FIRST PACIFIC - Key Persons
One of First Pacific Financials' newest additions, Aaron's previous life experiences made him an easy fit as he has proven through life the ideal of selfless service. From Boy Scouts to volunteer work and ultimately the Marine Corps he jumps at chances to make a difference in people and the places he lives.
Upon completion of his military service, he went on to study at San Diego State University where he graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Financial Services. An aspiring financial advisor, he plans on using his growing knowledge of personal finance to further serve his community and enrich the lives of others.
Aaron has always been an active individual and although new to the Pacific North West he plans to take full advantage of the many experiences the area has to offer. He enjoys outdoor activities such as snowboarding, backpacking, and mountain biking, but he is always open to experiencing new things.
Adam began his career well over a decade ago at First Pacific Financial. He is now a shareholder and is most likely to break a modern record for serving an entire financial career at one company. A founding member of our Investment Committee and the Senior Advisor for his team, he plays an integral role in many facets of the firm. Adam's ambition as an advisor is to advocate simplicity. He does this by turning complicated financial problems into understandable solutions that clients can implement with confidence. With a Bachelor's degree in Mathematics, precise solutions are Adam's specialty. Adam is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™. He enjoys unwinding from his busy schedule while camping or hiking with his wife Jenny and three daughters. He also loves a relaxing round of golf or an interesting non-fiction book.
Job Titles:
- Portfolio Administrator
- Team As a Portfolio Administrator
After graduating from Portland State's University Honors College with a degree in Finance, Bailey joined the First Pacific Team as a Portfolio Administrator. In addition to her primary job functions, Bailey acts as a Special Operations Specialist, bringing her passion for environmental and social sustainability. As such, she was drawn to First Pacific after learning about their B Corp certification and extensive ESG initiatives.
Outside of the office, Bailey enjoys spending time with her dog, camping, yoga, beekeeping, and throwing pottery.
28 years ago, Becki started in this industry as a receptionist for a summer job. She loved the challenges she encountered and hasn't looked back since, working her way towards being a financial advisor with a wealth of experience. She was made for this work since she has a photographic memory, loves memorizing random numbers, and is an exceptional listener. Outside of work, she is found playing tennis or supporting her kids as head cheerleader at their many sporting events. She lives by the motto, "Don't forget to be awesome!" We think she's living up to it.
Becky has been through the Arizona desert on a horse with no name. It actually did have a name because it was her horse and she made the journey bareback. Becky loves the outdoors whether it's hiking or gardening. Her personal motto is, "Every wall is a door," and with that, she started her twenty-plus years in the financial industry helping people achieve their dreams and goals through her work as a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and Chartered Financial Consultant. Intuitive about her surroundings and the people around her enhances Becky's ability to help clients make wise decisions and reach their financial goals. Her passion lies in passing her knowledge and experience down to generations of financial advisors at First Pacific, and she makes a huge impact with even the most seasoned advisors. She provides pro bono financial planning for cancer patients through the Consumer Education and Training Services (CENTS) helping families through a difficult time and relieving stress around their finances. She also serves on the Financial Planning Association's Pro Bono Committee to bring awareness of pro bono planning to the community.
Brandon's interest in financial services stems from the vast opportunity for research and analysis in the industry. From quantifying portfolio probabilities to measuring the risk inherent in the capital markets, he thrives on studying challenging concepts. Brandon began his career in the financial services industry in 2002 working with defined contribution plans, and later defined benefit plans for a local retirement plan administrator. He kept a devotion to investing by studying, reading, and learning as a primary leisure activity. He joined First Pacific in 2016, strengthening our firm's Investment Committee. Brandon and his wife embark on adventures traveling around the Pacific Northwest with their daughter, trying new restaurants, and eating gourmet food.
A recent transplant to the Pacific Northwest, Chad grew up in the Midwest and living there most of his life he developed a keen ability to dodge tornadoes, floods, heat waves and snowstorms. Sadly very little of that transfers to his new home where he does everything he can to get outdoors and enjoy the beauty and wonder of the region with his wife and two dogs. He is unparalleled in his love for animals of all types and can't go five minutes without sharing photos of his fur babies.
His technical background includes a decade with the Department of Defense where he assisted the US military with a wide array of mechanical and technical jobs that eventually ended when he left to pursue his passion in web and application development. Working as a project manager he was an ideal choice to take on the role of Director of Technology at First Pacific Financial and is constantly looking for ways to better the firm and our clients through secure practices and IT solutions.
Danielle came to First Pacific Financial with a background in business management and personal training. The Washington State alumna believes in taking a holistic approach to health and financial wellness.
After graduating from Santa Clara University with a degree in Finance, Darren feels extremely blessed to work with some of the most dynamic privately-held business owners in the Northwest. Darren has unique skills helping business owners and their employees plan for their future and find a good work/life balance. Darren is a shareholder at First Pacific Financial and brings over 30 years of experience. He enjoys being outdoors and playing most any sport. Traveling to see his children is what he enjoys most, especially to rock his first grandson to sleep.
Diane is originally from the East Coast and earned her degree from the University of Maryland. She moved to Seattle almost 30 years ago, being drawn to the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest, and has made it her home. She joined First Pacific Financial through the acquisition of Ramsey & Associates, where she had served clients as a paraplanner over the last four years. She prides herself on managing a multitude of details and providing excellent support to both our advisors and clients. Prior to that, Diane had a diverse career, from serving nonprofit organizations via fundraising and development to spending over a decade advising corporate clients on their global real estate portfolios. When not working, she loves to spend time with her teenagers, listening to music, exploring nature, writing poetry, and practicing her skills as a novice watercolorist.
Job Titles:
- Client Services Associate
With nearly 30 years of experience in the financial industry, Elizabeth enjoys working with our clientele and strives to go the extra mile for every client. Her infectious laughter, a smile that lights up the room, and positive attitude make her a wonderful asset to the Client Service team. There isn't much she hasn't seen so everyone in the office is eager to learn from her library of knowledge. A proud mother of two, her primary focus away from the office is family. As time allows, Elizabeth enjoys spending time with friends, discovering new recipes in the kitchen, and the occasional camping adventure.
Harrison, his wife, and their sons hale from the Beehive State where he graduated from Utah Valley University in Personal Financial Planning. Before joining First Pacific, he worked six years in the banking industry as a personal banker. Harrison has always enjoyed working with numbers and people. He loves crunching numbers and knew he wanted to be in an industry where he can help individuals. Here, he has the best of both! At home, he is found practicing different sports with his sons, studying up on the latest and greatest dad jokes, and mapping out the family's next Northwest adventure. He can brag fluency in Italian and dabbles in the sport of pickleball.
This woman loves math! Her degree in Mathematical Economics from Whitworth University inspired her to look at the financial industry. She learned a great deal of useful analytical skills while working with Whitworth's Institutional Research department compiling important statistics that were applied to helping run the university. First Pacific was lucky that she was working next door with a commercial insurance team which gave her valuable business and client service skills. Want to watch a scary movie, bake cookies, or have a challenger for your video game? Then Joanne's your gal! On a side note, she can do an aerial heel click that would put any Leprechaun to shame.
Jonathan's background as a professional cellist and professor informs his approach to financial planning. He was active performing and recording in Southern California for fourteen years, and traveled to perform throughout Europe, Asia, and Canada. These experiences in music, along with playing youth sports, led to a fascination with performance psychology- specifically how musicians, athletes, and business people structure their lives to achieve excellence. To this end, he wrote his doctoral dissertation to explore how marathon training can inform better musical preparation and teaching methods.
Jonathan brings a passion for being a mentor and coach into financial planning. By listening and asking important questions, he guides clients through their finances and helps them realize their best lives. When not enjoying home life with his wife and daughter, he enjoys running, hiking, playing tennis, and traveling.
Job Titles:
- Director of Client Services
Julie confesses she is a magnet for others to share their life stories. This makes her the perfect fit as a valued part of our Client Service team. With her degree in Business Marketing from Portland State University, she found work as an account manager for a chiropractic practice and in the movie industry. Her interest in investing lured her to us, but her attention to details and warm, friendly personality make us grateful she came. Interestingly, Julie's motto is, "Everything happens for a reason." She spends her free time with her two children and husband, conquering outdoor activities, and staying actively involved in her biggest job as "mom."
Julienne comes to the First Pacific family with 19 years of combined experience in corporate training, key account management, and the director of a dual-campus children's ministry. Now a veteran financial advisor, she is approaching half a decade in financial planning. She loves guiding people to positive outcomes, improving financial literacy, and helping them feel confident in both their current situation and their financial future. Julienne describes herself as an objective coach and soundboard for our clients. She enjoys building long-term relationships to help people set and reach their financial goals. You will find Julienne on the dance floor, mentoring young women, camping, or spending time with her children when she's away from the office.
Job Titles:
- Client Services Associate
Maya Angelou inspired Lori's life motto, "Try to be the rainbow in someone's cloud." I think our clients would agree that she is sunshine at the other end of the phone in our Client Service team. She is creative in her approach to problem-solving, adept in seeing other's points of view, and is honest with a high sense of integrity. After graduating from Washington State University, Lori focused on raising her two sons. In 2005, she went back to college and obtained a degree in Digital Design. You can see some of her work after you cross the I-5 bridge and turn onto 6 th street in the form of a city mural welcoming you to Vancouver. A gypsy at heart, Lori loves to hit the road or jump on a plane taking her to new and fun places. Just a word of caution: don't challenge her to a game of pinball, you might lose your shirt!
Meredith originally hails from the Lone Star state. After graduating from the University of Texas with a degree in Marketing, she moved to Seattle and began her professional life in banking. Eventually an opportunity in Portland attracted her to non-profit work. She spent 12 years working for a Pacific NW non-profit focused on helping families access services supporting education, income and health needs. Meredith's love of helping people coupled with her passion for personal finance led her to being a Financial Advisor at First Pacific. In addition to advising clients, she supports First Pacific's community engagement goals and our B Corporation principles for social and environmental sustainability.
Outside of work, Meredith enjoys reading, recreational jogging, yoga, and hiking. Like a true Pacific Northwesterner, you may find her on the weekends camping with her husband and 2 children.
Rafik joined First Pacific Financial in 2014 and has his CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ designation. He believes everyone deserves to understand how to maximize the value of their retirement plan. Rafik's specialty is helping people feel confident making retirement savings decisions, regardless of their investment education or experience. When not at work, you'll find Rafik with his family, out in the garden, or his happy place - out on the water.
Ryan loves music and the outdoors. He grew up playing primarily the oboe and saxophone but also learned the piano and clarinet. Music brings out the positive vibes in his life as does hiking, biking, camping, and running. He also has a passion for personal finances and has since a young age. After ten years in accounting, he shifted the focus of that passion to helping others make smart financial decisions and optimize their positive impact with money.
His path to First Pacific started at the Marriott School of Management at Brigham Young University with a Bachelor's in Accounting and Master's in Accountancy. He went from there to Silicon Valley as an auditor for tech giants such as Symantec and Apple. His next stop was at Dolby Laboratories in San Francisco to manage revenue accounting. Even though he enjoys spreadsheets and numbers, he was missing the key ingredient of applying his financial knowledge to help improve someone's personal situation. After many years in Utah and California, he now considers the Pacific Northwest his home and enjoys all the beauty that the area has to offer with his wife and four daughters.
Steve has over 19 years experience as a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ practitioner, including six years management experience as a partner and director. He serves a broad range of clients in providing holistic financial planning to help them achieve overall financial wellbeing. Steve has been recognized in Financial Planning magazine's - "Movers and Shakers", "MBJ Top 40 under 40" and as a FIVE STAR Wealth Manager. For three years, he served as Adjunct Faculty and Instructor for Kaplan Financial teaching the CFP® Certificate program. Steve is a past chapter board member, membership director and member of the Financial Planning Association (FPA) as well as member of the Estate Planning Council and Planned Giving Council. He is passionate about serving clients as a fiduciary for their financial peace of mind.
Steve graduated from The University of Texas at Arlington with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Finance. He also holds a Master of Business Administration degree in Financial Planning & Estate Planning from The University of Dallas, Graduate School of Management. Steve loves spending time with family and friends, exploring the Pacific Northwest including hiking, kayaking, biking, and playing softball.
Job Titles:
- Client Experience Coordinator
An early riser, Suzy strives to get the most out of each day. She is hardwired for the position of client experience coordinator by treating every client as her very own and building relationships with each.
A native of the Pacific Northwest, Suzy enjoys eating and drinking her way through the region, spending time at the beach, bike riding, and cheering on the local teams, Timbers, Thorns, Blazers, and the 49ers. Sorry Seattle, NOT!
In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, reading, solving crossword puzzles, her two cats, and spending time with family and friends, including her two daughters and new granddaughter Iona.
Known as "Mama Suze", she loves to impart wisdom and positive and affirming examples of life lessons she has learned from a long and well lived life!
Taryn comes to First Pacific Financial with over 18 years of experience in the media research field. She has a bachelor's degree in psychology from Portland State University and has always had a passion for working with people. During her career, she has served in senior leadership roles as well as supporting clients directly as an account manager. She has an unparalleled ability to foster a culture seldom seen in firms of our size. Taryn understands that learning is a lifelong adventure, and she continuously pursues personal and professional development. By sharing knowledge, inspiring others, and creating an environment of teamwork, Taryn aspires to ignite both individual and corporate success.
We can all agree that there is never enough time in the day, with the time Taryn has she spends with family and friends. Taryn is a Portland Thorns fan (RCTID!), avid reader, enthusiastic coffee drinker, sideline soccer cheerleader for her two kids, and will not turn down the opportunity for an impromptu dance party (in or out of the office).
It was on the basketball court at Western Washington University that Todd learned the importance of leadership and hard work. He knows this can carry an organization to the highest levels and lift individuals toward accomplishments that cannot be achieved alone or without the team. Todd has been recognized by the investment advisor community for turning First Pacific Financial into a next-generation firm focused on company culture, financial planning, consistent investment philosophy, and technology. His effort and innovation is landing him speaking engagements on panels at national conferences. After nearly 20 years working with First Pacific Financial's amazing clients, he now finds much of his time spent leading as both Chief Executive and Investment Officer. Todd's primary goal is to consistently make an impact on each employee and every client. He believes that the power of money and compounding wealth provides an opportunity for all of us to express our values in the world, helping to make it a better place. By helping individuals and families find their most amazing financial lives, we can change the world for a better tomorrow. When not leading our team, Todd is active in one of his many hobbies. His interests include refurbishing and using his Vanagon camper van, biking, restoring classic arcades, reading, gardening and more. He and his wife Jessy live in Vancouver, Washington with their daughter Lily and son Taj.