Lauren Sercu

Hi! I’m Jen, fellow human and creator of Money Illustrated. I'm so grateful you're here! My journey into financial planning began while I was working as a self-employed artist & graphic designer; learning to manage my own finances and variable freelance income is what sparked my interest in understanding money better. This quickly became more than a side hobby, and eventually resulted in my making a career change to pursue an undergraduate degree in financial planning. I later went on to complete a graduate degree in Financial Planning & Analytics. In addition, I obtained the Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) designation, am an Accredited Financial Counselor (AFC®), and a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA®). As a free-spirited, artsy feminist working in the financial planning industry over the years, I never quite fit into the old-school, male-dominated industry (very much in need of diversity and new perspectives). Eventually, I decided I needed to create the space I was searching for. I started Money Illustrated with the hope that I could bring my two worlds of art and financial planning together in order to create something different—an inclusive, progressive, and innovative approach that's both creative and human-centered. My goal is to always act in clients' best interest, while guiding toward financial success and educating on the intricacies of their financial situations. Overall, I want to help others feel empowered to live their dream lives. No matter what your financial background looks like, I’m here to offer a judgment-free approach that meets you where you are. Financial planning is a tool to help you build a life that feels like your own, focusing on your values, supporting your relationships, and prioritizing what truly matters most to you. Outside of personal finance, I love to hike in the nearby Rockies, tend to my plants, practice yoga, and paint. I live near Salt Lake City, Utah, with my wonderful partner, an exuberant dog, and two cuddly old cats.

Newpark Wealth specializes in financial planning and investments for Emergency Physicians. We do our best work for Emergency Physicians in their 40s who are tired of working night shifts and are looking to retire at 55. Our clients have neither the time, desire, or mental energy to properly manage their increasingly complex finances, as career, family, and recreation consume those scarce resources. Our clients are eager to outsource financial planning and investment management to a trusted advisor. We work with you to develop a comprehensive financial plan that integrates your income, expenses, assets, liabilities, insurance coverage, employee benefits, estate planning, tax strategy, and unique goals. We understand the nuances of your career arc – and the stresses of Emergency Medicine – deeply enough to accurately build, and continuously refine, projections of your household net worth. Ultimately, Newpark proactively prioritizes your financial action items to entirely relieve you of that mental burden and protect your time – while preparing you to retire at age 55.

As a Principal and Financial Planner at Outpost Advisors, Mark spends his time creating unique financial plans that power our clients’ family visions and dreams for life. Mark is raising three girls in Salt Lake City, Utah with his wife Amelia, who practices medicine as an Obstetrician and Gynecologist. After graduating from Princeton University, Mark began his career at the International Monetary Fund teaching central bankers how to budget (whilst managing interest rates, monetary policy and political instability). In his free time he taught classes in financial literacy to DC-area families dealing with poverty. From there, he moved on to mortgage finance giant Freddie Mac, where he helped to execute the largest preferred equity capital raise in US history. Next, he spent a year at Jones Lang Lasalle managing a $750M asset portfolio for the Army, before relocating to Utah where he helped to build the outdoor retailer Backcountry.  Before leaving to found Outpost Advisors Mark spent 5 years as a leader at ExpertVoice, a technology startup funded by Bain Capital and Sorenson Capital. Mark has had the great joy of leading individuals and families in budgeting, family visioneering and financial stewardship for several years – both at work and through volunteer roles at church. Mark can also often be found blogging about all of these at the website Abraham’s Wallet. Mark holds an MBA from The George Washington University with a focus on finance. When he’s not playing with spreadsheets, Mark enjoys everything on offer in the mountains of Utah, whether it’s skiing, trail running, hunting, climbing or riding bikes with his family.

We focus on helping Christian outdoor focused individuals and churches

Jason Pierce is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, serving as a partner of a wealth management group in the Philadelphia area. Since joining Merrill Lynch in 2014, he has worked with affluent individuals and families to address their financial goals and streamline their wealth management services through a planning-based, process-oriented approach. Jason focuses on family wealth management strategies, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, portfolio management services, and small business strategies. Jason holds a Bachelor's degree from the University of Scranton and has earned several professional designations, including Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (CFP®), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Sports & Entertainment Accredited Wealth Management Advisor (SE-AWMA). His expertise spans wealth management, investment analysis, and estate planning strategies, with an emphasis on simplifying clients’ lives so they can focus on what matters most. He prioritizes building long-term client relationships, offering tailored guidance for changing market conditions and life stages. Outside of his professional work, Jason is involved in the Chestnut Hill Community Association. He lives in Philadelphia with his wife, Ellen, and their children. His personal interests include adventure sports, basketball, golfing, racquetball, and tennis. He also coaches basketball for high school and grade school teams, sharing his passion for sports with younger generations.