Hello! My name is Billy (he/him), owner of Billfold Budget Counseling. I provide accessible financial advice for folks who want to see (or even make) significant, progressive change in our world. My goal is to help you tackle your financial challenges, so you can focus on making the world a more compassionate, diverse, and understanding place. I believe that money is not a natural thing. Be it overspending, living paycheck to paycheck, or a low credit score…these money mishaps are actually quite common. Because of this, I feel that there’s no shame in not understanding personal finance. Heck, when I was studying accounting as an undergrad, I managed to get in over my head with credit card debt. A situation due to a lack of personal finance knowledge. But this overwhelming burden would weigh on my every action, and my not-so-wise decision to ignore the problem only made it worse. I was eventually able to pay off my debt through sheer chance (and lots of part-time work), but I never wanted to feel that level of anxiety again. However, what was bad for me is often worse for others. In this country, there are haves and have-nots, and money has historically been hoarded by haves: rich, white, powerful men. As a privileged white male, I had the opportunities that lead me to eventually being debt-free. I could see how my challenges were relatively small compared to the structural issues that other folks face. So, I’ve made it my mission to not only provide financial planning, education, and coaching but to have my advice be as accessible as possible. Especially to those who have had dealt with money hardships, but still want to give back to their communities. That way, you can focus on your mission to make the world a compassionate, diverse, and understanding place. So if you’re ready to enlist help to tackle your financial burdens (without cliché, condescending advice like “eat less avocado toast” or “don’t buy lattes”), please reach out for a complimentary consultation. https://calendly.com/billfoldbudget/initialconsultation

Ron Nussbaum is the sole advisor at Maverick Value, LLC in Los Angeles, CA, holding Series 65 and Series 63 licenses with 11 years of industry experience. He has been with Maverick Value since 2014. Maverick Value is an independent registered investment adviser providing discretionary investment management primarily for individual clients and also serves pension and profit-sharing plans. The firm employs a fundamental, value-oriented strategy with concentrated portfolios and manages client accounts under a limited power of attorney.

Erica James is a CFP® professional with five years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Mana Financial Life Design. Her prior roles include positions at Signify Wealth LLC, Creative Planning, LLC, SBSB Financial Advisors, and The Wolf Group. Outside of her advisory work, she has experience as a property manager. Mana Financial Life Design provides financial life planning, discretionary investment management, employee benefit plan advisory, and estate planning support to individual, high-net-worth clients, and employer plan sponsors. The firm incorporates a long-term investment approach with active tax management and client education through seminars, workshops, and a bi-weekly newsletter.

Trevor Lalisan is a financial advisor at von Adelung Wealth Management in Montrose, CA, holding a Series 65 credential with two years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Blacktable Execs and positions with the Church of Scientology International and the Church of Scientology of Pasadena. Von Adelung Wealth Management serves individuals—including both high-net-worth and non-HNW clients—as well as pension plans and corporations, offering discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management alongside written financial planning. The firm manages approximately $72 million in client assets and employs a multi-faceted investment approach combining fundamental, technical, cyclical, and qualitative analysis.

Nikolai Chuvakhin is a financial advisor with Fort Ross Capital Management, LLC, holding a Series 65 designation and 23 years of industry experience. He has been affiliated with Pepperdine University for 25 years. In addition to his advisory role, he is a Managing Partner at Tagora Capital LLP, a consulting firm based in the United Kingdom. Fort Ross Capital Management provides discretionary investment management to private investment companies and high-net-worth individuals, employing a quantitative market-timing strategy that involves equity, fixed-income, volatility, and select commodity markets. The firm manages highly customized, hedge-fund style strategies with concentrated long and short positions and occasional use of options.

Ryan Fisher is a Series 65 licensed advisor with Pacific Sun Financial Corp in Los Angeles, CA, bringing nine years of industry experience. He is also president of a law firm specializing in contract review, business advising, and estate planning, and a partner in a racing event company that organizes race events and festivals. Ryan has been with Pacific Sun Financial Corp since 2017. Pacific Sun Financial Corp provides discretionary portfolio management and investment advisory services to individuals, trusts, pension and profit-sharing plans, and business entities. The firm manages accounts internally using fundamental analysis and a combination of long- and short-term strategies, with a focus on client-specific objectives and ongoing monitoring.

Guo Liu is a CFP® and holds a Series 65 license, currently serving as a financial advisor at Stone Steps Financial, LLC with three years of industry experience. Prior to joining Stone Steps Financial in 2022, Guo worked for Cornerstone OnDemand, Inc. for ten years. Stone Steps Financial is a fee-only advisory firm that provides comprehensive financial planning and investment management primarily to individuals and high-net-worth clients. The firm employs a passive, asset-class-based investment approach using index mutual funds and ETFs to build tax-efficient, low-turnover portfolios tailored to client goals and risk tolerance.

Kimberly Jones is a financial advisor at Astravia Family Wealth Office LLC with 13 years of industry experience. She holds the Series 63, Series 65, and Series 66 designations. Her prior experience includes roles at Wells Fargo Clearing, Wells Fargo Bank, and Wells Fargo Investments, as well as a substantial period as a homemaker. Astravia Family Wealth Office LLC serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts and estates, pension and profit-sharing plans, and various business entities. The firm offers comprehensive portfolio management, retirement plan consulting, and third-party money manager selection, utilizing a combined investment approach that incorporates fundamental and technical analysis, quantitative techniques, and Modern Portfolio Theory.

Michael Puryear is a financial advisor at Westwood Wealth Management in Los Angeles, CA, holding a Series 66 designation with 20 years of industry experience. He has been with Westwood Wealth Management since 2017 and previously worked at GSG Capital Advisors from 2014 to 2017. Westwood Wealth Management provides discretionary portfolio management to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, business entities, and pooled investment vehicles. The firm customizes strategies based on client objectives and risk tolerance, using fundamental and technical analysis across various instruments, and manages roughly $339 million in discretionary assets with a small advisory team.

Madeline Darcy is a financial advisor at Bennett Selby Investments, L.P. with a Series 65 credential and one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Bennett Selby Investments, she worked at CA iBank, Kaya Ventures, CircleUp Growth Partners, Victress Capital, Harvard University, and Oliver Wyman. She serves as a venture specialist for CA iBank, evaluating venture capital fund investments and direct investments as part of the SSBCI program. Bennett Selby Investments provides discretionary portfolio management for individual and high-net-worth clients, as well as pension consulting and ERISA Section 3(38) fiduciary services for qualified retirement plans. The firm employs a long-term, value-oriented investment approach with concentrated equity holdings and selective use of options strategies within separately managed accounts.

Richard Hunter is a financial advisor at Trinity Asset Management Co. in Los Angeles, CA, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses with 20 years of industry experience. He has been with Trinity Asset Management Co. since 2006. Trinity Asset Management Corporation provides investment advisory services to individuals, trusts, retirement plans, and business entities. The firm uses a combination of fundamental, technical, quantitative, cyclical, and qualitative analysis along with a mix of passive and active investment strategies tailored to client objectives.

Andrew Hass is a financial advisor at RF&L Wealth Management, LLC with 10 years of industry experience. He has been with RF&L Wealth Management since 2015 and holds a Series 65 credential. Outside of his advisory role, he is a partner in BREAKING EIGHTY, LLC, an investment-related business formed in 2010. RF&L Wealth Management provides investment advisory services to individuals, qualified retirement plans, trusts, charitable organizations, and small businesses. The firm’s approach emphasizes diversified, passively managed or evidence-based mutual funds and ETFs, utilizing quantitative tools and third-party solutions to support portfolio management and financial planning.

Richard Villosis is a financial advisor at Carnegie Wealth Management LLC with 13 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63 and Series 66 designations. Prior to joining Carnegie Wealth Management, Villosis worked for Western International Securities, Inc. for seven years and has been employed at Marathon Petroleum Corporation since 2005 as a process specialist. Carnegie Wealth Management is a state-registered advisory firm serving individual and high-net-worth clients with tailored asset and portfolio management services. The firm manages primarily non-discretionary accounts, employing a combination of fundamental, technical, quantitative, and sector analyses across various asset-allocation strategies.

Zoe Bollinger is a CFP® and holds a Series 65 license, with seven years of industry experience. She has been with Bollinger Capital Management since 2018 and previously worked at WET from 2016 to 2018. Bollinger Capital Management provides discretionary portfolio management and advisory services to individuals, high net worth clients, trusts, and estates. The firm employs proprietary quantitative and technical analysis methodologies, offering both direct portfolio management and investment modeling services to other advisors and clients.

Andrea Spatz is a CFP® with 33 years of industry experience, currently serving at Lewis M. Wallensky Associates in Los Angeles, CA. She has worked with LPL Financial since 2017 and was previously with National Planning Corp from 2000 to 2017. Outside her advisory role, she is involved with the LPL business entity Wallensky Spatz & Associates. Lewis M. Wallensky Associates provides financial planning and consulting services to individual clients, focusing on comprehensive written plans and targeted advice across retirement, estate, tax, insurance, and cash-flow topics. The firm emphasizes a consultative process and oversight of third-party money managers rather than direct portfolio management.

Deanna Adams is a CFA® charterholder and holds a Series 63 license, with four years of industry experience. She is currently with QCA Capital Management, Inc. and Quincy Cass Associates, Incorporated and previously worked at Ballina Capital, LLC and Portage Park Capital Pte. Outside of her advisory role, Adams serves as CFO and Managing Director of 3838 Holdings, Inc., a consulting firm focused on advising on strategic growth opportunities. QCA Capital Management, Inc. provides investment advisory and portfolio management services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporations. The firm employs an actively managed, generally long-term approach with multiple strategy models and tailors portfolios to clients’ investment policies, risk tolerance, and liquidity needs.

Stuart Sneddon is a CFA® charterholder with 28 years of industry experience. He has been with Newbury Capital Management, LLC since 2009, where he is part of a four-advisor team. The firm provides investment advisory services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, pension and profit-sharing plans, and business entities. Newbury Capital Management manages approximately $144 million across about 399 client relationships, offering discretionary and non-discretionary asset management with a range of investment strategies including fundamental, technical, and quantitative analysis.

Katherine Wimmer is a financial advisor at Wimmer Associates LLC in Pasadena, CA, holding the CIC, Series 63, and Series 65 designations with 23 years of industry experience. She has been with Wimmer Associates since 2003. Wimmer Associates provides investment supervisory and management services to individuals, trusts, estates, and family groups, focusing on tailored portfolio recommendations primarily involving stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and ETFs. The firm emphasizes fundamental analysis and maintains formal policies on advisory qualifications, trade allocations, proxy voting, and personal trading controls.

Patrick Kinney is a financial advisor at Evolve Wealth Advisors LP with 22 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has been involved with various Evolve entities since 2021. Prior to that, he worked at EP Wealth Advisors from 2016 to 2021. Evolve Wealth Advisors, LP provides discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and pension consulting to individuals, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm is notable for its cross-border planning expertise and consulting services to other registered investment advisers, employing a range of investment strategies including fundamental analysis, modern portfolio theory, and options strategies.

Jessie Hale is a CFP® certificant with over 20 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Vita Wealth Advisors, LLC. Prior to joining Vita Wealth Advisors, Hale spent 19 years at The Northern Trust Company. Vita Wealth Advisors offers wealth management and investment services to individuals and family-related entities, including high-net-worth clients, trusts, and family businesses. The firm employs a discretionary investment approach utilizing factor investing, optimization, and quantitative methods, and provides specialty services such as divorce financial analysis alongside traditional wealth planning.