Beth Verdekal

Farid Nadjibi is the principal of Farid Consulting and holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with two years of industry experience. Prior to his financial advisory career, he has been involved with Burlwood Gallery since 2006, engaging in jewelry, collectibles, decor, and building contracting. Farid Consulting is a sole-proprietorship investment advisory firm that offers discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement/employee benefit account services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and small businesses. The firm employs a tailored, goals-based investment approach across a wide range of asset classes, including equities, fixed income, options, private funds, real estate investments, and digital assets.

WHAT I DO: I help Locum Tenens physicians and advanced practice providers gain clarity about their finances, identify opportunities and pitfalls, and stay on track with a trusted accountability partner. WHY IT MATTERS: Three recurring concerns stand out in my conversations with Active Duty Military and Civilian physicians and advanced practice providers: Skill Atrophy – Concerns about staying clinically sharp and staying competitive due to limited patient volume or exposure to diverse clinical settings. Financial Catch-Up – After years of training, many feel the pressure to fast-track savings and build long-term financial security. Time Flexibility – A deep desire for greater control over one’s schedule to prioritize family, entrepreneurship, or personal goals. These pressures often lead physicians to pursue Locum Tenens work—part-time or full-time—for its higher earning potential and flexible structure. But with that flexibility comes greater financial complexity, making a clear strategy and support system more important than ever. HOW I DO IT: Together, we assess your strengths and gaps across the six pillars of financial planning: Cash Flow Management, Risk Management, Estate Planning, Tax Strategy, Retirement Planning, and Investment Management. Then, we develop action items over 3 months to strengthen your financial foundation. Clients are empowered to self implement recommendations or collaborate with us for efficiency and accountability. NEXT STEPS: Ready to take control of your financial future? Connect with me on LinkedIn or reach out directly at arnie@achievablewealthfp.com—I’d love to learn more about your goals and how I can help. MORE ABOUT ME: I rediscovered my love for running three years ago thanks to one of my sons, starting with local 5Ks around the San Francisco Bay Area. Since then, I’ve become especially fond of the half-marathon distance, with races like the Oakland and San Francisco Half under my belt. Marathon training is next on the horizon, and I’m looking forward to the challenge. I also love exploring new places—favorites so far include Ilocos Sur (Philippines), Tokyo, Seoul, Busan, Barcelona, Lisbon, and London.

Lydia Idem is a financial advisor with FM Capital Group in Oakland, CA, holding a Series 65 designation and 11 years of industry experience. FM Capital Group provides investment advisory and consulting services to individuals, groups, corporations, and other business entities, offering portfolio management and handling due diligence and negotiation of private investment term sheets. The firm follows a strategic allocation approach across public securities and alternative investments and distinguishes itself by charging performance-based fees on private placements and producing educational content such as workshops and radio broadcasts.

John Baughman is a financial advisor with Baughman Financial Group in Novato, CA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 33 years of industry experience. He has worked at First Allied Securities, Inc. from 2008 to 2018 and has been with Baughman Wealth Advisors Inc. and Baughman Financial Group since 2008 and 1999, respectively. Baughman Wealth Advisors, operating as Baughman Financial Group, provides portfolio management, financial planning, retirement and estate planning, and consulting services to individuals, families, trusts, foundations, charitable organizations, and various institutional clients. The firm employs a combination of fundamental, modern portfolio theory, technical, and cyclical analysis to create customized portfolios and offers discretionary management, insurance product sales, and educational seminars.

Catherine Curtis is a CFP® professional with 13 years of experience in financial planning. She is the sole advisor at Curtis Financial Planning, an independent firm she has led since 2013 in Oakland, CA. Curtis Financial Planning provides fee-only financial planning and investment management to individuals, families, and small-business owners, with a focus on the financial planning needs of women. The firm employs a strategic asset allocation process using diversified portfolios and operates as a fiduciary, offering educational seminars and maintaining a business continuity agreement with another fee-only advisory firm.

Harish Prabandham is a financial advisor at Rubric Advisors LLC with a Series 65 designation and experience at Radiant Global Investors and Axa Investment Managers. He has been with Rubric Advisors since 2025. Outside of his advisory role, he serves on the Board of Directors of the St. Francis Foundation and volunteers with the UC Berkeley SkyDeck program. He also engages in consulting activities related to technology and finance. Rubric Advisors LLC provides discretionary investment management and retirement-plan advisory services primarily to pooled vehicles and institutional clients, while also offering personalized advisory services and a Digital Advisor platform. The firm employs fundamental analysis and modern portfolio theory to manage client portfolios and is affiliated with an accounting and consulting business that offers additional financial services.