Who I am.

I’m a baby-boomer, a CPA, and a CFP® practitioner who believes that all other financial planning issues pale in comparison to the big one: retirement.


			

			

				
				
				
				
			

				

				
				
				
				
				

				
				
				
				
				

I grew up as a kid who religiously followed my parents’ rule about handling money that I earned babysitting or that came my way through birthday gifts: spend 1/3, save 1/3 for a big ticket item, and deposit 1/3 into the college fund.


I bought my first book on financial planning when I was about 30 (Jane Bryant Quinn’s Making the Most of your Money), and started joining the conversations that my eight older siblings were having about jobs, spending, saving, and retirement. We’re a family of planners and savers, and to this day, retirement is a favorite topic of conversation when we get together.


I followed a long and winding road to this career:  I was a reporter, an arts administrator, and a CPA before transitioning into financial planning in 2002, when I was hired as a staff planner by Kathleen Cotton, an early adopter of the fee-only comprehensive financial planning model. After Kathleen sold her practice in 2006, I partnered with two other advisors at TrueNorth Financial Services for five years, and then started my own practice in 2012.


I live in Seattle with my husband, Steve, and spend my free time trying to improve on the bass guitar (#LifeGoal).

			

			

				
				
				
				
			

				

				
				
				
				
				

				
				
				
				
				

			

			

				
				
				
				
				

				
				
				
				
				


There’s no doubt that being the youngest of nine kids has shaped who I am, personally and professionally.

			

			

				
				
				
				
			

				

				
				
				
				
				

				
				
				
				
				
Stats and Activities.

			

			

				
				
				
				
			

				

				
				
				
				
				

				
				
				
				
				
Credentials


Certified Financial Planner Certificant


Certified Public Accountant — Washington State


Education


Bachelor of Arts – Oberlin College


Master of Business Administration – University of Washington








Professional Affiliations


National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA®)


NAPFA Western Region Board Member (2016-2019)






Teaching


University of Washington Masters in Accounting Program: Guest Lecturer (2011-2019)


Financial Planning Strategies for New Grads


South Seattle Community College: Instructor


CFP® Professional Education Program: 10-week Retirement Planning & Employee Benefits course (2011, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018)


CFP Exam Life Review: Retirement Planning & Employee Benefits (2010-2013)

			

			

				
				
				
				
				

				
				
				
				
				
Volunteering


Seattle Financial Planning Day (2014)


Seattle/King County Asset Building Coalition, Financial Fitness Day (2011)


FPA/National Council of Mayors Financial Planning Day (2010)


NAPFA/Kiplinger “Jump Start Your Retirement Plan” online chats (2007, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2015)


Presenting


Private client event for real estate group:  Retirement – What Does It Take? (2015)


NAPFA West Region conference presenter:  Retirement Planning Tips, Tools, and Techniques (2012)


American Society of Women Accountants (ASWA): Roth Conversions — Who What Where and When? (2010)


Washington Society of Certified Public Accountants (WSCPA) Seattle Chapter: Roth Conversions—Who What Where and When? (2010)


Financial Planning Association of Puget Sound: Roth Conversion Panelist (2010)


Horizon House: Plan B — Correcting Course After the Financial Crisis, Recession and Bear Market (2009)


Horizon House: Tax Tips (2008)


ASWA: Creating a Retirement Paycheck (2008)


ASWA: Risk Tolerance – Who’s Keeping Score? (2008)