Cory Falade

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.

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

Julian Puhringer is a Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. In this role, he focuses on providing investment guidance and financial strategies to clients. He holds an Accredited Certificate from New York University, demonstrating his commitment to professional development in the financial sector. Julian’s designation as a Personal Investment Advisor reflects his expertise in managing client portfolios and delivering tailored investment advice.

Ari Paxinos is a Private Wealth Advisor and one of the founding members of Paxinos, Lamberti & Associates, a group within Merrill Private Wealth Management. He has been with Merrill since 1992 and focuses on business management and building meaningful, goal-driven relationships with clients. Ari works primarily with business owners and entrepreneurs, assisting them in building and preserving their wealth through estate planning, customized business succession, and wealth management strategies. With over 30 years of experience, Ari specializes in managing the complexities of liquidity events, succession planning, and long-term wealth preservation. He collaborates closely with clients and their other professional advisors to develop integrated and personalized wealth strategies tailored to individual financial goals, emphasizing tax efficiency and estate planning. Ari is a Senior Portfolio Manager who manages discretionary investment strategies and holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® designation. Ari earned a Bachelor's Degree from Purdue University. He is involved in community organizations, including serving on the Board of Directors at Brother Rice High School Foundation and participating in the Community Support Group and Mercy Home for Boys and Girls. His personal interests include baseball, boating, boxing, fishing, golfing, reading, and spending time with his family.