Financial advisors with heart

We help you get the most out of life with your money.

Human-first financial planning for people just like you.

"...simply the best. They genuinely care about their clients and truly have the heart of a teacher."

Patrick G.

"...knowledgeable, honest, helpful and everything we hoped for when planning our retirement."

Kelly F.

"...for the first time I feel that we can look forward to our retirement."

David W.

"I am astonished at the level of time and effort they put into working with you..."

James A.

We don’t do cookie-cutter financial advice.

Our process starts at your roots and is guided by your why so we can craft a plan that’s truly yours. Empathetic financial advice for real life; it’s what you and your family deserve.

We want you to walk away feeling great.

It isn’t enough to provide an excellent portfolio or retirement plan. We want you to have total confidence and happiness in how it’s delivered. Sometimes that’s as simple as providing complete transparency and educating you on what’s happening.

We get it. We’re people just like you.

Maximize your return on life.

Get to know our lead advisors 🤝

Taking New Clients

Cory Beam, CFP®, CRC®

Lead Financial Advisor

Taking New Clients

Daniel Scherer, CFP®

Lead Financial Advisor

Taking New Clients

Trevor Buggs, CFP®, CRPC®

Lead Financial Advisor

Taking New Clients

Levi Anderson, CFP®, CPWA®, EA

Lead Financial Advisor

Taking New Clients

Hannah Lockard, CFP®

Lead Financial Advisor

Taking New Clients

Scott Burkholder, CFP®

Lead Financial Advisor

Taking New Clients

Nick Hassig, CFP®

Lead Financial Advisor

Taking New Clients

Derek Hagen, CFP®, CFA, CFT™, FBS®, CIPM

Lead Financial Advisor

Taking New Clients

Jennifer Akhlaghi, CFP®

Lead Financial Advisor

Taking New Clients

Sean Nisil CFP®

Lead Financial Advisor

Taking New Clients

Brett Grau MBA, CFP®, CPWA®, BFA®

Lead Financial Advisor

Taking New Clients

Kerri Allen, CFP®, EA, MBA

Lead Financial Advisor

Taking New Clients

Brennen Ramos, CFP®

Lead Financial Advisor

Taking New Clients

Chelsea English, CFP®, ChFEBC℠

Lead Financial Advisor

Taking New Clients

Erin Varghese, CFP®

Lead Financial Advisor

Taking New Clients

Justin O’Brien, CFP®, MBA

Lead Financial Advisor

Taking New Clients

Evan Perduk, CFP®, EA, TPCP®

Lead Financial Advisor

Taking New Clients

Lucas Durham, CFP®

Lead Financial Advisor

Taking New Clients

Monica Mejia CFP®, ChFC®, BFA™

Lead Financial Advisor

Ben Ahmetagic

Taking New Clients

Ben Ahmetagic, CFP®

Lead Financial Advisor

Taking New Clients

Caleb Vering, CFP®

Lead Financial Advisor

Taking New Clients

Naomi Roy, CFP®, TPCP®, BFA™

Lead Financial Advisor

Taking New Clients

Harry Sommers, CFP®, MBA, FBS®, CEPA®

Lead Financial Advisor

Taking New Clients

Katie Villegas, CFP®, MBA, CSRIC®

Lead Financial Advisor

Taking New Clients

Steven Murphy, CFP®

Lead Financial Advisor

Taking New Clients

JJ Lester, CFP®, MSM, TPCP®

Lead Financial Advisor

Taking New Clients

$10M+

Katie Kavehrad, CFP®, CAP®, AEP®

Lead Financial Advisor

Taking New Clients

$10M+

Chelsea Johns, CPA, CEPA®, CFP®

Lead Financial Advisor

Taking New Clients

JT Trimble, CEPA®, CFP®️, TPCP®️

Lead Financial Advisor

Here’s what people are asking.

Do I have enough money to become a client?

Answer

We work with people from all walks of life. Most of the people we serve have built portfolios of at least $1 million (excluding current 401(k)s if under age 59.5, real estate, and 529 plans) and are ready to delegate. We ask to manage all assets that are available for direct management so we can deliver advice that’s fully integrated across your financial life.

All advisory relationships are subject to a $10,000 minimum annual fee. If your fees under our standard asset-based schedule fall below that amount, the minimum will be applied. This structure is designed for standard advisory relationships where assets are limited but planning needs fall within our typical scope.

If your situation involves more complexity, such as business ownership, multiple entities, or advanced planning needs, and asset-based billing isn’t available, we may instead recommend working together under a flat-fee planning arrangement that reflects the scope of work involved. In those cases, a separate agreement would outline the services and cost.

If we’re not the right fit, we’ll do our best to answer your questions and connect you with someone who might be.
What can I expect if we work together?

Answer

We’re an independent registered investment advisor. This means we’re not beholden to specific products or strategies and can recommend what’s truly the best fit for your situation. It also means we’re a fiduciary financial advisor and are legally obligated to put your best interests first (it’s just what we’d do anyways). While we’re headquartered in Southern California, we primarily work with people remotely throughout the United States to maximize their retirement planning.

We’ll meet multiple times to kick off and hold at least two review meetings each year. You’ll get weekly educational emails, videos, and podcasts in between. Meet our team here.
How do you get paid?

Answer

We charge a fee that’s a percentage of the value of the investments we manage, which is debited directly from the account:

—1% on the first $1,000,000 we manage
—0.75% between $1,000,000 and $5,000,000
—0.50% between $5,000,000 and $10,000,000
—0.40% between $10,000,000 and $25,000,000
—0.30% between $25,000,000 and $50,000,000
—0.25% between $50,000,000 and $100,000,000
—0.20% on amounts above $100,000,000

We don’t get paid through any type of commission, kickback, or other undisclosed revenue sources. There’s no additional charge for the tax and estate planning advice we provide.
What services do you offer?

Answer

Our mission is to help you get the most out of life with your money. To do that means we want to take as much of the planning off your plate as possible. We help clients with:

—Retirement planning
—Investment management
—Tax planning
—Estate planning
—Insurance review
—Cash flow planning

And everything else needed to ensure you feel calm (and excited) about your financial future.
Do you offer proactive tax planning?

Answer

Yes.

Your CPA is excellent for accounting for what happened last year. Often, they don’t work on limiting your tax liability in the future.

At Root, we help you look at the big picture and offer strategies to optimize your spending and saving for tax efficiencies. You (or your CPA) will still be responsible for filing your return.

Retirement education.

Learn from our weekly retirement show.

I'm 60 With $1 Million How Much Can I Spend In Retirement?

The Social Security Trap: When Waiting Until 70 Becomes a Huge Mistake

We can't wait to meet you.

Here's what to expect.

Introduction
You’ll schedule an Explore Call with our team to see what working with Root looks like.
Sequoia System
Our 4-step process formulates a plan to help you experience freedom with your finances.
Ongoing Service
We continually evaluate your needs to ensure we’re optimizing what you’ve worked hard for.

See how we can help you live your best life in retirement.

We'd love to meet you.