Mike Kurz

What led you to your position at your firm? I have been focused on FIRE (financial independence, retire early) goals since college. At age 36, I was able to quit a high-paying hedge fund job to pursue my dream of starting this business. This wasn’t an accident, but part of a long-term financial plan I crafted for myself. Now, I am able to share my passion and help others pursue and achieve their dreams. What makes you different from other advisors? I am different from other advisors in that I offer a white glove, high touch model. While other advisors may serve as many as 100 to 200 clients each, I intend to serve no more than 20 to 30 clients exceptionally well. Though I am currently accepting new clients, I anticipate closing my financial planning services to new clients in the next one to two years. What makes you or your firm particularly qualified to serve tech professionals, healthcare workers, and their families? Having lived in the Bay Area and having worked with clients at some of the largest tech firms, I am well versed in the planning and tax challenges faced by tech professionals with stock compensation. Married to a physician, I am aware of the unique challenges and burnout facing many healthcare workers. As a single child and father of two young kids, I understand the pressures facing the sandwich generation. Having guided my own parents and in-laws to secure retirements, I am also knowledgeable about social security, Medicare, and the tax planning opportunities that many retirees overlook. What makes your investment process unique? Inspired by Warren Buffett’s investing style, I believe I can add substantial value to our clients through active management and superior stock selection. Having two decades of investment experience working at multiple hedge funds with exposure to both equities and fixed income, I have learned from the best. With all of my own net worth invested alongside my clients in the same strategies, my interests are aligned with yours as this cook eats his own cooking.

I’m Travis Gatzemeier, a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional and the founder of Kinetix Financial Planning. I believe money is a tool that can unlock the optionality of life. My goals are to help optimize your cash flow, grow wealth, and pay less money to Uncle Sam through dynamic financial planning and investment management. Prior to my career as a financial planner, I graduated with a business degree from the University of North Texas in Denton, Texas. I began my professional career at a large brokerage firm where I learned the ins and outs of the financial markets. During this time I was able to gain valuable experience in financial markets, risk management, and personal finance. I then found my path working as a wealth manager for a small financial firm serving pre-retirees and retirees which included selling insurance to clients. I realized that insurance sales mixed with financial planning created a huge conflict of interest! I made the decision to become a fee-only financial planner in order to give my clients real financial advice with limited conflicts of interest. On a personal note, I live in the Dallas/ Fort Worth area but grew up a small-town kid in central Texas. When I am not helping my clients, I enjoy the outdoors, traveling, reading, or listening to the next queued up podcast. In addition, I am a supporter of the professional sports teams in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. An avid outdoorsman – hunting, fishing, hiking, skiing, and everything in between. I have a husky that keeps me busy and active named Koda. My favorite getaway is Montana where I have family!

Bob Knode is the President and Founder of Knode Wealth Management, bringing over two decades of comprehensive financial planning experience to clients throughout Texas and beyond. A 2004 graduate of Texas Tech University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Personal Financial Planning, Bob has built his practice on a foundation of technical expertise and Catholic values-based investing principles. As both a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®) practitioner and an Enrolled Agent (EA), Bob offers a unique combination of investment management and tax planning expertise. His dual credentials allow him to create highly customized financial strategies while also providing advanced tax preparation services and representing clients directly with the IRS on tax matters. Bob specializes in serving executives, small business owners, retirees, and Catholic families who seek financial guidance aligned with their faith and values. His areas of expertise include: -Executive benefits planning and optimization -Comprehensive tax planning and preparation -Catholic values-based investment strategies -Retirement planning and wealth management -Small business financial planning

You've experienced an unimaginable loss: the loss of a spouse, a marriage, or a loved one. You never handled the "money" side of things, and you're scared. Your estate planning or divorce attorney has helped you through the nuts and bolts, but now what? Molly Laughter, CFA® Charterholder and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ is passionate about helping women understand finances and answer this question. Molly has spent her professional career making complicated financial topics relatable and understandable. You don't have to know numbers to build a successful life or start again. Molly’s mission is to educate and empower the women she works with to live a life they love, with solid analysis and planning as a foundation for the future. She provides access to comprehensive financial planning and investment management.

My name is Taylor Stewart, and I am the founder of Ataroke Wealth. I founded Ataroke based on two core beliefs. The first is that people just want to make the most of their money. What that means is they want to feel like they’re being intentional, like they’ve considered all of their options, and they’re doing the best that they can. They want to know that they’re putting the right amount of money to work in the right places to be able to do what is important to them. Or as one client put it, “I just don’t want to do anything stupid.” I also believe that people want help with this but they don’t often get help because they feel like they’re just going to get sold something. That’s why I started Ataroke, to be able to help people make the most of their money without all of the sales BS and conflicts of interest that have become so common in our industry. At Ataroke, we provide comprehensive fee-only financial advice which means 1) we can answer almost any question, and 2) we are only paid by you, there are no sales. So whether you’re looking for an ongoing partnership or just have a one-time planning need, I invite you to take a look at how we can help. And remember, when it comes to Ataroke, there are no sales, there’s just advice.

Hi, I’m Brian, Founder and Financial Planner at Safe Landing Financial. I started Safe Landing Financial to serve as a one-stop, fee-only financial planning firm for tech professionals who want to plan for a work optional future. I believe you deserve advice from a fiduciary who puts your best interests first. The name Safe Landing Financial was inspired by my love of travel, the idea of reaching your financial destination safely, and a desire to help others navigate complex financial decisions. With more than a decade of experience in financial planning and investment management, I’ve seen how disconnected saving, investing, tax planning, retirement, insurance, and estate planning can feel without thoughtful coordination. My goal is to bring those pieces together into a clear, actionable strategy that helps you move forward with confidence. Many of the people I work with are employed at large technology companies like Dell Technologies. They’re often facing complex decisions around RSUs, 401(k)s, deferred compensation, and planning for a work optional future. Here are a few common questions I help clients work through: • How do I handle equity compensation and bonuses without getting crushed by taxes? • Am I taking advantage of the advanced planning opportunities available to me? • How do I balance enjoying life now with saving tax-efficiently for the future? Here’s what you can expect when we work together: • Confidence: Gain clarity on your full financial picture. My planning process ensures you’re on track and fully understand where you stand. • Expertise: I make complex financial decisions easier to understand and take action. I specialize in guiding high-earning tech executives through their financial journey. • Customization: Your plan evolves with your life, not a cookie-cutter approach. I help connect the dots from where you are today to where you want to be. When I’m not working on financial plans or managing portfolios, I’m usually traveling with my wife and our 5-pound Maltipoo, Lorelei, searching for the best barbecue or a fresh ocean breeze. If you're a tech professional ready to take control of your finances and plan for a work optional future, I’d love to hear your story.