I never expected to become a financial planner. At 20 years old, I lost my father suddenly to colon cancer—just a week after starting my third year at UC Santa Barbara. He left behind my mom, Gail, a teacher, and my sister, Anne, who had just finished art school. In the middle of grief, I saw what careful planning can mean for a family. Because of the preparation my parents had done, my mom was financially secure, my sister and I could finish college, and we had stability at a time when everything else felt uncertain.
Two years later, with a degree in Business Economics (emphasis in Finance) and a commercial pilot’s license, I chose a different path than the one I had planned. Instead of pursuing a career as an airline pilot, I decided to dedicate myself to helping others find the same peace of mind my family experienced.
In 2007, right out of college, I opened my practice—at the very start of the global financial crisis. It was a trial by fire, but it gave me the chance to sit with families facing real fears about their retirements and guide them through it. I named my firm Screaming Eagle Wealth Management in honor of my dad and his business, Screaming Eagle Aviation.
Since then, I’ve earned my CFP® certification (2013) and my AIF® designation (2021), but more importantly, I’ve had the privilege of walking alongside clients as they’ve transitioned into retirement, made big life decisions, and defined what matters most to them.
Outside of work, my greatest joy is time with my wife, Jordan, and our kids, Douglas and Maxwell. Whether it’s traveling, surfing, mountain biking, or cheering from the sidelines at soccer and baseball games, family time is where I find balance and purpose.
Learn More About Me
If you had a million dollars to spend, what would be the first three things you would buy?
I would pay off the mortgage, fully supply my son’s college fund, buy whatever my wife wants (love you!), and if anything is left over…an epic surf trip.
What’s the most likely place people could find you on a Saturday night?
BBQing and watching a movie at home with my wife & son, enjoying a cold beer.
Which would you pick: Living on the beach or living near the mountains?
I would choose the beach, preferably tropical with a good south swell.
Imagine being approached by a genie who offers you three wishes. What might those wishes be?
I’d wish for a rocket-fast metabolism, an amazing memory and a cure for blood disorders.
If you had the ability to travel back in time, what’s something you would tell your 18-year-old self?
Cherish your loved ones & ALWAYS go in for the hug.