Sarah Hamilton, CFP®, CSRIC

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About Sarah Hamilton, CFP®, CSRIC, MBA, MSFAIM

Sarah was born in Australia and through her father’s work with the UN lived out what it is to be a global citizen. She is grateful for the growth this afforded her intellectually and the compassion the experience of being an expat instilled.

In 1997 her family moved to California and sports quickly became her sanctuary. Basketball paved the way for her to play collegiately at Loyola University Chicago, Go Ramblers!

In 2005 she landed her first job in finance. For over a decade she worked one on one with families guiding them through major life decisions and an ever evolving economy. She has seen her clients live out their dreams, achieve peace of mind, and improve relationships through the financial planning process.

Lisa Mesquit, CFP®, CFA

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About Lisa Mesquit, CFP®, CFA

I am the Founder and CEO of Soaring Investment Management LLC, a Registered Investment Advisory firm based in Portland Oregon. In my 15 years of corporate and individual finance experience, I have managed portfolios from $250 million to over $1 billion. After graduating Oklahoma Christian University cum laude with a BS in Finance, I earned my CFA and have been a Charterholder since 1998 and I added the CFP® designation in 2022.

My salt-of-the-earth upbringing in North Texas has certainly influenced my drive to bring professional money management to individual investors in an accessible and affordable way. My childhood took me from the suburbs of Dallas to the small town of Sanger where I learned to appreciate the beauty of a cow pasture, the majesty of a thunder storm and the fun of a good football game. I also learned that things aren’t always what they seem. Modest people might surreptitiously have substantial wealth, while flashy people might be “all hat and no horse.”

In addition to my upbringing, I have held a variety of positions that have helped shaped me into the advocate for financial prudence that I am today. It began with my first job post high school at a law office. It’s there that I observed the ramifications of a national real estate collapse, the savings and loan crisis, an oil bust, and bankrupt partnerships. Vacant office space propagated the landscape throughout my college years imprinting caution and warning of boom and bust business cycles in my mind.

My long-time internship with Stifel, Nicholas brokerage firm during college introduced me to the workings of a broker/dealer, the investment banking side of municipal bonds and the training of advisors. I learned how big an impact a good advisor can have.

Upon graduation, the exemplary team at MidFirst Bank welcomed me into their Treasury Department. I am forever grateful for the disciplined approach they ingrained in me. I learned about benchmark rates of return, asset pricing, interest rate risk, corporate budgeting, and mortgage-backed securities. Eventually, I was appointed the lead analyst of the bank’s bond portfolio and maintained the Wall Street relationships there.

Arriving at Gap, Inc during a time of a fashion-miss and in the midst of the dot com boom, I kept busy securing funding in the bond market as part of their International Treasury Department. I saw up close the affects of the business cycle and strategic decisions on the shareholders and employees. I also learned, although fun at times, Corporate America was not where I wanted to be. I opt for something more personal and relational.

These business cycles and money decisions affect us all. My childhood roots coupled with valuable professional experiences helped spark my desire for families and communities to experience the blessings of financial prudence. I love being able to provide accessible and affordable professional money management through Soaring Investment Management

Laryssa Freeman, CFP®

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About Laryssa Freeman, CFP®

I recognize I’m not a good fit for everyone, and that’s ok! I offer a complimentary introductory meeting so that we can be open and honest from the outset to ensure our mutual compatibility.

New clients are typically concerned with taxes in retirement, understanding if their assets will last throughout retirement and coordinating assets to replace their paycheck.

I offer flat fee financial planning or ongoing comprehensive services to take the heavy lifting off your plate. Your choice!

Kelly Klingaman, CFP®, RLP®

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About Kelly Klingaman, CFP®, RLP®

Hi there, I’m Kelly – financial advisor for high-achieving professional women and their families, particularly those women in their early to mid-career working in the finance and tech industries. You’ve got a busy life and you’re juggling a lot. Together we can navigate your high-income years and get clear on how to live a great life using money as a tool.

Professional:
Prior to founding KKFP, I spent nearly 12 years building a career in the investment management industry at Dimensional Fund Advisors, a large asset manager whose long-term approach to investing relies on financial science instead of attempting to guess where markets are going next. Most recently I was a Regional Director and Vice President on the sales team and Lead Chair of the Women’s Inclusion Network for employees.

I received a degree in Finance from the University of Texas at Austin McCombs School of Business, and I also hold the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and Registered Life Planner® designations.

Personal:
I’m a born-and-raised Texan and have called Austin my home for 15 years. My husband Matt and I have two young kiddos, plus our “first-born” – a German Shorthaired Pointer. On the weekend you’ll find our crew hiking the trails around town and stopping at Tacodeli for lunch, and in the evening we like to put on a Star Wars movie and make homemade pizza.

As for me, my favorite ways to stay active are playing sand volleyball at Aussie’s and paddleboarding on Lady Bird Lake. And while I don’t do the cooking (thanks Hubs!) our pantry is always stocked so I can bake my famous chocolate chip cookies – ask me about the recipe sometime!

My Why:
If you’re a professional woman, I understand how it feels when there are never enough hours in a day, and how overwhelming stress often accompanies the balancing act of our personal and professional lives. On top of that, the path to career success is often fraught with roadblocks that men, on average, never face.

One area in particular that never gets the attention it deserves from successful professional women? Their personal finances. What’s worse is the financial services industry tends to neglect this need because it wasn’t designed with women in mind. A big factor: most financial advisors are men. The CFP Board recently reported that only 23.4% of CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professionals are women, a number that has hovered steadily around this point for over a decade.

My own experiences and observations pushed me to want better outcomes for women in the corporate world, so I built a business to offer customized financial guidance with all of their needs in mind.

This is the time to start optimizing your high-income years and make sure you’re using your financial resources effectively in order to enjoy life now and the journey ahead.

Shannon Grey, CFP®, CRPC®

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About Shannon Grey, CFP®, CRPC®, MPAS®

Here to Help Because You are Unique. So Is Your Financial Journey.

I began my financial career in 1999 as a financial advisor with Charles Schwab and Co. I have a Master in Science in Personal Financial Planning, am a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certificate, and hold the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor℠ designation.

Having 20-plus years as a financial advisor, I can help you gain clarity and confidence with your financial or retirement plan.

At InvestEdge Planning, we offer a personalized boutique-style approach that holistically encompasses retirement planning, forward-looking tax planning, and strategic investment management.

I come alongside you with the goal of helping you optimize your income and minimize your tax bill.

Working together, your service will always be crafted and custom-tailored to address your needs and priorities.

My commitment to you is service excellence, to be flexible and transparent with no hidden fees.

Invest in Your Future! A successful retirement encompasses:​

1) A written retirement income plan- Timing of distributions and managing multiple income streams and accounts.
2) Social Security and Medicare planning – to help you avoid penalties and make informed decisions about when to apply.
3) Tax Planning- maximizing your income and making it last for decades.
4) Strategic Investing- Portfolio management to help you navigate an ever-changing economy and stock market, and to help you mitigate rising healthcare costs, longevity risk, and inflation in post-retirement.
5) Protection of Your Wealth- having all your financial directives in order for a seamless transfer of wealth to your loved ones.

Let’s collaborate today to help you reach your financial or retirement goals!

Read Shannon’s blog here: https://www.investedgeplanning.com/media-market-update

Kaysian Gordon, CFP®, CPA

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About Kaysian Gordon, CFP®, CPA, MBA

My name is Kaysian Gordon, Founder and Wealth Advisor of Kaysi Gordon Financial Planning – A Place Where Faith and Financial Planning Meet.

I’ve been in the profession for over 20 years, but most recently have felt the call that faith should be a deeply rooted conversation when we talk about our money. I believe that money does not just impact our financial life, it affects every aspect of our life. Similarly, I believe that faith impacts everything we do and pursue.

I empower you to look at your finances in a different way. To help you to plan not just for financial things, or near term goals – but to plan for the long term.

Some questions I typically get asked: Can we afford to buy a home? How much should we spend or save? How much do I need to save for retirement? What will it cost for college education, while also being financially wise? Help understanding how I’m spending currently, so that I can reach my long term goals.

I can help you with that.

And a favorite question I help clients to think about: How will you spend your time in retirement?

Also, if have successfully saved over many years and you need to understand how you can invest, while taking the appropriate risk for where you are in your life so that your assets can continue to grow over time, I can help you with that as well.

I have been given the gift to make finances accessible and to speak in a language that makes it understanding and relatable. I take your hand and walk with you through the process so that you can be reminded that Rome wasn’t built overnight, but it’s through consistent actions over time, so that you can ultimately become financially independent and free.

Contey Smith, CFP®

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About Contey Smith, CFP®

Contey Smith is Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Motus Wealth. After nearly a decade at two Atlanta-area firms, Contey developed a diverse background in client-facing planning and portfolio management — a wide-ranging skillset that Motus clients benefit from today.

Contey has a love for both personal finance and helping people achieve their financial goals—and it really shows. Her commitment to providing a high level of service is evident through her caring, proactive approach, and exceptional can-do attitude. In addition, Contey is extremely passionate about furthering diversity within financial planning and volunteers her time to help women and people of color who are just getting into the field.

When Contey isn’t at the office, she sits on the University of Georgia’s Financial Planning Alumni Advisory Board and serves on the membership board for the Association of African American Financial Advisors (AAAA). In her free time, she enjoys volunteering with Victory Church, cheering on the Atlanta Falcons and Georgia Bulldogs, and exploring new places and cultures with her husband and two daughters.

Alison James, CFP®, PMP

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About Alison James, CFP®, PMP

“A goal without a plan is just a wish.” – Antoine de Saint-Exupery

I founded WorthWise Financial Partners because I believe that everyone needs a financial plan. I specialize in helping families of all shapes and sizes juggle saving for college and retirement while living a full life along the way. I particularly enjoy working with young families just starting to build wealth and helping LGBTQ families navigate their unique challenges.

I am a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, and a Project Management Professional® with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and English from Rice University. Prior to founding WorthWise, I worked at Aon Hewitt for over 20 years working with large companies to help their employees protect their families and achieve financial goals through retirement and insurance programs. As I talked with friends and neighbors with growing families I recognized the challenges they faced juggling competing financial priorities. I also observed the missteps they often took through lack of the time or knowledge to successfully navigate their financial lives and the perception that financial planning was just for the already wealthy. I am now putting my decades of experience to work helping families turn their hopes and dreams into achievable goals!

I live in Houston, Texas with my husband and youngest son while my oldest attends college – a very expensive out-of-state private college I might add, so I know from personal experience how that can be! When I’m not working with my clients or reading about financial news and trends, I enjoy cooking, wine, gardening and SCUBA diving.

I look forward to meeting with you to discuss how I can bring financial peace of mind and confidence to you and your family and help you live the life you envision!

Kelly Berenbaum, CFP®, CEPA®

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About Kelly Berenbaum, CFP®, CEPA®

Blue Tree Financial provides comprehensive financial planning services for family business owners, professionals, or individuals managing a significant inheritance. We believe trust is the cornerstone of a successful relationship between client and advisor. We are passionate about helping our clients articulate their personal financial goals and think long-term to achieve them. Our founder, Kelly Berenbaum, is a CFP® professional and holds the Certified Exit Planning Advisor credential or CEPA®. CFP® professionals have met rigorous qualifications for financial planning and have agreed to abide by the standards set forth in CFP Board’s Code of Ethics and Standards of Conduct. A Certified Exit Planning Advisor or CEPA® is a holistic business advisor that helps a business owner align business, personal, and financial goals while building transferable value into their business so that the owner is always prepared to capitalize on a transition of their company, planned or unplanned. CEPA® credential holders have successfully completed an executive MBA style program, and passed a comprehensive exam. Blue Tree Financial is a fee-only firm focused on providing financial planning services. We do not earn commissions for selling products.

Matthew J. Daniel, CFP®, CFA

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About Matthew J. Daniel, CFP®, CFA

Prior to founding Columbus Wealth Management, Matthew provided investment advice and financial planning services to over 100 families at his prior firm. He also served as the firm’s Director of Research and played a key role in the investment philosophy and portfolio construction which impacted nearly $2B of assets across 800+ households. In addition, he was responsible for various software implementation initiatives, several of which played a critical role in allowing a seamless transition to remote work at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Matthew is always looking for opportunities to improve both personally and professionally. After years of diligent studying and multiple exams, he earned his CFA Charter in 2018 and his CFP marks in 2019. While Matthew isn’t afraid to tear into spreadsheets, tax returns, financial statements, and analyze investments, his true passion is meeting with and serving his clients. Clients appreciate his ability to take an incredibly complex situation and break it down into relatable terms that are easy to understand.

Matthew lives downtown in Columbus and loves spending time with family and friends. He also really enjoys the gym, taking trips to the beach, or out west for some snowboarding. He also tries to stay involved in the community at home, particularly in the LGBTQ+ space.