Rachel Lawrence, CFP®, MSFP

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About Rachel Lawrence, CFP®, MSFP

I’ve known that working with money was my calling since senior year of high school. As it turns out, I’ve poured my entire career (20+ years) into financial planning and coaching, starting with data entry and paperwork, then building financial plans and implementing the recommendations for other advisors. I started taking my own planning clients in 2007, got my CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification, an Accredited Investment Fiduciary® designation, and a few years later, a Masters degree in Personal Financial Planning from my alma mater Bentley University.

In 2012 I made the leap from traditional firms with high minimums to a new way of working with regular Americans: fintech (aka financial technology). Since then, my mission has been to find scalable ways using technology to bring financial planning to those who need it the most – in particular, women and their allies. Now I get to accomplish some of this through my work with clients at Reverie Wealth, and also through my consulting firm, Plan Ventures, where I do projects for fintech and coaching companies on topics like scaling mass market financial services or coaching and automating financial planning advice.

These days, I’m passionate about money ideas that work in the real world for real people, using your core values and your body’s intelligence (head/heart/gut) to guide financial and other life decisions, backing up financial planning principles with research and evidence, tackling systemic issues in ways that can be good for both the world and our bottom lines, and like a true Enneagram 7, finding ways to have fun while doing it all!

When I’m not working to bring good money to the masses, you can find me reading sci-fi and psychology books, watching reruns of New Girl and Parks & Rec, skiing or surfing with my partner and kids, traveling the world on a budget, and fighting the patriarchy.

Cassandra Smalley, CFP®, CFA

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About Cassandra Smalley, CFP®, CFA

Cassandra Smalley is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional and holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation. She is on a mission to empower women to define and use their voices at the financial table to ensure they can enjoy a fulfilling, purposeful, creative, and joyful life.

Cassandra previously led a financial planning team that managed more than $500 million in assets. She has been recognized by Forbes and SHOOK Research as America’s Top Women Wealth Advisors 2020-2021, Top Next-Gen Wealth Advisor 2017-2020, Working Mother Magazine and Top Wealth Advisor Moms 2017-2020, among others.

Cassandra earned an MBA with a Finance concentration from the University of North Florida and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Florida.

After 15 years in the financial services industry, Cassandra felt called to publish a book based on her experiences. Her book, The Why of Wealth: Mastering the Steps to a Wealthy Mindset to Live a Joyful Life, centers on the challenges women face in building wealth and pivots obstacles into action by turning one’s unique perspective into one’s power to design their best life.

Today Cassandra is the Owner and CEO of her own financial planning and wealth management practice.

Cassandra is passionate about giving back to her community and is currently the Chair of the Leadership Development Committee on the Leadership St. Pete Alumni Association Board. She enjoys speaking to audiences about Financial Success as well as partnering with and coaching her clients to turn their goals and dreams into reality.

Cassandra is the proud mother of two young daughters, Addison and Meghan, and partnered in this amazing life with husband, Kevin Smalley.

Karen Ogden, CFP®, MBA

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About Karen Ogden, CFP®, MBA, Graduate Certificate in Sustainability

I am a financial services and capital markets professional with 30 years of experience ranging across the public, private and non-profit sectors. My experience includes economic data analysis; financial product development and education; business management; human resources; regulatory compliance; and most recently financial planning and investing.

Starting out on the floor of the Chicago Board of Trade, I had the good fortune to expand my career at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, Bank of America, Amherst-Pierpont Securities, Guggenheim Partners, and Purkiss Capital Advisors.

While at Bank of America, I was asked to pilot an innovative role that connected the institutional commodities trading desk with the environmental initiatives of the overall bank. It was eye opening and fascinating to see how the private sector and global capital markets can play a proactive role in addressing some of the challenges that face our society today. To further my education on sustainability issues, I completed a 5-course graduate certificate in Sustainability through Harvard University’s Extension School in 2015.

As my career evolved, I came to realize that working with individual investors and helping them realize critical financial goals was something that would bring me a great deal of satisfaction. In fact, having done the same for my own and my extended family, I know firsthand how important it is to make, revisit, and stick with a financial plan – even (maybe especially) when things get difficult. To help refine my education in personal financial management, I enrolled in Boston University’s CPE 7-course curriculum in Financial Planning. Completing the coursework in 2021, I passed the CFP® exam in November of 2021 and completed experience requirements in March of 2022. Joining James Osborn as a Partner with Envest in 2022 meant combining two of my passions into one role. That was an easy decision to make.

Having worked with clients at many levels of financial readiness, I know the value that an objective and knowledgeable planning partner can bring to the difficult and ever-evolving financial planning process. I am excited to help clients with financial planning as well as values-driven investment strategies. I also volunteer with Savvy Ladies as help line resource providing free financial coaching to women on their financial journey.

I am a graduate of Boston College with a B.S. in Finance and the University of Chicago Booth School of Business where I earned an MBA. I was an elected member of the Board of Finance of the town of Ridgefield, CT prior to moving out of state to Vermont, where I currently live in Dorset with my husband in our recent role of empty nesters.

Amber Miller, CFP®, EA

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About Amber Miller, CFP®, EA, CSRIC

I help clients build their net worth and use their money for good. I serve busy professionals, who work hard every day to care for others (patients, pets, kids) AND who want to do more. They’re passionate about personal, environmental, and social justice issues, and frustrated they don’t have the financial savvy (or time) to support their lifestyle and also change the world. I help clients make their extraordinary lives even better.

How you save and invest for the future, where you bank, and even the credit card you use can help make us and the planet a little better. As your partner (and fee-only fiduciary), I’ll help you understand your options, find venues to support what’s important to you, and build a better world.

I am one of less than 500 financial professionals to hold the Chartered SRI Counselor (CSRIC) designation, specializing in sustainable, responsible, and impact investments (SRI). These are investments that consider the environment as well as incorporate procedures and governance to not only generate a return for a client but also to make a positive societal impact.

Read Amber’s blog here: http://rising-financial.com/blog/

Jonathan Kolmetz, CFP®, MBA

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About Jonathan Kolmetz, CFP®, MBA

Jonathan’s life is defined by family, service to others, and a passion for learning.

Jon met his wife, Kristi, when they were students at St. Pius X High School and started dating in 1995 at Homecoming. They married in 2003 and have three children – Jackson (10), Benjamin (9), and Bird (6).

“I’ve always said the biggest perk of owning my own business is the ability to create the ideal work/life balance. The kids often show up in the background of photos in my office or on my videos because we integrate our work and family life.”

In childhood and as a young adult, including his time in the US Army Reserve, Jon has always been of service to others. He has volunteered, served on boards, and even started his own non-profit that raised over $100,000 for his local community.

After graduating from Texas A&M in 2002, Jon wanted to further his education and earned an MBA in 2009 from the University of Houston. In 2010, he attended Rice University and completed his Certified Financial Planning education. He became a board-certified CFP Practitioner in 2012. Still wanting to advance his education and continue serving others, Jon enrolled in a Clinical Mental Health Counseling master’s program at the University of St. Thomas in Houston and earned his degree in 2021.

Jon is constantly listening to podcasts, TED Talks, or watching documentaries—much to the chagrin of his wife and children.

For fun, Jon spends time with his cows and getting tractors stuck at the Kolmetz farm in Livingston, Texas. You also might find him on the boat at the lake pulling his kids on a tube.

The Kolmetz family continues to be active in their local community by supporting and sponsoring activities and events, including those at St. Rose of Lima, where the Kolmetz family are parishioners and where their children attend school.

Amy Rosenow, CFP®, CFA

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About Amy Rosenow, CFP®, CFA

Amy Rosenow is the founder of Fearless Financial Planning, an advice-only financial planning and education firm focused on women, families, and entrepreneurs.

Prior to Fearless, Amy worked as a consultant providing strategic advisory and outsourced COO services to growing start-ups and small businesses. Amy also founded Jugl LLC, a software company focused on making it easier to be a working parent. Before Jugl, Amy served as Partner, Chief Operating Officer, and Chief Compliance Officer of Sheffield Asset Management, L.L.C. for over a decade. In this role, she oversaw a variety of functions including operations, client service, investor relations, marketing, risk management, compliance, and technology for the Chicago-based investment management firm. She began her career on Wall Street, working for Morgan Stanley, JP Morgan, and Bear Stearns.

She also serves as President of both RUOK Management investment partnership and Kaplan Rosenow Family Foundation.

Amy graduated from Cornell University. She lives in Chicago with her husband, two daughters, and their chocolate Labrador retriever.

She is involved in a variety of community and non-profit initiatives, serving on the board of Temple Sholom of Chicago, as a member of the President’s Council of Cornell Women and the Economic Club of Chicago, as a mentor at 1871, Chicago’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology, and as the Treasurer of the Latin School of Chicago Parent Association. In addition, she is the co-Founder and Chief Financial Officer of the Josephine Collective, a women-led group of angel investors co-investing small amounts in early-stage startups.

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.

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.

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.

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.