Seattle, WA Office

Lindsay Farnsworth is a financial advisor at Empirical Wealth Management in Seattle, WA, holding a Series 65 designation with 10 years of industry experience. She has been with Empirical Wealth Management since 2016. Empirical Wealth Management serves individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, pension and profit-sharing plans, and private pooled vehicle investors. The firm employs a Modern Portfolio Theory-based investment approach using diversified model portfolios across multiple asset classes and offers services including discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, financial planning, tax preparation, retirement-plan consulting, and affiliated insurance, estate-planning referral, and residential real-estate brokerage services.

Shannon Bene is a CFP® professional with 30 years of experience in the financial industry, currently serving at Empirical Wealth Management since 2021. Prior to joining Empirical, Bene held roles at E*TRADE and TD Ameritrade. Outside of financial advising, Bene owns and operates a bicycle repair business, occasionally buying and selling bicycles. Empirical Wealth Management serves individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, pensions, and profit-sharing plans, offering fee-based investment management and comprehensive financial services. The firm uses a diversified investment approach grounded in Modern Portfolio Theory and operates several affiliated businesses across real estate, insurance, and legal services.

Robert Thomas is a financial advisor at Empirical Wealth Management in Seattle, WA, holding a Series 65 designation with four years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Domo and multiple periods at Empirical Wealth Management. Empirical Wealth Management serves individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and retirement plans, providing fee-based investment management, financial planning, tax preparation, and related services. The firm employs a diversified investment approach based on Modern Portfolio Theory and operates several affiliated businesses in real estate, insurance, and estate planning.

Kenneth Smith is a CFP®-certified financial advisor with 24 years of industry experience, currently serving at Empirical Wealth Management since 2006 and Empirical Financial Services since 2010. He is the CEO and head of the investment committee at Empirical Financial Services, a company focused on investment services in Washington. Outside of advisory work, he is an investor in rental properties through a private LLC. Empirical Wealth Management serves a broad range of clients, including high-net-worth individuals, trusts, and pension plans, offering fee-based investment management and financial planning grounded in Modern Portfolio Theory. The firm operates multiple affiliated businesses providing integrated real estate, insurance, and legal services, and manages alternative investment strategies through pooled vehicles.

Erik Lehr is a CFA® charterholder and holds a Series 65 license, with 12 years of industry experience. He has been with Empirical Wealth Management since 2012. Lehr serves as a board member of the Seattle Chapter of the CAIA Society and is treasurer of the board for FinAbility, a nonprofit focused on financially empowering survivors of domestic abuse. Empirical Wealth Management serves individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, pensions, and profit-sharing plans, offering diversified investment management and financial planning services grounded in Modern Portfolio Theory. The firm operates multiple affiliated businesses, providing in-house real estate, insurance, and estate-planning services, and manages alternative-strategy offerings and pooled investment vehicles for a range of clients.

Mark Umek is a CFP® professional with 20 years of industry experience, currently serving at Empirical Wealth Management since 2018. His prior roles include positions at Fisher Investments and Capital Financial Consultants Group, Inc. He is based in Seattle, WA. Empirical Wealth Management serves a diverse client base including individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and retirement plans, employing investment strategies grounded in Modern Portfolio Theory with diversified portfolios across multiple asset classes. The firm also operates affiliated businesses in real estate, insurance, and estate planning, providing integrated services beyond traditional wealth management.

Shan Zubair is a CFP® and holds a Series 65 license, with 17 years of industry experience. He has been with Empirical Wealth Management since 2010. The firm serves a diverse client base including individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and retirement plans. Empirical Wealth Management employs a diversified investment approach based on Modern Portfolio Theory and offers a range of services including discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, financial planning, and affiliated insurance and real estate brokerage services.

Joyce Bloomquist is a CFP® with 21 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Empirical Wealth Management since 2024. Her prior experience includes roles at Apella Capital, LLC, Vestory LLC, Sagemark Wealth Management, LLC, and Pacific Asset Management, LLC. She is based in Seattle, WA. Empirical Wealth Management serves individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, pensions, and profit-sharing plans, offering fee-based investment management, financial planning, tax preparation, and retirement-plan consulting. The firm employs a diversified investment approach grounded in Modern Portfolio Theory and operates several affiliated businesses providing real estate, insurance, and legal services.

David Raney is a CFP® and ChFC® with 22 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Empirical Wealth Management since 2023. Prior to joining Empirical, he spent 19 years with Charles Schwab. Empirical Wealth Management serves individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, pensions, and profit-sharing plans, offering a range of fee-based investment management and financial planning services. The firm employs a diversified, multi-asset-class investment approach based on Modern Portfolio Theory and operates several affiliated businesses, including a residential brokerage and insurance subsidiary, providing a broad spectrum of in-house financial and estate planning resources.

Brian Reed is a CFP® with 12 years of experience in financial advising, currently with Empirical Wealth Management in Seattle, where he has worked since 2015. He holds a Series 65 license and has spent his entire financial advisory career at Empirical Financial Services LLC, doing business as Empirical Wealth Management. Empirical Wealth Management serves a broad range of clients, including individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, pensions, and profit-sharing plans. The firm uses a Modern Portfolio Theory-based investment approach with diversified model portfolios spanning 12–21 asset classes, and it offers comprehensive services including investment management, financial planning, tax preparation, and retirement plan consulting.

James Jones II is a financial advisor at Empirical Wealth Management in Seattle, WA, with nine years of industry experience. He holds the Series 65 designation and has been with Empirical Wealth Management since 2015. In addition to his advisory role, he manages Empirical Legal Services, LLP, operating as Secure Legacy Law Group, which provides estate planning legal services. Empirical Wealth Management serves individuals, including high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and pension plans. The firm employs a diversified investment approach grounded in Modern Portfolio Theory and offers a range of services, including discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, financial planning, tax preparation, and retirement-plan consulting.

Robert Thomas is a financial advisor at Empirical Wealth Management with three years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has worked in various roles including at King County Finance & Business Operations and Seattle University. Empirical Wealth Management serves individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, pensions, and investors in private pooled vehicles. The firm’s investment approach incorporates Modern Portfolio Theory with diversified model portfolios across multiple asset classes and offers a range of services including investment management, financial planning, tax preparation, retirement-plan consulting, and affiliated insurance, estate-planning referral, and residential real-estate brokerage services.

Kevin Byrd is a CFP® and holds a Series 65 license with four years of industry experience. He is currently with Empirical Wealth Management and has prior experience at Directional Financial Services, Goldbloom Wealth Management, and the Olympic College Veteran Center. Byrd also served in the United States Army Reserve from 2016 to 2020. Empirical Wealth Management serves individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, pensions, and profit-sharing plans, offering fee-based investment management, financial planning, tax preparation, and retirement-plan consulting. The firm employs a diversified investment approach based on Modern Portfolio Theory and operates several affiliated businesses across real estate, insurance, and legal services.

Samuel Platcow is a financial advisor at Empirical Wealth Management in Seattle, WA, with four years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and previously worked at Goldbloom Wealth Management, Bankers Life, and Starbucks. He is also an affiliated insurance producer with Empirical Insurance, LLC, providing recommendations on life, disability, and long-term care insurance products. Empirical Wealth Management serves individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, pensions, and profit-sharing plans with fee-based investment management and financial planning. The firm employs a diversified, Modern Portfolio Theory-based approach and offers affiliated insurance, estate-planning referral, and residential real-estate brokerage services.

Michael Kelly is a CFP®, CFA®, and Series 63-certified advisor at Empirical Wealth Management with 20 years of industry experience. He has been with Empirical Wealth Management since 2015. Empirical Wealth Management serves a diverse client base, including high-net-worth individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, pensions, and profit-sharing plans. The firm’s investment approach is grounded in Modern Portfolio Theory, employing diversified model portfolios across multiple asset classes and offering a range of services such as financial planning, tax preparation, and retirement-plan consulting.