Our Team

I have been a financial advisor and planner since 1999, drawing on a half-century of professional experience in economics and financial analysis. I began my career as an econometrician at the US Census Bureau. After three years, I became an associate economist at the Investment Company Institute, a financial think tank based first in New York City and later in Washington, DC.

In the midst of the OPEC-inspired oil crisis of the 1970s, I answered the Administration’s call for financial expertise and co-authored The National Energy Plan. I went on to serve as a senior economist at the Federal Energy Administration, the Department of Energy in Washington, DC, and the Bonneville Power Administration in Portland (1981–2003). For many of those years, I also taught economics as a part-time evening adjunct professor at Portland State University.

My educational background includes a BSFS in Economics from Georgetown University’s prestigious School of Foreign Service, an MBA in finance from The George Washington University, and a Ph.D. in economics from the Catholic University of America, with a focus on monetary theory and policy and international economics. I have proudly held the CFP® designation since 2005.

On a personal note, I have been happily married to my wife, Sharon, since 1977 (you do the math!). We have three highly successful adult children and five grandchildren, so far. My free time is filled with family moments, theatre, the symphony, politics, and spiritual and theological critical thinking. My clients know I bring deep educational insight, tailored planning, and a touch of genuine Irish wit to our relationships—fitting, perhaps, since I hold dual US and Irish citizenship.

I’ve worked in financial services since 2017, collaborating with my mentor, Steve Dunne, to provide holistic financial planning. Before that, I spent more than 20 years as an educator, where I combined my economic and analytical skills with my love of teaching.

Becoming a CFP® professional was a natural fit because it brings together my passion for education, research, and connecting with clients to guide them through life’s challenging financial waters. I deeply value engaging with both the emotional and rational sides of personal finance.

I earned my bachelor’s degree from Pitzer College and completed a master’s program in Leadership for Sustainability Education at Portland State University, which gives me a unique perspective on socially responsible and sustainable investing. I am also conversationally fluent in Spanish.

Born and raised in the Northwest, I have a deep connection to our natural resources and a strong commitment to stewardship. My wife, our two boys, and I love spending time outdoors hiking, biking, and volunteering with our church and local nonprofits.