Core Planning

Suzanne Highet is a financial advisor at Core Planning in Portland, OR, holding the CFP®, CFA®, and Series 65 credentials with 21 years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at The Stanich Group LLC, Highet Advisory LLC, and CTC Consulting, LLC. Outside of her advisory work, she operates Highet Advisory LLC, a business consulting service focused on supporting registered investment advisors with investment programs and portfolio management. Core Planning provides fee-based financial planning and wealth management services to individuals, retirement plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm customizes investment strategies based on client goals and risk tolerances, using a combination of in-house advice, third-party money managers, and model portfolios.

Jordan Taylor is an independent financial advisor at Core Planning. Before entering the independent space, he worked at firms including Edward Jones and Northwestern Mutual. Jordan provides fee-based financial planning and wealth management services to individuals, couples/families, retirement plans, and business entities, offering customized investment strategies, detailed financial planning and education, and advisory support tailored to each client's goals, risk tolerance, and financial psychology/behaviors.

Max is the co-founder of Novak Financial Partners, a flat-fee, fiduciary financial planning firm serving clients nationwide. He helps professionals, business owners, and families make smarter financial decisions through comprehensive financial planning and transparent, flat-fee advice. Novak Financial Partners is a flat-fee, fiduciary financial planning firm helping professionals, business owners, and families make smarter financial decisions with confidence. As CFP® professionals, we provide comprehensive financial planning that goes beyond investment management. We help clients coordinate investments, retirement planning, tax strategies, equity compensation, insurance, estate planning, and other major financial decisions into one cohesive financial strategy. We charge a transparent flat annual fee because we believe pricing should reflect the value of our advice, not simply the size of your investment portfolio. This allows us to work with professionals who are still building wealth without investment minimums while remaining a cost-effective option for retirees and clients with larger portfolios. Before co-founding Novak Financial Partners, Max worked at Personal Capital, Moneta, and Facet Wealth, helping individuals and families navigate complex financial decisions. He earned his MBA from Southern Illinois University and is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional. Based in Southern Illinois, Max works virtually with clients nationwide. Advisory services offered through Core Planning LLC, a Registered Investment Advisor.

Zach is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and Accredited Behavioral Finance Professional™ who helps clients align their money with their values so that they can live more intentionally now and in the future. With a background in psychology and a deep belief in access and equity, he brings both heart and strategy to every plan. Zach’s approach is collaborative, thorough, and solution-oriented. He’s worked with hundreds of families over his 10+ year career, and he’s especially passionate about demystifying complex topics so clients feel confident making decisions that reflect what they care about most. Prior to Novak Financial Partners, Zach spent over a decade at nationally recognized Registered Investment Advisors, where he became increasingly focused on delivering planning in a way that’s transparent, approachable, and deeply human. Outside of work, Zach enjoys reading, exercising, traveling with family, and cheering on Chicago’s sports teams. “The best way to predict the future is to create it.” – Peter Drucker

Drew Feldman is the founder of WideFrame Wealth in Los Angeles, serving nationwide. He is an Accredited Portfolio Management Advisor™ and holds a Series 65 designation. Flat fee, fee only.

Joe is a financial advisor at Core Planning. He holds a Series 65 designation and previously worked at Guiding Wealth, LLC. Joe offers fee-only financial planning and wealth management to mid-career families and pre-retirees. He specializes in: pilots, business owners, and equity compensation. Joe takes an educational approach to financial advice, ensuring clients understand the best options for them every step of the way.

Joel Miller, CFP®, is the founder of Flames Financial Planning, a modern, fee-only, flat-fee financial planning firm built to help individuals and families confidently build their future. Joel provides personalized financial planning, investment management, tax planning, and estate-planning guidance designed to bring every area of a client’s financial life together. His approach is relationship-driven, transparent, and focused on helping clients make intentional decisions, set bigger goals, and think long term. Joel founded Flames to create a new-age financial planning experience—one that combines professional expertise, modern technology, deeply personal guidance, and transparent flat-fee pricing. His mission is to simplify financial complexity and help clients steward their wealth with confidence, clarity, and purpose.

Tanner Millar is a financial advisor at Core Planning with a Series 65 designation and four years of industry experience. He has been with Core Planning since 2020 and previously worked at Mac's Docs and Continental Siding Supply. Core Planning provides fee-based financial planning and wealth management services to individuals, retirement plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm customizes investment strategies based on client goals and risk tolerances, utilizing a combination of in-house advice, third-party money managers, and model portfolios.

David Kooger is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor at Core Planning with one year of industry experience. He previously worked at West Virginia University and the University of Texas at El Paso. Kooger is also the founder of Texel Compass, a business consulting firm that assists entrepreneurs with starting and managing their businesses. Core Planning provides fee-only financial planning, wealth management, and portfolio management services primarily for individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm offers tailored investment strategies, including ERISA 3(21) retirement-plan advisory services, utilizing third-party model portfolios and automated rebalancing tools.

Rong Gao is a CFP® professional with over 25 years of experience in the financial industry. She has worked at BNY Mellon for 24 years before joining Core Planning, LLC in 2026. Gao is based in San Francisco, CA. Core Planning provides fee-only financial planning and wealth management services primarily for individual and high-net-worth clients, along with ERISA 3(21) retirement-plan advisory services for qualified plans. The firm uses a combination of third-party model portfolios and rule-based rebalancing tools to tailor investment strategies according to client objectives and risk tolerance.

Michelle Wagner is a CFP® with eight years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Core Planning. She previously worked at Facet Wealth and Ellevest and has held roles focused on financial planning and client service. Wagner also works as an independent contractor with Domain Money in a non-registered business development role. Core Planning provides fee-based financial planning and wealth management services to individuals, retirement plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm offers customized investment strategies using a combination of in-house advice, third-party money managers, and model portfolios.

Josiah Kellogg is a financial advisor at Core Planning with a Series 65 credential and one year of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Creative Edge Group and Cornerstone Wealth Advisors, as well as experience as a tax associate at H&R Block. Core Planning provides fee-based financial planning and wealth management services to individuals, retirement plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm customizes investment strategies based on client goals and risk tolerances, utilizing a combination of in-house advice, third-party money managers, and model portfolios.

Jason Fedak is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor with Core Planning in New Milford, CT, where he has worked since 2021. He has five years of experience in the financial industry and concurrently serves as a Physician Assistant at New Milford Hospital, a role he has held since 2018. Prior to joining Core Planning, he worked in emergency and urgent care settings for over a decade. Core Planning provides fee-based financial planning and wealth management services to individuals, retirement plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm customizes investment strategies based on client goals and risk tolerances, utilizing a mix of in-house advice, third-party money managers, and model portfolios.

Andrew Waggoner is a CFP®-credentialed financial advisor with 10 years of industry experience, currently with Core Planning. His prior experience includes roles at LPL Financial, Life Science Wealth, Bates Financial Advisors, and other firms. Core Planning provides fee-only financial planning, wealth management, and portfolio management primarily for individual and high-net-worth clients, along with ERISA 3(21) retirement-plan advisory services. The firm uses third-party model portfolios and automated rebalancing tools while tailoring investment strategies based on client objectives and risk tolerance.

Albert Martinez is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor at Core Planning with one year of industry experience. He has been affiliated with The Mika Group, Inc. since 2011. Core Planning is a multi-team firm that provides fee-only financial planning, wealth management, and portfolio management services primarily for individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm offers both discretionary and non-discretionary account management, employing third-party model portfolios and rule-based rebalancing tools to tailor investment strategies to client objectives and risk tolerance.