“I want to make the right decisions but I don’t have time to figure it out on my own.” “Can you help me with my student loans? This is more complicated than I thought it would be.” “How do I invest? I know it’s important but I don’t know the best way to do it and I don’t want to mess it up” Have you said any of these before? You’re not alone if you have. I have heard these statements from many lawyers I’ve met throughout my wife’s time in law school and her legal career. As a CPA, CFP, and someone who has worked in financial planning, I have seen young people who are overwhelmed about managing their personal finances. I have also seen people near retirement who unfortunately didn’t make good financial decisions and now have to modify their future lifestyles because of their financial situations. I hate seeing people not achieve everything they want in life because they can’t afford their dream lifestyle. So I set out to change that. My mission is to help young lawyers establish a strong financial foundation early in their careers so they can capitalize on future opportunities instead of trying to fix financial mistakes. So I created the Developing Financial Process. My process identifies what is most important to you, analyzes your current financial situation, builds a comprehensive financial plan, implements the plan, adapts the plan as your life changes on an ongoing basis, and most importantly educates and empowers you throughout the entire process. My process helps you pay off your student loans completely, invest effectively, save and spend intentionally, and achieve your financial goals and ambitions. I believe that everyone should live their dream life without worrying about their finances. I live what I preach and when I’m not working, I am out living. I love to travel and have visited many states and countries. My family and I go camping, spend time at the beach, and visit friends and family as often as possible. I truly love educating and empowering people to live their ideal life. I hope you reach out to learn more about my process and how financial planning can benefit young lawyers like yourself!

Wyatt Knippen is a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, specializing in goals-based wealth management, customized investment strategies, and dedicated client service. He works closely with the Negrete & Associates team to develop tailored approaches that align with the unique circumstances and objectives of each client. Wyatt serves as a key client contact, focusing on building long-term relationships and remaining attentive to clients' evolving priorities, while leveraging the resources of Bank of America’s Retirement and Benefit Plan Services Group. Before joining Merrill Lynch in 2017, Wyatt spent 13 years as an insurance broker, gaining experience in client relations and financial planning. His areas of expertise include divorce transition planning, defined benefit and contribution plan services, employee financial health, managing new wealth, and personal retirement planning. He holds professional designations such as CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Benefits Consultant (RBC). Wyatt earned a bachelor’s degree in business management from California State University-Sonoma and an MBA from Saint Mary’s College of California. Raised in Napa Valley, he enjoys outdoor activities such as camping, fishing, gardening, and hunting. In his personal time, Wyatt cultivates his garden, tending to fruit trees, tomatoes, and melons.

Kristoffer Conrad Pingul is a Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He works directly with clients to define their financial goals and develop portfolio strategies tailored to their individual needs. His approach includes ongoing advice and portfolio adjustments to align with clients' changing situations. His expertise encompasses employee benefits planning, retirement income, legacy planning, liquidity management, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, portfolio management services, and both individual and corporate investment strategies. He holds the Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) designation and is a Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). Kristoffer earned a High School Diploma from Davis Senior High School, an Associate's Degree from Solano Community College, attended San Francisco State University without degree completion, and completed an Accredited Certificate Program at The American College of Financial Services. Kristoffer speaks Tagalog and English and is affiliated with the Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church of Christ). His personal interests include billiards, bowling, golfing, reading, spending time with family, tennis, traveling, volleyball, watching movies, and woodworking.

Jack McCormick is a Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management and a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional. He specializes in retirement planning, family wealth management strategies, and personalized financial planning. Jack brings over five years of experience, having started his career on the operational side at Merrill, which provides him with a comprehensive understanding of building financial plans from the ground up. Jack holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from the University of Redlands and an Associate's Degree from Santa Rosa Junior College. He was a dual-sport NCAA collegiate athlete in swimming and water polo. He is also a fifth-generation resident of Sonoma County and remains active in his community through volunteer work with the Made In Santa Rosa Education Foundation and coaching water polo at Santa Rosa Junior College. Jack is fluent in English and Spanish and holds the designations of CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (CFP), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). His approach is hands-on and detail-oriented, focusing on helping affluent clients build goal-focused financial plans.