Financial Wellness Education

When Scott was in grade school, his dad Roger would bring him to seminars that he taught on commercial real estate and taxes. He once introduced Scott as his “favorite tax deduction” (don’t tell Scott’s three older sisters). Scott inherited that love of learning and teaching, and a passion for helping people save on taxes.

Scott is one of only 70 instructors in the country selected to present the MetLife Retirewise financial education and wellness program. He presents seminars on retirement income planning, investment strategies, tax planning, and estate planning. He has earned the professional designations of CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, Certified Investment Management Analyst®, Chartered Financial Consultant®, and Chartered Life Underwriter®. He enjoys keeping his knowledge current and expanding it with continuing education and additional certifications.

One of Scott’s greatest skills is his ability to actively listen and deliver individualized client-centric solutions. Clients see their specific financial plan and cash flow in one place and watch how various changes help them reach their goals faster. Clients sometimes begin their first meeting with Scott feeling uncertain and worried about the future. Watching them become confident and knowledgeable fuels Scott’s passion for his work.

This work often involves resolving complex financial scenarios that can accompany owning properties in different states, running or selling a business, and participating in multi-generational planning. Through his understanding of these complexities, Scott delivers not just a plan, but a strategy to maximize and retain his clients’ wealth.

Scott is atypical because of his background. Prior to becoming a financial planner, he worked first in the banking and loan industry, then in the insurance industry, and finally as a real estate economist. He also owned a tax planning business for five years. He has deep comprehension in each of these areas and applies his knowledge with his financial planning experience.

Here are the questions he answers most:

• Retirement planning – WHEN can I retire, HOW MUCH money do I need to maintain my lifestyle, and WHERE should I draw funds to pay for expenses?
• Tax planning – Help me create a tax strategy to keep more of the money I make now and in the future. How do tax strategies improve diversification?
• Investment strategies – How and what should I invest in? How do I minimize or eliminate fees?
• Legacy planning – What should my estate plan look like so my wishes beyond my life are met?

Scott earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in business economics from the University of California, Santa Barbara. In his down time, he enjoys playing Scrabble with his wife Alisa and skiing (water and snow), mountain biking, and hiking. His family (and their Portuguese Water Dog, Mochi) split their time between Seattle, Santa Barbara, and Cave Creek, Arizona.