Stephen Nelson

WHY JERRY CHOSE TO BE A FINANCIAL PLANNER: His lack of financial literacy was not by choice. It was because personal finance was not taught in school or in his community. As a first-generation wealth builder, Jerry's money journey has been shaped by a profound understanding of both cultural and financial expectations. His experiences have uniquely positioned him to empathize with the challenges faced by first-generation families, inspiring a distinctive approach to financial guidance. His moment of profound solitude occurred during his transition from the Marine Corps back to civilian life. In uniform, Jerry felt in control, with camaraderie, financial stability, and a consistent salary. However, the day he left, all that stability vanished giving way to a cascade of emotions - depression, anxiety, and fear. Jerry, who had grown up facing financial hardships, relying on food stamps, and public aid, knew it was time to stop merely talking about wanting to build wealth and start acting. The realization struck deep: He needed to make a difference not just for himself, but for others facing similar issues. Motivated by a desire to help his family and friends, Jerry decided to be the guide he wished he'd had. He obtained his license, college degree, and joined a firm not only to enhance his life but the lives of other 1st-time wealth builders. After a few years of helping high net worth individuals grow their assets, Jerry felt the firm wasn't built to help families like his. In 2024, Jerry took the leap and launched Confianza Wealth Management as a guide for aspiring wealth builders. Jerry is on a mission to empower 1st-time wealth building families who do not have sufficient assets to get the help from industry giants. Jerry wants to bridge the financial planning accessibility gap by helping these families take control of their financial futures.

Born and raised in Saigon, I moved to the U.S. alone at 16. Shortly after, my family’s business collapsed, and I became financially independent when I was still a teenager. That experience lit a fire in me—a desire to understand how money works, and how to use it to protect and empower the people we love. As I went deeper into the world of finance, spent over a decade working with leading private wealth management firms in California, I realized wealth isn't just about income or investments. It's about peace. It's about having choices. And it's about living a life that reflects who you are—not just what you’ve earned. Too often, we’re taught to chase someone else’s version of success. I’ve seen people climb hard, high, and fast—only to realize they were on the wrong mountain. That’s why I started Anora Wealth: to help people like you pause, get clear on your “why,” and build a financial life rooted in intention, not pressure. Today, I work with first-generation wealth builders, content creators, and women in transition to align their money with what matters most—so they can stop surviving, and start designing a life of clarity, calm, and confidence. Outside of work, I love learning new things, listening to podcasts, crafting, and spending time in nature. I stay active through boxing, cycling, hiking, tennis, and yoga. I’m fluent in Vietnamese, currently learning Mandarin, and know a bit of French.

Why take your journey with FlightPath Financial Planning Are you looking to reach your financial destination with ease and confidence? As a financial planner and pilot I know firsthand the importance of having a clear path and a trustworthy partner to guide you along the way. Aviation has taught me that careful planning, experience, and ongoing training are crucial for success, and the same goes for financial planning. At FlightPath Financial Planning, we are dedicated to helping you achieve financial independence, where you no longer have to worry about debt, student loans, how much to save for retirement, or whether you will ever be able to afford a home. We believe that the key to reaching your goals is to work with a professional who will always put your interests first and has the knowledge and experience to guide you towards your destination. As Certified Financial Planners® we operate on a fee-only basis, meaning no commissions or sales, allowing us to avoid any potential conflicts of interest and work solely for you. Let us help you pilot your finances towards financial independence, so you can sit back, relax, and enjoy the journey. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation and start your journey.

Hi, I’m Alan Nelson, Founder of Measured Money Maneuvers. My “money” story began many years ago with my decision to enlist in the Navy. At the time, I was independent and living on my own, attending community college and working full-time to make ends meet, but was not really sure what I wanted to do with my life, and didn’t want to get shackled into a ton of student loan debt and paying it off into my 30s and 40s. So, I raised my right hand and took the oath with the goals to serve our country, learn valuable skills, hopefully figure out what I wanted to pursue in life, and get my college education paid for…or at least get the GI Bill to assist with college later. Like many young enlisted starting out, in the first two years, my two roommates and I were fooled by the predatory insurance salesman and purchased a whole life policy as an “investment” with the promise of the “guaranteed” 7% rate of return. Thankfully, we had some senior enlisted leaders that knew better and told us to get out of it immediately before the 30-day window closed and we’d have had to pay a huge surrender fee to get out. This was my initial wake-up call that I needed to learn more about personal finance and investing. I was fortunate to earn a commissioning program within a couple years and while I initially thought I’d transition out in 6-8 years, I went on to serve a 25-year career as a submarine officer. As a young junior officer, I wanted to help my Sailors holistically – professionally, personally and of course, financially. Many young service members make poor early financial decisions that can take them years to recover from due to: 1) lack of financial literacy, 2)having their own paycheck for the first time in many cases and, 3) being the target for many unprincipled salespeople. Despite also working at an innovative high-tech company with brilliant engineers, I realized quickly these highly-educated people still didn’t know much about personal finance. People asked how I knew so much, so I offered an initial lunch and learn. The feedback was so positive and by the second seminar, it became undeniably clear that helping people with money to live their best life was my passion and I knew I needed to earn my credentials as a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Professional. While I will continue to educate, I realized that I could truly help more people by starting my own fee-only, fiduciary registered investment advisor (RIA) firm, Measured Money Maneuvers LLC.

I’m on a mission to inspire women to be more intentional with their financial choices and provide a place where they can learn and share – without judgment. I’ve been through divorce and death of loved ones, I’ve worked with hundreds of clients with unique financial situations. One thing hasn’t changed throughout my career – my commitment to providing personalized services to my clients to inspire their financial journeys. You’re a busy professional woman in the middle to later stages of your career (or maybe you’ve already retired!). You have a lot going on, but you want to make sure you’re making smart financial moves. Whether you’re the family CFO or not, you want to be treated with respect. You won’t be afraid to ask questions and learn what you don’t know. You’d like to find someone you can bounce ideas off of, to get help making financial decisions, or to delegate to an expert. Finances don’t have to be a drag. You probably are already in the habit of saving. You may be making a lot of money, but haven’t been intentional about what you’re doing with it. Throughout my career, I’ve been inspired by so many women who are doing amazing things in their professional lives. However, the traditional financial advice industry does not serve us well. ➡️Our plans need to account for income shortfalls due to the gender pay gap – leading to a lifetime of reduced savings opportunities. ➡️We may need to plan around periods of income plateaus due to caregiving responsibilities for children or parents – it’s important to be intentional about career choices. ➡️Women live longer than men and are often entering or experiencing retirement solo – this impacts all aspects of retirement income, taxes, and leaving a legacy.

At Astra Wealth Management, we provide personalized financial planning and investment management for individuals and families navigating financial complexity. We serve high-net-worth families and high-income professionals, including retirees, sales professionals, business owners, and multi-generational families who value thoughtful guidance and a long-term partnership. AWM is located in San Diego, California and serves clients across the nation. Our clients often come to us during pivotal moments—retirement, equity compensation events, business transitions, job changes, inheritance, or major lifestyle shifts. We specialize in helping clients make confident, informed decisions during these life-defining transitions. Our services include: • Comprehensive financial planning • Portfolio management • Tax planning • Estate and legacy planning • Equity compensation and business transition planning • Insurance & Risk Management As an independent, fiduciary firm, we focus on helping clients align their wealth with what matters most—offering clarity, confidence, and a plan built for the long term.