I've been doing this work for more than 30 years, and the question I get asked most often is some version of "What should I do?" People want to know if they're on track, if they're taking too much risk, if they're missing something important. My job is to help them find those answers.
I started managing portfolios in 1985, back when the industry looked very different than it does today. I was one of the first advisors to charge a fee for service instead of commissions, because I wanted to remove any product bias from the recommendations I was making. It mattered to me then, and it still matters now—your strategy should be built around what's right for you, not what's profitable for someone else.
These days, I work with individuals who need help managing their investments and making sure everything is structured correctly for retirement. I also work with business owners on strategic planning, executive compensation, and retirement plans like 401(k)s and profit-sharing plans. A lot of what I do involves looking at the short-term decisions people are facing and making sure those decisions add up to something meaningful over the long haul. The short term makes up the long term—if we're addressing the right issues now, the future tends to take care of itself.
Over the years, I've served on national advisory panels for the financial services industry and spent a lot of time on boards and as a volunteer for community and regional nonprofits. I enjoy speaking to groups about the economy and helping people think through their financial lives in practical terms.
I hold bachelor's and master's degrees from California State University, Fresno, and also studied counseling and theology in graduate school. My wife Peggy and I have two sons, Aaron and Matthew, and several grandchildren. Being a husband, father, and grandfather has always been the most important role I've had—and the one that keeps teaching me the most.
I'm a managing principal here and am registered to offer securities and investment advisory services through Géneos Wealth Management, Inc., a member of FINRA/SIPC.