Who we are
We are a woman-owned, women-led team of activist asset managers and financial planners. We’re carving a new path to what’s possible in the financial industry. As a Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) firm, we have a fiduciary obligation to always act in the best interest of our clients. Our approach seeks to create more opportunities to generate wealth in ways that align with values for a better world and supports prosperity for all.
We provide financial planning services that range from affordable, foundational plans, to more complex, holistic plans. Your financial plan starts with where you are today and will be updated annually as your life and your circumstances evolve.
We work with each client to identify their specific financial, social and environmental goals and design a compatible portfolio. We don’t take commissions for our work, which means we advise and guide our clients based solely on their needs with their success in mind.
As wealth managers, our investment portfolios only include companies actively serving the greater good of humans and the planet. We are Sustainable, Responsible & Impact (SRI) investing advisors who believe this investment approach is the optimal path to the wealth and health of us all.
Our Manifesto
We are
Trusted guides for those bold enough to demand that their financial goals align with their values and our collective future.
Diligent SRI advisors who utilize more than “best-in-class” standards to provide comprehensive Sustainable, Responsible & Impact investing. We mean what we say.
Mindful financial planners who embrace the power of peacefulness – peace of mind for our clients and the experience of peace for our larger society.
We believe
In the power of alignment to produce portfolios our clients can be proud of, achieving their financial goals while protecting the future of this planet and all who inhabit her.
That in our capitalistic society, wealth is power, but what we do with that power is a matter of choice.
Voting with your investment dollar puts that power into action as a force for good in this world.
We strive
To manifest abundance without greed by shifting money away from companies that diminish society and investing in those that lift us all.
To be changemakers who leverage the power of money to transform the world.
To reinvent expectations every day as a thriving women-owned firm that recognizes what’s truly possible in this industry.
We know
That as more of us live aligned with our values, we’ll make the kind of waves that change the world for generations to come.
Meet the Blue Crew
Ayden Al-Shimary, CRPC®
Financial Planning Associate
Ayden gathers information and data to generate reports that tell the story of a client’s financial situation. This allows us to see the big picture more easily and help our clients make informed decisions around retirement, large expenses, or any changes to their financial situation.
Ayden has a Bachelor of Arts in finance from the University of Washington’s Foster School of Business. He is excited to be a part of a firm that works to generate wealth and create a better world at the same time.
In his free time, Ayden enjoys spending time with friends, playing chess, golfing, or exploring the Emerald City. He’s also quite the skilled piano player and continues to practice and play regularly.
Cherish Sutull, CFP®, CFA®
Lead Advisor - Seattle Managing Director
Cherish lives her life intentionally according to her values, which informs how she advises and builds client relationships. Through attentive listening, Cherish discovers what is important to clients and what it means to them to live aligned. This allows her to support them in achieving their financial goals without sacrificing their values.
She has over 20 years of experience in the financial planning and investment management industry. She is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), Certified Financial Planner (CFP), and a Certified Wealth Confidant™ with a BS from George Fox University and an MBA from Seattle University.
Cherish surrounds herself with people who wholeheartedly support her and whose hearts are in the right place. She manifests living aligned by taking time and space to care for herself and maintain a healthy, active lifestyle. She is a former college athlete turned expert mountain biker and skier. Her other greatest joy is being present with her kids and learning along with them as they experience life and discover what matters to them.
David Ream, CFP®
Lead Advisor
When clients have questions regarding their finances and investments, David has answers. He helps clients determine what assets to sell to cover Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) withdrawals, how to invest their retirement plan contributions, how to pay for major purchases, and everything in between.
David has more than two decades of finance experience prior to Blue Water Wealth. During that time frame, he played an integral role in designing the client portfolios for the Seattle practice that later joined Blue Water Wealth. David is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) and holds bachelor’s degrees in business administration and political science.
Spending time with his wife and sons is David’s favorite activity. They love to go to the zoo, walk around Greenlake in Seattle, travel north to Whidbey Island to visit relatives, and spend time with their cat, George. You might find him at the driving range if he is not hanging with family.
Jada Fouch
Financial Planning Associate
Jada works with clients and Blue Crew members to support creating impactful financial plans. Her skilled attention to detail allows her to fill in small pieces of the bigger picture when evaluating a client’s portfolio. Jada’s passion for interpersonal relationships and desire to help people achieve their goals make her an integral member of the BWW team.
Jada graduated Summa Cum Laude from Oregon State University with a Bachelor of Science in Finance and a Minor in Spanish. While in school, she excelled at team management and enjoyed volunteering to teach Spanish to elementary students. She is eager to further her industry knowledge with a firm that aligns with her core values while studying to progress her career.
As a retired competitive gymnast, Jada enjoys trying to convince herself she can still flip around at the occasional open gym. Her favorite hobby is enjoying the outdoors; hiking, wake surfing, golfing, swimming in the ocean, and boating in the sunshine are her calling. Jada fiercely loves her family, friends, and black lab Jack.
Jadyn Kerns-Funk
Investment Analyst
Jadyn has a high capacity for taking in information, which makes her an integral part of our thorough and comprehensive SRI investment practice. She analyzes investment potential for companies based on SRI standards and Blue Water Wealth’s more rigorous criteria.
She graduated from the University of Puget Sound with a double major in Mathematics and Economics, with a focus on statistics, data analysis, and predictive modeling. Jadyn holds a Series 65 securities license and is currently pursuing an MBA.
Jadyn loves camping and fishing and hopes to have her own boat someday. She enjoys spending weekends restoring her new home or taking her dog, Banjo, to the coast to spend time with her parents.
Jenni Taggart
Client Service Manager
Jenni works closely with our Blue Crew, vendors, and clients. As manager of our Portland operations team, she remembers the big picture while holding the day-to-day details. And she does that expertly while maintaining her reliable positive outlook, which is infused into her work and everyone she encounters.
Jenni’s blend of being a people and numbers person is natural to her and comes from multiple decades of experience in administration, accounting, and managing people.
She cherishes her family time with her husband, kids, and grandson. She loves watching college football, especially the Oregon Ducks. Her other favorite activities are reading and spending time with her 4-year-old yellow lab, Clyde.
Jessica Schmitt
Client Service Associate
Jessica assists clients with general inquiries and requests to provide information and insights, so clients feel empowered and knowledgeable. Her knack for figuring out how to best use systems and tools in the most efficient manner is a boon to our clients and her colleagues.
She is an experienced leader and has completed the Supervisor Bootcamp course and has certifications in many programs, including Excel, Word, Microsoft 365, and HR Payroll.
Jessica’s all-time favorite thing to do is go hiking and camping. She is an enthusiastic dog mom of two pups, a corgi, and an Australian shepherd/husky mix. She is the co-host of a podcast that reviews horror movies, and she loves making art in various mediums—working with charcoal is her favorite.
Jordan Ney
Client Service Associate
Jordan assists our financial advisors by being available to our clients and ensuring they feel supported and heard. His intention is to create ease and clarity throughout the process, which is evident in the care he takes with them.
He has a dual bachelor’s degree in marketing and finance from the University of Houston and years of experience in the financial sector.
Jordan enjoys time with friends, cooking, watching sports, listening to music, playing games, and, most importantly, quality time with his cat, Mochi.
Karen Sump
Document Specialist
Karen’s dedication to detail, teamwork, and putting our clients first means we rely on her to keep everything moving while ensuring documents are accurate and complete.
Karen’s 30 years of experience working in teams for the benefit of clients and 20 years of experience as an executive assistant means Karen understands what is needed and how to get it done.
She loves visiting with friends and family, whether it’s having a conversation over a good meal, playing cards, or going outside together. Her vacations tend to take her to new unexplored places around the country. When she is not planning her next adventure, she loves to spend time outdoors with her dog, Ginger.
Kenton Tran, CRPC®
Financial Planning Associate
Kenton is an eager learner and a highly motivated individual, which makes him an excellent member of the BWW team.
Kenton attended Oregon State University, graduating Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in finance. Outside the classroom, he was involved in the Oregon State Investment Group, serving as equity analyst and treasurer. Kenton is also a proud member of Sigma Chi Fraternity, and held the position of Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for the Interfraternity Council, striving to make College Fraternity and Sorority Life a more diverse space.
Kenton was born and raised in Portland, Oregon. In his free time, he loves exploring new food spots and cooking. To balance his love for food, Kenton also enjoys being active by playing sports and going to the gym. He is currently trying to get better at golf and tennis.
Kris Stawinski, CRPC®, CEPA
Lead Advisor
Kris is eager to help clients create and prioritize their financial goals by guiding them through our holistic planning process and sharing our unique approach to asset management. She has a natural aptitude for client relationships and believes that helping every generation of a family is key to long-term financial planning.
Kris has over 20 years of experience working in wealth management, including private banking, which gives her valuable knowledge for the planning process. She is also a Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA) focusing on small business owners as they plan their exit and retirement.
She loves traveling, gardening, crafting, and painting. Her favorite pastime is hanging out with friends and family, especially her husband and two teenage boys, one special kitty, and two crazy dogs.
Kristen Rajotte
Operations Associate
Kristen assists with the operations side of wealth management, which includes maintaining systems to ensure we manage accounts accurately and efficiently. She also assists with trading and research.
Kristen holds a Series 65 securities license and loves to learn new systems and take in new information.
She enjoys reading, hiking, playing board games, and hanging out with her two daughters.
Linda Rutledge, CFP®, CRPC®
Director of Operations
Linda is a valued resource to clients and colleagues alike. Her curiosity and desire to help everyone succeed, coupled with her product and systems knowledge, positions her well as Blue Water Wealth’s Director of Operations. Whether evaluating new software resources or providing continuing education to the Blue Crew, Linda will make it happen.
She first began working with Nancy Congdon in 2004, prior to Nancy starting BWW. Linda was thrilled to have the opportunity to join Nancy at BWW in 2013. She has a BA from Arizona State University and became a Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC) in 2006 and a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) in 2007.
Linda brings immense energy to her many hobbies and volunteer activities outside work. She is the rules chairperson for a women’s golf league and president of a community choir. She sews and cooks and gardens. She and her husband of 45 years bowl in a league and have two sons, six grandchildren, and a Dachshund named Rocky.
Martin Link
Client Service Associate
Martin is passionate about data integrity, collaborating with others, and providing impeccable customer service. He is enthusiastic about Blue Water Wealth’s SRI investment portfolio strategies. He strives to support clients in their desire to invest in a way that aligns with their values and environmental beliefs.
He enjoys utilizing his decade of experience in the financial planning industry to build trusted relationships with clients.
In his free time, Martin enjoys being outside kiteboarding, paddle boarding, hiking, biking, snowboarding, skiing, and camping. Often, you will find him walking and training his English Staffordshire Terrier, Bunty.
Merlin Arbor
Portfolio Manager
Merlin came to Blue Water Wealth nearly a decade ago and built the wealth management division she leads today. We rely on her ability to absorb data as easily as she can learn the story behind a company to determine if it fits our Sustainable, Responsible & Impact (SRI) investment goals.
Her interest in environmental conservation led her to complete a bachelor’s degree in biology from Reed College. She worked in investment real estate during the 2008 mortgage crisis and housing market meltdown, which taught her how to navigate market volatility.
Being in nature is Merlin’s go-to, whether working in her own garden, visiting public gardens, camping, or just basking in the sun. She also enjoys playing with her dog, cooking, traveling, and attending opera performances and classical music concerts.
Nancy Congdon, CFP®, MBA
President
Nancy started her career in public accounting with Ernst & Young before founding Blue Water Wealth in 2007. Now with more than 30 years of Financial Advising experience, she leads her team in the quest to manifest peace and joy in the lives of our clients and the entire Blue Crew. She is immensely dedicated to her mission that she has a list of favorite action verbs: coach, develop, manifest, and grow.
Nancy is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) and received her bachelor’s degree from Wright State University with a dual major in accounting and finance. She passed the CPA exam during her senior year of undergrad and graduated summa cum laude. She later went on to get an MBA from the University of Denver.
She spends her free time playing! Gardening, hiking, road tripping, camping, reading, traveling, and anything to do with water: whitewater kayaking, scuba diving, snorkeling, and anything else she can think of.
Rachel Mott
Client Service Associate
Rachel expertly holds all the details for client accounts, so she is always ready to answer their questions and convey information to our advisors. As a detail-oriented people person, she gives thorough answers to clients’ questions and offers immediate assistance whenever needed.
She has nearly a decade of customer service experience, and it shows. A cool fact about Rachel is that she is a Notary Public in Oregon.
She loves to visit Oregon’s coast with her partner and their dog, Olive, who loves to run around in the sand. Often, Rachel can be found with a film camera around her neck, taking photos of beach towns. When she is not traveling, Rachel spends her free time playing board games and Magic: The Gathering with friends or knitting, crocheting, and doing cross-stitch.
Rebecca Semper, CFP®, CTFA
Lead Advisor
Rebecca positively impacts client’s lives by helping them achieve their financial and personal goals through comprehensive financial planning. She begins this process by asking clients what money means to them. Her passion is working with individuals and their families, helping them navigate the complex world of finance.
She is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) and a Certified Trust Financial Advisor (CTFA) with more than 30 years of experience in the financial services industry. Rebecca has a bachelor’s degree in finance law and an Executive Certificate in Financial Planning.
In her free time, Rebecca loves snow skiing, hiking, camping, golfing, gardening, reading, traveling, and spending time with friends and family.
Sara Briggs
Client Service Associate
Sara is a skillful customer service professional with a passion for assisting clients and making them feel at ease. Her friendly approach and consistent follow-through with all client questions or concerns make her an asset to the Blue Crew.
She has more than 26 years of customer services experience, and it shows.
Sara is a lifelong Oregonian, an expert camper, and a lover of music. She also enjoys entertaining and cooking for loved ones including decorating holiday cookies, and all things horror. Sara’s summertime happy place is her backyard pool.
Sera Lawrentz
Associate Financial Advisor
Sera is a strategist and a systems thinker with a keen awareness of what makes people tick, which makes her invaluable to the clients she serves. Early in her career, she worked with environmental organizations such as Oceana, the Sierra Club, and the UN Open Working Group as an advocate for small family farms and oceanic marine life. Prior to joining Blue Water, she coached and advised business leaders and financial organizations on how to create consistent revenue streams and grow their businesses.
Sera holds a master’s in theology from the University of British Columbia, which has equipped her with the tools to continue asking deeper questions about life, finances, and her relationship with the earth. She looks forward to having those conversations with you.
In her free time, Sera enjoys sailing and golfing and is always up for a mountain excursion or a trip to the ocean. She is also obsessed with Italy and her pup Noah.