Ariel Bean

Stewardship is important to my clients and me. Stewardship is the idea that the money we have, the time we're given, and the gifts and experiences we have should be managed well so that we can be all that we can be - to make the world a better place for us and those around us. My goal is to help free up my client's time spent on figuring out the tax code, investments and retirement income planning so that they can focus on being a good steward of two more important resources - their time and gifts/experiences. As a financial stewardship partner, I help my clients pay less in taxes, invest wisely, and develop and follow a plan so they won't outlive their retirement income. I’ve always had a passion for helping people with their personal finances. As an accountant, I was approached frequently by people with tax or personal finance questions. I found that helping these people was something I loved. Ultimately, this love for helping people with their personal finance questions is what led me to a career as a tax-focused, comprehensive personal financial planner. My greatest joy is spending time with my wife, Michelle, and five kids; Jack, Kate, Elijah, Clayton, and Annalise. I also enjoy mountain biking, snowboarding, and running in the beautiful Colorado outdoors. I grew up in New Zealand, where I developed my passion for being outdoors.

We know you're busy, so we'll keep this brief! Like everyone else on this site, we're a fee-only Registered Investment Advisor! Fee-only means that our compensation comes directly from you, the client, and never from mutual fund companies, referral fees or insurance companies. While we're based in Denver, as an SEC-registered investment advisor, we serve clients from NY to California. We specialize in working with healthcare and technology professionals with equity compensation, delivering comprehensive wealth management services, including tax planning. Most of our clients pay a flat fee, with a low AUM fee for assets over $2MM. We'd love the opportunity to hear from you and see how we can help. Jump over to our site and book your introductory meeting. Thanks!

Originally from Massachusetts, I now reside in Denver, Colorado with my wife, Carolina. My interest in personal finance began shortly after graduating college, during my time working for the Boston Red Sox. While the role provided a memorable experience, I quickly realized how challenging it was to navigate employee benefits, manage a budget, and begin saving—especially in a high-cost city. That experience revealed a significant knowledge gap, which I set out to fill through self-study and a deep dive into personal finance literature. Over time, that curiosity evolved into a clear professional purpose: to help others gain clarity and confidence in their financial lives. Following my time in sports, I spent several years working in various client-facing roles across the financial services industry. I gained experience at a regional bank, a large brokerage firm, and most recently, a national Registered Investment Advisor (RIA). Each role offered valuable insight into different areas of the financial world, and collectively, they reinforced my desire to create something more personal and client-centered. I founded Willcox Wealth Management with the goal of providing clear, unbiased financial advice rooted in trust, education, and long-term relationships. I am a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®) and an Enrolled Agent (EA), which allows me to serve clients not only in a comprehensive planning capacity but also with specialized tax expertise before the IRS. Outside of work, Carolina and I enjoy all that Colorado has to offer. We spend much of our free time outdoors—hiking, biking, or skiing—as well as exploring Denver’s vibrant local food and coffee scene.

Your company is about to IPO or get acquired (congrats!) You’re holding RSUs, ISOs, NSOs but haven’t done anything for fear of making a sub-optimal decision. And you have lots of questions. Equity comp is confusing. Tax optimization is complex. You deserve an advisor who gives you confidence and clarity around your equity-specific planning needs and questions. I transitioned into financial planning from tech where I, too, had various types of equity grants. And, honestly, it was exciting to have ownership stakes in these companies. But that excitement quickly faded into confusion and frustration when I couldn’t find anyone to help me *strategize* on my options and shares. It’s one thing to know that Alternative Minimum Tax exists – it’s another to actually develop a holistic plan around it. Since then, I’ve dedicated my career to helping Millennials and tech professionals gain clarity and confidence around their equity compensation and path to financial independence. Developing deep, long-lasting relationships with my clients is what gets me up in the morning and is the reason I started Presidio Advisors. I’m based in Denver, CO and serve clients virtually across the U.S.

I love financial planning. I have been in the business since 2007. I started as an apprentice at a large broker/dealer. They extended an offer for me to continue as an advisor with them at the end of my apprenticeship. I had no idea what I was doing at the time, but moved forward. I learned a lot the hard way starting out in the business. I was not a stellar sales person, but I also learned that I loved working with clients, and helping them to get on track to meet their retirement goals. This early career phase taught me that I really value relationships, and helping clients, not so much the sales stuff... Over time I refined a clear way that I wanted to work with clients. I found that working for a corporation would not fit the more customized, educational, and holistic approach that I wanted for my clients. In 2020 I opened my own RIA practice and am pleased to be able to always do what is best and unique for each client. In 2023 I was able to become a CFP®. I am proud of what I have created, and look forward to the future. Opening my business right as COVID set in also taught me some new things. More people need financial planning! They need to know that it is for everyone. I can help you no matter what your financial circumstances are. I live in Colorado with my husband and 3 children. I am a very stereotypical Coloradan. I love the outdoors and all outdoor activities. If you want to hike while we have meetings let's do it!

My superpower is taking complex financial matters and translating them into layman’s terms. The goal in our relationship is to dig deeper, to find what matters to you in your financial present and future and together develop solutions to fulfill your goals and put your fears to rest. The environment in which I grew up was financially chaotic. As such, I’ve made it my mission to understand not just money and finance, but also human behavior around money. As a wealth manager, I have the privilege of helping people transform their relationships with money and gain mastery over it. I recognized that earning a CFP is a big decision. Like any relationship, ours must be rooted in integrity, trust, and clear communication for it to thrive. I hold wealth management as sacred work. My job is to understand my client’s vision for their future, then work with them to design and implement a plan to fulfill that vision. After completing a triple major in Finance, Accounting, and German, I set off for a meditation retreat about the art of being human. This combination of experiences informs how I work and interact with others. If and when you would like to meet, feel free to schedule a call via my Calendly link. Whether or not we choose to work together, you’ll gain new knowledge and insight. It will be time well-spent. I’m available to meet globally, and have a physical office in Denver. In case you’re curious, when I’m not working for my clients, you can find me baking, hiking, or biking. I hold a Certificate in Pastry Arts from the Culinary Institute of Canada and participate in the annual AIDS/LifeCycle, a 550-mile fundraising ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles. I am a former Co-Chair for the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) and various local charities over the years. That’s the vision I’m making real in the world. You can also find me in the Horizons Foundation Professional Advisors Directory.