WHO WE ARE
Every advisory firm describes itself the same way. But their clients wouldn’t. Here is what ours have to say.
A specialized approach
No advisor can be an expert in all things to all people. Our approach is to provide advice that is broad in scope and deep in how those topics are informed and impacted for professionals in the tech industry.
Get to know us
No one entrusts their most critical financial decisions to a company. They place that trust in a person. The videos below provide a window into who we are – and why that trust is so important to each of us.
Featured
Meet Our Team
The best advisors have walked in their clients’ shoes. Our background gives us that perspective.
•BAs & MBA from Stanford University
•Advisor to Tech CEOs as a strategy consultant (BCG) and venture capitalist (Advent)
•Over 15 years of experience as a specialized wealth advisor to technology professionals
Ryan Schmidt
Partner
•BA, Rice University & MBA from Stanford University
•Advisor to Portfolio Company CEOs as private equity investor (CapStreet)
•Guided investment strategy for $10B portfolio on behalf of large pensions and endowments (Aetos Capital)
Nate Blair
Partner
•BA from University of Colorado Boulder, MA from New York University
•Oversees operations and clients service at Palo Alto Wealth Advisors since 2019
•Previously held roles in academic advisory and development (NYU and Columbia University)
Diane Spath
Director of Operations
•BA and BS from Saint Mary’s College of CA
•Spent seven years in investing roles at a $300m RIA+ (ClearPath Capital), most recently as a Chief Investment Officer
•In addition to CIO responsibilities, was an advisor to early employees and senior executives in tech
Simon Tryzna, CFA
Portfolio Manager
•BBA and BA from University of San Diego, summa cum laude
•Supported C-level executives, VC partners and economic stakeholders as Senior Investment Officer (Consulate General of Canada in San Francisco/Palo Alto)
•Performed financial reporting, budgeting and investment analysis for a privately-owned conglomerate (Syufy Enterprises)
Kegan Johnson, CFA, EA
Advisor
Case Studies
Whether your question is about what to do tomorrow, in five years or in fifty, we can help you answer it in a data-driven, holistic manner.
Should I leave my big tech firm to join a promising start-up?
“I had a really interesting opportunity at an early-stage company, but wasn't sure if walking away from my larger salary and unvested stock would put my longer-term plan at risk. We modeled out a "worst case" and "break-even" scenario -- so I knew exactly what an exit would need to look like down the road to match my current role... and set my "shot clock" for how long I could absorb that lower pay without an exit and still reach all my goals safely.” –James
How can I buy a house without triggering a massive tax bill?
“I was lucky enough to have gotten in early at my company, and wanted to use that equity to buy a home. But with the gains in my stock, that would have meant an astronomical tax bill -- forcing me to sell even more shares to make up the difference. Instead, we funded the purchase using an investment credit line to borrow against the value of those shares. I avoided the large tax bill and can sell newly vesting shares to pay down the credit line over time without additional taxes.” –Tessa
How do I figure out the "right" mix of investments for me?
“Honestly, my RSUs had done so well, I didn't think much about investments . I knew there had to be a sweet spot between selling everything or keeping it all. But I had no idea how to find the right balance in a quantifiable way. Learning the difference between maximizing returns and maximizing odds of success was Step 1. That gave me a framework. Now my portfolio and my RSUs aren't discrete things. One moves in response to the other in a way that makes sense.” –Mike
Case studies are for illustrative purposes only and may not fit every individual's unique circumstance. These case studies are not intended to provide financial, legal or tax advice. Please consult with a tax, legal or financial professional for such advice.
Resources
Curated Insights for Tech Professionals
Big-tech vs. Start-ups
Creating a useful framework for what can seem like an incredibly daunting career-path decision.
Single-Stock Concentrations
How should you think about the trade-off between risk and return for these positions in the context of your larger net worth?
Options for Charitable Giving
Consider these approaches to make your charitable dollars go further and lower your tax bill in the process.
State of the US Consumer
Nate explores US consumer sentiment and reasons behind it.
Dividend Paying Tech Companies
Ryan examines the increased prevalence of tech firms paying dividends.
Childcare
Kegan discusses child care costs and parental leave policies.
Ready to learn more?
If you're interested in working together, please fill out the form with information about your financial goals.
