Marie Thomasson

I’m John C. Pak, a Certified Financial Planner™ and founder of Otium Advisory Group. My mission is to help time-starved professionals—those who barely have time for lunch—cut through the noise and finally feel confident about their financial future. With a clear, no-fluff approach to retirement readiness, I create simple, effective strategies designed to fit real life—not a textbook. I believe financial planning shouldn’t feel like a second job, so I focus on what matters most, eliminating the jargon and complexity that gets in the way. Aside from my life-long devotion to personal finance, my other passion point is teaching. I've been presenting retirement literacy courses at select Southern California Universities since 2014. I believe… - If you are open to the idea of prioritizing, organizing, and purging, you will save time and money. - If you change the way you see things, you will change the way you do things. - If you find someone to go along with you on your financial journey, you will have more success. Take advantage of the complimentary consultation. I look forward to sharing my vision of how we can get you to the finish line.

At Silicon Beach Financial, we believe in the transformative power of your wealth. We’re more than just a financial guide—we’re your dedicated partner in realizing ambitious dreams and shaping the future. Our mission is to support visionary entrepreneurs and innovators who are driven to make a significant impact on the world. Our approach is deeply rooted in collaboration and partnership. We start by understanding your unique vision and then craft a comprehensive financial plan that aligns with your goals. Whether it’s managing investments to secure both short-term needs and long-term opportunities, or navigating the complexities of tax planning to maximize your wealth, we’re here to ensure you’re always ahead of the curve. We’re passionate about empowering individuals who are not only driven by financial success but also by a desire to create meaningful change. Our values—organization, accountability, objectivity, proactivity, education, and partnership—define how we work with you. We bring order to your financial life, help you make informed decisions, and anticipate life’s transitions with proactive strategies. Founded by Christopher Stroup, a recognized LGBTQ+ leader in financial planning, Silicon Beach Financial was created specifically for those who dare to dream big and make a difference. If you’re ready to transform your financial future and leave a lasting impact, let’s partner to turn your vision into reality. With us, your wealth isn’t just about accumulation; it’s about making a difference in the world.

Charley Edson founded Wealth Being Advisors with a simple yet powerful belief: true wealth isn’t just financial, it’s the alignment of your money, your health, and your purpose. As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, Charley combines deep technical expertise with a human-first approach to help busy professionals gain clarity, confidence, and calm across all areas of their financial lives. Whether it’s building a strong investment strategy, creating financial freedom through automation, or improving day-to-day decision-making, Charley’s work centers around helping clients live intentionally—on their terms. After nearly a decade in traditional wealth management, including managing over $250 million in client assets, Charley realized that most firms were missing the bigger picture. That insight led to the creation of Wealth Being Advisors: a firm that helps clients connect the dots between financial health, mental well-being, and physical vitality. With a coaching mindset and a passion for helping others grow, Charley partners with his clients to create personalized plans that align their values with their goals. Outside the office, you’ll find Charley playing hockey, spiking volleyballs on the beach, or enjoying the Southern California sun with his fiancée, Daniela. He’s deeply committed to his own growth whether through strength training, guitar, or mindfulness practices, which reflect his belief that lasting wealth is about more than numbers. It’s about showing up fully in life. At Wealth Being Advisors, that’s exactly what he helps his clients do.

Hi, I’m Larry Koeppel, founder of Digital Wealth. We work with busy tech professionals who are serious about saving and want to work toward achieving their biggest financial goals. We collaborate with our clients, and help to hold them accountable as they maximize their fullest financial potential, and live their ideal life! The name Digital Wealth has a dual meaning: First, the firm works mainly with the Digital LA community. Second, the firm utilizes leading-edge digital tools to provide a frictionless, high-level of financial planning and investment management. Digital Wealth is virtual in nature which enables us to assist in the State of California and in other jurisdictions where exempted. Although we are focused on Silicon Beach we are able to work with clients in other tech communities such as Silicon Valley, Seattle, Portland, Boulder, Denver, Salt Lake City, Austin, New York, Chicago, Washington D.C., Research Triangle, etc. Our goal is to help you start building your wealth, and improve your money habits now so that you can start building an exceptional financial future. To learn more please visit the Digital Wealth website at https://digitalwealth.la and then schedule an introductory meeting at https://calendly.com/digitalwealth. I look forward to meeting you!

Hello, I’m Gabbi and I help teachers in WA and CA make smart decisions with their money. As a former teacher, I first got into personal finance because I knew I didn’t have a lot of extra money to mess around with. I wanted to put my dollars to work just as hard as I was. While I love teaching and miss my students, I knew I had to help other teachers and people like me figure this out, so I switched careers into finance. As a Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®), Accredited Financial Counselor (AFC®) and Trauma of Money Certified Practitioner, I believe in taking a holistic approach to your money. We always start the financial planning process by talking about your values so that we can build your financial plan around them to reach your financial goals. We’ll work together to find a good balance between living well now and saving for the future-you. I completed my teaching credential, Master’s in Education, and Bachelor’s in International Relations from UC Davis. When I’m not reading personal finance books or working with clients, I spend my time rock climbing, hula dancing, and learning Spanish.

South Bay Financial Partners was founded by Tara Unverzagt in 2014. Tara’s interest in financial planning was sparked at a young age as she watched her mother become a financial planner in the 1960s, a time before the development of the financial planning career. Now, with over 30 years of experience in financial planning, investment advice, and tax preparation, Tara is more dedicated than ever to walking with clients through their life's journey, navigating financial decisions at various stages along the way. Her clients range from young adults just embarking on their careers to business owners to couples going through post-retirement transitions to multi-generations of families. Much like her mother, Tara is a visionary within her industry, fueled by her active involvement in the Financial Therapy Association (FTA). The FTA places a strong emphasis on recognizing, addressing, and working through the emotional factors that intertwine with money, like fear, shame, and anxiety, which frequently impede individuals from making optimal financial choices. In 2019, Tara received her CFT-I in Financial Therapy and now utilizes those skills in every client interaction. Since founding South Bay Financial Partners, Tara has grown her team to now have three other planners who bring their own areas of expertise and extensive experience to the table. This collective knowledge ensures that clients receive a well-rounded approach to their financial planning needs. Tara and her team firmly believe that your finances should support your life, and not the other way around. You deserve to have a life plan that is unique to you and your dreams. A plan that helps you live by your values without shame, fear, or anxiety. Your budget should tell your story. “We believe it’s your day-to-day decisions that make the difference in achieving financial success.” – South Bay Financial Partners team Overall, South Bay Financial Partners offers a comprehensive range of financial planning tools and services for anyone with any budget, with a focus on supporting clients in their day-to-day decisions, aligning their finances with their life goals, and addressing the emotional aspects of money decisions to create a fulfilling financial journey. Tara and her team provide investment advice and management, tax preparation and planning, cash flow (aka budgeting), estate planning support, charitable giving, generational wealth transfer, career development, insurance/company benefits review, and student loan and debt management, with financial therapy tools woven in everything they do. Learn more about Tara, the rest of the team, and their services by visiting southbayfinancialpartners.com