John Crook

Stephen spent the first six years of his career in the Dallas office of Ernst & Young, LLP, in various roles, including Manager in Mergers & Acquisitions Due Diligence, where he assisted private equity funds in acquiring businesses. Stephen then spent the next fifteen years in various roles at Maverick Capital, Ltd., one of the world’s largest, oldest, and most prestigious hedge funds, ultimately serving as a Managing Director in Private Equity and Venture Capital, overseeing the valuation of over $5B in private investments. Stephen obtained his undergraduate and graduate degrees in accounting and finance from Texas A&M University and was a proud member of the Texas Aggie Corps of Cadets, where he served as Company D-2’s Executive Officer in his senior year. He also completed the certificate program in Financial Planning from Southern Methodist University. Stephen has been married to his wife Amy for over 20 years, having met as young CPAs at Ernst & Young, LLP. Amy and Stephen live in Lake Highlands with their daughter, who attends Ursuline Academy, where she rows crew. An avid doubles tennis player, he can be found with his friends on courts all over North Dallas. Stephen has a passion for not-for-profit finance leadership and has served on the board of directors of various Dallas organizations, including the Maverick Capital Foundation, Church of the Incarnation, Incarnation Foundation, Incarnation Place, and Incarnation House. Additionally, he has served as Treasurer of The Family Place, Junior Warden, and Treasurer at Church of the Incarnation. Stephen is currently Vice-Chairman of the Dick Granger Neighborhood Ministry, where he co-leads a team of over 25 volunteers providing episodic financial assistance for the working poor in the Uptown area. He is also on the board of directors of the Ursuline Academy of Dallas Foundation and a finance committee member. Stephen is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, an active Certified Public Accountant in Texas, and holds the American Institute of CPA's (AICPA) Personal Financial Specialist credential, Series 65 license, and the Certificate in Investment Performance Measurement from the CFA Institute. He is a member of the Financial Planning Association (FPA), CFA Institute, and AICPA and is active in both the Texas Society of CPAs – Dallas Chapter, where he serves as a committee director, and FPA – DFW Chapter, where he serves on the board of directors.

What led you to your position at your firm? I have been focused on FIRE (financial independence, retire early) goals since college. At age 36, I was able to quit a high-paying hedge fund job to pursue my dream of starting this business. This wasn’t an accident, but part of a long-term financial plan I crafted for myself. Now, I am able to share my passion and help others pursue and achieve their dreams. What makes you different from other advisors? I am different from other advisors in that I offer a white glove, high touch model. While other advisors may serve as many as 100 to 200 clients each, I intend to serve no more than 20 to 30 clients exceptionally well. Though I am currently accepting new clients, I anticipate closing my financial planning services to new clients in the next one to two years. What makes you or your firm particularly qualified to serve tech professionals, healthcare workers, and their families? Having lived in the Bay Area and having worked with clients at some of the largest tech firms, I am well versed in the planning and tax challenges faced by tech professionals with stock compensation. Married to a physician, I am aware of the unique challenges and burnout facing many healthcare workers. As a single child and father of two young kids, I understand the pressures facing the sandwich generation. Having guided my own parents and in-laws to secure retirements, I am also knowledgeable about social security, Medicare, and the tax planning opportunities that many retirees overlook. What makes your investment process unique? Inspired by Warren Buffett’s investing style, I believe I can add substantial value to our clients through active management and superior stock selection. Having two decades of investment experience working at multiple hedge funds with exposure to both equities and fixed income, I have learned from the best. With all of my own net worth invested alongside my clients in the same strategies, my interests are aligned with yours as this cook eats his own cooking.

Bob Knode is the President and Founder of Knode Wealth Management, bringing over two decades of comprehensive financial planning experience to clients throughout Texas and beyond. A 2004 graduate of Texas Tech University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Personal Financial Planning, Bob has built his practice on a foundation of technical expertise and Catholic values-based investing principles. As both a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®) practitioner and an Enrolled Agent (EA), Bob offers a unique combination of investment management and tax planning expertise. His dual credentials allow him to create highly customized financial strategies while also providing advanced tax preparation services and representing clients directly with the IRS on tax matters. Bob specializes in serving executives, small business owners, retirees, and Catholic families who seek financial guidance aligned with their faith and values. His areas of expertise include: -Executive benefits planning and optimization -Comprehensive tax planning and preparation -Catholic values-based investment strategies -Retirement planning and wealth management -Small business financial planning

Hi, I’m Spenser Liszt, CFP®, founder of Motif Planning, an advice-only financial planning firm based in Dallas, TX. I began my career as a professional musician and earned a Master of Music from the University of North Texas before transitioning into financial planning. After completing the CFP® certification program at Southern Methodist University, I built my practice to serve high-earning executives and families who face complex financial decisions. My early work focused heavily on music industry leaders, where I saw firsthand how often high-income professionals were underserved. Many advisors did not understand executive compensation, equity awards, deferred compensation plans, or the tax implications that come with them. As a result, successful professionals were earning substantial income but lacked an integrated strategy. Today, I provide holistic financial life planning for high-earning executives and families who want clarity, structure, and long-term direction. My work centers on lifetime tax planning, equity compensation strategy, investment planning, cash flow management, risk management, and estate coordination. Every recommendation fits within a broader financial life plan. Motif Planning operates on a flat-fee, advice-only model. I do not sell products, earn commissions, or manage assets for a percentage fee. My role is to provide objective guidance so you can make informed decisions with confidence. I believe financial planning should reduce stress, increase optionality, and support the life you actually want to live. Outside of work, I enjoy woodworking and spending time with my family.

Robert Holman is a CHARTERED FINANCIAL ANALYST (CFA) and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®). The former is the gold standard for the investment management profession, and the latter is useful for advising on personal financial circumstances. I'm "The Defensive Advisor" because it is essential to understand when markets are conducive to building opportunistic profits and when risk-taking should be minimized. Former positions: • LPL Financial Advisor • TD Ameritrade Investment Consultant • Director, Financial Planning & Analysis Robert is a registered investment advisor and fee-only financial planner. His investing curiosity brought real understanding of investing, surpassing what can be learned in an academic setting. His investing beliefs center around knowing the signs of the times, what should be done about them, and seeking to build wealth in both up and down markets. Robert is a summa cum laude graduate of The University of Texas at Austin. He belonged to the honor societies Phi Kappa Phi (Overall Collegiate), Beta Gamma Sigma (Finance), and Beta Alpha Psi (Business). Robert was a member of Pi Sigma Epsilon (Management) and volunteered his time as an advisor to SCORE (U.S. Small Business Administration Consulting). Robert resides in Dallas, Texas, with his amazing wife Karen and three wonderful daughters, Beth, Nancy, and Emily. He is the Stewardship Leader for his local church and an active volunteer in many church ministries, including divorce recovery and marriage counseling. Read Robert’s 2-minute biweekly stock market insights report here:  https://www.defensiveadvisor.com/blog

Hi, I’m Brian, Founder and Financial Planner at Safe Landing Financial. I started Safe Landing Financial to serve as a one-stop, fee-only financial planning firm for tech professionals who want to plan for a work optional future. I believe you deserve advice from a fiduciary who puts your best interests first. The name Safe Landing Financial was inspired by my love of travel, the idea of reaching your financial destination safely, and a desire to help others navigate complex financial decisions. With more than a decade of experience in financial planning and investment management, I’ve seen how disconnected saving, investing, tax planning, retirement, insurance, and estate planning can feel without thoughtful coordination. My goal is to bring those pieces together into a clear, actionable strategy that helps you move forward with confidence. Many of the people I work with are employed at large technology companies like Dell Technologies. They’re often facing complex decisions around RSUs, 401(k)s, deferred compensation, and planning for a work optional future. Here are a few common questions I help clients work through: • How do I handle equity compensation and bonuses without getting crushed by taxes? • Am I taking advantage of the advanced planning opportunities available to me? • How do I balance enjoying life now with saving tax-efficiently for the future? Here’s what you can expect when we work together: • Confidence: Gain clarity on your full financial picture. My planning process ensures you’re on track and fully understand where you stand. • Expertise: I make complex financial decisions easier to understand and take action. I specialize in guiding high-earning tech executives through their financial journey. • Customization: Your plan evolves with your life, not a cookie-cutter approach. I help connect the dots from where you are today to where you want to be. When I’m not working on financial plans or managing portfolios, I’m usually traveling with my wife and our 5-pound Maltipoo, Lorelei, searching for the best barbecue or a fresh ocean breeze. If you're a tech professional ready to take control of your finances and plan for a work optional future, I’d love to hear your story.