COMMERCE COMPANY - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Director of Operations, TCC, Registered Associate, RJFS
Amanda joined The Commerce Company in 2008. After nine years working with retirement plan participants and sponsors, she now oversees business operations, compliance, human resources, marketing, and client service for individual investors.
While she wears many hats, Amanda's professional passion remains financial education for all, and she enjoys contributing to a team that holds a core mission of helping to improve the retirement prospects of ordinary people. She also holds a deep and abiding affection for well-crafted spreadsheets.
An Oregon native, Amanda earned her Bachelor of Arts from The Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington and began her financial services career with a large bank in the Monterey Bay area in 2003. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with family, gardening, and cooking for friends and neighbors (especially with ingredients straight from the garden).
Job Titles:
- Vice President, TCC, Investment Executive, RJFS
Bob began his career in the financial services industry in New York in 1987. He joined The Commerce Company in 2011 and focuses on retirement plan design and consultation for small-to-mid sized businesses.
A Minnesota native, Bob graduated from St. John's University with a degree in chemistry. He spent his junior year of college studying at Jochi University in Tokyo and is proficient in Japanese. He and his family moved to Portland in 1996, where they enjoy the perfect blend of city life and the outdoors.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Operations Manager, TCC, Client Service Associate, RJFS
Biography
Carrie joined The Commerce Company in 2012 and provides support to our individual investors and financial advisors. Her role encompasses all of the day-to-day mechanics of operational process flow and making sure investors promptly receive the information and assistance they need. She prides herself on her efficiency, accountability, and desire to see things through to the end.
A native Oregonian, Carrie earned her Bachelor of Integrated Science and Master of Special Education degrees from Portland State University. Prior to joining The Commerce Company, she worked for a local insurance brokerage firm. Her background in teaching helps her accommodate the diverse needs of our clients and advisors with care. Clients can depend on her to take their calls, answer their questions, and process their requests with respect and confidence.
When she isn't working miracles behind the scenes at The Commerce Company, Carrie enjoys spending time with her husband and two children. Most weekends the family can be found on the soccer pitch cheering for daughter Elliot, investigating a chemistry experiment at OMSI with son Samuel, trekking through the high desert during a summer camping adventure, or exploring tidepools on the Oregon coast.
Chaney graduated from the University of Washington in 1987 with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering and joined Raymond James in 2003.
He contributes his time and talents playing the double bass for Rainier Symphony, a nonprofit community orchestra. He also enjoys spending time at his vacation home in Manzanita and traveling around the world.
Job Titles:
- Financial Advisor
- Financial Advisor, RJFS
As a Financial Advisor for The Commerce Company, Chris brings over 20 years of experience advising individuals and families in all walks of life. His passion lies in the planning process that enables his clients to tell their stories and lay out the goals that they want to achieve.
He was drawn to The Commerce Company in 2018 because of our emphasis on providing great retirement planning tools to plan participants as well as business owners. In particular, The Commerce Company team believes that every plan participant should have access to personalized investment advice, and because of this, Chris is able to impact more people and help them understand and take control of their own path to retirement.
Chris believes deeply in the financial planning process. He has found that those who take the time to develop a comprehensive financial plan are more likely to meet their goals and are also better prepared for the curveballs that life inevitably throws. In his process he relies on the experience and education that he has developed as a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER TM certificant as well as support from the planning and asset management teams at Raymond James, and utilizes a collaborative approach, working with clients' other trusted advisors to develop and deliver a reliable and fully personalized plan.
Chris and his wife, Amanda, live in the Portland area with their two boys, Max and Finn. Much of their free time is spent on various youth activities and supporting local sports teams.
Cole joined The Commerce Company in 2005 and has served Pacific Northwest business owners since 1995.
He spends his leisure time with his wife and two children. Cole enjoys basketball, white water rafting, playing lacrosse with his kids, and traveling.
Job Titles:
- Retirement Plan Director
- Retirement Plan Director, TCC, Registered Associate, RJFS
As our Retirement Plan Director, Erin's role is robust. She supports our clients with general questions about their plan, provides guidance on ERISA requirements, assists with compliance needs, orchestrates and manages plan transfers and implementations, onboards new clients - the list goes on. Simply put, she helps make sure our retirement plan clients remain happy.
With over 14 years of experience working in financial services, and over 12 of those years focused on employer-sponsored retirement plans, Erin has a true passion for helping others administer their plans and remain compliant with IRS and Department of Labor (DOL) rules. A self-described planner and "control freak," Erin has a knack for keeping big projects moving on established timelines. In addition, she truly cares about and respects our clients and focuses on providing dedicated service to each and every one.
Erin earned her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Champlain College in Burlington, Vermont. She enjoys life with her husband, two young sons, dog (Chimi), and two cats (Tino and Noosh).
Job Titles:
- President, TCC, Branch Manager, RJFS
Jed co-founded The Commerce Company in 1995, after years of working within larger firms convinced him that the needs of retirement plan participants were not being adequately prioritized within the industry.
A graduate of the University of Oregon, he began his career in financial services in 1982 and has a true passion for helping people pursue their retirement goals. He is proud of The Commerce Company's focus on making the services of a personal financial advisor available to a wide and diverse population.
Jed spends his free time with his wife and two children. He enjoys hiking, traveling, trying new foods, and meeting new people.
A graduate of both Tacoma Community College and the University of Washington, Joe majored in Chemical Engineering and after graduation initially worked with Procter & Gamble as a Product Development Engineer. He made the transition to financial services in 1978 and joined Raymond James in 2003.
Joe's investment management style emphasizes taking the least amount of risk to achieve reasonable returns. This approach focuses on fundamental value measurements such as yield, PE ratios, and book values to determine asset allocations.
Joe lives on Vashon Island in Washington State where he enjoys the outdoors - raising goats and chickens and growing vegetables and fruit, including grapes he uses to create his own wine.
Job Titles:
- Vice President, TCC, Investment Executive, RJFS
John joined The Commerce Company in 2003. Since 1985, he has worked in the financial services industry advising businesses and individuals.
In addition to spending time with his wife and two children, John enjoys gardening, carpentry, and visiting the Pacific Northwest's beautiful parks and recreation areas.
Job Titles:
- Retirement Plan Manager, TCC, Client Service Associate, RJFS
Kate joined The Commerce Company in 2017 and works with our 401(k) clients. In addition to guiding participants through forms, transactions, and any questions they may have, Kate also uses her creativity to put together our two regularly-published newsletters and enjoys getting out of the office to meet participants face to face at benefit fairs.
Kate earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Oregon State University, where she was also captain of the women's volleyball team. Before joining The Commerce Company, she worked as an administrative assistant in the healthcare industry.
She spends her free time with her family and two dogs. She enjoys sports, spending time outdoors, reading, and traveling.
Job Titles:
- Client Service Representative
Biography
Kimberley joined The Commerce Company in 2022 and assists with communications, scheduling, materials preparation, and general administrative support. She makes things run more smoothly wherever she can and brings her cheery attitude to every client interaction. While she is new to the finance world, she brings over 10 years of diverse customer service experience and is always open and eager to learn.
Kimberley participates in a full-contact sword fighting sport in her free time. She also enjoys travel, sewing, spending time with her partner, and spoiling her cat, Milo.
Job Titles:
- Executive Vice President and Operations Manager, TCC, Registered Associate, RJFS
Laura co-founded The Commerce Company in 1995 and has worked in the financial services industry since 1990. Her background also includes 10 years of marketing and sales for high-tech companies.
One of Laura's goals in launching a business was to create a professional environment that was also casual, friendly, and personally supportive. In addition, it was (and remains) important to her to offer employees educational and professional development opportunities that larger companies often don't provide, and she is proud to have been able to do that.
She shares her life with her husband and her Airedale, Cate, and loves experimenting in the kitchen, hiking (especially along the coast), and gardening.
Job Titles:
- Client Service Associate, RJFS
Biography
Marcia joined The Commerce Company in 2016, after eight years in the banking industry. In her current position, she supports our 401(k) team with research, projects, client requests, and materials preparation.
Marcia enjoys life with her family and their two dogs, Gizmo and Maxx.
With over 20 years of experience as a financial advisor, Matt has a true passion for helping people pursue their financial goals. As a Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA), Matt is also extremely proud of the reputation the Commerce Company has earned as a leading advisor to employer-sponsored retirement plans. He joined The Commerce Company in 2018 after 12 years with a large bank.
Job Titles:
- Associate Financial Advisor, RJFS
Nathan's financial services career began in 2005 at a large Wall Street firm in New York. After spending 10 years reconnecting with his northwest roots in the Portland area, he relocated to Washington to join Raymond James.
Outside of the office Nathan enjoys exploring the beauty of the Pacific Northwest, traveling to tropical destinations, and spending time with his family.
Raymond James financial advisors may only conduct business with residents of the states and/or jurisdictions for which they are properly registered. Therefore, a response to a request for information may be delayed. Please note that not all of the investments and services mentioned are available in every state. Investors outside of the United States are subject to securities and tax regulations within their applicable jurisdictions that are not addressed on this site. Contact your local Raymond James office for information and availability. Securities offered through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., member FINRA / SIPC. Investment advisory services offered through Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. The Commerce Company is not a registered broker/dealer and is independent of Raymond James Financial Services.
Tony joined Raymond James in 2003, having worked in the financial services industry since 1991.
A Pacific Northwest native and University of Washington graduate with a degree in botany, Tony resides on Washington's beautiful Vashon Island. He studies viticulture recreationally and enjoys tending to his vineyard and making his own wine. He also raises goats and chickens, and grows an abundance of vegetables to share with local food banks and community shelters.
Ty began his career in the financial services industry in 2007, after graduating from Southern Oregon University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics & Finance. He joined The Commerce Company in 2010.
He enjoys traveling with his wife Heather and their four children, visiting Seattle to watch the Seahawks, snowboarding, water sports, and golf. He also enjoys aviation and is certified to fly ultralights.