Suzy Zeng

I’m John C. Pak, a Certified Financial Planner™ and founder of Otium Advisory Group. My mission is to help time-starved professionals—those who barely have time for lunch—cut through the noise and finally feel confident about their financial future. With a clear, no-fluff approach to retirement readiness, I create simple, effective strategies designed to fit real life—not a textbook. I believe financial planning shouldn’t feel like a second job, so I focus on what matters most, eliminating the jargon and complexity that gets in the way. Aside from my life-long devotion to personal finance, my other passion point is teaching. I've been presenting retirement literacy courses at select Southern California Universities since 2014. I believe… - If you are open to the idea of prioritizing, organizing, and purging, you will save time and money. - If you change the way you see things, you will change the way you do things. - If you find someone to go along with you on your financial journey, you will have more success. Take advantage of the complimentary consultation. I look forward to sharing my vision of how we can get you to the finish line.

Charley Edson founded Wealth Being Advisors with a simple yet powerful belief: true wealth isn’t just financial, it’s the alignment of your money, your health, and your purpose. As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, Charley combines deep technical expertise with a human-first approach to help busy professionals gain clarity, confidence, and calm across all areas of their financial lives. Whether it’s building a strong investment strategy, creating financial freedom through automation, or improving day-to-day decision-making, Charley’s work centers around helping clients live intentionally—on their terms. After nearly a decade in traditional wealth management, including managing over $250 million in client assets, Charley realized that most firms were missing the bigger picture. That insight led to the creation of Wealth Being Advisors: a firm that helps clients connect the dots between financial health, mental well-being, and physical vitality. With a coaching mindset and a passion for helping others grow, Charley partners with his clients to create personalized plans that align their values with their goals. Outside the office, you’ll find Charley playing hockey, spiking volleyballs on the beach, or enjoying the Southern California sun with his fiancée, Daniela. He’s deeply committed to his own growth whether through strength training, guitar, or mindfulness practices, which reflect his belief that lasting wealth is about more than numbers. It’s about showing up fully in life. At Wealth Being Advisors, that’s exactly what he helps his clients do.

Progressive Values, Progressive Planning. Together. Modern Assets helps progressives align their wealth with their deepest values. With impactful investing, straightforward fiduciary guidance, and a transparent, empathetic approach, we ensure your wealth mirrors your beliefs. We offer personalized fee-only financial planning and investment management services that empower you to navigate the complexities of wealth while making a positive impact on the world. Our commitment to an inclusive, holistic approach ensures stewardship that goes beyond the numbers. We ensure your finances echo your values, not just trends. Join us on a financial journey of purpose and passion, where your money does good and feels right, always.

South Bay Financial Partners was founded by Tara Unverzagt in 2014. Tara’s interest in financial planning was sparked at a young age as she watched her mother become a financial planner in the 1960s, a time before the development of the financial planning career. Now, with over 30 years of experience in financial planning, investment advice, and tax preparation, Tara is more dedicated than ever to walking with clients through their life's journey, navigating financial decisions at various stages along the way. Her clients range from young adults just embarking on their careers to business owners to couples going through post-retirement transitions to multi-generations of families. Much like her mother, Tara is a visionary within her industry, fueled by her active involvement in the Financial Therapy Association (FTA). The FTA places a strong emphasis on recognizing, addressing, and working through the emotional factors that intertwine with money, like fear, shame, and anxiety, which frequently impede individuals from making optimal financial choices. In 2019, Tara received her CFT-I in Financial Therapy and now utilizes those skills in every client interaction. Since founding South Bay Financial Partners, Tara has grown her team to now have three other planners who bring their own areas of expertise and extensive experience to the table. This collective knowledge ensures that clients receive a well-rounded approach to their financial planning needs. Tara and her team firmly believe that your finances should support your life, and not the other way around. You deserve to have a life plan that is unique to you and your dreams. A plan that helps you live by your values without shame, fear, or anxiety. Your budget should tell your story. “We believe it’s your day-to-day decisions that make the difference in achieving financial success.” – South Bay Financial Partners team Overall, South Bay Financial Partners offers a comprehensive range of financial planning tools and services for anyone with any budget, with a focus on supporting clients in their day-to-day decisions, aligning their finances with their life goals, and addressing the emotional aspects of money decisions to create a fulfilling financial journey. Tara and her team provide investment advice and management, tax preparation and planning, cash flow (aka budgeting), estate planning support, charitable giving, generational wealth transfer, career development, insurance/company benefits review, and student loan and debt management, with financial therapy tools woven in everything they do. Learn more about Tara, the rest of the team, and their services by visiting southbayfinancialpartners.com

I became a financial planner because of the lack of financial literacy in my community and I wanted to help change that. With over 12 years of industry experience, I specialize in helping Gen X, Millennial and Gen Z adults with their money. I support people as they navigate their financial decisions, offering guidance that’s rooted in empathy and simplicity. When I'm not working with clients, I'm at home with my wife, daughter, and two rescue dogs. I'm passionate about DIY projects—home improvement, woodworking, crafting cocktails, and modifying cars. Currently, I'm swapping the engine in a 1985 Pontiac Firebird, the car I drove in high school. My firm Casita incorporates a behavioral based approach to financial planning that blends the psychology of finance with traditional financial planning. We create financial plans that are aligned with your core values, emotions, and money behaviors to ensure effectiveness and impact.

Benjamin Norrie is the Resident Director at Merrill's Manhattan Beach office and leads The Lotus Group, where he serves as a Wealth Management Advisor. He focuses on helping individuals and families who have achieved financial success seek a more intentional and integrated approach to their financial lives. His work emphasizes creating clarity and confidence across clients’ complete financial picture, supporting their long-term goals with a steady and personal advisory style. With expertise in areas such as college education planning, divorce transition planning, family wealth management strategies, legacy planning, and socially responsible investing, Benjamin aims to provide thoughtful financial guidance that fosters long-term stability and resilience. He holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP) designation and is a Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). Benjamin earned his bachelor's degree from Purdue University. Outside of his professional role, Benjamin is involved with Covenant House of California and enjoys biking, boating, cooking, hiking, spending time with his family, and traveling. His personal philosophy centers on delivering wealth management that supports a life of clarity and purpose, enabling clients to focus on what matters most.