About Ryan

My path to being a financial planner wasn’t a straightforward one. I spent the first 15-year chapter of my career working as a research scientist.

I earned my PhD in Microbiology from UC Berkeley and then held several research positions in biotech, government, and academia.

I've had a lifelong interest in investing and personal finance and in 2024 I launched my own firm, stepping away from my scientific career.

While making a radical career change is a risky undertaking, I was motivated by a deep belief in my mission to make high-quality financial advice available to everyday people. Since then, I haven’t looked back and I’ve had the rewarding experience of helping many clients make meaningful steps towards achieving their financial and personal goals.

Smiling man with a backpack outdoors in nature, wearing a gray cap and an orange shirt.

Life doesn't wait for your finances to be perfect.

In late 2023, my wife and I faced some serious challenges: we discovered we needed IVF to start our family, and then a couple weeks later, I lost my job when my company closed. Suddenly, we were confronted with some incredibly tough financial decisions.

One of the first was whether to take our dream honeymoon to Patagonia or begin the expensive process of IVF. After careful planning and analysis, we decided we were determined to do both.

Yes, it meant dipping into our savings and making some significant adjustments, but it proved to be the right choice. Patagonia was the trip of a lifetime and we welcomed a baby boy to our family in 2025!

Financial planning isn't just about numbers on a page; it's about empowering you to live the life you want, even when faced with unexpected challenges.

A smiling woman and man in outdoor jackets standing near a fence, with a mountain range, lake, and sunset sky in the background.
A woman in a gray hoodie and a man in a black hoodie holding a baby, sitting together indoors against a plain beige wall, smiling and looking at each other.

What's in a name?

Aligning your money with your values.

The manzanita tree is a Northern California icon. I admire it for its natural beauty but also its resilience and adaptability; it’s capable of growing in poor soil with little water and it’s equaIly at home in the mountains or along the coast.

I believe that financial planning gives you resilience and adaptability like the manzanita, allowing you to thrive in uncertain scenarios and ultimately freeing you to focus on the beauty in your life. For me, that beauty comes from having the freedom to enjoy California's landscapes and to spend time with my friends and family.

That's my "why" - what's yours?

A man wearing sunglasses, a blue beanie, a black puffy jacket, a gray sweater, gray pants, and hiking shoes standing outdoors on a dirt trail in front of a large leafy bush or small tree. The sky is partly cloudy.