My biggest accomplishment has been to help my clients reach their retirement goals or get back on their feet following a major life change. I find it especially rewarding when my clients let me know they are doing exactly what they dreamed of for their retirement years, or of the progress they have made towards becoming financially stronger and more secure in their future.

Analytical skills have always been my greatest talent. Even before getting into the financial industry, I was a programmer analyst and then I became an investment analyst. As a financial planner, I’m once again an analyst. In this role, I put the pieces together after great thought and research. Over the years, I have advanced and fine-tuned these skills. Specifically, I have found that analytical skills combined with real life experiences are powerful. This combination leads to greater insight, wisdom, knowledge about what to look for, and understanding the right questions to ask. And it brings all the pieces together, including the human element of emotions and biases. Each year brings with it more wisdom and more to offer my clients.

Invest in yourself. Whether it’s time or money, it’s always important to invest in your own dreams and aspirations. You need to take care of yourself before you can take care of others. To dovetail on that thought, I think it’s also wise to surround yourself with those who bring skills to the table that further your abilities and/or complement them. That’s a great formula for growing personally and professionally --- it’s a principle I practice for myself and my business. I encourage others to make that same investment.

As a CFO of sorts managing our clients’ money, I am always thinking strategically, looking at and analyzing data – charts, graphs, reports, scenarios, etc. But for our clients, emotions are involved. During the market correction in 2008, I was reminded to look at both the analytical and emotional sides when working with clients. When combined, these factors help clients make good decisions and to sleep better at night. They also help build trust, and that trust is what clients rely upon when I provide counsel and guidance during especially volatile market conditions.

Yes, I believe that we are all one on this planet – people, animals and botanical organisms. One for all and all for one. I wish to do more someday for the greater community. Some of what I’ve done so far includes previously serving as a board member for the West Contra Costa Public Education Fund and a volunteer for the Washington Elementary School “Many Hands” project. Both programs give children an opportunity to grow and achieve their potential.

I’m an avid outdoors person and enjoy backpacking, cycling and hiking. Most of my volunteer time now is spent leading backpack trips for Sierra Club, following John Muir’s philosophy that people will fight for what they love. Currently, I am the finance officer for the Sierra Club’s California / Nevada regional committee. My cycling adventures have included riding from San Francisco to Los Angeles on an AIDS fund-raising ride and participating in the Annual Leukemia and Lymphoma National Team in Training fund-raising bike ride around Lake Tahoe.