Stephen Swander

I specialize in working with people who inherit significant wealth at a relatively young age. I've seen time and again clients go through a sudden loss and also have their entire financial picture radically change in a matter of months. Suddenly coming into a large amount of money adds complexity both on the technical side (taxes, investing, retirement, probate, etc.) but also on the identity side: Who am I now? What has changed and what hasn't? How do I do my best to value this money while not valuing it TOO much? These are the types of questions I love helping clients wrestle with. Before becoming a fee-only financial planner, I worked as a teacher and then as a school administrator overseeing HR, including recruiting and hiring teachers. Working in HR revealed a lot about the financial lives of employees, and that’s where the lightbulb went off: Too many people feel overwhelmed with their finances, always wondering if they're making mistakes. And too many people who want help are taken advantage of or shut out by our financial institutions. I changed careers, earned a certificate in financial planning from L.S.U., became a CFP® professional, and started Deliberate Finances. I work primarily with couples in their 30's and 40's to help make sure your money is going to supporting your ideal life, and NOT going to things that you ultimately don't value highly. When not working, I’m exploring a New Orleans festival with my wife & two kids, running or biking around the city, or watching way too many hours of tragic Minnesota sports teams. I also tend to be on one nonprofit board or another at all times.

William Nunn is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional with over seven years of financial planning experience, helping Advanced Practice Registered Nurses as well as working professionals in the medical, legal and health care industries. A graduate of Loyola University New Orleans with a Bachelors in Business Administration, Will has worked with clients across the country. Will began his career in 2011 with a boutique wealth management firm in Metairie, La. He then moved to J.P. Morgan Chase in 2014. He has been featured by New Orleans CityBusiness in 2013 as a “One to Watch,” and was given the J.P. Morgan Asset Management Award of Excellence in 2015. Will is also a member of the Financial Planning Association, CFA Society of Louisiana and the Rotary Club of New Orleans.

While the milestones may not be unique, how you approach them will be. Just yesterday, you graduated and began your career. Now, the stakes are higher. Your household doubled. Then, it doubled again. You’re starting a business, facing a liquidity event, changing jobs, and upsizing your home. A trusted partner can ensure you’re balancing today’s realities with your dreams of tomorrow. Our process integrates money and life so we have better financial conversations. Real conversations. Because life isn’t all about dollars and cents. By uncovering your values and providing education, we can help you create a decision-making framework that ensures your resources are spent purposefully through life’s most beautiful and humbling transitions. As someone who is passionate about my local community, it is my honor to serve those who are the bedrock of what makes our neighborhoods so special - our innovators, creators, and go-getters who bring us together and push us forward. My goal is to provide them with financial guidance, confidence, and resources so that they can focus on the things that excite and drive them. Here to answer the questions that really keep you up at night, let Upbeat Wealth bring clarity to your entire financial picture.

My wife, Rachael Johns, J.D., and I founded Equilibrium Financial Planning to help New Orleans retirees and pre-retirees with $1 million or more pay less in taxes, know how much they can safely spend, and optimize their investments for lasting retirement confidence. We understand this stage of life brings unique opportunities and complex challenges, which is why we serve as your personal Chief Financial Officer (CFO) so that you can realize your vision for retirement. As a fee-only fiduciary, we are bound to the highest duty of care, are never paid a commission, and have a legal obligation to provide unbiased and trustworthy financial advice. We prioritize integrity and transparency as we help you achieve your financial goals. At Equilibrium, our mission is simple: to help you retire with confidence by balancing what you spend, what you save, and what you keep after taxes. On the personal side, I used to play rugby for Jesuit High School and then while at LSU from 2005-2010. I now enjoy coaching youth sports for our 10 year old twins, Adam and Zoey, and playing chess with our 12 year old, Connor. I relish playing video games, particularly those made by Blizzard, and my ideal Saturday night is a sushi dinner and gaming session. I have collected and played Magic the Gathering intermittently since being introduced to the game by my dad in 1995, and the flavor text on the card Equilibrium (7th Edition) served as inspiration for our firm's name. My wife, Rachael, and I value family time immensely and spend most weekends with our kids playing pickleball and board games, dancing to The Beatles, or popping popcorn for Friday movie nights.

Out of college, I spent a handful of years teaching high school - in New Orleans for 3 years and Spain for 1. When I left the classroom, it was important to maintain the educator's mindset in my next chapter which landed me in the financial advising space. 8 years and 2 firms later, I found my home at Upbeat Wealth where I've been fortunate enough to partner with Mike Turi. We share a strong commitment to a client-centered and in-depth planning process. And we simply love the work we get to do! While the milestones may not be unique, how you approach them will be. You’re advancing through your career, facing a liquidity event, trying to make sense of where all the dollars are going, growing your family, and upsizing your home (along with trying to find the most enjoyment in your day-to-day). A trusted partner can ensure you’re balancing today’s realities with your dreams of tomorrow. Our process integrates money and life so we have better financial conversations. Real conversations. Because life isn’t all about dollars and cents. By uncovering your values and providing education, we can help you create a decision-making framework that ensures your resources are spent purposefully through life’s most beautiful and humbling transitions.