Laryssa Freeman

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.

Helping you organize and simplify your finances, build steady income, and retire with clarity and confidence. Over the last decade, I’ve worked at different wealth management firms, gaining valuable experience alongside some incredibly smart, kind people. My biggest takeaway? There’s no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to personal finances. Customized financial planning works. And that’s what makes this work so rewarding. That’s why I created JRO Wealth Management. I built this firm for people who want to cut through the jargon and complexity and get real guidance from someone in their corner. Someone who understands how all the pieces of your financial life fit together — retirement income, taxes, investments, healthcare, legacy — and helps you make decisions across the board that actually work for you. My job isn’t to sell products or try to time the market. It’s to help you weigh the tradeoffs, see the bigger picture, and make smart, informed decisions with someone you trust by your side.

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.

Stephen Nelson is a Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA) charterholder and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional who has spent his career in the investment management and financial planning profession. He helps clients manage their portfolios and plan for retirement, legacy and lifetime goals. His desire to more personally serve clients led to the creation of Birchwood Capital in 2020. Stephen serves individuals and families throughout North County San Diego and across the country. Stephen received a Master of Science in Finance along with a B.B.A of Finance from the Cox School of Business at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. He also holds the Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA) charter, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ designation, and is a member of XY Planning Network. Lastly, he serves as a committee member for the Rancho Del Sol area of Young Life. Originally from Oregon, Stephen traveled to Texas to study business and play football. He and his wife met at school and now live in North County San Diego with their twin daughter and son, Rylynn & Brayden. Together, the Nelson’s enjoy spending time with each other and their extended family, having friends over, getting outside, cooking up a new recipe, watching movies, reading, and savoring each of life’s moments. Read Stephen's blog here: https://birchwoodcapital.com/writings/

Alex Wanerman is the Vice President and Branch Leader at Fidelity Investments, where he leads the local Investor Center. In this role, he focuses on fostering a high-performance work culture by empowering associates to maximize their talents and assist clients in planning for long-term financial well-being. Prior to this position, he served as Vice President and Regional Planning Consultant at Fidelity Investments from 2018 to 2024. Before joining Fidelity, Alex worked at UBS Financial Services as a Financial Advisor from 2017 to 2018 and as a Wealth Planning Analyst from 2015 to 2017. He holds a California Insurance License. Outside of his professional duties, Alex enjoys golf, skiing, traveling, and volunteering. He is also engaged in parenthood.