SUMMIT WEALTH & RETIREMENT PARTNERS - Key Persons
Summit Tax Planning is led by Debbie Pham, an Enrolled Agent with over 15 years of tax planning experience. Debbie obtained her B.S. degree from the U.C. of Riverside, after which she worked for Ernst & Young, eventually rising up to one of their Tax Managers.
Debbie is passionate about income taxes. She enjoys reading about changes in the tax code and helping her clients make the best tax decisions based on their personal situation. And while most tax preparers focus exclusively on tax compliance (i.e. making sure your taxes are filed on-time), Debbie actually helps her clients with tax strategy. This is one of the reasons Ernst & Young moved Debbie into their high net worth tax group, where she worked with many of the firm's most successful families.
Debbie has a special affinity for business owners, having been one herself for when she owned & operated an auto repair shop in Alameda, while also working full-time in her profession.
Finally, Debbie has a passion for real estate and a deep understanding of real estate tax law, and she stays informed by being an active member of her local realtor association, where she has served as volunteer Treasurer for the past four years.
Geoff joined our team as Relationship Manager in June of 2017. He is responsible for general client service issues as well as supporting advisors with new business processing, account servicing, and placing trades. In addition to his office work, Geoff is pursuing a Certified Financial Planning Designation.
Geoff graduated from San Diego State University with a Bachelor's degree in Business Management. Prior to joining Summit, Geoff worked as a Client Service Associate for Cambier Investment Management, a small Investment Management firm in Danville. He had similar responsibilities focusing around client service.
Growing up in the south bay, I was lucky to have parents who modeled and lived lives of service to others. Both my Mom and Dad served in the military and had us all involved in local charities at a young age. As a result when I graduated from the University of Oregon I took a path that seemed obvious at the time, I was commissioned and served almost 8 years in the Air Force on active duty and the reserves.
Shortly after leaving the Air Force, I was hired and entered into a training program at CIGNA Financial Group to become a financial planner. One of the first things that attracted me to this company was their "serve the client's needs first" philosophy.
After leaving CIGNA I spent over 15 years in the institutional asset management business, providing investment consulting and asset management services to pension plans, endowments , foundations and large 401K plans.
About 12 years ago I joined Summit Wealth & Retirement Partners, with the goal being to help individuals and families utilize the same money management techniques that large institutions were using. Pension plans, endowments, and foundations are all designed to make sure their money lasts as long as possible. This is the same goal individuals and families have, and yet very few financial planners are addressing this.
It still surprises me today when I learn that most people we meet with believe that financial planning is just investment management. One of the greatest things we do for our clients is to provide solutions to all of their family's financial needs. We gain a thorough understanding of their situation and know how all of the various issues of their plan are related. Our work helps our clients to make better, more informed financial decisions. Our culture is focused on serving our client family needs and is something I believe in and try to live daily.
One of the things that many of our clients face is what has been termed the "sandwich generation." My wife, Cathy, and I have faced the issues of getting kids into and through college, dealing with aging parents, their support needs and cognitive issues and planning for a successful retirement simultaneously. We know the importance of proper estate documents and long term care and the challenges these issues can place on family members and a successful financial plan.
I live in Granite Bay with my wife Cathy where we enjoy travel, riding our bikes, snow skiing and golf. We have been blessed with two wonderful kids. Our son, Matthew and his wife Stephanie, live in Santa Barbara where he is a commercial insurance broker and she is an attorney. Our daughter, Elizabeth and her husband Garrett, live in Rocklin. She is a feeding therapist in NICU at Sutter Hospital and Garrett works in finance.
I have always been interested in the financial markets and I have both an undergraduate and a graduate degree in business. This career has allowed me to combine my passion for serving others with my interest in personal finance. Thirty-years later I am still excited to come into work each day because I know that what we do has a positive impact on people's lives.
Job Titles:
- Director of Financial Planning
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Client Service Associate
Kevin joined our team as Client Service Associate in June of 2021. He is responsible for general client service issues as well as supporting Summit's Advisors. Kevin graduated from Sonoma State University with a Bachelor's degree in Economics. He was born and raised in Castro Valley, CA. Prior to joining Summit, Kevin worked as a Bookkeeper for Peachtree Community Association Services, a small property management firm in Pleasanton, CA. He had various responsibilities working as a bookkeeper, a role that taught him the importance of attention to detail, organization and efficiency.
Outside of work, Kevin and his wife Adriana enjoy the outdoors and always are trying to stay active. Kevin loves visiting Tahoe in the winter to go snowboarding and going boating in the summer with his family and friends. Kevin also is huge a sports fan (having played baseball in college) and loves going to A's games whenever he can.
Maryline's bio is coming soon. Have questions? Give her a call or shoot her an email.
Job Titles:
- Portfolio Trader & Administrator
- Summit Wealth As Securities Trader and Portfolio Administrator
Nick joined Summit Wealth as Securities Trader and Portfolio Administrator in June of 2023. Prior to joining Summit, Nick worked as a fixed income trader for Great Pacific Securities, an Investment Advisory firm in Costa Mesa, CA, where he traded up to a billion dollars a day across all types of fixed income investments.
Nick grew up in Southern California where he played lacrosse at the highest level, eventually playing in college for Chapman University while also obtaining his bachelor's degree in business administration.
Outside of work, Nick loves to exercise and does so by lifting weights, playing tennis and surfing. He really enjoys sports as he is a big Lakers fan and loves a good sports podcast. Finally, Nick is pursuing his CFA designation and is currently a level 2 candidate.