Eric Thomas

At Empowering Finance we know that you are bold, ambitious, and a total badass. That's why you need a financial plan that allows you to pursue your passions and live your most authentic and powerful life. The problem is a buttoned-up approach to financial planning isn't going to meet your needs. You're worried that your dreams and aspirations will get lost in a cookie-cutter system. We believe you deserve a financial planner who listens to your unique dreams and helps you build a plan to get there. We understand that you want someone who will treat your money as we do our own. Which is why we combine our experience, authenticity, financial knowledge to connect with you and enable you to pursue your passions. Here's how we do it 1) We are a fiduciary: We are legally bound to put your interests ahead of our own 2) Diversity and authenticity matter to us: We are a woman-owned business, LGBTQIA+ friendly, and welcoming to anyone and everyone who needs an ally and friend with financial savvy. 3) Our services are fee-only: We keep things simple: no surprises charges or hidden fees So, Let's Chat. So you can stop worrying you won't reach your dreams and instead work with a passion-driven firm focused on achieving your life's dreams. Read Empowering Finances's blog here: https://empoweringfinance.com/blog/

Women often take career breaks for caregiving, have lower lifetime earnings, and live longer, all of which can affect long-term financial stability. We get it. You’re not thinking about just getting by in retirement - you want to thrive. You want more freedom and peace of mind and want to truly enjoy life both now and in the future. I've taken a unique path in traveling the world for 6-months, have traveled to over 30 countries and went from banking in Chicago for 15 years to doing financial planning at wineries in Napa Valley. I'm here to support you wherever your life and unique journey - take you! Whether you're planning/preparing for retirement, want to travel more, retire early, start your own business, are managing a career change, or balancing caregiving responsibilities - I use my passion and 25+ years of finance experience working with trust clients, 401(k) investments and financial planning to build a customized financial plan and investment portfolio that’s based on your unique situation, goals and aspirations. We believe everyone deserves access to financial advice and help a range of clients. Please don't be shy in reaching out and setting up a complimentary consultation. We promise to talk about money in an easy-to-understand and 100% judgement-free zone. It’s possible - we can make talking about money fun! I love working with clients virtually across the nation and am active on LinkedIn - you can also check me out and get to know me more there! Education: University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign - Bachelor of Science, Finance Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management - MBA, Finance & Strategy

Joseph Alfonso, CFP®, ChFC®, EA, RICP®, TPCP® founded Aegis Financial Advisory and is the principal financial planner for the firm. He received his B.A. in Philosophy from Cornell University. Joe works with pre-retiree couples to help them successfully transition to a life in retirement secure in the knowledge that they will always be able to afford their chosen lifestyle. He achieves this goal by leveraging his expertise in Social Security and retirement income planning. He is also a certified tax professional and performs “tax-aware” planning to save you money at every opportunity. Tax planning is especially important in retirement as a way to minimize the taxation of retirement account distributions and Social Security benefits, thereby maximizing your spendable retirement income. Joe is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional and an Enrolled Agent, admitted to practice before the IRS to represent taxpayers at all administrative levels for audits, collections, and appeals. He is a member of The National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA), the nation’s preeminent organization of fee-only financial planners, and was elected to the Board of Directors for the Western Region. Joe follows a comprehensive approach based on the belief that true planning is an ongoing process requiring continued advisor-client engagement. He is often quoted in the national media and has appeared in publications such as The Wall Street Journal, The Chicago Tribune, Smart Money and US News and World Report. Joe and his approach to investing were featured in The Wall Street Journal Online. Joe is fluent in both Japanese and Spanish. He currently lives in Lake Oswego, Oregon with his wife, two sons and black lab. When not working with clients and spending time with family Joe can be found pursuing his inner athlete at the gym.

Financial planning isn’t just about crunching numbers, it’s about helping people turn their dreams into reality. Growing up I noticed the financial struggles many people faced, which fueled my interest in personal finance. Recognizing that financial literacy is a huge pain point in society and often overlooked in our education system, I set out to take control of my financial life. While going through college debt-free, I started my first business, making car parts, motorcycle parts, and metal art. That experience taught me valuable lessons the hard way, but I quickly realized my true passion wasn’t in metalwork, it was in helping people navigate their finances. Today, I’m deeply committed to the financial planning profession. I earned my CFP® (CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER®) and CEPA (Certified Exit Planning Advisor) designations to better serve my clients. I’m actively involved in my local Financial Planning Association (FPA), as well as mentoring students and aspiring financial planners. I love sharing what I've learned and inspiring the next generation. Over the years, I’ve worked with many different types of people, but I specifically enjoy working with business owners. They juggle a lot, managing cash flow, planning for growth, and balancing their personal and business finances. It can feel overwhelming at times, and I love helping them tackle those challenges. My personal experience in business and training puts me in a unique position to make a real difference in their lives and help them achieve their goals. I’ve had the opportunity to help clients achieve significant milestones such as: -Become debt-free -Purchase their dream home -Transitioning to more fulfilling careers -Achieving financial independence These meaningful milestones allow you to live the life you want, and money is a tool to get you there. Outside of work, I lead an active and adventurous lifestyle. You can find me hiking, snowboarding, practicing Jiu Jitsu, or kickboxing. These activities reflect my values of discipline and goal-setting, which I bring into my professional life. If you’re ready to take charge of your finances with a personalized plan that aligns with your goals, I’m here to guide you through every step.

FPNW is a fee-only fiduciary that supports the Do-It-Yourself investor and those just getting started. FPNW has four offerings: 1. Deep Dive – Reviews ten key financial topics and generates a detailed “To-Do List” for your implementation. 2. Comprehensive Financial Plan – A detailed projection of your financial future that answers questions like: “Am I on track for retirement?” “Are my investments too conservative? Or too risky?” “How should I save for a home or college?” “Is my current financial advisor doing a good job?” 3. Let’s Get Started – You seek coaching on how to set up your financial affairs from 401-(k) plans at work or savings plans for the self-employed, investing to basic banking and insurance. 4. Projects – Maybe it’s reconstructing your cost basis or you’ve inherited a mess from a parent. Planning for the estate taxes levied by Oregon and Washington is important. FPNW does not provide investment management services. FPNW helps clients either manage their own investments or locate other financial advisers who provide investment services. As a fiduciary, your success comes first. FPNW does NOT sell any financial products and does NOT accept any outside compensation. Previously I served wealthy clients. My goal now is to democratize the wealth creation process and to offer the same expertise whether you’ve got millions or only hundreds to invest. FPNW’s Philosophy Time on earth is our most important asset. Live accordingly and joyfully. Over the long run, stocks and real estate outperform other assets classes with built-in inflation projection. Take only as much investment risk as needed to reach your goals. The only correct allocation to stocks is one you're comfortable with and will stick to. Low-cost, tax efficient Exchange Traded Funds and index funds allow you to craft a simple sustainable portfolio. Tax-efficiency is key. Asset location matters. Sustainable and ethical investing is extremely competitive with “mainstream” investments. Diversify internationally. Philanthropy - Let’s discuss how to support your favorite charities while you’re alive and as part of your legacy. The comedian Chris Rock said it best. “Wealth is not about having a lot of money; It’s about having a lot of OPTIONS.” Let’s start with a free discussion to discover your best options. To quote legendary baseball player Yogi Berra, “If you don’t know where you’re going, you won't get there.."

Clayton acquired Clarity Financial, LLC to provide independent, fee-only, fiduciary advice of the highest standard to clients and is passionate about removing as much financial uncertainty and stress from his clients’ lives as possible. Having been in the industry since 2010, and having worked with individuals, families, businesses, schools, churches, and endowments, Clayton emphasizes the importance of a long-term planning relationship with his clients as he believes this gives them the best possible chance of achieving their financial goals. One of Clayton's specialties is retirement account distribution planning centered around replacing working income while minimizing taxes as clients transition to retirement.