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

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.

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.

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.

Stephen Johns is a financial advisor with Martin & Company in Valencia, CA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 14 years of industry experience. He has worked at firms including Avantax Advisory Services and Cetera, and has been with Martin & Company since 2011. Outside of advising, he is involved in managing commercial property operations and participates in various family and business partnerships related to asset management. Martin & Company provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, financial planning, and consulting services for a range of clients including families, estates, and charitable organizations. The firm’s investment approach focuses on strategic asset allocation, fundamental analysis, and uses third-party managers when appropriate, with reporting and client portals supported by Orion and eMoney.

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.

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.

Eric Kim is a financial advisor with Think Wealth, LLC in Valencia, CA, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 18 years of industry experience. He has held roles at Mont Blanc Asset, Inc. since 2009 and has been a principal and manager at Think Wealth, LLC since 2016. Kim is also a partner at Chelsea International Advisors LLC and managing partner at Think Wealth Asset LLC. Think Wealth, LLC serves individual clients and provides consulting for 401(k) plans, employing discretionary portfolio management with in-house model portfolios. The firm uses exchange-traded securities and assigns clients to conservative, balanced, or aggressive investment models based on a detailed questionnaire.

Barton Brewer is a CFP®, CFA®, and ChFC® with 20 years of experience in financial advisory. He has been with Global Financial Advisory Services, Inc. since 2018 and has been involved with the CFA Institute since 2002. Outside of his advisory role, he is engaged in financial and business consulting including curriculum development and teaching, and he owns a sports card and memorabilia business. Global Financial Advisory Services, Inc. provides investment advisory and retirement-plan consulting to individuals, trusts and estates, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm focuses on documenting client objectives and recommending long-term asset allocations, often utilizing ETFs, institutional mutual funds, and third-party managers for portfolio implementation.

Jake Davidson is a financial advisor at Davidson Kahn Capital Management, LLC with nine years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has worked at Davidson Kahn Capital Management since 2017, as well as at J. R. Davidson and Co since 2006. Outside of advising, he is President of J. R. Davidson and Co, which provides management and administrative services to his investment advisory firm, and is involved in medical facility management through SC Partners Holdings, LLC. Davidson Kahn Capital Management, LLC offers discretionary portfolio management to individuals, including high-net-worth clients, as well as corporate and foundation clients. The firm combines fundamental and quantitative analysis with a long-term approach, managing client assets in-house and implementing customized Investment Policy Statements for each client.

Yevgeniy Oktyabrskiy is a financial advisor at Goodstein Wealth Management LLC with two years of industry experience. He holds the Series 65 designation and concurrently works as a Business Development Manager for Exponent, a science consulting firm. Prior to his current roles, he held positions at The Mosaic Company and Synology. Goodstein Wealth Management is a fee-only advisory firm managing approximately $114 million in discretionary assets for individuals and businesses, including high-net-worth clients. The firm emphasizes client-specific investment policies and risk tolerances, relying mainly on fundamental analysis for portfolio management and offers both discretionary asset management and standalone financial planning services.

Gary Pia is a CFP® professional with 38 years of industry experience. He has been with Mission Street Wealth Planning since 1986 and previously worked for the City of South Pasadena from 2012 to 2022. Mission Street Wealth Planning advises individuals, families, small business owners, health care professionals, qualified retirement plans, and nonprofit or corporate investment committees. The firm provides comprehensive and limited-scope financial planning and portfolio management, emphasizing a non-discretionary, research-based investment approach focused on diversified asset-class exposure and long-term investor behavior.

Maya Pocker is a financial advisor at Scout Wealth Advisors LLC in Pasadena, CA, holding a Series 65 designation with three years of industry experience. Prior to joining Scout Financial, Inc., she worked at Tzohar LaTohar and the Ministry of Education in Israel. Scout Wealth Advisors provides asset management, comprehensive portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting to individuals, trusts, retirement plans, and business clients. The firm uses a fiduciary approach focused on long-term positioning with fundamental and technical analysis, utilizing ETFs, equities, and mutual funds, and offers both discretionary management and standalone consulting services.

Michael Stewart II is a financial advisor at Yarash Global Solutions Inc. with 19 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and previously worked at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC and Morgan Stanley Private Bank, N.A. Stewart also owns Yarash Global Consulting LLC, a consulting firm providing non-investment-related business services. Yarash Global Solutions Inc. serves high-net-worth individuals, trusts, pension and profit-sharing plans, and corporate clients. The firm offers comprehensive portfolio management and business consulting, applying a range of analytical methods to manage diversified investment strategies and addressing real estate and business value-creation needs.

Christopher Mastro is a CFP® professional with four years of industry experience. He is a principal at Impact Fiduciary LLC, where he has worked since 2020, and previously spent five years with Mirmir LLC. Outside of financial advising, he owns Wellness BioDental, an activity occupying less than 10% of his time. Impact Fiduciary LLC provides discretionary portfolio management and comprehensive wealth management primarily for individual and high-net-worth clients, as well as pension plans, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm emphasizes client-specific investment policies with a focus on passive management through ETFs and index funds, incorporating socially responsible investing screens and offering bundled financial planning and tax-related services.

Peter Garelick is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional with 15 years of experience in the financial industry. He has worked at Global Financial Advisory Services, Inc. since 2015 and previously spent time at Western International Securities, Inc. and Financial West Group. Global Financial Advisory Services, Inc. offers investment advisory and retirement-plan consulting to individuals, trusts, pension plans, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm focuses on long-term asset allocation using ETFs, institutional mutual funds, and third-party managers, providing both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management.

Donna Gaddis is an advisor with Scout Wealth Advisors LLC in Pasadena, CA. She has no industry experience as a financial advisor but has held roles at Garrison Family Medical Group Inc since 2023, at Children's Center of the Antelope Valley from 2011 to 2023, and has been involved with QCS Consulting since 1990. Scout Wealth Advisors serves individuals, trusts, retirement plans, and business clients, offering asset management, comprehensive portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm follows a tailored, fiduciary approach focused on long-term positioning using fundamental and technical analysis, with a preference for ETFs, equities, and mutual funds.