Different by Design
A lifetime around HDR, a decade in startups, and a practice that's intentionally narrow.
THE 'WHY'
I come from an HDR home
My father spent 30 years at HDR. I grew up hearing HDR stories around the dinner table about projects. I met coworkers. I know what a special place it is, and the fact that it's 100% employee-owned is a big piece of what makes it unique.
The BEST Plan wasn't just a cornerstone or foundation of my father's retirement — it was most of the building. He tracked the annual valuations and saw his balance grow, and with it, the distribution question loomed larger every year: is this enough, and am I making the right choices with it?
When it came time to make decisions, help was fragmented. HDR's team could clarify plan facts but couldn't give investment or retirement advice. Schwab could help with general investment guidance but couldn't provide tax advice. His accountant was great at filing taxes but wasn't versed in long-term financial planning or portfolio construction. Everyone had a piece of the picture. Nobody was looking at the whole thing.
That gap is what I fill. I help HDR employees run the NUA math, coordinate distribution timing with potential taxes, and build a plan that accounts for the BEST Plan, the 401(k), Social Security, and everything else — together. I'm a fee-only fiduciary financial planner. No commissions, no referral fees from HDR or Schwab.
BACKGROUND
How I Got Here
My first job out of college was serving clients at Fidelity Investments. After getting my MBA at UT Austin, I also spent 10+ years in finance and analytics at VC-backed startups in Seattle — navigating stock options, RSUs, liquidity events, and other nuances of personal finance and equity compensation.
In the start-up world, my passion for building sometimes ran up against the fact that I was asked to chase growth targets that had no basis in reality. I also sometimes questioned the relative value of the brands and products I was working to promote. I wanted to build something deliberate. Something of my own.
By successfully navigating my own personal finance journey, I’ve managed to launch my own practice¹ helping others, and I’m able to bring all of these experiences to the table when I'm sitting across from clients. I am also a CFP® candidate, having completed all of the CFP® coursework and having passed the CFP® examination (the final requirement before receiving full certification is fulfilling the experience requirement).
Some advisors are trying to build large teams and scale to 100+ clients. I'm targeting a fraction of that — people who care about the long term, who will be engaged in the process, and who aren't looking for someone to rubber-stamp decisions they've already made. This has to be mutual. I'm selective about fit, and you should be too.
¹ My practice operates under and through Prospero Wealth, an SEC-registered investment advisor. This arrangement provides me with flexibility to serve my clients with a high touch service model while also leveraging the expertise of other great advisors and the resources of a larger firm.
Enough about me.
What's your story?
If you're an HDR employee navigating the BEST Plan, or someone looking for expert guidance on how to prepare for the next stage of life, let’s talk.
Schedule a Free Consultation