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.

Alvin Wolcott is a CFP® with 11 years of industry experience, currently serving as the sole advisor at APEX Tax & Financial Planning in Kent, WA. He previously worked at Pacific Portfolio Consulting, LLC and Synergy Asset Management LLC. Alvin is also the owner of a CPA firm, Apex Tax & Financial Solutions, which he manages alongside his advisory work. APEX Tax & Financial Planning provides personalized financial planning and investment advisory services to individuals, business owners, and trusts. The firm employs a written Investment Policy Statement, combining active and passive strategies with a tax-aware planning process, and offers both discretionary and non-discretionary management options.

Lauren Vignec is the principal of Vignec Financial LLC in Seattle, WA, holding a Series 65 designation with over 17 years of experience in wealth management. Prior to founding her own firm in 2025, she worked at Erickson Wealth & Tax Management for 16 years. Outside of advising, she prepares tax returns for an unaffiliated CPA firm during the initial tax season and owns a mobile video-game startup. Vignec Financial LLC is a newly registered investment adviser providing discretionary investment management and portfolio oversight primarily to individual clients. The firm employs a long-term, passive investment approach using risk-based model portfolios mainly composed of broadly diversified ETFs and mutual funds, with scheduled rebalancing and no market timing or individual security selection.

Jesse Dungan is a financial advisor at Fangorn Wealth Management with Series 65 and Series 66 licenses and one year of industry experience. Prior to joining the firm, he spent 10 years at Amazon Corporate LLC. Outside of advising, he works as a compensated soccer referee in Kent, WA. Fangorn Wealth Management serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, small businesses, and charitable foundations with financial planning and portfolio management. The firm utilizes diversified, tax-aware investment strategies and applies Modern Portfolio Theory, scenario analysis, and stress testing to manage risk, while also providing estate and charitable-planning guidance and educational seminars.

Julie Wurst is a CFP® professional with 11 years of industry experience. She has operated her independent advisory firm, Julie A. Wurst, CFP, LLC, in Tacoma, WA, since 2017. Her firm provides advisory services to individual clients, including high-net-worth individuals, as well as small businesses and trusts. The firm employs a globally diversified, low-cost investment approach primarily using index mutual funds and ETFs, and offers customized financial planning and consulting through various communication methods.

Gregory Merrill is the sole advisor at Strategic Asset Management in Tacoma, WA, holding a Series 65 designation with 31 years of industry experience. He has been with Strategic Asset Management since 1995. Strategic Asset Management serves individual investors across various account types, offering discretionary portfolio management and investment advice. The firm employs a combination of fundamental and technical analysis to guide investment decisions and incorporates private limited partnerships for accredited clients, along with operational practices aimed at fairness in trade execution.

Cole Ferrier is the principal advisor at EnoughFP LLC, holding the ChFC® designation and a Series 65 license with two years of industry experience. Prior to founding EnoughFP, he worked at The Boeing Company and held a position at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. He has a professional background in information technology and public-sector roles. EnoughFP is a solo registered investment adviser providing comprehensive financial planning to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, and businesses. The firm follows a buy-and-hold passive indexing approach based on Modern Portfolio Theory and offers implementation-focused recommendations without discretionary management.

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.

Joseph Dostal is the principal of J Dostal Investments and has 23 years of industry experience. He has operated his independent investment advisory firm since 2001. The firm provides discretionary portfolio management and financial advisory services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, charitable organizations, and small businesses. J Dostal Investments combines fundamental research with technical metrics to select individual securities, focusing on U.S. companies with global operations, durable business models, and histories of returning value to shareholders.

Tyler Linsten is the sole advisor at Alder Cove Capital, LLC, an independent registered investment adviser based in Tukwila, WA. He holds the CFA® designation and Series 65 license, with 12 years of industry experience. Prior to founding Alder Cove Capital in 2014, he has worked with the Pacific Maritime Association since 2007 and served a brief term at ILWU Local 19. Linsten also serves as an unpaid board member of Waterfront Federal Credit Union in Seattle. Alder Cove Capital serves individuals and high-net-worth clients through portfolio management, financial planning, and hourly consultations. The firm emphasizes a fiduciary, long-term, low-cost, and diversified investment approach and is noted for incorporating tax-aware separately managed accounts and sophisticated model allocations tailored to clients’ specific goals and tax considerations.

Laurence Elvins is the sole advisor at Tacoma Investment Group in Tacoma, WA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with 31 years of industry experience. He has led Tacoma Investment Group since its founding in 1995. Tacoma Investment Group provides discretionary portfolio management for individuals, trusts, retirement accounts, corporations, pension and profit-sharing plans, and charitable organizations. The firm emphasizes fundamental and qualitative analysis, asset allocation, and long-term investment strategies tailored to client-specific considerations, and it uniquely serves both individual and institutional clients as an independent solo advisor.

Elaine Chan is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®) with 20 years of industry experience. She has been the sole advisor at FIOH Global Asset Management and Strategies, LLC since 2011. FIOH Global Asset Management and Strategies is an independent registered investment adviser serving individuals, trusts, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm offers discretionary portfolio management, financial and retirement planning, benefit plan consultation, and divorce settlement consulting, using tailored strategies with stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and ETFs.

Kevin Estes, CFP®, MBA is the Founder and Financial Planner of Scaled Finance, LLC. He helps tech professionals and their families live their best lives. His definition of family is broad! Your family is whoever matters most to you. His specialties include equity compensation, financial independence, real estate, and education. Kevin works with a wide age range of clients. Kevin is located near T-Mobile’s Bellevue, WA headquarters. Scaled Finance operates virtually, allowing him to serve clients nationwide.

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.

Brian Skaggs is a CFP® professional with 23 years of industry experience. He founded and has operated Skaggs Financial Planning, LLC since 2002 in Burien, WA. Skaggs Financial Planning, LLC serves individual and high-net-worth clients with portfolio management and comprehensive financial planning, including hourly and pro bono advisory work. The firm follows a market-efficient investment approach based on Modern Portfolio Theory, emphasizing asset allocation and typically using no-load, institutional mutual funds and ETFs.

Derek Main is a financial advisor with First Main Capital in Tacoma, WA, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and 15 years of industry experience. He has worked at firms including Vanderbilt Securities, Mass Mutual Investors Services, and TIAA-CREF. Derek is the owner and sole advisor at First Main Capital, managing a small roster of clients including family members. First Main Capital is an independent registered investment adviser that provides financial planning and discretionary portfolio management primarily for individual and family clients. The firm emphasizes ETF-based portfolios with an academic, factor-oriented equity approach and diversified fixed-income and alternative allocations intended to reduce volatility.

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.

Richard Hopkins is a financial advisor at Financial LifeMaps in Renton, WA, with 20 years of experience at the firm and a Series 65 designation. He has worked exclusively with Financial LifeMaps since 2006. Financial LifeMaps serves individuals and trustees, typically those with net worths between $500,000 and $2,000,000, providing comprehensive financial planning and investment advice through hourly consulting or fixed-fee multi-year engagements. The firm emphasizes long-term, fundamentals-based investment strategies focusing on asset allocation and low-cost mutual funds and ETFs, while clients retain custody and execute trades independently.

Viral Shah is the sole advisor at An Irrational Mind, LLC, holding a Series 65 designation and bringing 15 years of industry experience. He has been with Prudent Financial Planning, LLC since 2010 and works full-time as an internal medicine physician and hospitalist at Multicare Health System in Tacoma, WA. An Irrational Mind, LLC provides fee-only financial planning and investment advice to individuals, families, organizations, corporations, trusts, and estates. The firm emphasizes passive, buy-and-hold indexing and asset-allocation strategies using low-cost index mutual funds and ETFs, and offers short educational seminars. It does not manage client portfolios directly or take custody of assets, typically billing on an hourly or project basis.

Jeremiah Job is a CFP® and ChFC® with 15 years of industry experience, currently serving as the sole advisor at Columbia Strategic Wealth Advisors, LLC since 2020. His prior experience includes roles at Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company and Hornor Townsend & Kent Inc. He also works as a strategy consultant at Kaiser Permanente of Washington Health Plan, focusing on analytics and capital budget reporting. Columbia Strategic Wealth Advisors is an independent firm providing financial planning and investment management to individual clients, emphasizing a non-discretionary, personalized approach that incorporates various analysis methods and a range of planning engagement options.