Why financial planning?

I've always loved numbers and I’ve always loved helping people. I was trying to find the right way to mix these two into a career and then my father passed away suddenly at the age of 63, just before he was about to retire.

This had a profound impact on me – he was so excited to start this next phase of his life and the next thing I know I’m sitting next to my mother across the table from our family’s financial planner discussing estate settlement and life insurance.

Honestly, we had no interest in dealing with any of this. We were trying to cope with what just happened so suddenly. However, I vividly remember how we felt after leaving that meeting. We were so thankful that we had someone we trusted to take care of those financial affairs during the most difficult times of our life.

This is why I love what I do – I’m able to be there for people through the good times and the bad times. I know what it feels like to have someone that understands your story, your values and your money and helps you make decisions to live the life you love.

My experience also taught me that life can be short and you want to experience your life while you can!

What is Jake like outside of work?

Why financial planning?

I learned one thing about money when I was growing up and it was that there was never enough of it. At an early age, I understood what evictions and repossessions were, probably long before I could pronounce the words correctly!

Growing up in that environment ultimately left me with a choice of two paths as I got older: fall into that same pattern and struggle financially throughout my life OR do the complete opposite.

The upside to growing up in that environment is that I learned valuable life lessons like determination, perseverance, and doing whatever had to be done to succeed. I also learned gratitude for the small things in life and compassion for those in similar situations.

Having the opportunity to help people decode, simplify, and navigate complicated financial concepts is incredibly fulfilling & sometimes even very emotional for me. Becoming a trusted partner to help our clients make smart money moves for the future, in order to live a more fulfilling life today, is a privilege, and one I never take for granted. This is not a “job” for me, it’s my calling. Sounds cliché, I know, but it’s true!

What is Marie like outside of work?

Our family is always outside and on the go, rain or shine! We’re fortunate to live in a city with endless hiking and biking trails, greenways, rivers, and lakes surrounded by the beautiful Smoky Mountains, so we try to get out and explore as often as possible. 

We look forward to taking 2-3 trips each year to various beaches but recently started visiting some states out West. I’m most excited about someday visiting Seattle & Vancouver!

I enjoy the simple things in life like sleeping past 6 a.m., the feeling of a warm cup of coffee in my hands, watching people reunite with their loved ones in an airport, and good music that makes you want to dance!

Why financial planning?

I’ve always been fascinated with how money works, observing money’s ability to open certain doors and close others, as well as watching the financial impact on relationships long before I understood the statistics behind money and relationships. Wanting to do something that helped people individually, financial planning done the right way feels more like a calling than a career.

In my own life, moving across the country, away from my family and the only home I’ve known would have sounded absurd a few years ago. Yet, with flexibility, intentional habits, and a bit of patience, that’s exactly what my wife and I did by moving from Chicago to Flagstaff, with a year-long layover in Colorado.

I love guiding others through identifying their vision of their ideal life and building a plan to get there, knowing that flexibility is important, as things change.

Money touches every aspect of life and it’s so essential to use it as a tool to live out your life rather than following the crowd. The concept of saving gets drilled into us, but how do your values and goals fit into the picture? Thoughtfully spending and crafting a life you love, using your values and desired experiences as the guiding force is why I’m here!

What is Mike like outside of work?

I love the outdoors. Running, hiking, anything with water, and I’m dipping my toe into winter sports.

My wife & I love to travel and go on adventures, whether for a morning or weeks at a time.  We spent six weeks in Northern AZ a few years back, which led us to moving to our adopted home of Flagstaff, AZ, living up to our family motto of “Do Epic Shit.”

I’m a nerd at heart. A day with outdoor physical activity + a good book, maybe by the fire, sounds perfect.

Why financial planning?

Money was often a scarcity growing up, and I realized the power of having a financial plan very early on. Personal finance is like a different language, and not one we’re typically taught! I strongly believe that building wealth is possible for everyone, and it’s my life mission to remove the complexity around it.

I first fell in love with accounting and finance in high school, thanks to an incredible teacher of mine. My interest led me to write a 30-page business plan for a wealth management firm during my senior year and compete with it at an international competition through an organization called DECA.

Early on in college, I became fascinated with behavioral finance, which quickly developed into a passion for financial therapy and the human side of money. Not many companies at the time saw value in this realm of the industry, but I was determined to make an impact.

I continued my search for the perfect firm until I found EYW (or rather, they found me!) and I’m so honored to be serving our clients alongside a stellar team. I truly believe that what we do is helping shape a better future for the next generation!

What is Lillian like outside of work?

I aim to live (and spend!) in alignment with my three core values: Adventure, Service, and Personal Development. I love to learn, grow, and challenge myself constantly. I am an avid reader and a self-proclaimed conference junkie. If I’m not attending a CrossFit class or studying at the library, you will likely find me visiting my favorite gluten-free bakery in the valley!

I love to travel and try new experiences, but I’m also a bit of a homebody. I follow more dogs than people on Instagram, and sometimes prefer the company of my own french bulldog, Eugene Theodore, to that of the general public.

My partner, Kyle, is also a financial planner. While it’s fun to have someone to discuss the Secure Act 2.0 with in a Chick-Fil-a drive thru, we also enjoy pursuing our outside passions together – music (Kyle) and trying every item on the Dutch Bros menu (Lilly).