Steve, what do you like about investment management? I value the opportunity to get to know the wonderful people in our community. It is important to me to sit down with you, listen carefully, and learn about your goals and circumstances. Also, I’m a numbers guy, and I enjoy the analytical task of coming up with a solid financial plan very much.

Why did you start Rain Dog Financial? Good financial planning is interdisciplinary. It is one part empathy, one part psychology, one part teaching, one part mathematics, one part business planning, and one part creative thinking. The role of financial advisor gives me the ability to exercise all of these skills at the same time. I get huge satisfaction when I meet with a couple who aren’t quite sure they’re OK financially, and then together we come up with a plan that helps them understand they can be comfortable, relax, and enjoy their lives.

What’s your approach? I want to be sure that I understand your personal situation and am truly able to work in your best interests. I want to ensure you are comfortable and confident in the plan that we create together. This is a people business, so I answer all your calls and emails personally.

How do your personal experiences affect your approach? I bring the life experiences of starting multiple businesses, shepherding them through ups and downs, being married and divorced, losing a parent, and raising two children and six dogs (not all at once!). Life can throw some challenging curve balls, and I understand that at both a financial planning level and a personal level.

Where does the “numbers guy” stuff come into your approach? After I get to know you and your situation, I apply a lot of fairly complex math to create solutions that will work well for your unique circumstances. I enjoy talking through the math with people who are interested, but I can also keep the math behind the scenes for people who aren’t interested. Mainly, I want to be sure you always have all your questions answered.

Are there any types of clients you especially like to work with? I like the way that good financial planning can help individuals and families in non-financial ways. I particularly enjoy working with couples who are a little out of synch on their financial objectives (which many couples are). I get great satisfaction from finding creative solutions that work well for the couple as a whole. Of course, I like finding creative solutions for families, individuals, and couples who are in synch, too.