marks, and spent 9 years at an Advice-Only firm providing hourly, project-based advice. I launched Alta Via Financial Planning with the intent to have deeper relationships with fewer clients, and provide a more collaborative, ongoing service model where I can more effectively set clients up for success in achieving their financial goals by serving as their trusted partner. I strive to meet clients where they are at, with no judgment, in order to provide a comfortable and trusted environment. I often find that the “Less is More” approach to both life and financial planning helps clients to destress and simplify their financial lives so that they can focus on what is most important, like getting outside with their families. I also understand and promote the importance of experiencing your ideal life today rather than waiting until financial independence (aka retirement). The advice-only pricing model does not compensate me based on how much you have, and therefore I do not have an asset minimum. I only require that you be a nice human. As a fiduciary I will never sell products, and will always make recommendations that are solely in your best interest. I provide comprehensive financial planning and cover areas such as retirement, investing, college savings, insurance needs, cash flow, equity compensation and tax planning.