We're proud to be fee-only fiduciaries - that means we're always on your side. We hate high investment fees and love nerding out on tax plans. And we can't wait to meet you.
Your local financial advisors.
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Chris Wentzien, CFP®,CPA/PFS, MBA
President, Soccer Fiend, Top Banana
chris@naturalbridgesfa.com
Chris rides his bike to work every day and loves the Santa Cruz lifestyle. As far as we know, there is nothing in his closet but Hawaiian shirts. He used to play professional soccer, and he helped found the Santa Cruz County FC Revolution - a non-profit premier youth soccer club working with underserved children in Santa Cruz County.
His favorite donuts are maple, even though he says he's trying to eat healthier.
Financial Background:
- Chris is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional and a Certified Public Accountant and Personal Financial Specialist (CPA/PFS).
- He holds a BA in Economics from the University of California at Santa Barbara and an MBA from Westminster College.
- He taught at the UCSC Extension Silicon Valley Personal Financial Planning Department.
- Chris is on the Board of Directors for the Alliance of Comprehensive Planners (ACP) a nationwide non-profit community for financial planners, and is the 2020 ACP President!
- Member of the Fee-Only Network, NAPFA, AICPA, and CFP Professionals
What’s your favorite movie quote?
"Carpe diem. Seize the day, boys. Make your lives extraordinary." - Robin Williams, Dead Poets Society
What’s one thing on your bucket list?
Learn how to speak Spanish.
Who is your role model, and why?
Mohammed Ali – A man who backed up what he said and risked everything for what he believed in.
On Friday nights, you can usually find me...
Walking on West Cliff.
What are some causes you care about?
Disadvantaged kids, and sports.
What’s your secret superpower?
I make killer mashed potatoes!
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Anabel Diaz, B.A. Economics, M.S. Financial Planning
Financial Associate, Horse Manager, Director of Bagel Acquisition
anabel@naturalbridgesfa.com
Anabel is a Watsonville native and is driven by a desire to give back to her community. Prior to joining Natural Bridges Financial Advisors, Anabel served as a program manager for a local non-profit who help children with cancer and life-threatening illnesses, and was presented with the Cesar Chavez award from the City of Watsonville in recognition of her community service. Anabel enjoys spending her free time reading and horse jumping. Her favorite donut is a good old fashioned Old Fashioned.
Financial Background:
- Anabel holds a B.A. Economics from UC Santa Cruz and a Master of Science in Financial Planning from Golden Gate University
- She volunteers every year with United Way of Monterey County, assisting low-income families with preparing their taxes.
- She has worked with the Senior Analyst for the City of Watsonville, helping minority-owned businesses with marketing and financial services.
- She also volunteers with Eden Housing as a financial coach helping low-income and underserved populations.
What's your favorite book?
Guns, Germs and Steel by Jared Diamond because it introduced me to the world of economics in an interesting and fascinating way.
Your favorite movie quote?
"Sometimes, it’s the boring stuff I remember the most." -Russell from the Pixar movie UP
What’s your secret superpower?
I can put my foot behind my head!
One thing on your bucket list?
Learn how to swim.
What are the causes you care about?
- Financial Literary for all
- Adults & Children with life-threatening illnesses
- Animals
What's your Personal Motto?
Always lend a hand when others need it the most.
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Moana Whipple, B.S. Mathematics, MLIS Information Science
Financial Associate, Exhausted Parent, Head of Coffee Consumption
moana@naturalbridgesfa.com
Moana opened her first Roth IRA when she was twenty, and has always loved learning about how finance works. After working as a high school math teacher in the Bronx, she moved to San Diego where she taught swing dancing and headed a SAT/math/science tutoring center. She has written and published twenty-five romance novels. Currently she lives in Felton with her husband and her toddler, where she likes to dance Zumba and volunteer with the Friends of the Felton Library.
She will fight Chris to the death for the last maple donut in the box.
Financial Background:
- Graduated from the CFP® program at Boston University in 2020 and passed the CFP® certification exam that year. Currently working on her experience requirement to become a fully certified CFP® professional.
- Studied mathematics at Harvey Mudd College and received her Masters of Information and Library Science from San Jose State.
- She has volunteered with VITA to help low-income people in Santa Cruz with their taxes.
Who is your role model, and why?
My financial role model is Jack Bogle, who invented index funds and single-handedly made investing accessible to regular people. My life role model is my cat Bean, who is super happy just chasing balls and napping all day long.
What’s your favorite movie quote?
"You just keep thinkin', Butch. That's what you're good at." - Robert Redford, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
What’s your secret superpower?
I'm a pretty mean ping pong player.
What’s one thing on your bucket list?
Travel into outer space so I can float around in zero gravity.
What’s your favorite book?
Le Petit Prince, by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. My mom read this to me as a kid, and every couple of years I reread it and get something new out of it.
What are some causes you ca--
Wait, I have more books. 100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. And Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse. The Shipping News, by Annie Proulx. Ooh, and Godel, Escher, Bach by Douglas Hofstadter. Basically anything by Hofstadter. Or Terry Pratchett. Or Italo Calvino.
Okay, thanks. What are some causes you care about?
Malaria prevention (my mom got it twice!) and access to education.
What would be your personal motto?
"When I have a little money, I buy books; and if I have any left, I buy food and clothes." - Desiderius Erasmus.