Our Team

$ 6.5 B
Assets Under Management
2006
Founded
38
States with clients
85
Average clients per advisor
92
Employees
104
Accumulated Academic Credentials

As of 10/1/2024

  • Alex Bartos, CFA®, CFP®, EA Financial Advisor

    Alex Bartos, CFA®, CFP®, EA

    As a Financial Advisor, Alex applies his skill set to help individuals and their families execute on customized financial plans to meet their goals and objectives. He has been in the investment industry since 2007, primarily at what would become one of the largest investment managers in the US. Alex is experienced in matching allocations to appropriate risk and return expectations; constructing and guiding clients through comparative investment analysis while considering tax implications, concentrated holdings, and behavioral biases. Alex grew up in West Los Angeles, where he served his community as a youth mentor and developed the belief that the best teacher is a student at heart.
    Professional Designation
    • Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA®)
    • CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional (CFP®)
    Education
    • University of California, San Diego
      • Bachelor’s in Molecular Biology
      • Bachelor’s in Economics
    Community Involvement
    • Los Angeles Public Library’s Adult Literacy Program
    Personal Interests
    • Surfing
    • Yoga
    • Dancing (social) tango
  • Alex Medin, CFP® Financial Advisor

    Alex Medin, CFP®

    Alex partners with clients and their families to develop and execute comprehensive financial plans. Bringing nearly a decade of experience working in the SF Bay Area and Southern California, Alex specializes in integrating tax reduction and cashflow strategies into investment management.
    Professional Designation
    • CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional
    • Life Insurance Licensed
      • CA Insurance License #0L04626
    Education
    • Grand Canyon University
      • Bachelors in Entrepreneurial Studies & Innovation
    Personal Interests
    • Baseball
    • Skiing & Snowboarding
    • Hiking
    • Surfing
  • Brian Reed, CFP®, MS Regional Manager/Sr. Lead Advisor

    Brian Reed, CFP®, MS

    As a financial advisor at Empirical Wealth Management, Brian works to develop personalized financial planning strategies for our clients focusing on tax minimization, wealth management, and cash flow analysis. Brian is passionate about learning each client’s retirement goals and values to create a comprehensive financial plan while maximizing and protecting their wealth. With his prior experience as a portfolio manager, Brian is well versed in the relationship between financial planning and investment management and how to best implement each client specific strategy.
    Professional Designation
    • CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional
    Education
    • Seattle University
      • Master's in Finance
    • University of Washington
      • Bachelor's in Economics
    Community Involvement
    • Humane Society
    Personal Interests
    • Fly fishing
    • Camping throughout the great Northwest
  • Chance Leiseth, CFP® Senior Financial Advisor

    Chance Leiseth, CFP®

    As a senior financial advisor, Chance has over 10 years of experience working with high-net-worth individuals and families. He enjoys partnering with his clients to identify and create a roadmap to their financial goals. Chance is skilled in tax-efficient wealth planning and enjoys simplifying complex financial strategies to his clients.

    Professional Designation
    • CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional
    • Life and Health Insurance Licensed in
      • *CA License #0I42831, Empirical Insurance LLC CA License #0M45698 
    Education
    • University of Idaho
      • Bachelor’s in Business Marketing
    Community Involvement
    • Solano County Search and Rescue
    Personal Interests
    • Surfing, skiing, and hiking
    • Traveling the world and experiencing new adventures
    • Spending time with my wife and pets
  • Charles Pyle, CFA®, CFP®, CAIA®, MBA Financial Advisor

    Charles Pyle, CFA®, CFP®, CAIA®, MBA

    As a financial advisor with over 15 years of experience, Charles has a sincere passion for helping clients navigate the complexity of their financial lives. Embracing a thoughtful, comprehensive, and personalized approach to investment management and financial planning, Charles enjoys helping clients gain a sense of clarity, confidence, and peace of mind that comes from a having a well-designed strategy to meet their goals. Charles has a degree in Economics from Stanford and an MBA from UCLA with a specialization in Investment Management and began his career working with ultra-high-net-worth technology executives and entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley. As a Lake Tahoe native, Charles enjoys all things outdoors.
    Professional Designation
    • Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)
    • Certified Financial Planner (CFP)
    • Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA)
    Education
    • UCLA Anderson School of Management
      • Master’s in Business Administration
      • Specialization in Investment Management
    • Stanford University
      • Bachelor’s in Economics
    Community Involvement
    • Junior Achievement
    • Venice Family Clinic
    Personal Interests
    • Tennis
    • Skiing
    • Golf
    • Live Music
  • Conner J. Clemons, J.D., LL.M Estate Planning Advisor

    Conner J. Clemons, J.D., LL.M

    As an Estate Planning Advisor, Conner guides high-net-worth clients in transferring wealth with tax efficiency. He excels in his collaborative role with the advisory team, ensuring clients' financial and estate plans are seamlessly integrated. Conner holds a Juris Doctor and Master's in Tax Law, which underscore his expertise in crafting strategies that mitigate estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer taxes. A Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust, and Probate Law, Conner also serves as a Board Member of the Orange County Estate Planning Council. In his free time, Conner likes spending time with his wife and their German Shepherd, Max. He and his wife enjoy the beach, new restaurants, hiking, visiting National Parks. 
    Professional Designation
    • J.D., LL.M
    Education
    • Central Washington University - Bachelor of Arts
    • Whittier Law School - Juris Doctor
    • Loyola Law School - Tax LL.M.
  • Cristina Campbell, CFP®, MBA Financial Advisor

    Cristina Campbell, CFP®, MBA

    Cristina began her career in financial services in 2008, working at Charles Schwab serving as subject matter expert in retirement products and strategies. Cristina helps her clients develop, implement, and monitor the success of their financial plans. Through comprehensive planning, Cristina partners with clients to develop tax efficient investment strategies that best align with their lifetime goals. Prior to joining Empirical, Cristina worked for Fidelity Investments, serving as a Financial Consultant. In this role she helped high net worth households achieve their financial objectives through comprehensive planning.
    Professional Designation
    • CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional
    • Life Insurance Licensed
      • *CA License #0J02065, Empirical Insurance LLC CA License #0M45698 
    Education
    • California Lutheran University
      • Master's in Business Administration
    • University of California, Berkeley
      • Certificate in Financial Planning
    • Sonoma State University
      • Bachelor's in Business Administration
    Community Involvement
    • Fundraiser and participant, Boston Marathon for Ellis Memorial
    • Food delivery to chronically ill, Project Open Hand
    • Financial education and literacy, Local Community
    Personal Interests
    • Spending time with family and friends
    • Snowboarding
    • Playing tennis
    • Hiking
  • D. Scott Raney, CFP®, ChFC®, ABFP® Financial Advisor

    D. Scott Raney, CFP®, ChFC®, ABFP®

    As a financial advisor, Scott enjoys being an integral part of a client’s financial journey. Prior to joining Empirical, he spent 18 years working with individual investors, 401k Plan Sponsors, and their respective participants delivering retirement planning consultations. Scott believes education and communication are the cornerstones of a successful financial planning relationship that lead to positive outcomes. Scott, along with his wife and two boys, enjoy visiting both National and Texas State Parks.
    Professional Designation
    • CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional (CFP®)
    • Chartered Financial Consultant® (ChFC®)
    • Accredited Behavioral Finance Professional℠ (ABFP®)
    • Accredited Wealth Management Advisor℠ (AWMA®)
    • Accredited Asset Management Specialist℠ (AAMS®)
    • Chartered SRI Counselor℠ (CSRIC®)
    • Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor℠ (CRPC®)
    • Chartered Retirement Plans Specialist℠ (CRPS®)
    Education
    • Northern Arizona University
      • Bachelor of Science in Biology/Chemistry
    Community Involvement
    • VRHS Band Boosters
    • Texas Humane Heroes
    Personal Interests
    • Hiking
    • Camping
    • Traveling
    • Sports Dad
    • Band Dad
    • Spending time with the family
  • Dustin Rue, CFP®, CPWA® Financial Advisor

    Dustin Rue, CFP®, CPWA®

    From a young age Dustin had a passion for all things investment. He’s worked as a financial advisor for over 16 years and has been a practicing CFP® certificant since 2018. Dustin enjoys getting to know his clients personally and financially as he develops financial strategies to grow and protect their wealth. He is a Portland native and has called the Pacific Northwest home for the last 40 years. He enjoys spending time with friends and family and all things outdoors.
    Professional Designation
    • CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional
    • Certified Private Wealth Advisor® professional
    • Life and Health Insurance Licensed in Oregon
    Education
    • Oregon State University, Magna Cum Laude
      • Bachelors in Psychology
    Personal Interests
    • Skiing
    • Golf
    • Traveling
    • Fitness
  • Erich Gebbie, CFP®, MBA Financial Advisor

    Erich Gebbie, CFP®, MBA

    As a Financial Advisor, Erich takes a hands-on approach to implementing clients' financial goals and strategies with great thoughtfulness. With over 20 years of experience working with ultra-high net worth clientele, Erich has gained a strong understanding of strategies and considerations facing families and business owners. Regardless of the complexity, clients appreciate his ability to bridge the quantitative and qualitative issues they face. Erich enjoys coaching his children's sports teams and exploring the Northwest outdoors.
    Professional Designation
    • CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional
    Education
    • University of Notre Dame
      • Master's in Business Administration
    • Seattle University
      • Bachelor's in Accounting
    Community Involvement
    • Coaching various sports
    Personal Interests
    • Spending time with his wife and four kids
    • Motorcycles
    • Skiing
  • Ethan Broga, CFP®, MS Director of Financial Planning | Principal

    Ethan Broga, CFP®, MS

    As a partner with Empirical Wealth Management, Ethan works to develop, implement and monitor sound financial strategies designed to grow and protect the wealth of individuals, families and non-profit organizations. Ethan is the head of the Financial Planning Committee which oversees the development and expertise of Empirical’s financial planning recommendations. Rather than just another “financial advisor,” Ethan describes his primary role as that of a trusted “Personal Financial Advocate” who weighs the impact of each financial decision within the unique context of each client’s overall financial plan. Ethan is a Northwest native and has been in the financial industry since 1998. He lives in the West Seattle neighborhood of Seattle with his wife Corie and his two children Carsen and True.
    Professional Designation
    • CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional
    Education
    • College for Financial Planning
      • Master's in Financial Planning
    • Washington State University
      • Bachelor's in Finance
    Community Involvement
    • The Skagit Land Trust
    • Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association
    Personal Interests
    • Playing guitar
    • Playing soccer
    • Paddle boarding
    • Golfing
    • Trivia
    • Snowboarding
  • Jason Sulkosky, CFP® Financial Advisor

    Jason Sulkosky, CFP®

    As a financial advisor for over 18 years, Jason is committed to building close relationships with his clients. He values a pleasant wealth management experience that is built on a foundation of clear communication, trust and setting proper expectations. Having worked with both individual clients and 401k plan sponsors, Jason is well versed with formulating investment and planning strategies to successfully meet his client’s goals.
    Professional Designation
    • CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional
    Education
    • University of Washington
      • Bachelor's in Business Finance
    Personal Interests
    • Spending time with his wife, Arianna
    • Playing a round of golf
  • John Miller, CPA, CFP® Financial Advisor

    John Miller, CPA, CFP®

    John brings almost a decade of experience at Empirical, where he has leveraged his experience as an associate portfolio manager and member of the advisory team to develop and implement financial plans. John is a Certified Public Accountant and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, integrating tax management strategies around client’s individual needs and goals, and building comprehensive and customized plans for individuals, families, and non-profit organizations. He graduated cum laude from the University of Washington with a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration, double majoring in Accounting and HR Management.
    Professional Designation
    • Certified Public Accountant
    • CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional
    Education
    • University of Washington
      • Bachelor’s in Business Administration
        • Major in Accounting and HR Management
    Community Involvement
    • Olive Tree Counseling Center 

       

    Personal Interests
    • Training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu
    • Rock Climbing
    • Cooking and Baking
    • Hiking and enjoying the outdoors with friends and family
  • Jordan Edwards, CFA®, CFP® Financial Advisor

    Jordan Edwards, CFA®, CFP®

    Jordan is a financial advisor with 15 years of experience helping clients achieve their financial goals. He has worked closely with tech executives and business owners, helping them save on taxes while building a plan to secure their financial future. Jordan moved to the Pacific Northwest in 2016 after living in Texas most of his life and has since become avid winter sports enthusiast. He lives in Issaquah with his wife, daughter and two dogs and gets outdoors to hike and experience the great PNW as often as he can.  
    Professional Designation
    • Chartered Financial Analyst
    • CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional
    Education
    •  Texas A&M University
      • Bachelor’s in Economics
    Community Involvement
    • Outdoors for All – Stand Snowboard Instructor
    • CFA Society of Seattle
    Personal Interests
    • Winter sports
    • Hiking with his dog, Dakota
    • Being on the water
  • Kenneth R. Smith, CFP®, MS Chief Executive Officer | Principal

    Kenneth R. Smith, CFP®, MS

    Ken is the Chief Executive Officer of Empirical Wealth Management. He guides the firm’s long-term strategy and is a senior financial advisor.  Ken is passionate about educating individuals on how to become smarter investors. He hosted an informative financial radio show titled “Empirical Investing Radio” on VoiceAmerica and has designed a proprietary program “Empirical Income Planner” to help individuals plan for retirement.
    Professional Designation
    • CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional
    Education
    • College for Financial Planning
      • Master’s in Financial Analysis
    • University of Arizona
      • Bachelor’s in Finance and Accounting
    Personal Interests
    • Ken is a 1st degree Black Belt in the Kajukenbo martial arts system.
    • Writing a book on personal finance
  • Lorne Enquist, CPA/PFS, MPAcc Chief Financial Officer | Principal

    Lorne Enquist, CPA/PFS, MPAcc

    As a partner with Empirical, Lorne manages portfolios and shares his tax consulting experience for strategic tax planning for Empirical clients. Lorne has a combined 20 years of experience advising his clients on their tax and financial affairs. Lorne is a member of the financial planning committee which develops innovative planning solutions for clients. Lorne works with clients to prepare customized financial plans based on their unique needs, resources and goals. He helps them implement the plan with practical strategies, in order to navigate the complexities of their financial lives, building on strengths and addressing weaknesses. He provides ongoing monitoring and revising to meet their goals as well as their lifestyle.
    Professional Designation
    • Certified Public Accountant / Personal Financial Specialist
    Education
    • University of Washington
      • Master's in Professional Accounting in Taxation
      • Bachelor's in Accounting
    Community Involvement
    • American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
    Personal Interests
    • Spending time with his wife Tyera, daughter Maggie, and son Jackson
    • Spectating his children's sporting events
  • Luke Cho, CFP® Financial Advisor

    Luke Cho, CFP®

    Luke has 21 years of wealth management experience working with high-net worth clients and institutions.   Prior to Empirical, he worked for a large institutional money management firm where he specialized in financial planning and investment management.  He resides in the Bay Area peninsula with his wife and two children. 
    Professional Designation
    • CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional
    Education
    • University of California, San Diego
      • Major in Economics
      • Minor in Music
    Personal Interests
    • Golf
    • Guitar
    • Violin
    • Softball
  • Mark B. Umek, CFP® Financial Advisor

    Mark B. Umek, CFP®

    As a financial advisor with 20 years of experience, Mark is dedicated to providing clients with sound financial advice and exceptional service. He guides his clients through the financial planning process to create a plan that acts as their financial road map. Plans are then monitored on a regular basis to identify any necessary adjustments. Mark hopes his clients will consider him their most trusted advisor and advocate. He lives in Camas, WA with his wife Jenna and their two boys.
    Professional Designation
    • CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional
    Education
    • San Diego State University
      • Executive Financial Planner Advanced Certificate
    • California State University, Long Beach
      • Bachelor's in Business Administration
    Community Involvement
    • Financial Planning Association of Oregon & S.W. Washington
    Personal Interests
    • Spending time with his family and friends
    • Watching movies and sporting events
  • Michael Kelly, CFA®, CFP®, EA, MS President | Chief Wealth Strategist | Principal

    Michael Kelly, CFA®, CFP®, EA, MS

    As the President and Chief Wealth Strategist, Michael is responsible for overseeing the execution of the firm's long-term vision and strategy. He leads the investment committee and oversees the creation and design of Empirical's investment strategies. Michael works directly with institutions and individual clients to design custom solutions to achieve their financial goals. Michael previously served as Empirical's Chief Investment Officer. Prior to Empirical, he worked as an Institutional Portfolio Specialist serving governments, corporations, non-profits, and other organizations around the world. In this role he reviewed and counseled on investment policy statement design, communicated portfolio strategy details, and led the team’s client servicing efforts. He was a Senior Equity Research Analyst and part of a team that managed over $100 billion of assets across 20 active equity strategies. He covered the Health Care, Financials, Consumer Staples, Utilities, Communication Services, and the Real Estate sectors. He co-authored a book discussing the details and complexities of investing in Health Care equities.
    Professional Designation
    • Chartered Financial Analyst
    • CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional
    • IRS Enrolled Agent
    Education
    • Saint Xavier University
      • Master's in Finance
    • Illinois State University
      • Bachelor's in Finance and Marketing
    Community Involvement
    • Board Member - Multnomah Athletic Foundation
    • CFA Society of Portland
    Personal Interests
    • Listening to live music
    • Hiking
  • Robert Thomas, CPA Financial Advisor

    Robert Thomas, CPA

    As a financial advisor, Robert is passionate about helping clients navigate important life decisions and building lasting relationships. He brings a wealth of knowledge when it comes implementing tax reduction strategies into client’s financial plans.  Robert takes a proactive planning approach to ensure strategies are implemented timely and accurately.  He is a Wisconsin native and now lives in Coto De Caza with his wife Trina.
    Professional Designation
    • Certified Public Accountant
    Education
    • University of Washington
      • Bachelor’s in Accounting

     

    Personal Interests
    • Skiing
    • Golf
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Guitar
    • Reading
  • Scott Malbasa, CFP®, J.D. Financial Advisor

    Scott Malbasa, CFP®, J.D.

    Scott brings over nine years of experience as a financial advisor, specializing in designing and implementing financial strategies that align with clients' ambitions and aspirations. His mantra, “don’t default to the default,” underscores his commitment to making informed, intentional decisions in financial planning. Scott was also a practicing attorney prior to entering into finance – solidifying his client-focused approach. Scott's goal is to deeply understand clients' objectives and facilitate their realization. Scott lives in Portland with his wife and two children. 
    Professional Designation
    • CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional
    Education
    • Loyola Marymount University
      • Bachelors in English 
    • Case Western Reserve School of Law
      • Juris Doctor
    Community Involvement
    • President of the Financial Planning Association of Oregon and SW Washington
    Personal Interests
    • Skiing/Snowboarding
    • Backpacking
    • Fiction (all kinds)
    • Running
    • Boxing 
  • Shan Zubair, CFP®, MS Financial Advisor | Principal

    Shan Zubair, CFP®, MS

    Shan has been with Empirical Wealth Management since 2007 and has extensive knowledge in the implementation of the firm’s investment management, tax minimization and financial planning strategies. A native to the Pacific Northwest, Shan graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Finance and a Master of Science in Finance from the Albers School of Business at Seattle University.
    Professional Designation
    • CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional
    • Chartered Mutual Fund Counselor
    Education
    • Seattle University
      • Master's in Finance
      • Bachelor’s in Finance
    • University of Washington
      • Certification in Business Development
    Community Involvement
    • Former Member of the Business Leadership Council of Washington DECA
    • Former Board of Trustees at KidsQuest Children’s Museum
    Personal Interests
    • Spending time outdoors with his wife, kids, friends, and family
  • Shannon Bene, CFP®, MBA, ECA Financial Advisor

    Shannon Bene, CFP®, MBA, ECA

    With over 20 years of experience, Shannon is committed to helping his clients and their families implement and maintain strong financial planning, investment management, tax minimization strategies, and estate planning. His passion started as a young adult, having always been interested in understanding personal finance and how to optimize one's wealth, Shannon dedicated himself to learn through formal education, leading organizations, and knowledgeable individual. Seeing his clients realize their financial goals, achieve a peace of mind about their finances all the while developing a great working relationship is what drives him further in his craft. Along with his wife, Ellen, and two children, Shannon enjoys playing in the forests, mountains, and waters of the Pacific Northwest.
    Professional Designation
    • CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional
    • Equity Compensation Associate (ECA)
    Education
    • Boston College
      • Master's in Business Administration
    • Southern Methodist University
      • Bachelor’s in Arts
    Community Involvement
    • Northwest Trail Alliance
    Personal Interests
    • Mountain biking
    • Bicycle restoration
    • Soccer
  • Tassie Medlin, CFP®, CMA®, MBA Financial Advisor

    Tassie Medlin, CFP®, CMA®, MBA

    As a financial advisor, Tassie helps clients make the world a better place, one informed financial decision at a time. Teaching financial fundamentals and goal-focused planning to individuals of all ages and entrepreneurs at all stages is a vital part of her life work. Tassie especially enjoys helping professionals and business owners who are committed to using wealth to accomplish their passion projects through comprehensive financial planning.
    Professional Designation
    • CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional
    • CERTIFIED MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTANT
    • Life and Health Insurance Licensed in Washington
    Education
    • College for Financial Planning
      • Certificate in Financial Planning
    • University of Oregon
      • Master's in Business Administration
    • Colorado Mesa University
      • Bachelor's in Computer Science
      • Bachelor's in Business Administration
    Community Involvement
    • Financial Planning Association
    • Accounting & Financial Women’s Alliance
    • Institute of Management Accountants
    Personal Interests
    • Exploring new worlds, real and imagined
    • Creative and artistic endeavors
    • Seeking joy in games and technology

    Empirical Insurance LLC WA License #890213

  • Wenwen Dong, CFA®, CFP®, MA Financial Advisor

    Wenwen Dong, CFA®, CFP®, MA

    Wenwen started her financial planning career about seven years ago after her retirement as a professional dancer. She finds helping people with holistic financial planning to be especially rewarding. Coming from a background of working with high net worth and ultra-high net worth clients, she is experienced in providing solutions in taxes, real estate, investments, estate planning and public pension system benefits selection. She is a Chartered Financial Analyst to further enhance clients' experience in investment conversations and placement.
    Professional Designation
    • CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional
    • Chartered Financial Analyst
    Education
    • University of Oregon, Eugene
      • Master’s in Arts
    • Wuhan University
      • Bachelor’s in Science
    Personal Interests
    • Dance
    • Camping
    • Fishing
    • Running
  • Yisha Wang, CFP®

    Yisha Wang, CFP®

    With nearly a decade of experience as a financial advisor, Yisha is dedicated to helping clients define and achieve their financial goals through comprehensive planning. She strives to offer clients a sense of security as they navigate different life stages and potentially across multiple generations. Yisha is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of California, Los Angeles. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her dog, Benton. 

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