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.

Shubham Acharya is a financial advisor at Ninja Wealth Advisors, LLC with a Series 65 designation and two years of industry experience. He has worked for the U.S. Government since 2004 as a Systems Analyst. Ninja Wealth Advisors serves individuals, including high-net-worth clients, offering portfolio management and financial planning with a range of investment strategies and a long-term trading approach.

Carlton Ellis is a financial advisor at Chimera Wealth LLC with 37 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at firms including Nobles and Richards, Inc. and Landolt Securities, Inc. Ellis was involved with In House Hemp LLC from 2019 to 2021. Chimera Wealth serves individual and high-net-worth clients, providing portfolio management, financial planning, pension consulting, and held-away portfolio consulting. The firm combines strategic and tactical model allocations using a mix of analytical approaches and offers unique services such as subscription-based portfolio reports and digital asset access.

Justus Rainwater is a financial advisor at Firewall Capital Management with four years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 credential and has been with Firewall Capital Management since 2021. Firewall Capital Management provides discretionary investment management and integrated financial planning to individuals, trusts, and small businesses, managing approximately $66.9 million in client assets. The firm employs a tactical asset allocation approach combined with modern portfolio theory and offers financial planning services at no additional charge to advisory clients.

Rafe Johnson is a financial advisor at Anchor Financial in Tacoma, WA, with one year of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has prior experience at Bankers Life Securities, Bankers Life & Casualty, and the Medicare Exchange. Anchor Financial serves primarily individual clients with a small, concentrated practice managing about $5.7 million in assets. The firm offers discretionary asset management focused on mutual funds and ETFs, retirement plan services, and uses a mix of fundamental, technical, and charting analysis to tailor investment strategies to client objectives.

Donald Foy is a financial advisor at Columbia River Advisors with 22 years of experience in the industry. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked with firms including LPL Financial and Raymond James Financial Services. In addition to his advisory role, he owns Summit Tax Services. Columbia River Advisors provides investment advice and portfolio management primarily to individuals, including high-net-worth clients, as well as pension and profit-sharing plans, private funds, and pooled investment vehicles. The firm uses customized asset allocations based on internally developed model portfolios, employing a buy-and-manage approach that incorporates Modern Portfolio Theory alongside fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis.

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.

Frank Gallo is a CFP® with 34 years of experience in financial services, currently affiliated with Investors Portfolio Services LLC. He has held positions at multiple firms, including Fortune Financial Services, United Planners Financial Services, and FMT Solutions. Outside of advisory work, he acts as trustee of the Joan M Gallo Trust and prepares federal tax returns. Investors Portfolio Services LLC provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment supervisory services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, charities, and qualified retirement plans. The firm integrates portfolio construction based on Investment Policy Statements with technology-driven implementation and offers tax preparation, estate planning, and educational seminars.

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.

Janet Pack is a financial advisor with Advisors Asset Management, Inc. in Tacoma, WA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 14 years of industry experience. She has worked at Advisors Asset Management since 2017 and has also been involved with Senior Care Alliance since 2005, where she spends approximately 70% of her time overseeing insurance product sales. Her prior experience includes a role at Federal Retirement Resources in 2017. Advisors Asset Management primarily serves individual clients by referring accounts to third-party money managers and providing fee-for-service financial planning without acting as a custodian or directly managing client assets. The firm also offers insurance products through an affiliated business and receives compensation tied to third-party manager advisory fees while maintaining compliance oversight internally.

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.

Shelly Maas is a financial advisor with Sunrise Financial Services LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 29 years of industry experience. She has previously worked at Merrill and Empower Advisory Group, and currently holds roles at both Sunrise Financial Services and Madison Avenue Securities. Sunrise Financial Services LLC provides discretionary asset management and financial planning primarily for individual and high-net-worth clients, utilizing a Modern Portfolio Theory-based investment process with risk-adjusted model portfolios and periodic account reviews.

Thomas Bowman is a CFP® and CFA® with 10 years of experience in the financial services industry. He is currently affiliated with Investors Portfolio Services LLC and has held roles at TJB Advisory LLC and Fortune Financial Services, Inc. Bowman serves as treasurer for the Kiwanis Club of Puyallup Foundation, a nonprofit organization. Investors Portfolio Services LLC provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment supervisory services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, charities, and qualified retirement plans. The firm also offers financial planning, tax preparation, and educational seminars, utilizing a range of technology platforms and strategies including direct indexing and potential derivatives use in separately managed accounts.

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.

Rachel Matthews is a financial advisor at Advisors Asset Management, Inc. in Tacoma, WA. She holds a Series 65 designation and has one year of industry experience. Prior to joining her current firm in 2026, she worked at Senior Care Alliance dba Senior Retirement Advisors and has a diverse background including roles in real estate and fitness. Advisors Asset Management, Inc. serves individual clients primarily by placing accounts with third-party money managers and providing fee-for-service financial planning. The firm acts as a client liaison and does not directly manage assets, offering investment services through referrals and delivering advisory oversight alongside affiliated insurance products.

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.

Timothy Rhee is a financial advisor at Rainier Family Wealth, Inc. with two years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and previously worked at Cetera, East West Bank, KeyBank National Association, and Merrill. Rainier Family Wealth, Inc. is a fee-only registered investment adviser serving individual, high-net-worth, charitable, and corporate clients. The firm uses a goal-based investment approach combining passive and active strategies, integrates financial planning with portfolio management, and offers tailored family office services.

Jennifer Emmons Carlson is a financial advisor at Gould Capital, LLC with 22 years of industry experience. She has held positions at Gould Capital since 2019 and previously worked at Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network LLC for eight years. Carlson holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. Gould Capital serves individuals, foundations, charities, institutions, estates, and trusts, providing portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting services. The firm employs proprietary strategies combining value-based fundamental analysis, asset allocation, and income-focused approaches, and offers ERISA 3(38) fiduciary services for employer-sponsored retirement plans.

Patrick Rhodes is a financial advisor at PWR Financial Services with 24 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 65 designation and has managed Rhodes & Associates since 1978. Outside of advising, he manages a certified public accounting firm and is involved in multiple business ventures, including ownership and operational roles in hospitality, property management, and manufacturing companies. PWR Financial Services provides investment advisory services exclusively to high-net-worth individuals, focusing on manager-of-managers and third-party money manager selection and monitoring. The firm emphasizes due diligence, asset allocation, and long-term, non-discretionary portfolio management.