CHICORY WEALTH - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Director of the Christian Spirituality Program at San Francisco Theological Seminary
- Professor of Christian
My career has long been focused on finding connections between money and meaning - it began with raising money for a global nonprofit and transitioned into being a steward of money through a corporate giving program. Now at Chicory Wealth, I help clients achieve their vision for their financial goals and for a better world.
I earned a Bachelor's Degree from Hendrix College and an MBA from University of Arkansas Little Rock. I'm an Investment Advisor Representative and currently am on the path to earning the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification.
For me, a balanced life includes teaching fitness classes, making memories with my family and friends, and exploring the wondrous outdoors in my home state of Arkansas and beyond.
I have worked in public accounting and focus on tax preparation, resolution, and planning. I have extensive experience managing large compliance engagements involving multi-state filings for corporations and pass-through entities. I work with my clients on a broad spectrum of tax matters, including like-kind exchanges, real estate, and entity formation.
I live in California, and a balanced life for me includes reading, traveling, and spending time with my daughter.
I joined the Chicory Wealth team as an Associate Advisor in November 2023. This is a career change for me, and I feel privileged to be able to combine my passion for personal finance with the opportunity to work alongside clients, helping them to achieve their financial and life goals.
Before joining Chicory Wealth, I spent 12 years in the international nonprofit sector, working with various organizations, including the United Nations, primarily on labor and migrant worker rights. This work took me to Australia, Cambodia, Peru, Thailand, and Switzerland, experiences that have enriched my understanding of diverse cultures and global issues.
I hold a Master's Degree in Social Development and a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of New South Wales, Australia, with majors in Business Economics, Finance, and Spanish. I am currently a candidate for CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification and am looking forward to continuing to expand my financial planning knowledge to best meet our clients' needs.
For me, a balanced life includes values-driven work, quality time with family and friends, being outdoors hiking, camping, or skiing, and community connection. I'm now settled in the Pacific Northwest, calling Seattle home, where I live with my husband and our two rescue dogs, Joey and Sazi.
I joined the Chicory Wealth team in January of 2020 and serve as the firm's Tax Manager. Prior to this role, I worked for many years in public accounting, providing tax preparation, planning, and compliance services. I specialize in individual taxation but service a wide range of clients, including trusts and estates, small businesses, and tax-exempt entities. I earned my Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics (with a minor in computer science) from Siena College in 2012, where I graduated magna cum laude. I then attained my Master of Science degree in accounting from The College of Saint Rose in 2014, where I graduated summa cum laude. I have been an Enrolled Agent with the Internal Revenue Service since 2016, and I am a proud member of the National Association of Enrolled Agents (NAEA). I grew up and started my career in Albany, NY but currently reside in warm and sunny Orange County, CA.
Job Titles:
- Communications Director
- Partner
I started with Chicory Wealth in 2012 and work virtually from my home in Norris, Tennessee. My focus is marketing and client communication. Before that I worked for 25 years as a freelance journalist and an administrator at several nonprofit organizations in the Southeast. I have an MA in journalism from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill and a BA in psychology/sociology from Rhodes College in Memphis, where I graduated cum laude and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa Honorary Society.
A balanced life for me includes political activism, dancing, lake-swimming, writing poetry, and performing traditional and folk music. My husband, Tim Marema, and I have performed together for more than 30 years under the name of Liz&Tim and have four recordings. Our son, Walker, and daughter, Graham, are also artists and musicians.
Job Titles:
- Client Service Manager
- Partner
I began working with this team in 2013 in a part-time capacity while I pursued my BFA at Georgia State University. I performed an office administrative role for a few years while I finished my studies, and when I graduated in 2017, I became a full-time member of Chicory Wealth. I have grown and shifted over the years alongside this business. I have steadily taken on more responsibility over time, working in nearly all facets of the business along the way, and have developed a passion for operations and client service. I enjoy helping people navigate the complexities of the financial world and strive to reduce people's anxieties associated with their financial lives as much as possible. My current responsibilities include working on operations strategy, all aspects of client service, and various administrative duties.
As the Client Service Associate at Chicory Wealth, I help with the tasks and workflow of the company. I help with opening accounts, account maintenance, third party communications, money movements, technology assistance, as well as other administrative duties. My background comes from management in multiple fields such as General Manager for Majestic Diner (Atlanta) and Touring Manager for Maverick Records (Los Angeles). I work diligently to help our clients have a smooth transition into financial and spiritual growth.
A balanced life for me includes playing with my daughter Liv, traveling with my wife Joanna, building a campfire with friends, exercising at the gym, and playing the drums.
Job Titles:
- Associate Advisor, Partner
I'm usually the first person people encounter when they reach out to our office, and I love that. I do the scheduling, but I also work with money movements, account applications, and client requests. Before coming to work with Maggie Kulyk and Associates (now Chicory Wealth) in 2012 I worked in a variety of administrative support positions for ten years in Michigan and Georgia. I have a BBA in management from Davenport University, where I was a Dean's List student, and I'm certified in computerized banking. I'm also involved with the League of Young Voters.
Job Titles:
- Director of Business Operations
I am new to the financial services industry but have spent the majority of my career focused on building connections and relationships with customers through the daily ritual of coffee. It was my first real job after graduating from college with a bachelor's degree in chemistry and immersing myself in all of the culture and experiences of living in NYC, my new home base. I had found a midsized coffee retailer with big dreams and a mission to inspire and nurture the human spirit - one person, one cup, and one neighborhood at a time.
Starbucks was a perfect match, and this is where I spent the first 20 years of my professional career. In that time, I moved to Seattle and worked in many different capacities across the business - starting with sales and talent acquisition, and then on to operations, program management, and business strategy. This is also where my passion of helping people, being creative and resourceful, and solving complex problems began. I cultivated a deep understanding of how to operationalize business plans, initiatives, and processes - and gained invaluable experience leading national programs and product launches, along with extensive operational excellence, retail technology, and employer branding initiatives.
I have always sought out companies with values that align with my own, that have a higher purpose, and operate for the greater good. This has led me to Chicory Wealth. The idea of helping people align their values, goals, and dreams with their money feels like another perfect match. My focus will be on innovation, operations strategy, and analytics - developing thoughtful solutions to drive the business forward and bringing our strategic initiatives to life.
I have lived in Seattle since 1999 and love the beauty and diversity of the Pacific NW. A balanced life for me includes spending quality time with my significant other, Jason, family and friends, listening to music, sun-filled vacations, and nurturing my sense of wonder.