Derek Kaufman is a financial advisor with Columbia River Financial Group in Vancouver, WA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 designations and 17 years of industry experience. He has been with Columbia River Financial Group since 2016, and previously worked at Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and Thrivent Investment Management Inc. Columbia River Financial Group provides investment management and financial planning services for individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm employs both quantitative and qualitative analysis to tailor portfolios across a wide range of instruments, managing most assets on a discretionary basis.

Timothy Gallagher is a financial advisor at Vita Planning Group LLC with 24 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has previously worked at AE Financial Services, Liberty Wealth Management, and Liberty Group. Outside of advisory work, he is involved in insurance sales through Vita Insurance Associates, Inc. Vita Planning Group serves participant-directed retirement plans and individual clients, offering retirement-plan advisory, discretionary and nondiscretionary investment management, and financial planning. The firm emphasizes asset allocation and diversification, provides ongoing plan monitoring, and maintains multiple branch offices despite a small advisor team.

Michael Baltzell is a CFP® with 21 years of industry experience, currently serving at Columbia River Financial Group since 2017. Prior to this, he worked for Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and Thrivent Investment Management from 2004 to 2017. Columbia River Financial Group provides investment management and financial planning for individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm offers customized advisory services, typically on a discretionary basis, and employs a portfolio construction approach that incorporates both quantitative and qualitative analysis across a broad range of investment instruments.

Petr Burunov is a financial advisor with Ambassador Wealth Management, LLC in Vancouver, WA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 22 years of industry experience. He has worked at LPL Financial and has operated Ambassador Wealth Management since 2009. In addition to advising, he provides tax preparation and bookkeeping services through Ambassador Tax Consultants, LLC, a business he has managed since 2013. Ambassador Wealth Management offers discretionary investment management and financial planning to individuals, business entities, and pension or profit-sharing plans. The firm uses fundamental analysis to construct portfolios with mutual funds, ETFs, equities, debt instruments, and private placements, managing accounts on a discretionary basis with regular reviews.

Hayley Haslett is a CFP® with six years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Lake Road Advisors, LLC since 2022. Her prior roles include positions at Blue Water Wealth, Inc. and work experience within the brewing industry. Outside of financial advising, she is involved in social media content creation and brand management for a private residence in Ridgefield, WA. Lake Road Advisors provides portfolio management, comprehensive financial planning, and pension consulting to individual clients and plan sponsors. The firm emphasizes passive, asset-class-based investment strategies primarily implemented through third-party managers and maintains ongoing oversight and planning reviews for its clients.

Mark Bernazzani is a CFP® professional with 11 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at My Personal CFO, LLC since 2018. Prior to this, he worked at Brighton Jones LLC from 2013 to 2018. He holds the Series 63 license and is based in Vancouver, WA. My Personal CFO serves individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and pension plans, offering financial planning, discretionary wealth management, and retirement-plan advisory services. The firm employs an asset-allocation strategy based on Modern Portfolio Theory and behavioral finance, utilizing institutional mutual funds, ETFs, and, when appropriate, options and alternative investments.

Erik Hansen is a financial advisor at Vita Planning Group LLC in Vancouver, WA, holding a Series 65 designation with five years of industry experience. He has been with Vita Planning Group since 2021 and is also president of Vita Insurance Associates, Inc., an insurance firm providing executive and employee benefits. Vita Planning Group primarily advises participant-directed defined contribution retirement plans and offers tailored asset management and financial planning for individual and corporate clients. The firm provides ERISA fiduciary services, participant education, and utilizes a broad investment universe focused on asset allocation and diversification.

Gregory Barker is a CFP® with 22 years of industry experience. He is a principal at Barker Wealth Management, LLC in Camas, WA, where he has worked since 2015. Prior to this, he spent eight years at Clark Nuber P.S. Barker Wealth Management provides discretionary investment management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting to individuals, trusts, and pension plans. The firm emphasizes fundamental analysis and asset allocation to build diversified portfolios using individual securities and funds, delivering investment supervisory services on a continuous discretionary basis and planning services on a non-discretionary basis.

Asoka Weeraratne is a financial advisor with UTA LLC in Vancouver, WA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 30 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Wells Fargo Advisors and Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments. Outside of advisory work, he serves as CEO of Kelly International, a clothing manufacturing and retail business. UTA LLC advises individuals, businesses, and ERISA plans, offering portfolio management and financial planning services. The firm combines passive and active investment strategies tailored to client objectives and risk tolerance, with a focus on macroeconomic and tax considerations.

Jill Foreman is a CFP® professional affiliated with James R. Martin Consulting, Inc., where she has been associated since 2002. She is based in Vancouver, WA, and is part of a three-advisor team at the firm. James R. Martin Consulting, Inc., operating as JRM Capital Management, provides discretionary portfolio management and advisory services to individuals, retirement plans, charitable institutions, and foundations. The firm customizes portfolios based on client objectives and risk profiles, utilizing mutual funds, ETFs, and occasionally private alternative investments, while offering regular performance reports and market commentary.

Timothy Massie is a CFP® with 19 years of experience in the financial services industry. He has been with Timepiece Financial Planning, Inc. since 2011. The firm serves individual investors and employer-sponsored retirement plans, focusing on long-term, globally diversified investment strategies using low-cost index funds and ETFs. Timepiece provides financial planning, retirement advice, discretionary portfolio management, and basic tax return preparation, operating as a fee-only firm without minimum asset or income requirements.

Courtney Karella is a financial advisor at Para Wealth Advisors, Inc. with nearly a decade of industry experience, including roles at Security First Advisors and Pinnacle Wealth Advisors. She holds the Series 65 designation and has been with Para Wealth Advisors since 2025. Para Wealth Advisors serves individual investors, businesses, and fiduciary entities by providing financial planning, investment management, and integrated wealth management services. The firm combines fundamental and technical analysis within an asset-allocation framework and primarily maintains a long-term investment orientation while accommodating shorter-term trading as appropriate.

Akili Kelekele is an advisor at Allen Capital Management, LLC with Series 65 and Series 63 credentials and one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Allen Capital Management, Kelekele held roles at D.A. Davidson and was involved with Shoot360 and other organizations. Outside of finance, Kelekele has experience working in diverse fields including senior care and education. Allen Capital Management is a fee-only, SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $200 million for individuals, corporate plans, and charitable organizations. The firm uses a customized, discretionary investment strategy focused on strategic asset allocation and diversification, integrating fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis to meet clients’ financial goals.

Holly Breeden is a financial advisor at Fort Vancouver Investment Management, LLC with 11 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 65 designation and has been with Fort Vancouver since 2012. Fort Vancouver Investment Management is a fee-only, SEC-registered firm that provides discretionary investment management and retirement planning primarily to individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm uses an evidence-based approach grounded in Modern Portfolio Theory, focusing on broadly diversified portfolios with ETFs and institutional no-load mutual funds, and incorporates tax-aware management and financial planning for clients.

Charles Petitjean is a CFP® with four years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Barker Wealth Management, LLC. His prior experience includes roles at Cable Hill Partners, LLC and Mercer, LLC. Barker Wealth Management provides discretionary investment management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting to individuals, trusts, and pension plans. The firm focuses on fundamental analysis and asset allocation to build diversified portfolios using stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and ETFs.

Thomas Grunbeck is a CFP® professional affiliated with J.R. Prunier Capital Management LLC with seven years of industry experience. He previously worked at Grunbeck Financial Services, LLC and Core Corner, and held other roles since 2016. J.R. Prunier Capital Management LLC provides discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and pension consulting to individuals and retirement plans. The firm tailors portfolios to client goals and risk tolerance using fundamental analysis and modern portfolio theory, operating mostly under discretionary authority with quarterly custodial reporting.

Robert Pool is a CFP® with 23 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Fort Vancouver Investment Management, LLC since 2011. He holds the Series 66 designation and works out of Vancouver, WA. Fort Vancouver Investment Management, LLC is a fee-only, SEC-registered advisory firm that provides discretionary investment management and retirement planning primarily to individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm employs an evidence-based investment approach grounded in Modern Portfolio Theory, utilizing broadly diversified portfolios with ETFs and institutional no-load mutual funds, and incorporates tax-aware management and financial planning for clients engaged in investment management.

The most enjoyable part of Kailie’s job is getting an email from her clients as they take off on the trip they’ve been planning together for the past few years. After all the anxiety, excitement, number-crunching, and decluttering, they’re off on their dream adventure with a clear picture of what they want to get out of their time away, and a solid plan for when they return. Whether you’re considering taking advantage of an employer-sponsored sabbatical at the job you love, taking time off before transitioning into a new job or career, or simply looking for a time to re-focus on what’s most important, we are your partner to help you think through the how of your sabbatical planning. Kailie’s passion for the non-traditional career path started when she spent three years living and working in Oaxaca, Mexico before starting a new job. During that time, she got married, ate her weight in tamales and pozole, gained fluency in Spanish, and called a new corner of the world home. Since then, she and her husband have lived in three countries and both coasts of the United States, while still pursuing their individual career paths (and welcoming the unexpected right turns along the way!) If you feel stuck in your daily routine and need a break to reset, reach out so we can talk through the next steps to taking the sabbatical of your dreams.

Austen Auger is a financial advisor at Shira Ridge Wealth Management with one year of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and previously worked in several roles including at Break Bread Sandwich Shop and Big Brothers & Big Sisters Columbia NorthWest. Shira Ridge Wealth Management serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, small business owners, and nonprofit organizations by providing discretionary asset management and comprehensive financial planning. The firm emphasizes a planning-first approach combined with diversified, tax-aware investment strategies and utilizes separate managed account programs through institutional platforms.

Amanda Reynolds is a CFP® with five years of industry experience, currently serving at Johnson Bixby in Vancouver, WA. Her prior roles include positions at Securities America, Inc., KMS Financial Services, and Integrated Tax Services. She serves as board chair for Union Chapel, a nonprofit church organization. Johnson Bixby is a team-based firm that provides discretionary asset management and financial planning services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm manages approximately $789.5 million in regulatory assets, employing a multi-faceted investment approach that includes asset allocation strategies, fixed-income management, and ongoing portfolio monitoring.