My Story
My mother wasn’t sure she wanted a financial advisor. She’d recently received a windfall from the sale of her home which had created some unexpected anxiety for her. She felt uneasy about turning the management of this money over to someone else, but she made the appointment and asked me to accompany her.
It was 1998, and I was a swim coach.
I expected to be there for moral support, but instead I found myself captivated and inspired. The advisor was assessing her needs, educating, and providing guidance. As I observed what was going on in the room, something clicked. I realized our work wasn’t so different. As a coach and athletic trainer for over a decade I had helped people push through uncertainty, build confidence, and attain goals they didn’t think were possible.
But this? This felt like coaching yet with more depth and with a lot more significance.
Every weekday morning at 6am I stood on the pool deck watching my US Masters swim team push their limits. Some were training for triathlons or national competitions, others just wanted to get in shape and swim faster. As their coach, I wasn’t just handing out sets and calling out times. I was helping them believe in themselves and reach their potential.
Watching that financial advisor work with my mother felt very similar. He listened, calmed her fears, and helped her see what was possible. It struck me: we were both coaches. The toolkit was different and the stakes were higher, but on an essential level we were doing the same thing.
Today I’m proud to bring this coaching mindset to financial planning—building trust, guiding clients through uncertainty, and helping them set bold goals.
How I’m expanding what’s possible with money
Money can be limiting or liberating, and everyone comes to the table with their own financial history. Past experiences with money can shape how we see it in the present. Understanding that history can be an important part of the financial planning process.
My role as an advisor is to listen deeply and help people identify and work through whatever financial challenges they may be facing, whether that’s uncertainty, old habits, goal setting, or simply identifying where to start. My objective is to help clients feel as confident and secure with their money as possible, so they can focus on what matters most to them.
Outside of work, my passions include
I enjoy swimming, cycling the back roads of Sonoma County, coaching my local masters swim team, and the perfect cup of coffee. My interests include 20th century American history, ’60s-’80s era jazz and rock, and mid-century architecture and design.
