Hello to our wonderful clients!
Apologies for the quantity of email blasts from me this year, but it has been quite a year already (and it's only April!). I’m reaching out today with a (very) belated annual client letter with both personal and firm updates, and a few reflections thrown in, too.
We had the pleasure of working with 25 new clients in 2024, most of whom were referrals from you, our clients. It is difficult to put into words how grateful we are that you trust us with your people - there is truly no higher compliment and we are incredibly thankful. We promise to continue taking excellent care of you and the people you send our way. We currently have capacity for 24 new clients in 2025, with 11 spots already spoken for, and 13 still available. Our sweet spot is working with mid-career professionals with substantial equity compensation. If we can be of help to someone you know, we’d be happy to chat with them.
Miranda joined us in May 2024 and I couldn’t be more grateful for her. It feels like she’s been here for years in the best possible way. She has come alongside Cyndi and me in serving our clients and running the business absolutely seamlessly, and I look forward to her continued growth with the firm and anticipated transition to Lead Financial Planner in 2026. We’ll be looking to expand our team again late this year or in early 2026.
The firm grew 45% last year, and we're on track to grow about 40% this year. As we head into our 6th year as a firm, I'm starting to really understand why I'm so passionate about growing this firm. Growth means that we get to help more people and continue to uplevel what we do for clients, and that is really fulfilling. But I'm also finding that I'm incredibly motivated to create opportunities for others to do financial planning and asset management with integrity, transparency, and work/life balance. This industry is a tough one where conflicts of interest, questionable business practices, long hours, and obnoxious sales practices abound. Building a firm where planners can do great work for great clients and live balanced lives without all the gross stuff - that REALLY gets me excited!
On a personal note…
For Cyndi, the highlight of the year was their family road trip to Yellowstone. Wonderful family memories were made while appreciating the natural beauty of the world! Vivian (8) has really leveled up this year in gymnastics, piano, and reading. JJ (6) has found his passion building Star Wars lego sets and drawing his own comic books. Cyndi's husband, James, began his dream job teaching Jr. High history at the kids' school, which has contributed to a great work/life balance all around!
Miranda’s highlight was spending two weeks in Japan exploring Tokyo and skiing on the north island of Hokkaido in January of this year. If you aren’t an avid skier, you might not have known that Japan is one of the snowiest countries and has (debatably) the best power skiing in the world, often referred to as Japow and Japanuary. When she’s not dreaming up her next international adventure, she stays busy as a true PNW-er hiking, backpacking, trail running, skiing, and all things outdoors.
And as for me, it sure feels like we’re in the sweet spot of parenting. Wally (10), still plays ALL THE SPORTS, but baseball has emerged as his fave, and we are doing the whole club baseball thing. We’ve decided to be fully where we are, if you will, and make the most of the time spent practicing and traveling for tournaments with good snacks, sparkle necklaces, and a little silliness amongst all the serious baseball parents around us. Charlie (knocking on 13’s door) is rocking 7th grade and enjoying playing electric guitar in the school jazz band. He has discovered a love for classic rock (it’s about damn time) and hearing him play the solos from my favorite Led Zeppelin songs in his room at night makes my heart beam with pride. Ryan continues to enjoy his role as CCO of a music tech company and has been at F45 pretty much every day for 18 months. So if you’re local, and you need help lifting something heavy, I know a guy. Amidst so many joyful things, my parents are aging and dealing with some significant health challenges. I have abruptly entered the sandwich generation, and I’m quickly becoming more aware of how precious and limited our time together here on Earth really is.
It is embarrassingly late in the year to say this, but I’d like to wish you health, joy and peace in 2025. Amidst all the hard things happening in our country and our world right now, there is much change to hope for. May we hold that hope with one another, and for one another this year.