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 the sole advisor at Ninja Wealth Advisors, LLC, an independent registered investment adviser based in Federal Way, WA. He holds a Series 65 designation and has one year of industry experience. In addition to his advisory role, Acharya works as a Systems Analyst for the U.S. Government. Ninja Wealth Advisors provides portfolio management and financial planning services to individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm uses a combination of analytical methods to build long-term portfolios tailored to client goals and risk tolerance, maintaining a small client roster and a unique approach to trade execution and service delivery.

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.

Donald Foy is a financial advisor at Columbia River Advisors with 22 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at Columbia River Advisors since 2010. Outside of his advisory role, he owns Summit Tax Services and is the sole member of a personal LLC holding interests in Columbia River and other entities. Columbia River Advisors manages investment portfolios and provides financial planning and retirement consulting primarily for individual clients, including high-net-worth households, as well as pension/profit-sharing plans and certain pooled investment vehicles. The firm uses internally developed model portfolios supplemented by third-party managers and serves clients primarily through discretionary portfolio management.

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.

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.

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.

Timothy Rhee is a financial advisor at Rainier Family Wealth, Inc. He holds a Series 66 designation and has two years of industry experience. His prior work includes positions at Cetera, East West Bank, KeyBank National Association, Bank of America, and Merrill. Rainier Family Wealth, Inc. serves individual, high-net-worth, charitable, and corporate clients with wealth management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and family office services. The firm employs a goal-based investment approach combining passive and active strategies alongside integrated financial planning and tax analysis.

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.

Janice Hammond is a financial advisor at Sunrise Financial Services LLC with 17 years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and has worked at firms including Madison Avenue Securities LLC and Questar Asset Management. Outside of her advisory role, she owns JJH Business Development Corp, a marketing company. Sunrise Financial Services LLC provides discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management and financial planning primarily for individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm applies Modern Portfolio Theory through risk-adjusted model portfolios and uses quantitative tools for asset allocation and monitoring.

John Hunt is a Series 65 licensed financial advisor with 11 years of industry experience, currently practicing at PWR Financial Services in Federal Way, WA. He has been involved with Power Property Consultants, Inc. since 2012. Outside of advisory services, Hunt holds multiple director of operations roles in various businesses spanning real estate, hospitality, and manufacturing, including ownership interests in several properties and small businesses. 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 manages client assets predominantly on a non-discretionary basis, emphasizing due diligence, asset allocation, and a long-term investment approach.