CFP® CDFA®
I’ve now hit a stage in life where I laugh at myself all the time. It’s not that I’m particularly funny or witty. It’s more a byproduct of becoming more self-aware and owning my unique behaviors. For as long as I can remember financial anxiety has played a dominating role and got in the way of me living my best life. Today its psychologically freeing, but there were times when it was a little embarrassing.
The first meal I cooked for my wife when we were dating was boiled chicken legs on a bed of white rice with iceberg lettuce. You can’t cheaper than that. I rarely allowed myself to enjoy small treats or conveniences because I was afraid it would ruin my financial goals. My old Honda Civic looked like it rolled over in a ditch, but I didn’t have a car payment. I could go on and on.
Becoming a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER Professional ™ led to my most important professional and personal growth. Who knew that coordinating my finances, understanding the why and how would provide the sense of control I needed to take my anxiety from an 8 to a 2. Hess Financial was established because the places I worked for in the past were always so focused on the transactional element of personal finance, but we were designed for people who wanted a much more life impacting relationship with money.
I like to say it all started with a bike. This bike pictured here was not financially attainable to me as an eleven-year-old kid in the 1970’s no matter how many aluminum cans I recycled and odd jobs I got. A massive evolution in bikes was taking place and I was stuck with my orange banana seat monster that had been rewelded countless times. I was crushed of course, but it motivated me to be the best steward of my resources as possible. Just recently I discovered an original 1979 bike on eBay, and it now hangs in my office. It’s my “Rosebud” if you get that Citizen Kane movie reference.
Economics at Rutgers University fascinated me. I loved how weakness in one area of the economy could simultaneously be a catalyst for opportunity somewhere else. The world wasn’t as chaotic and unorganized as I thought. With some discipline and analysis, it meant that better outcomes were possible. Financial Psychology fascinated me as well. It’s hard to go against our natural tendencies to be fearful or greedy, but if you could harness those emotions, you could increase your odds of success there too. I was hooked because I loved Monopoly and I knew this was a game I could win.
Personally, I really enjoy challenging myself, so outside of the office I have pursued many interests. Many originate from my passion for demanding sports. I was a pole-vaulter in college, A marathoner in my 30’s, an Ironman in my 40’s, and today you will find me mostly on a bike riding all over our beautiful Shenandoah Valley. My wife and I have recently started doing Backroad’s cycling adventures to scratch our travel itch. I’ve also rekindled my passion for speaking German. Weekly I speak to Wilhelm, Volker, and Holger. My children are now grown and independent, so I’ve replaced them at home with a tractor that never talks back. I love digging holes and moving things around. Life is good.
Operations Director
My passion for helping others can be tracked back to pivotal moments in my youth, one of which included volunteering to assist with underserved populations in the community. Since then, I make an active effort to find creative and impactful ways to empower others where I can. After receiving my bachelor’s degree at James Madison University, I strived to begin helping others in a different capacity, one where I could use my knowledge to create positive change by providing valuable insights, practical solutions, and support to those willing to receive it. At that time in my life, I felt the biggest difference I could make was in the lives of seniors, so I completed an Administrator In Training program and got licensed to be a Licensed Nursing Home Administrator. I used this license to become the Executive Director of a Long-Term Care Community in Charlottesville, VA, where I was able to do just that.
When people envision what aging looks like, most people think about changes in appearance, care needs, or infinite wisdom. Not many immediately think of the financial implications of aging. During my time in the Long-Term Care Industry, I was able to see just how crucial financial literacy and support is for older adults. The lack of financial literacy prompts challenges when having to make informed decisions about retirement, healthcare costs, and estate planning. This is one contributing factor why the Financial Services Industry piqued my interest. I enjoy knowing that I work on a team that educates clients about intricate financial matters, offering clarity and a sense of security.
I am fairly new to the Shenandoah Valley region, so I am still learning the ins-and-outs of the area. I have thoroughly enjoyed exploring new shops and restaurants, as well as discovering the occasional hiking trail. Outside of adventuring around town, I am passionate about staying involved in the community. I currently serve on the Board of Directors for Valley Program for Aging Services, volunteer with the organization delivering meals to older adults, and am a member of the Grants & Scholarship Committee for The Community Foundation of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County. I also enjoy playing pickleball and reading a good book or two. At the moment, my favorite book is Fierce Conversations by Susan Scott, but I am always open to new book recommendations!
CFP® MBA
After nearly 13 years in commercial lending, I found myself craving a change. The industry where I began my career was becoming too transactional, and I yearned for a field where I could forge deeper, more impactful relationships. So, at the end of 2020, I took a leap – joining Hess Financial, embarking on the challenging journey to becoming a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional and a licensed financial advisor. As someone who doesn’t enjoy the unknown, changing careers in my late 30s was hard, but I don’t have any regrets!
I know complex financial topics are intimidating, but I found myself really enjoying them as I pursued my MBA and then through the process of teaching finance courses at JMU. The experience of walking with others on the journey to financial literacy is so fulfilling and motivates me every day.
So, once I started engaging as a CFP® professional, advisor and professor, I knew I had found my true calling. But I appreciate more than just talking numbers. I love the process of asking challenging questions and researching new topics. I’m an avid podcast listener and my family and friends joke that I seem to have a spreadsheet for everything. I’m notorious for taking detailed notes over long periods of time to see what those trends might tell us about the future.
After lots of research (and countless spreadsheets), I now know that my passion for detail is being used to make our community a better place. I love making a meaningful impact with each conversation while digging deeper into relationships. This goes beyond financial planning relationships that I have with our clients. I also currently serve as Board Chair of The Community Foundation of Harrisonburg & Rockingham County and have been involved in dozens of local organizations over the years.
While I am a firm believer in giving back to the community, I am also constantly trying to get better at work-life balance. I married a fellow numbers person, Anne Whitney, in 2014, and together we have two daughters, Charlotte (7) and Maggie (4). When I’m not working, teaching or giving back, you are likely to find me fishing from a kayak on a remote section of the Shenandoah River or visiting my childhood stomping grounds at Smith Mountain Lake.
JD CFP® CDFA®
If there is a unifying theme in my career path it would have to be helping people solve problems. I grew up in a family that believes deeply in using the gifts we are given to do something positive in the world. Unfortunately, while most of my family is highly artistic, my personal gifts are focused more on logic and processing information. Since making the world a more beautiful place wasn’t an option, I had to look for another avenue. I love looking at a problem from multiple angles and figuring out options for solving it. My family also values lifelong learning and curiosity, so my career was obviously going to need to combine those things.
I have two sons, Nicholas and Cymrych, who are now in their 30’s, and was fortunate to be able to spend some time working as a nanny for a great family that let me keep them with me while they were young. Once they started school, I took a hard look at what careers might suit me and decided on law school (partly because my family kept telling me to find someone else to debate with). I knew I wasn’t interested in courtroom work, but contracts, corporate law and estate planning all offered a chance to proactively address their concerns. I spent a few years as an estate planning attorney and then as a charitable gift planner but both of those roles felt limited … too focused on one piece of the much bigger puzzle that reflected my clients’ goals and interests. As a certified financial planning® professional, I get to look at the entire picture and help you figure out how all those pieces fit together. In this role, I have finally found my true calling.
Financial planning gives me opportunities to help individuals, but I also deeply value opportunities to also get involved in the community. I have been a member of Rotary for 8 years, currently serve on the boards of several non-profit organizations and enjoy regular volunteer opportunities for a couple others. When I am not doing that you will likely find me either out on my bike or in my vegetable garden, playing board games with friends or attending a play or concert at one of our great local theaters with my wonderful husband, Michael.
CFP®
I’ve lived in Harrisonburg most of my life and I’ve learned to enjoy living in a smaller town, especially one surrounded by nature everywhere you look. The financial planning world appealed to me early on because I felt that it was the perfect mix of number crunching and working with people. I get excited about helping people make thoughtful decisions based on their unique financial situations and what they value most.
I attended James Madison University for my undergraduate finance degree and an economics minor. Without question my life has been filled with numbers, but I also enjoy studying the why behind people’s decisions and how that impacts an economy on a larger scale. While at JMU I also helped lead the Financial Management Association and worked as an operations supervisor at the university recreation center. After graduation, I earned my CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ designation because I wanted to give myself the tools to guide people with their big financial decisions from multiple angles. What I’ve found is that many seemingly simple financial decisions often have implications on the other pieces of the puzzle. I wanted to put myself in a position to coach people in these situations while being mindful of the big picture.
I’m typically on the move outside of the office, so you’ll find me on my mountain bike, playing basketball and going on adventures with my wife Emily and dogs, Remy and Sadie. When it’s time to wind down, I like spending my weekends watching Premier League soccer and rooting for Chelsea.
It’s also important to me that I find time to be involved in our community. I’m a volunteer “Big” with Big Brothers Big Sisters Harrisonburg-Rockingham County and currently serve on their board of directors. I also serve on the Massanutten Regional Library board of trustees, and I’m involved with organizing the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Chamber of Commerce’s leadership program.
Paraplanner CFP® CPA
Growing up, I always had a strong affection for helping others and teaching. From a young age, I aspired to be a teacher, which later evolved into me being a teacher’s assistant and tutor in college. But I also had a love for math, details, and problem-solving, which led to me taking a course in Intro to Financial Planning during my senior year. That’s when everything clicked into place for me! After debating my career options, I finally found my direction in Financial Planning-a field that perfectly combines all my interests and allows me to deep dive into the details. I love the challenge it brings, and I find it incredibly rewarding to help others navigate complex financial topics, while positively impacting their financial futures.
I graduated from James Madison University in May 2022, earning a double major in Finance and Accounting. During my time at JMU, I was part of the banking team, where I worked with local bank executives, learned the industry, and competed in competitions with our written case studies and presentations. I have always loved learning and challenging myself, so since graduation I have obtained my CPA and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER designations.
Community involvement is also an important to me, and I currently serve as the Treasurer on the Build Our Park board. It’s rewarding to contribute to initiatives that enhance our neighborhood and bring people together. But, when I’m not working, you can usually find me relaxing with my dogs, enjoying a good book, or spending quality time with my family watching Yankees baseball or cheering on the JMU Dukes!
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