liz@naturalbridgesfa.com

Liz recently moved to Santa Cruz and loves the sense of community she feels here. She has spent most of her career working in banking with nonprofits. Her favorite job (other than this one, of course!) was in a Boston thinktank working to lend money to affordable housing developers, and she is currently serving on the board of a family homeless shelter.

She hasn't yet tried a purple yam donut, but she is determined: "It will happen."

Financial Background:

• Liz holds a BA in Social Work from San Jose State University
• She graduated from the bank training program at Fleet Bank
• She was the senior vice president at CalFed
• She started her own consulting company for nonprofits, helping them with their finances and organization

What’s your favorite book?

A Prayer for Owen Meany. I love the way Irving writes.

What’s one thing on your bucket list?

Live in Japan for a year... once NBFA opens a branch there.

Who is your role model, and why?

Serena Williams - her story is so inspiring. Her perseverance and everything she faced... she won the Australian Open when she was pregnant! 

On Friday nights, you can usually find me...

Cooking for friends and family, or enjoying the Santa Cruz outdoors.

What are some causes you care about?

Affordable housing, definitely.

What’s your secret superpower?

I remember numbers. Also I can recreate my favorite dishes from restaurants at home... I could eat the burrata salad from Firefly twice a day and not get sick of it!

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.
• He was a Board Member of the Silicon Valley Financial Planning Association.
• Chris was on the Board of Directors for the Alliance of Comprehensive Planners (ACP), a nationwide non-profit community for financial planners, and was the 2020 ACP President.
• He is currently a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA) and Alliance of Comprehensive Planners (ACP).

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!

sarah@naturalbridgesfa.com

Sarah specializes in helping families save for college and retirement.  She lives on the Westside with her husband, two teenagers, one dog, and two cats.  Prior to joining Natural Bridges Financial Advisors, Sarah worked at a non-profit immersion learning center.  She is a certified yoga teacher and enjoys practicing yoga and meditation at home.  Sarah is dedicated to helping people live their best lives through good financial planning.  

Sarah will eat a donut when pressed, but she is really a cookie monster.

Financial Background:

• Sarah is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional.
• Sarah completed the Personal Financial Planning Certificate Program at UCSC Silicon Valley Extension.
• She holds a BA in Art History from Barnard College.
• Sarah is currently a member of the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA), the Financial Planning Association (FPA) , and Alliance of Comprehensive Planners (ACP).

What’s your favorite book?

Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward

What’s one thing on your bucket list?

Travel to Machu Piccu.

On weekends, you can usually find me...

Hiking, gardening, or reading a book

What are some causes you care about?

Racial Justice, Anti-Racism work, and Zero Waste living

What’s your secret superpower?

I am a whiz at identifying dog breeds!