Finding Your Perfect Female Advisor

Women’s financial power is greater today than it has ever been. With more women in leadership positions and staying in the workforce longer, the amount of wealth women control will only continue to grow.

Often, women’s financial management needs differ than those of men. Women have many unique challenges: living longer lifespan but often make less money than male counterparts; pausing their career to take care of children or aging parents; they may even pay more in taxes if single. All of these factors can likely influence their financial and investment decisions.

If you’re looking for a woman advisor to help empower you and gain confidence in your financial plan, you’ve come to the right place.

Here are 12 of our female advisors who are ready to help you:

Anne Marie Stonich

Chief Wealth Strategist & Wealth Manager

Certifications: CFP®, CPA

Areas of Focus: Business Owners, Tax Planning

Email Anne Marie to Schedule a Meeting

I sought out a career in wealth management specifically because I love helping families get organized and create a plan to meet their goals. The finance and tax pieces came easily with my accounting background, but what was compelling to me was the opportunity to build lasting relationships and have an impact on people’s lives.

As a mom with three teenagers (one heading to college soon!), I understand the parental time demands and the financial concerns that are top-of-mind. Having started a wealth management business in my late 20’s while simultaneously starting a family, I understand the challenges business owners face, the tax complexities and opportunities, and the desire to partner with a trusted financial team.

I believe a female advisor brings an empathic touch to the wealth management process. A key aspect of my role requires active listening skills and the ability to avoid the use of jargon when discussing complex topics. An awareness of inclusive language and intentional eye contact can go a long way.

Read Anne Marie’s full bio.

Becky Wilcox

Wealth Manager

Certifications: CFA®, MBA, FRM®

Areas of Focus: Tax Planning, Company Benefits

Email Becky to Schedule a Meeting

It’s hard for me to believe that I’ve been working in financial services for more than 25 years. I must admit that my motivations for starting out in this business were very different than my current motivations for staying in this business. At the outset, I believed I was on a quest to discover the secrets of investing and high returns. Experience has taught me something else: financial security is built on a base of methodical and reason-based practices – a program of steady savings, staying invested, and diversification.

I now know my highest value to clients is as a partner. One who will keep them on the path of financial stability as we navigate complexities that arise from issues like tax and estate planning and company benefits. I’m happiest when I know in my heart that I’ve made life a little easier for my client.

Read Becky’s full bio.

Elaina Shemeta

Team Lead & Wealth Manager

Certifications: CFP®

Areas of Focus: Financial Planning, Business Owners

Email Elaina to Schedule a Meeting

As a woman and leader in the financial services industry, I am very aware of the gender gaps that still exist in the workplace and in leadership opportunities for women. Many of the clients we work with are wives, mothers, and professionals who appreciate working with a female advisor who understands the multiple roles they play because we live those experiences.

At Coldstream, the future is bright and I’m proud to work alongside so many amazing women. We continuously have conversations about the importance of educating, motivating, and inspiring the women we work with. We’re on a mission to help empower women to take control of their assets and be confident making financial decisions. I hope you’ll join us.

Read Elaina’s full bio.

Heather Kessler

Team Lead & Wealth Manager

Certifications: CFP®

Areas of Focus: College Savings, Philanthropy

Email Heather to Schedule a Meeting

This past fall, I had the joy of welcoming my first child into our family. Celebrating this milestone and reflecting on my tenure as a Wealth Manger, I can easily say the best part of my role has been celebrating similar milestones in the lives of the families I serve. I’m honored to have the opportunity to share in those special moments like sending a loved one off to college, selling a life-long business, liquidity events from company stock, and retiring early.

Our client’s investment portfolios are so much more than money or stocks – they are rooted in the goals and represent the legacy a family wants to leave behind. As a new mom, I understand now, more than ever, the importance of having a plan to protect your family. As a Wealth Manager, I see my role as an extension of my client’s family – tasked with helping simplify their complex financial lives and being a steward to help achieve their goals.

Read Heather’s full bio.

Hilary M. Clark

Wealth Manager & Senior Client Team Operations Manager

Certifications: Series 7, 63, and 65

Areas of Focus: College Savings, Company Benefits

Email Hilary to Schedule a Meeting

I don’t know if there’s anyone else at Coldstream who’s been in more positions than I have. When I started here in 2007, I was an entry level Client Service Associate with no financial background. Throughout my 15+ years at Coldstream, I have taken every opportunity to thrive and advance up the ladder. Now as a Wealth Manager, I have the chance to holistically think about a family’s needs and produce a proactive plan.

I’m passionate about sharing my knowledge with others – especially other self-starters and their young adult children. I consider it a success when my clients fully understand all aspects of their company benefits after meeting with me.

Read Hilary’s full bio.

Katelyn Spangler

Associate Wealth Manager

Certifications: CFP®

Areas of Focus: Financial Planning, Company Benefits

Schedule a Meeting with Katelyn

After college, I found myself managing a local restaurant and eventually bartending full-time. An unexpected conversation with a customer led me to consider switching careers into an unfamiliar industry – wealth management. I started as a part-time assistant to a woman advisor who provided me with space for mentorship, collaboration, and an opportunity to learn and grow in the industry. My career transition came at the perfect time in my life – coinciding with getting married and starting a family. Fast forward, and this year I’ll be celebrating 8 years of working with the same team who nurtured my career to become the Associate Wealth Manager I am today.

One conversation with a women advisor changed my life and I aim to pay it forward every time I meet with prospective clients. I specifically enjoy helping clients fully understand their employer benefit packages and structure a financial plan to support and protect their unique objectives.

Read Katelyn’s full bio.

Katie Berntson

Wealth Manager

Certifications: CFP®

Areas of Focus: Financial Planning, Family Needs

Email Katie to Schedule a Meeting

I grew up in a household that did not talk about money, and after seeing my parents navigate a divorce, I knew I wanted to make a career out of helping people better understand the financial aspects of their lives. Now as a Certified Financial Planner with 6+ years in the industry, the most rewarding part of my job is creating peace of mind for my clients as they navigate life changes and milestones.

As a lead advisor, I believe it is my main goal to make sure clients feel secure and up to speed on their entire financial life. I lean heavily on financial planning tools to make informed investment and tax decisions and serve as the first point of contact for all areas of clients’ finances.

Read Katie’s full bio.

Katie Quick

Associate Wealth Manager

Certifications: CFP®

Areas of Focus: Financial Planning, LGBTQ+

Schedule a Meeting with Katie

The role of Associate Wealth Manager has given me the opportunity to be an analytical numbers person and a people person. Each family I work with is like a unique puzzle – distinct in their values, goals, and financial ambitious. I’m lucky to serve as a trusted advisor in their lives.

As a woman, I feel it’s important to use my knowledge and experience to give back and lift other women up. I find a great amount of joy in helping provide direction and advice to people who have historically faced barriers when it comes to building wealth—particularly women and LGBTQ clients. A crucial part of my role extends to enacting change within Coldstream and my community. I participate in Coldstream diversity and inclusion initiatives and give back to the Portland community through our Philanthropy committee.

Read Katie’s full bio.

Kim Rosenberg

Wealth Manager

Certifications: CFP®

Areas of Focus: Aging Parents, Widows

Schedule a Meeting with Kim

I got into the financial services industry after my husband was diagnosed with cancer and had five years to live. As a mother of two, soon to be three young children, partner in a thriving family business, and wife to a man who was the love of my life, I was completely overwhelmed with the thought of being left alone to raise three children and financially survive.

Little did I know that this wrenching and transformative experience would lead me to becoming a Certified Financial Planner. I’m not only an advisor to my clients, but an accountability coach and educator. I mostly work with clients in their 50’s who are juggling the balance between work life, financial goals, and family. I aim to transform the way my clients think about money. From money fear to money empowerment.

Read Kim’s full bio.

Larissa Vidal

Wealth Manager

Certifications: CFP®

Areas of Focus: Financial Planning, Divorce and Transitions

Email Larissa to Schedule a Meeting

I have had the pleasure of advising clients for over 25 years – through market cycles, housing bubbles, and my own phases as a single mom. I love the balance between analytical thinking and emotional intelligence that comes with this career. And nothing can replace those moments when my clients start to relax after our initial meetings. We might be reviewing a cash flow analysis when a divorced client might share that she and her partner are considering marriage, and we pivot the conversation to evaluate potential changes in her plan. I am honored when clients speak openly with me about what keeps them awake at night and what they dream of doing without the worry of money.

Some of our deepest resources as women are not on our account statements. We build communities, we learn, and we innovate. When we see clearly what all our strengths are, we can make better financial decisions, and we are more likely to succeed.

Read Larissa’s full bio.

Rachel McCracken

Team Lead & Wealth Manager

Certifications: CFA®, MBA

Areas of Focus: Tax Planning, Estate Planning

Schedule a Meeting with Rachel

In my late 20’s, I was a single mom and an MBA student trying to further my career. I wasn’t sure if I wanted my focus to be in finance or operations but after sitting in my first investment class, I never looked back. I don’t know what it was about the Weighted Average Cost of Capital that stole my heart, but the world of interest rates, stock markets, and corporate structure fascinated me. It still does.

Through personal financial decisions, years of sitting with clients, and the help of colleagues and mentors, I have broadened my knowledge beyond investments to financial, tax, and estate planning. Those are the pillars we use to help clients with their comprehensive wealth management needs. Simply put, I try to be the go-to person for all my clients’ financial needs.

Read Rachel’s full bio.

Vonie Bright

Wealth Manager

Certifications: CFP®

Areas of Focus: Financial Planning, Philanthropy

Email Vonie to Schedule a Meeting

When I earned my Certified Financial Planner designation in 2011, I had a clear vision of what this certification would allow me to achieve – the chance to help clients meet their personal financial goals. And 10+ years later, I still love what I do. I get to build long-lasting relationships with individuals and their families. I love the challenge of finding solutions to complex financial situations and make a meaningful impact in someone’s life.

With a first-year college student, I know the challenges that come with balancing multiple roles as a woman. Sometimes it still feels like I’m trying to find the perfect balance between family, career, and community engagement. At Coldstream, I’m lucky to be able to combine a part of my philanthropic passion at work and lead our Philanthropy committee. Helping clients determine how giving plays a role into their plan has always been one of the best aspects of my job. I enjoy being a part of the conversation around creating a legacy of giving that spans generations.

Read Vonie’s full bio.

Disclosures: The CFA Institute owns the certification marks CFA^® and Chartered Financial Analyst^®.  FRM – Financial Risk Manager – Certified by the Global Association of Risk Professionals.  Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks CFP^® and Certified Financial Planner™ in the U.S.