An experienced yet down-to-earth advisor who guides you through life’s big events.
About Stacy Dervin, CFA, CFP®
I’ve been a hard-working career woman since I was just a girl, (I started my first business at age 10 painting house numbers on sidewalk curbs).
I don’t give up easily— I completed the rigorous requirements to earn the designations of Chartered Financial Analyst in 2012 and Certified Financial Planner in 2023.
I’m passionate about supporting small businesses, non-profits, and those with an entrepreneurial spirit.
I live in Eugene, Oregon with my husband, two kids (ages 10 and 12) and a Frenchie named Ellie. We love to watch movies and travel together (especially to Mexico!)
I would describe myself as cheerful, sharp, creative, empathetic and eager-to-help.
My mission is to bring you valuable money advice and education, exchanging your worry and stress for clarity and confidence.
Financial Planning for Gen X/Gen Y: What is it?
If you are wondering what a financial planner actually does, and how we are different from a financial advisor, you are not alone.
Most of my clients have never worked with a financial planner before. Unlike many financial advisors that only focus on investment management of retirement or brokerage accounts, as a financial planner I help you take inventory and control of your financial life today, and make a road map to get you where you want to go five, ten and even forty years from now.
To continue that road-trip metaphor, I help you get organized and excited for the path ahead, plan for bumps along the way, and adjust for detours as we go. You are in the driver’s seat and making the calls, and I’m your co-pilot, holding the map and giving directions. I might even bring my 90’s buzz ballads playlist to distract us from the boring stretches.
People in their 30s, 40s and 50s experience more life events than those who’ve already reached retirement. In these “middle years” of life, there are significant points in time when you make decisions that have financial and lifestyle consequences. Some of these decisions include (in no particular order*):
Buying a home or investing in a rental property
Getting married or divorced
Having or adopting child(ren)
Starting a business
Sending kids to college
Caretaking for an elderly parent
Changing careers or taking a sabbatical
Dealing with an unexpected health event
Each decision can also have complicated tax impacts that can be difficult to navigate. For example, here is a flow-chart of questions we would cover if you are thinking about buying a rental property.
Why I Founded Tailored Financial Planning
The traditional financial advisor wants to work with retirees who have a lot of assets because they are paid fees as a % of assets under management. The more money someone has to invest— the more lucrative they are as a client.
What if you are still in the work force, raising a family or growing a business? It can be difficult to find a quality advisor who can help. Meanwhile, our schools and homes have not prioritized financial literacy, and even if you did have confidence the educate yourself, free time is hard to come by.
So how are most people to know how to use their money to live their best life? Especially when many financial advisors have high account minimums that keep professional advice just out of reach?
Turns out that others saw this problem (aka opportunity) too. The XY Planning Network is an organization created to help financial advisors provide professional advice to Gen X and Gen Y. These two generations have (for the most part) not yet built wealth as the Baby Boomers have, but still deserve professional advice that will help them avoid major financial mistakes and keep them on track for financial independence. In August 2023, I joined XYPN’s movement to disrupt the traditional financial advisory industry and launched my own firm, Tailored Financial Planning.
My joy in life to is to create positive experiences for others, and with Tailored Financial Planning, each workday I’ll bring valuable advice and education to my clients to exchange their money worry and stress for clarity and confidence. How cool is that?! I hope I get the opportunity to work with you!
OUR VALUES
Transparent: With a fee-for-service business model, there are no commissions or hidden fees. I will share the total cost of working together, and disclose any and all potential conflicts of interest.
Engaged: I will reach out to you proactively with updates and encouragement. You will have a personal service calendar so you know what to expect.
Inclusive: I welcome the opportunity to work with women, people of color and those within the LGBTQIA+ community.
“Be truthful, gentle and fearless.”
~Ghandi
Accepting: Clients can tell me or ask me anything without feeling shamed or judged. Financial literacy is generally not taught at home or school, and many of us (including me) have had to learn the hard way.
Compliant: I am a rule-follower and TFP is formally registered with the State of Oregon so that all aspects and interactions of the firm are above board.
Fun: A lot of the tasks around getting your financial life organized can be boring. I’ll do my best to keep things simple & fun.
