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.

Kellie Johnson is a financial advisor at Navy Federal Investment Services, LLC with two years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and has worked exclusively within Navy Federal entities since 2024, following prior experience at Boeing Employees Credit Union. Navy Federal Investment Services serves members of Navy Federal Credit Union and other individual, trust, and institutional clients by providing portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement-plan fiduciary services. The firm emphasizes managed advisory programs using third-party portfolio managers and offers layered investment solutions alongside automated ETF portfolios.

Thomas Buckingham Jr. is a financial advisor with Wedbush Securities Inc. and holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials. He has 57 years of industry experience, including ten years at First Wall Street Corp. and over 17 years at Wedbush Morgan Securities. He is also the owner of a quarterly investment newsletter published through 401K Planning Group, LLC, which he produces by gathering relevant investment data. Wedbush Securities offers investment advisory and broker-dealer services to individual, high-net-worth, and institutional clients. The firm provides a range of wealth management solutions, including discretionary portfolio management, institutional research, and prime brokerage services.

Sean Kelly is a financial advisor at Key Investment Services LLC with six years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Navy Federal Investment Services, Farther Finance Advisors, Bank of America, and Merrill. Prior to his financial career, he served eight years in the United States Marine Corps. Key Investment Services LLC is an SEC-registered investment adviser that provides portfolio management and model-based advisory products to individuals, trusts, estates, small businesses, and institutional plans. The firm offers multiple wrap fee programs through a multi-provider platform, integrating services from KeyCorp affiliates that include municipal advisory and investment-banking capabilities.

Joel Servatius is a financial advisor with Transamerica Financial Advisors in Oak Harbor, WA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and over 30 years of industry experience. He has served on the Oak Harbor City Council and the Greater Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce and is the owner of Whidbey Ink, a silk screening business specializing in T-shirt design and production. Transamerica Financial Advisors serves a diverse client base including individual investors, pension plans, trusts, and corporations, offering both advisory and broker-dealer services with a range of fee-based and commission-based investment options. The firm features proprietary and third-party model portfolios and operates as both a registered investment advisor and broker-dealer.

William Mitchell is a Series 66 licensed financial advisor with four years of industry experience. He is currently with Key Investment Services LLC and has prior experience working at Wells Fargo Bank and Wells Fargo Clearing. Key Investment Services LLC is an SEC-registered investment adviser and wrap-fee program sponsor that provides portfolio management and model-based advisory products to individuals, trusts, estates, small businesses, and institutional plan clients through a network of financial professionals. The firm employs a multi-provider model with platform and discretionary implementation by Envestnet, strategist portfolios designed by the Key Wealth Chief Investment Office and third-party managers, and offers optional tax and values overlay services.

Patricia Cozine Cole is a financial advisor with Transamerica Financial Advisors, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 33 years of industry experience. She has served on the North Whidbey Fire & Rescue Citizens' Advisory Committee and owns a business focused on purchasing, improving, and reselling foreclosed properties. Transamerica Financial Advisors serves a diverse client base including individual investors, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations, offering both advisory and broker-dealer services through proprietary and third-party investment models.

Jeffery Pleet is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Oak Harbor, WA, holding ChFC® and Series 63, 65, and 66 designations. He has 51 years of industry experience and has been with Edward Jones since 2009. He serves as a board member for the Northwest WA Estate Planning Council, participating in community outreach events. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients, including a wide range of household types and corporate clients. The firm offers a broad range of advisory programs and investment solutions, supported by a large national network of advisors and branch offices.

Erik Saunders is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Anacortes, WA, holding Series 63 and Series 66 designations and bringing 36 years of industry experience. He has previously worked at Charles Schwab and Financial Advocates Investment Management. Outside of his advisory role, he has served as a hitting instructor and trainer for the Anacortes Baseball Club since 2016. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser that provides advisory and brokerage services through a large network of representatives to individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and institutions. The firm offers a range of financial planning and asset management services, employing various investment strategies supported by proprietary research and technology tools.

Brenna Casey is a CFP®-designated financial advisor with Edward Jones, where she has worked since 2017 and brings eight years of industry experience. Prior to joining Edward Jones, she held positions at Coconut Kennys and Liberty Mutual, and worked at Washington State University. She is a partner in The Merry Heart Chicks LLC, a real estate business based in Anacortes, WA. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving more than four million individual and institutional clients across various segments. The firm offers a range of advisory programs and investment solutions, managing approximately $1.01 trillion in assets with a large network of financial advisors and branch offices nationwide.

Christopher Renfro is a CFP® professional with 12 years of experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Edward Jones since 2014. He holds the Series 66 designation and is based in Coupeville, WA. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved as the assistant treasurer for the Central Whidbey Cooperative Preschool. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets under management through a large nationwide network of advisors and offers a range of advisory programs including discretionary and non-discretionary strategies, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds.

Anne Kralman is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Camano Island, WA, holding a Series 66 designation and three years of industry experience. She has been with Edward Jones since 2016. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients, offering a range of advisory programs and investment strategies through a large nationwide network of financial advisors and branch offices.

Susan Powers is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Oak Harbor, WA, holding CFP®, ChFC®, and Series 66 credentials with eight years of industry experience. Her career includes multiple roles at Edward Jones since 2016 and previous work in education and entrepreneurial ventures. She is active in her community, serving in leadership and volunteer roles with local organizations such as Soroptimist International, the Oak Harbor Music Festival, the Ballet Slipper Conservatory, and Miss Oak Harbor. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients with a range of advisory programs and affiliated investment options. The firm is notable for its extensive nationwide advisor network and integrated offerings, including discretionary and non-discretionary strategies, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds.

Johnny Matkins Jr. is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with Edward Jones in Stanwood, WA, bringing two years of industry experience. Prior to joining Edward Jones, he was involved with Camano Plaza IGA as a person in charge, assisting customers and managing store operations in the director’s absence. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients with over $1 trillion in assets under management. The firm offers a range of advisory strategies and affiliated investment products through a large nationwide network of advisors and branch offices.

Matthew Anderson is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Oak Harbor, WA, holding a Series 66 designation and 12 years of industry experience. He has been with Edward Jones since 2013. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients, including high-net-worth households and corporate entities. The firm offers a range of discretionary and non-discretionary investment strategies, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds, supported by a nationwide network of over 23,700 advisors and $1.01 trillion in assets under management.