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.

Janet Pack is a financial advisor with Advisors Asset Management, Inc. in Tacoma, WA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 14 years of industry experience. She has worked with the firm since 2017 and also owns Senior Care Alliance, where she sells insurance products, dedicating approximately 70% of her time to this business. Advisors Asset Management, Inc. provides advisory services mainly to individual clients, focusing on financial planning and consulting while referring clients to third-party money managers. The firm does not manage portfolios directly but facilitates account setup and service, offering financial planning on an hourly basis and assisting with insurance product arrangements.

Troy Sapp is a CFP® professional with 15 years of experience in financial planning and wealth management. He has been with Commencement Financial Planning LLC since 2010 and is based in Lakewood, WA. Commencement Financial Planning LLC provides fee-only comprehensive financial planning and wealth management services primarily to individuals and families. The firm emphasizes a collaborative, consultative process and manages client accounts on a non-discretionary basis, focusing on low-cost passive mutual funds and ETFs, periodic rebalancing, and tax-loss harvesting.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Pravin Davrey is the principal of Emerald Pacific Investment Advisors LLC in Tacoma, WA, with 16 years of experience in the financial services industry. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has a background that includes roles at Farmers Insurance Company and Security National Mortgage. In addition to his advisory work, he manages mortgage loan origination activities through Emerald Pacific Capital LLC. Emerald Pacific Investment Advisors provides customized, non-discretionary investment advisory services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, partnerships, and corporations. The firm uses fundamental and technical analysis to construct diversified portfolios and offers ongoing portfolio management as well as guidance on retirement rollovers and outside accounts.

I help women achieve financial independence (FI), so they can live life on their own terms. I am you. My journey into personal finance started unexpectedly almost 30 years ago when my mother developed cancer and was eventually left disabled. I hired a financial advisor to help my parents with their finances. He sold them expensive load funds (5.75%) that enriched him while hampering their returns. After a year and a half, I caught on, fired him and began overseeing our family’s finances myself. As an investor and financial planner, I’ve noticed that while women have made tremendous strides educationally and professionally, this has not always translated into greater financial security and personal freedom. Why? Based on my experience, a big part of that is the cultural stories that we’ve inherited regarding our roles and responsibilities to others at the expense of ourselves. But, only when we take ownership of our stories can we take ownership of our lives and make the most of our resources, including money. As with any resource, money has its own energy. I can teach you to master it, so it becomes the wind on your back to help you realize your Life’s mission and vision. Our society equates money with wealth. While there is overlap, in my opinion, they are different. Money is the means to live life on our own terms. But, wealth is the recognition that a life well-lived means taking care of ourselves and then our family and our community.

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.

Rafe Johnson is a financial advisor at Anchor Financial in Tacoma, WA, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses. He has one year of industry experience, including work with the Medicare Exchange and Bankers Life Securities. Outside of financial advising, he is involved with the Medicare Exchange, which relates to his affiliation with insurance products. Anchor Financial serves primarily individual clients with a small, concentrated practice focused on discretionary asset management of mutual funds and ETFs. The firm also offers retirement plan services and referrals to third-party managers, tailoring investment strategies based on client goals, time horizon, and risk tolerance.

Nils Wickman is a CFP® with 18 years of industry experience and currently serves at Ares Financial Consulting LLC. He has worked at Ares since 2017 and has prior experience with Ameritas Investment Corp. Outside of his advisory role, Wickman teaches a financial literacy class for Tacoma Public Schools and serves as Planned Giving Director at Urban Grace Church. He is also an advisory committee member of the 253 Youth Ultimate Program. Ares Financial Consulting serves individuals, families, small businesses, retirement plans, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations. The firm offers comprehensive financial planning and discretionary portfolio management using a long-term, diversified investment approach typically involving mutual funds and ETFs, alongside value-based pricing and business-focused services.

Jun Chea is a CFP® and Series 66-registered financial advisor with three years of industry experience. He has worked at Rainier Family Wealth, Inc. since 2024 and previously held roles at Financial Insights, Inc. and Key Bank NA, where he spent 29 years. Rainier Family Wealth, Inc. is a fee-only registered investment adviser serving individuals, high-net-worth households, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm offers portfolio management and comprehensive financial planning, using a combination of passive and active strategies grounded in Modern Portfolio Theory.

Michael Ruff is a CFA® charterholder and holds a Series 66 license with 21 years of industry experience. He has worked at Rainier Family Wealth, Inc. since 2024 and previously held roles at Financial Insights, Inc. and Key Bank. Rainier Family Wealth, Inc. is a fee-only registered investment adviser serving individual, high-net-worth, charitable, and corporate clients. The firm employs a goal-based investment approach centered on asset allocation using both passive and active strategies, integrating financial planning and tax analysis into ongoing account supervision.

Jeffrey Lang is a CFP® with 25 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Seneschal Family Office in Tacoma, WA. He has been with Seneschal Advisors, LLC since 2012. Seneschal Family Office provides financial planning, investment management, and comprehensive family office services to individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm follows a structured financial planning process and emphasizes diversified asset allocation using mutual funds, ETFs, and third-party independent managers.

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.

David Jajewski is a financial advisor with Portfolio Strategies Inc in Tacoma, WA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 38 years of industry experience. He has worked at Portfolio Strategies since 1992 and was previously with GWN Securities, Inc. for 11 years. Portfolio Strategies, Inc. provides discretionary portfolio management to individuals and institutional clients, managing approximately $50.2 million in assets through a small advisory team. The firm uses various model programs and treats cash as an asset class, managing accounts on a discretionary, custodian-neutral basis.

Michelle Robinson is a CFP® professional with 16 years of industry experience, currently affiliated with Stolz & Associates, PS since 2001. In addition to her advisory role, she serves as a notary, providing occasional document notarization services to clients at no charge. Stolz & Associates advises individuals, families, and retirement plans, managing approximately $282 million in client assets. The firm emphasizes long-term investing and diversified, lower-cost portfolios, offering comprehensive financial planning and retirement consulting through a team of three credentialed advisors.