Personal Financial Planning

Financial Planning Process

Andrew Chou, CFP®, is managing partner of NexGen Wealth Management. He began his career in 2000 in San Francisco working for one of the largest independent wealth management firms in the country. After relocating to Los Angeles, he enjoyed a successful career with Fidelity Investments and TD Ameritrade, where he served as the trusted advisor to an exclusive group of families and business owners, and provided advice on issues related to retirement, estate planning, and asset management. Additionally, Chou volunteers his time and expertise with a number of non-profit organizations in the Los Angeles area. He currently serves as the President of the Financial Planning Association of San Gabriel Valley. As a proud graduate of University of California, Irvine, he currently serves on the Board of UC Irvine Alumni Association and was a co-founder of the Los Angeles Chapter of the UCI Alumni Association. He holds FINRA licenses Series 7, Series 63 and CA insurance license.

Insurance Planning

Melinda Smith, CFP®, is a personal lines insurance agent for the Horace Mann Companies. A 20 year veteran of the insurance industry, Melinda has experience in personal risk management, retirement planning and employer fringe benefit planning. Melinda first received her security license in 1986 with a Series 6 License and later received her Series 7 License. Her teaching experience includes preparing students to sit for the California Life and Property and Casualty insurance exams.

Investment Planning

Ryan E. Price, CFP®, ChFC®, CLU®, CRPC, AWMA, is the President of Price Financial Partners located in Irvine, CA. He has more than a decade of experience dealing with high net worth clients in the areas of investment, retirement, estate, insurance and business succession planning. In addition to managing his practice, Ryan is also Field Training Supervisor for a division of Lincoln Financial Advisors. Ryan currently serves on the board of Lincoln Financial Advisors Advisor Based Sales Division and is a member of LFA's prestigious Private Wealth Services group. He is currently a member of the National Association of Insurance & Financial Advisors (NAIFA) where he serves on the membership committee and is on the Education Committee for the Financial Planning Association (FPA) of Orange County. He is a frequent lecturer on financial planning topics and has taught multiple courses at The American College.

Tax Planning

Marc Spiegel, M.S.(TAX), CFP®, is a branch manager with FSC Securities Corporation. He has over 26 years of experience helping retirees, business owners, and families reduce income and estate taxes. Prior to developing his own practice, he held positions at the Washington D.C. office of Deloitte & Touche and the L.A. office of PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Retirement Planning

Scot Shier, M.S., CFP®, has 20 years of experience as a licensed securities rep, insurance agent, and branch manager. He serves on the board of the Financial Planning Association in OC, is the President-Elect of the Mission Viejo Chamber of Commerce, and serves as Commissioner for the City of Mission Viejo.

Estate Planning

Eric Raines, J.D., is a local attorney who specializes in estate planning and administration. His practice centers on serving high net worth clients. Eric received his law degree from Yale Law School. While at Yale, he served as a Senior Editor and Internet Editor for the Yale Law and Policy Review. Prior to establishing Law Office of Eric M. Raines, he spent five years as an associate for Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, LLP. In 1999, Eric founded All Students Academic Partnership, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to tutoring and mentoring at-risk students.

Financial Planning Practicum (Capstone)

Andrew Chou, CFP®, is managing partner of NexGen Wealth Management. He began his career in 2000 in San Francisco working for one of the largest independent wealth management firms in the country. After relocating to Los Angeles, he enjoyed a successful career with Fidelity Investments and TD Ameritrade, where he served as the trusted advisor to an exclusive group of families and business owners, and provided advice on issues related to retirement, estate planning, and asset management. Additionally, Chou volunteers his time and expertise with a number of non-profit organizations in the Los Angeles area. He currently serves as the President of the Financial Planning Association of San Gabriel Valley. As a proud graduate of University of California, Irvine, he currently serves on the Board of UC Irvine Alumni Association and was a co-founder of the Los Angeles Chapter of the UCI Alumni Association. He holds FINRA licenses Series 7, Series 63 and CA insurance license.