user avatar

John Chavez

Advisor at WaFd Wealth, Inc

Updated today
WaFd Wealth, Inc logo

Firm

WaFd Wealth, Inc

Location

Seattle, WA 98161

Credentials

CFP®, Series 63, Series 65

Industry experience

31 years

About

John Chavez is a CFP®-certified financial advisor with WaFd Wealth, Inc. in Seattle, WA, bringing 31 years of industry experience, including a long tenure at Merrill from 1994 to 2025. He is the owner of two LLCs, Innovative Concepts & Design and Practice Perfect Golf Solutions, which support his entrepreneurial ventures and invention pursuits. WaFd Wealth, Inc. serves a diverse client base including individuals, high net worth clients, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm manages over $348 million in client assets using tailored portfolios that incorporate ETFs, individual securities, and independent managers, supported by comprehensive financial planning and consulting services.

Client services

Based on WaFd Wealth, Inc

Financial planning Portfolio management Pension consulting Selection of other advisers

Expertise

Based on WaFd Wealth, Inc

Wealth management Charitable giving & philanthropy Options & derivatives strategies

Fee options

Fixed

Financial planning and consulting fees fixed and/or hourly; fixed fees range from $10,000 to $50,000 depending on scope and complexity

Percentage

$0+: 0.10% - 0.25% (non-discretionary consulting fees) $0+: 0.50% - 1.50% (discretionary management fees)

Commissions

Certain supervised persons offer insurance products under separate commission-based arrangements

Project-based

Financial planning services billed at $400 per hour with minimum 15 hours

Other

Minimum fee: Financial planning services billed at $400/hour with a minimum of 15 hours per engagement (minimum $6,000) Fee-only: Fixed fees ranging from $10,000 to $50,000 for financial planning and consulting services; hourly fees of $400/hour with minimum 15 hours; fixed project-based retirement plan consulting fees up to $100,000 or 0.10% - 0.50% AUM based on services

Location

1215 Fourth Avenue, Suite 2200

Seattle, WA 98161

Most active in

Washington

Work history

WaFd Wealth, Inc

2025 - Present (1 year)

Merrill

1994 - 2025 (31 years)

Disclosures

Exclamation point means they have disclosures of this type. Check mark means no disclosures of this type were found.

Business activities & affiliations

Gelly L

Series 63, Series 65, Series 7

Seattle, WA

AllianceBernstein L.P.

Beyond the numbers, my work is about stewardship. I’ll be here for the moments that change everything. With Bernstein's experts alongside me, we’ll simplify decisions and create a plan that manages what you’ve built and evolves with your life. My time with the Seattle Seahawks organization left me with a simple standard that still guides how I show up: “Always Compete.” For me, that means treating a client’s goals like they’re my own—preparing relentlessly, getting the details right, anticipating issues early and following through until the job is done. I joined Bernstein because I wanted to serve clients from a place where excellence is the baseline and where the work is as human as it is analytical. I’m wired to ask, “Is this the optimal move?” Bernstein’s depth of thinking, team-based approach and commitment to long-term relationships aligned with how I naturally serve—consistently thoughtful, tenacious, and deeply client‑centric. I’m also drawn to roles where you’re trusted to represent something bigger than yourself, whether it’s community-facing work with the Seahawks or now as an advisor. That responsibility keeps me grounded; it’s about earning trust, protecting what clients have built and helping them make confident decisions at the moments that matter most. Some of my earliest perspective on resilience and resourcefulness came from my family’s roots in the Philippines. Growing up, I heard stories of making do with very little, even hand‑pumping water from a ground well in my parents’ village just to cook or bathe. That upbringing didn’t just teach gratitude, it also emphasized responsibility. It shaped my values early: don’t take opportunities for granted, do what you say you’ll do, and use success to take care of people. Having built a company myself, I understand the pressure experienced by entrepreneurs, who are constantly weighing risks, trade-offs and responsibilities. That background helps me empathize with business owners, executives and families who balance opportunity with complexity. And I know how freeing it is to move forward with clarity from a set of optimal decisions, especially for founders, athletes and entertainers contemplating a “second act.”

Wealth management Cross-border & expatriate issues Real estate investing General retirement planning Concentrated stock management Financial Professional FIRE (Financial Independence Retire Early) Established Professionals Approaching retirement Female Executives Women Business Owners
user avatar

Kathleen G

Series 63, Series 66

Bainbridge Island, WA

Gallagher Capital Corp.

Active portfolio management Income planning General retirement planning
user avatar

Huihwan Y

Series 63, Series 65

Kirkland, WA

Waterhill Capital, LLC

Active portfolio management Concentrated stock management
user avatar

Steven K

CFA®, Series 63

Seattle, WA

Informed Investors Group

ESG / Sustainable investing Active portfolio management Tax-loss harvesting
user avatar

Shamus M

CFA®

Seattle, WA

Red Haven Advisors, LLC

Options & derivatives strategies Tax-loss harvesting Cash flow / budgeting General tax planning
user avatar

Shai W

Series 65

Suquamish, WA

Shai Weinbaum Investment Management

Active portfolio management
Warmer team member

Not sure where to start?

We'll help you think it through – whether you ultimately need an advisor or not.

Call (201) 292-4557

Warmer provides personalized recommendations and introductions to independent fiduciary advisors. We do not supervise advisors, manage or hold assets, guarantee performance, or provide advice about specific investments.

Each advisor listed on our site is an independent fiduciary responsible for their own advice. Warmer may receive fees from advisors for participation or referrals; these fees are paid by advisors and do not affect the fees clients pay for advisory services.

For advisor listings, we rely on sources including public filings and data provided by advisors, and we cannot guarantee that all information is current or accurate. Please review an advisor's Form ADV and do your own diligence before entering into an advisory relationship.

By using our service, you agree to Warmer's Terms of Service and Advisory Agreement and Privacy Policy. Logos provided by Logo.dev

© 2026 Warmer Holdings Inc. ("Warmer")