Questions worth
asking.

I'm 100% fee-only. That means no commissions, no kickbacks, no hidden incentives. You pay for advice and nothing else.

You work directly with me, and that never changes. I'm an Investment Adviser Representative (IAR) of Core Planning LLC, which provides the regulatory and operational structure I work within — but your relationship is with me.

It means you get the best of both worlds: a personal relationship with me, plus the infrastructure of a solid firm behind the scenes. Core Planning LLC handles the majority of back-office work: compliance, paperwork, and all the operational systems that keep things running smoothly. That frees me to focus on you.

What I love about this partnership is I'm part of a co-op community. I have access to a deep bench of other experienced advisors I can tap when a second set of eyes would be beneficial. It's a collaborative community and I retain full independence in how I work with clients. And there's an agreement in place that ensures your relationship stays with me if I ever move to a different RIA or start my own firm.

People who care as much about values as they do about numbers, and who want to bring their full, authentic selves to financial planning. I especially enjoy working with:

• California public employees (current and former)
• LGBTQIA+ individuals and families
• Neurodivergent folks who want a planning process that honors how you think
• People in non-traditional family structures
• Anyone building a financial life aligned with their values and community

If you're looking for someone to pick hot stocks or time the market, I'm not your person. My focus is optimizing your complete financial picture, not chasing maximum returns.

I also don't prepare taxes or provide bookkeeping services — though I know some great people who do and I'm happy to refer you.

A CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® provides coordinated strategies across all areas of your finances — primarily investments, taxes, insurance, and estate planning.

An AFC® (Accredited Financial Counselor) educates and counsels clients to make better money decisions, build healthy financial habits, and understand core financial principles.

Both hold practitioners to the highest ethical standard of a fiduciary — meaning a commitment to acting in your best interest at all times.

I offer a few ways to work together:

Spot Consultation ($695): A 90 minute meeting focused on a specific question you need answered before making a move

Comprehensive Financial Plan ($3,995): A 3-month process covering your entire financial picture. Clients can then add ongoing monthly planning.

Leaving the Public Sector ($2,550): Two focused sessions to help California public employees make a major career decision with clarity.

Everything starts with a free 30-minute intro call to make sure we're a good fit.

Often, chaos is exactly when you need clarity most. Financial planning doesn't require your life to be perfectly calm first.

For the Comprehensive Financial Plan, we'll meet intensively during the first 3 months to build your foundation, then settle into a rhythm that works for you — or you implement independently and come back when life changes again. For Leaving the Public Sector, we meet just twice over 3–4 weeks. If you can carve out 90 minutes total and gather some documents, we can do this.

You wouldn't be the first — or the fiftieth. Getting financially naked can feel even more vulnerable than getting physically naked. I get it.

Nothing shocks me, and judgment is never on the table. Whether you're a high achiever with no retirement savings or someone still learning how to invest, it's okay. You're not alone.

My role is to support, not judge. I follow your lead on how much you want to share, and we'll build trust at whatever pace feels right for you.

I've had honest money conversations with people living lives that don't fit the mold:

• You're neurodivergent and can't handle cameras on during Zoom. Totally fine — we'll keep them off and I'll follow up with a clear action checklist.
• You're managing a household budget with two nesting partners. We'll work out a spending plan that feels fair for everyone.
• Your "garage gym" hosts community play events. I won't bat an eye — unless you tell me you don't have liability insurance for those "workouts."

You absolutely should use those resources — they're excellent for understanding the mechanics of your benefits.

But when your questions involve multiple moving parts or a career change to the private sector, it helps to have a thought partner. CalPERS and CalSTRS can tell you what your retirement formula is and estimate your future pension. They can't tell you:

• Whether buying back service credit is worth it — or if that money would be better used elsewhere
• How leaving public service changes your long-term picture
• If you're saving enough in your other retirement accounts to consider retiring earlier than your full retirement age
• Whether you and your partner can retire comfortably and save for college if you go part-time

My role is to connect the dots between your pension, your goals, and your full financial picture.

I specialize in CalPERS and CalSTRS, but the framework applies to other public sector pensions. I've worked with people in FERS (Federal Employees' Retirement System) and TRS of Texas. If you're in a different system, let's talk — I can likely still help.

I focus on what we can control: costs, diversification, risk, and behavior. I don't try to beat the market through stock picking. Core principles:

• There's no free lunch. Every investment carries risk, including "safe" ones.
• Markets are efficient, but not always rational. Timing the market is hard, and most people don't beat it long-term.
• Diversify. Owning a globally diversified portfolio helps you avoid betting too much on any one thing.
• Right-size risk. Your portfolio should match your timeline, needs, and emotional bandwidth.
• Emotions matter. Fear and greed can derail even a sound plan.
• Fees and taxes matter. A low-cost, tax-efficient strategy can save you thousands over time.

To the best of my abilities (an interpretative dance of the financial markets is sadly not in my skill set), I want to meet you where you're at — especially when it comes to how we communicate. Options clients have chosen include:

• Phone call or video call with cameras off
• Chat over speaking, for those who prefer it
• Periodic stretch or movement breaks
• Extra processing time after questions
• Shorter focus sessions (e.g., two 30-minute meetings instead of one hour)
• Using a stim toy during the call
• Closed captions

Share your preferences when booking or anytime afterward; we'll adapt together. For a more in-depth list, see this post.