Christian Cruz

After 15+ years as a financial planner working for high net worth families and successful business owners, I decided to follow my dream of starting my own firm, to serve people like myself: ambitious, increasingly complex life, and curious to examine my relationship to money. A true high-touch concierge service to go beyond the numbers by understanding what you want from life and what motivates you. We specialize working with AAPI and underserved communities, to undercover your money story to get a deeper meaning of your values and priorities.

Tony T. Chan, CFP®, EA, was born in Hong Kong, China, and immigrated with his family to San Francisco, California, at the age of eight. After high school, he served six years in the Army Reserve as an Automatic Logistic Specialist. Following his acceptance into the ROTC program at California State University, Fullerton, Tony relocated to Orange County to continue his education. While balancing school and four part-time jobs, he recognized the value of personal financial planning and began attending the Financial Planning Association's quarterly meetings, where he first learned about the CFP® designation. Upon earning a Bachelor's Degree in Finance and a minor in Military Science from California State University, Fullerton, and receiving his commission through the university’s Army ROTC, Tony set his sights on becoming a Certified Financial Planner™ practitioner. He first obtained the Registered Paraplanner (SM) designation through the College of Financial Planning before achieving his goal. Today, Tony serves as a Fee-Only Financial Planner & Investment Adviser and holds the rank of 1st Lieutenant with the U.S. Army Reserve 326th Financial Management Center. With over fifteen years of experience in financial planning and tax services, Tony brings extensive expertise in advising clients across various income levels on comprehensive retirement plans, portfolio analysis, tax planning, debt and risk management, and estate planning. He is an active member of the Orange County Financial Planning Association and the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors. Tony has been honored with multiple awards and was a nominee for both the 2016 class of InvestmentNews 40 Under 40 and the 2018 class of CPA Practice Advisor 40 Under 40.

Michael Hulley is a Senior Vice President and the Senior Resident Director with Merrill in Brea, California. In his role, he works closely with multiple generations of client families, assisting them in making informed decisions to manage their wealth with greater purpose. He builds enduring relationships by guiding clients through significant life events, career changes, and retirement transitions. With over 30 years of experience at Merrill and prior experience at UBS, Michael brings extensive knowledge in areas such as integrated planning, tax-sensitive investing, wealth transfer, savings, cash flow management, and business succession planning. Michael holds a Bachelor’s degree in Finance and Investing from the University of Southern California and has served in leadership roles as Resident Director since 1991. He also holds the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation. Beyond his advisory responsibilities, he mentors and supports a team of advisors and associates, promoting best practices and leveraging technology to enhance client service. Michael’s approach emphasizes problem-solving and attentive listening, aiming to provide clients with reassurance and clarity around complex financial matters. Outside of his professional life, Michael is involved in community organizations including Second Harvest food bank and the Salvation Army. He enjoys spending time with his family and friends, traveling, following a variety of sports, and is a Disney enthusiast.

Kyle Ergas is a Financial Solutions Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. In his role, he works closely with clients to develop personalized financial strategies that align with their unique goals and priorities. Kyle’s approach is centered on understanding what matters most to each individual and family, allowing him to provide tailored guidance on wealth planning and investment management. His expertise includes a broad range of financial services such as general investing, retirement planning, and preparing for unexpected expenses. Kyle holds professional designations including Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC) and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). He earned a Bachelor’s degree from San Jose State University.