Vesta’s Network of Professionals – CA

Ivan is a Financial Advisor, Investment Advisor Representative, and proud to be part of the Vesta Beverly Hills Hub.  The majority of his practice is focused on clients at all stages of divorce. Through Strategic Divorce Planning, Ivan can offer comprehensive divorce financial planning services for those considering or going through the divorce process. He helps by looking at asset division options, cash flow analysis and the future implications of the financial decisions people make during the divorce process. In essence, his goal in working with clients is to help them answer the question “Am I going to be okay?”

Ivan’s passion for this work is fueled by recognizing the emotional impact of divorce on most people and having seen too often the impact of making forced decisions in an emotional time.  Ivan understands the value of a team approach to help clients feel they are informed about the process to make decisions that positively impact themselves and their families. 

Many divorce professionals focus on the client’s divorce and don’t offer services beyond that point. Ivan and the Strategic Divorce Planning team are unique in that they guide the client through divorce and help in rebuilding their financial life after divorce. Whether a financial plan or investment advice is needed, Ivan focuses on the strategy of how to get people on track to accomplishing their goals. 

Ivan attended both the University of Southern California and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, graduating from the latter.  He has lived in Los Angeles since 2007, and calls Beverly Hills home. He started his career in Financial Services in 2016 after having been a long-time client of a financial services firm and seeing the power of informed financial decision making.  He feels very fortunate to have found such a passionate niche and has focused his business on what he knows is truly meaningful work. He is a member of the Rotary Club of Los Angeles (LA5), Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce, and the Beverly Hills Bar Association.   

To learn more about Ivan, visit https://advisors.massmutual.com/ivan-lovegren

As a Financial Advisor and Accredited Investment Fiduciary (AIF®), Mike brings extensive experience in the financial services and wealth management industry. Mike attributes his success to being committed in maintaining the focus, discipline and motivation to impact the financial and emotional quality of life for the clients we serve.

Passionate about serving our clients, Mike is focused on helping individuals, families and closely held business owners create financial security, while navigating all aspects of the divorce process.  He leverages his expertise in providing strategies for managing their risks, asset division options, retirement income planning and providing solutions to help clients confidently answer a very important question, “am I going to be okay?”

Having experienced family members, friends and clients go through the divorce process and seeing it first hand, Mike understands the challenges the divorce process can present.  Mike’s passion to help clients through this significant life transition shows through his insight, expertise and clarity to the process of making important financial decisions.

Mike believes in giving back to both the community and the industry he has grown so passionate about. He participates in various youth sports organizations, along with helping youth and families through his work with community groups. Mike is a past Board Member with Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation, past Board Member of CASA Dupage and gives time and energy towards Lurie Children’s Hospital, Teen Living Program, Junior Achievement and Feed My Starving Children. Industry focused, Mike is a past Board Member of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA) Chicago Region, member of AALU and GAMA International.

Mike is a graduate of Loyola University Chicago, where he earned a degree in Business Administration and a minor in Economics.  At the forefront of Mike’s personal life are his wife Richelle and three children.

To learn more about Mike, visit http://srcmadvisors.com/the-team/mike-lacey-aif/

Maryam is a Certified Family Law Specialist and her legal practice focuses exclusively on family law.  She began her career in civil litigation representing a number of plaintiffs whose civil rights were undermined by major corporations and insurance companies in both state and federal court.  While handling civil matters, she took on a family law case and quickly learned that her passion is in helping her clients navigate through an emotional time in their lives and help bring stability into the family dynamic that is learning new ground in a divorce setting.  

In Family Law, Maryam is focused on one goal:  to obtain the best possible result for her client while alleviating the emotional charge of a divorce.  Maryam works with the client, provides a listening ear through the most difficult time in his/her life, and remains compassionate without compromising aggressive representation.   Maryam knows that her clients are faced with the most valued treasure, their children, and will guide them through the legal proceedings to ensure their legal rights are met.  Maryam also has extensive trial experience and does not hesitate to litigate a matter if necessary to reach a resolution.  

Maryam obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Molecular and Cell Biology from the University of Connecticut.  She attended Western State University School of Law where she earned a Juris Doctorate degree.  While at Western, Maryam was one of a select few to be chosen to represent the school in national moot court competitions based on her superior writing and oral skills.  She was honored with the opportunity to travel the nation and represent the school in mock trials.

Maryam is admitted to practice law in California State Court, the United States District Court for the Central District, the United States District Court for the Southern District, is a member of the American Bar Association, the Los Angeles Bar Association and Consumer Attorneys of Los Angeles.

Maryam Atighechi was elected as a Super Lawyer Rising Star, an honor reserved for the top 2% of all attorneys in California who exhibit excellence in their field and was featured in Los Angeles Magazine, Super Lawyers Edition in 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017.  She was recently honored with the award of Top 10 under 40 with the National Academy of Family Lawyers Association (NAFLA) for 2016 and recently rated as Top 50 Up and Coming Women Lawyers in Southern California and Top 100 Up and Coming Rising Stars for 2017 in Southern California by Super Lawyers.

Maryam Atighechi is an avid indoor cyclist and enjoys Soul Cycle six times a week.

The Atighechi Law Group sincerely hopes you allow us the opportunity to guide you through these difficult times.

To learn more about Maryam, visit http://www.familylaw-firm.com/

Ari, the Founding Agent for Compass in Los Angeles, is the lead agent for Ari Afshar & Associates, a highly experienced real estate sales team, based in Beverly Hills, CA and servicing The Greater Los Angeles and San Fernando areas.

 Ari Afshar and Associates are focused on the LA market and there is virtually no market that we can’t cover. Our agents are top in class and are familiar with each area as we have the reach to service our clients. 

 Having seen year over year growth since 2014, and 2019 that will yield over $100 million in sales volume, Ari is confident that the team will continue to become even stronger and more educated for years to come.

 For years AA&A has been assisting clients who need an exceptionally high level service, attention and often confidentiality.  This experience has proven to be invaluable when addressing the concerns and intricacies that arise when a divorce is clouding the real estate transaction process, and Ari’s team consistently excels in managing the finest details – to ultimately provide the smoothest experience possible for all involved.

Ari’s high volume of transactions has enabled him to build his own support staff, and a team of collaborating agents.  This gives Ari Afshar & Associates the ability to provide a level of attention and knowledge that is quite simply, hard to find in real estate and many other industries.  As a result, both sides working through the divorce process, while also trying to maximize their real estate position – are able to do just that.

To learn more about Ari, visit https://www.ariafshar.com

Andrea is a real estate agent with Douglas Elliman in Beverly Hills, specializing in working with families at times of change: in addition to being the Executive Director of the Trust & Probate division of my firm, she has been hand-picked by Vesta as one of just two Real Estate specialists to serve you with your real estate needs, whether it be now, or in the future.

Andrea prides herself on comprehensive Real Estate planning consultations for those

contemplating, or currently going through the divorce process. Working with the other Vesta Professionals, she helps you consider your best options long-term. As a two-time survivor of childhood divorce, Andrea understands the importance of getting back on track for your homeownership goals post-divorce as quickly and seamlessly as possible.

Her goal in working with clients is to help them feel safe, secure, and at home again.

To learn more about Andrea, visit https://andreaharrisshink.elliman.com/

Vince Lombardi is the Regional Manager of the Los Angeles based Houston Properties, in Beverly Hills, with more than 24 years of experience as a Residential and Commercial Loan Originator. He started his career as an Accountant and Auditor and found that financing of Real Estate was his true passion.

Vince believes that excellent customer service is what sets him apart in the mortgage industry. He thinks the quality of the experience as well as an awareness of the marketplace and it’s many products helps him match his client’s needs with the best rates, terms, loan-types. 

Houston Properties has more than 54 residential and 32 commercial lending relationships that help serve any and all real estate needs from Veteran loans, first time home buyer programs, conventional, non-conventional, bank statement income loans, asset depletion, reverse mortgages, hard money and any/all commercial loans (multi-family, churches/synagogues, strip malls, mixed use.) The corporate philosophy of speed, accuracy, service and satisfaction carries though all of Vince’s work as evidenced by many life-long clients. Vince has closed more than $20 million or more consistently for the past 12 years.

Vince received his B.A. in Economics and Accounting from University of New Hampshire, a graduate certificate in Accounting from New Hampshire College, and a Masters in Psychology from Phillips Graduate University. 

Why Vesta: Divorce can be a devastating life change that impact the rest of your life and the lives of your children. I have seen this first hand when my sister went through a very difficult divorce and without the knowledge and experience of handing the finances, she was lost. In working with her and many other clients through the years, I found great satisfaction for those who needed help in navigating the complicated waters of real estate and the financing. In helping these individuals get on their feet, stay in their family home, find alternative ways of financing a new home, or starting over with some confidence in their future. I have made many meaningful relationships though this work by being there to help when someone really needed someone to trust. 

How can I help: In my personal time for the past many years, I volunteered for an LA Foster Youth program which lead to a journey into pursuing a Master’s Degree in Psychology. My degree has led me to be a better listener and better at understanding and meeting the needs of my clients. I have found in the last few years since obtaining my degree, I hear and understand the world in a very different way that bleeds into my own business. 

To learn more about Vince, visit http://thevincelombardigroup.com/

Aska is a transformational coach and transition expert with specialties in divorce, life and career transitions, self-leadership, mindset and communication. In addition to her work at Vesta, Aska works with leaders and decision-making professionals for individual and group sessions and facilitates workshops for organizations and corporations. She is also a professional interpreter and incorporates holistic wellness in her consultation and coaching services. 

When she was going through her own divorce over 10 years ago, she lived in a different country and had very little support from her family and friends. Eventually she decided to go to Japan to have family close to her, she still faced isolation and cultural stigmas as no one around had been divorced at that time. Through her own trial and errors, Aska realized how powerful emotional support and guidance can be during this process as she continued to help her friends and family when many started to go through their own divorces. One of the reasons why she became a coach was so she can hold space to better support those who are going through transitions. Her most recent divorce support was for her life partner, whom she coached and supported, because she believed everyone deserves to have a cheerleader in their corner while going through these challenging life transitions. Aska believes that sometimes these most challenging times gives us the best opportunities to create the biggest shifts and reclaim and align ourselves with who we have always wanted to be. 

Through her professional and personal experiences, Aska has worked with many who have been going through their own divorce process. She is now thrilled to join Vesta at the Beverly Hills Hub to continue her work to empower and help transform people in all stages of divorce. Her role as a transformational coach is to help people become aware of their stress and inner conversations and guide them through mindset shifting strategies. Managing emotions during this process is important for the families’ best interest to make  effective, informative and healthy decisions that are not emotionally, or distress driven. She believes in the power of collaborative approach to divorce encouraged within Vesta. As she has done herself, she encourages people to find ways to use this challenging transition as an opportunity for personal growth, so they can create something better for themselves post-divorce. 

Aska graduated with a B.A. in International Studies from Trinity College in Hartford, CT, and received her professional coaching certification from the Institute of Professional Excellence in Coaching. She has lived in 21 cities across 4 countries and her unique upbringing and life experiences allows her to connect with people from all walks of life without judgement and brings her a wealth of knowledge in cultural viewpoints. She is also a communication specialist being a professional interpreter for over 20 years and has been passionate in education and empowerment since she was 13 years old. 

To learn more about Aska, visit https://www.askanaito.com/

Following graduation from college, Dr. Memel worked as a Family Law Paralegal and assisted in handling forty divorces a month for five years, and truly understands the stresses of divorce, personally and professionally.  She is a former Conciliation Court Family Mediator at the Los Angeles Superior Court, a former Psychology Teacher at Beverly Hills High School, a Divorce Co-Parent Educator, and a former Executive Assistant to the Vice President of the William Morris Talent Agency in Beverly Hills.

Growing up, Kathy is the eldest of four children, with three younger brothers.  Every six months her parents went through the stages of divorce and at the last minute her parents decided to stay together.  It was an era of emotional turmoil and trauma for the entire family. At 11 years old, her dream was to become a therapist to help families learn effective communication tools, understand their fears and the fears of their children, help them deal with grief and loss, learn about divorce options and stay out of the court system.

Kathy often works closely with Family Law Attorneys so individuals and couples receive the benefit of psychological as well as legal expertise.  Through education and fair negotiation, she specializes in helping couples increase communication skills so they can create positive and workable Parenting Plans for families and their children, while at the same time working with the intense emotions that can arise in custody cases.

Through education and fair negotiation, she specializes in helping parents work through all stages of their legal divorce and their emotional divorce, as the two go hand in hand.  Her goal is to help increase family consciousness and awareness, and when they’re ready, help them build a new life. When parents choose cooperation, they can retain complete control over all decisions, while never having to step foot in a courtroom.  

Kathy graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Cal State Los Angeles, a Masters Degree in Marriage & Family Therapy from Azusa Pacific University, and a Ph.D. in Psychology from Kensington University.

Dr. Memel is very dedicated to helping couples and families through this transition, and looks forward to working with you.

To learn more about Kathy, visit http://www.drkathymemel.com/ 

Anna is a Wellness Expert with specialties in professional speaking, corporate wellness events and planning, personal training, senior fitness, nutrition, and weight management.  In addition to her work with Vesta, Anna works with businesses and individuals of all ages and walks of life to inspire their passion for a wellness from within. Anna delivers this message to a wide range of audiences through educational events, customized and scalable programs, and customized planning towards each client’s individualized goal.  

A child of divorced parents, Anna has been divorced for over 6 years and is a single mother.  When going through her own divorce, she found herself swimming in emotions and responsibilities, moving to a new city, and maintaining her work in a full time, demanding executive job.  Anna believes she would have benefited from a resource that connected all of the heavy decisions she would have to be making so immediately, that would impact her current situation, and whatever the future had in store in the coming years for both her and her child.   The support of family members and friends made her eternally grateful and with a desire to pay it forward.

When presented with the opportunity to join Vesta’s vetted professional in the Beverly Hills Hub, Anna knew this was her opportunity she was looking for to help others going through all stages of their own divorces.   Her role as Wellness Expert is to help people practice self-care through the divorce process, creating and maintaining a healthy base to drive and grow from with simple, goal-based solutions. Physical well being, exercise, rest, and gratitude, along with other self-care topics are priorities Anna discusses at Vesta events and retreats and with her clients.  By allowing people going through divorce to bring, create and maintain a wellness from within, they can be their optimal best self so they can be present for others and life’s demands. Often, those going through a divorce are overcome with emotions and time restraints. Anna guides people to turn this life-changing situation into a discovery of finding out who is their best self and creating steps to get to that healthy vision.

Anna worked for 18 years as a manager in wealth management and investments, obtaining several industry licenses and credentials, and has a B.S. in Management from University of Phoenix.  After experiencing several significant physical issues from stress, Anna studied, trained, and transitioned into the wellness industry, founding Meraki Fitness, LLC. Anna is involved with her community as an Ambassador at the Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce, a Girl Scout Leader, and enjoys several other philanthropic involvements.

Anna’s extensive background in corporate environments, wellness, divorce, parenthood and philanthropy gives her a unique perspective in helping others find and maintain their wellness from within through all of life’s experiences. 

To learn more about Anna, visit https://www.merakifitnessbyanna.com/ 

As a Financial Advisor and Certified Fund Specialist (CFS), Brendan helps his clients create and protect their wealth using prudent risk management techniques and a holistic/wide-angle approach to maximize cash flow now and in retirement. Brendan’s areas of specialty include wealth management, estate planning & transfer strategies, investments, retirement income, life insurance and long-term care insurance. 

Brendan has worked with many families, including close friends, going through divorce and has seen first-hand how proper financial education and planning can ease stress in the short term during the separation and divorce phases. He excels at being there for his clients and with their immediate needs, and more importantly, making sure the key decisions during this difficult time lay the groundwork for a secure and successful future.  To further his expertise in this area, Brendan recently completed divorce financial analyst coursework.  

Brendan has always had a passion for the financial industry, earning his degrees in Economics with an emphasis on Finance from San Diego State University in 2002. Prior to starting his financial services practice, Brendan worked as a Project Manager in residential development and became a licensed general contractor in 2008. The pain felt by so many during the economic crash, led him back to his true passion of finance. As a Financial Planner, Brendan is able to help clients and loved ones through the difficult times in life and secure an optimistic future. 

Born, raised and living in North County San Diego, you can find Brendan enjoying the surf on the weekends or on the soccer pitch with friends at the Encinitas YMCA. Brendan is also an active member of the community as a 6-year board member of ElderHelp of San Diego, an organization dedicated to helping seniors maintain independence in their own home.  

Brendan is a founding member of the Carlsbad Vesta hub and passionate about the coordinated emotional, financial and legal support that Vesta is bringing to families in his community.

To learn more about Brendan, visit https://www.advisors.massmutual.com/brendan-farrelly

Gregory is a Financial Planner and Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA). The sole purpose of his practice is to create better financial outcomes for his clients. He believes that personalized service, a shared vision, and a balanced academic approach to wealth management is key. He graduated with a double major in mathematics and music from the University of California, Santa Barbara where he also played on their lacrosse team. Out of college, Gregory worked teaching math and music while also coaching a local youth lacrosse team. In his financial practice, Gregory continues to educate people to become empowered to make their own decisions with confidence. He finds great fulfillment helping people with their finances, because through one’s finances they realize their dreams. Having the opportunity to help people make their various dreams become a reality is a profoundly rewarding experience. 

 Gregory’s passion for helping people going through divorce comes directly from his work with children. He saw first hand the effect that divorce has on children and their ability to not only pursue the things they are passionate about but excel in those pursuits. His experience teaching also taught him that understanding where people are in their life, where they’re coming from, and where they’re trying to go is vital to helping them learn and progress. Gregory takes this idea to heart in his financial practice.

When working with people going through divorce it is especially important to meet people “where they are”. Everyone has a unique situation and level of experience, and on top of going through one of the most difficult emotional times of their life they’ve got to navigate one of the most important business transactions of their life, divorce. Divorce is complex, there are emotional, legal, and financial issues that all need to be addressed while balancing your everyday life, and it doesn’t stop there. Once the divorce is finalized you then need to move on and rebuild your new life. This is why Gregory joined Vesta’s team, they understand the complexity of the experience and have built a team of highly vetted professionals to help address each of the different areas. As a team athlete and coach Gregory works well as part of a team and values the power of people working towards a common goal, because it’s impossible for someone to be an expert in everything.

There are many potential pitfalls in the financial part of the divorce process that can impact a person for the rest of their life, and as one of the financial professionals on the team Gregory has specialized in helping people navigating these pitfalls. As a CDFA, his purpose is to help people makes sense of their financial situation and understand the consequences associated with various decisions that they can make. He also brings ideas to the table to help people not only be “okay” but thrive in their lives post-divorce. This is the impact that Gregory lives to make in the lives of his clients.

To learn more about Greg, visit https://advisors.massmutual.com/gregory-r-schmitt 

Laura is a highly sought after divorce mediator offering cost-conscious, conflict managed divorce mediation services in North San Diego County. Laura spent the first 20 years of her legal career as a trial lawyer in Vancouver Canada. Aware of the toll costly and inherently conflict-ridden litigation took on her clients Laura was drawn to the many benefits of mediation and began her training as a mediator in 1998 when it was still a relatively unheard of profession.

Laura relocated to Carlsbad, California more than 15 years ago and few years later found herself drawn into her own litigated divorce. She emerged with a profound and personal awareness of how destructive a litigated divorce can be to the entire family network and her experience with the California divorce court system inspired her to make use of her years of training and professional and personal experience to establish the kind of mediation practice that would be part of the solution for others going through divorce. 

 When Laura established Leave Strong Divorce Services in 2011 she knew she wanted even the name to truly speak to clients. Rather than naming it after herself, she named it “Leave Strong” to communicate in just a few words her mission statement: to help others to leave strong, rather than broke and broken. She did not want to charge hourly to mediate conflict, as she felt that the hourly fee model was in conflict with her mission to mediate tough and often emotional issues in a cost-conscious manner, so she set-up a  flat fee model with no hidden fees. Finally, Laura has not shied away from the emotional demands made of her as a mediator willing to help couples to create a custom parent plan that suits their needs, be it nesting, long-distance parenting, solving for special needs or just helping young families think about a future parenting plan in ways they have not yet imagined. 

Laura graduated in 1984 with her law degree from the University of British Columbia and spent 20 years as a very successful trial lawyer working on behalf of plaintiffs. She has acquired over 300 hours of training as a mediator from such prestigious institutions as The Justice Institute of British Columbia and the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution at Pepperdine.  Laura is a skilled speaker and trainer and she mentors’ other mediators. She typically mediates over 60 divorces a year and is praised by her clients for her calming presence, clear ability to educate, inform, set boundaries, and create a safe and productive environment for mediation. 

Laura is new to Vesta but part of one of the first Southern California Vesta Hubs. As soon as Laura learned about Vesta’s mission to change how couples divorce and saw how carefully they vetted their professional members Laura knew Vesta was perfectly aligned with her own mission statement and is now proud to be  part of the Vesta family of professionals.

To learn more about Laura, visit www.leavestrong.com. 

Rachel has been selling residential real estate in San Diego County since 2011.  She started her career in medical sales and also has interior design experience. Her primary objective is to always treat her clients with loyalty and respect, and to give them premier customer service.  Rachel is truly invested in her clients, not just during the home buying and selling process, but even after the transaction is complete.

Rachel met Linda Lederer Bernstein several years ago at the Helen Woodward Animal Center gala.  They became fast friends and confidants. Their strong friendship and business partnership is centered on a shared vision to help everyone find their place in the world.

Rachel divorced in 2012 after an 18 year marriage.  It was a very challenging time. She was repeatedly surprised by the lack of support available and professional guidance.  Rachel and Linda have subsequently represented numerous divorcing couples in various stages of the divorce process. The intricacies of any real estate transaction require that clients are fully informed and all questions are answered.  Additionally, when a dissolution is transpiring, matters can become more financially and emotionally complex. In these situations, offering a separate point person for each party can help to keep the process moving along smoothly. They actively listen to their clients and offer confidentiality and discretion.

They were very impressed after attending the informative discussion about Vesta, and its expansion to San Diego County.  Because of their experiences with divorce, representing their clients and a desire to give back, they believed there was a need for change and support in this area.  Their services have been marketed to the family law community in San Diego and they have been providing educational newsletters to local divorce attorneys to keep them informed.  They also host various events, including Quarterly “Meet, Mingle & Mix “gatherings, which provide an opportunity for networking and friendship.

Their services are characterized as “hands- on”, with a boutique style and personal attention to each client. They emphasize that they know their sales area intimately. As a team, they are consistently evolving and growing with newer technology and marketing strategies. They place a great deal of importance on offering a caring and personal connection to each of their clients, giving them a completely dedicated and committed approach to meet their needs.

To learn more about Rachel, visit www.coastalrealestatesandiego.com 

As a Realtor with 34 years’ experience, Linda started her career in property management, new construction and title and escrow, providing her with extensive knowledge of every aspect of a real estate transaction. She places a great deal of importance on offering a caring and personal connection to each of her clients, giving them a completely dedicated and committed agent. As someone who has lived in San Diego for the last 37 years, she knows each of the areas intimately and can match her clients with the lifestyle they desire. Linda is truly invested in her clients, not just during the home buying and selling process, but even after the transaction is complete. She has formed long lasting relationships with all of her clients because she truly cares.

Linda met Rachel Collins several years ago at the Helen Woodward Animal Center Gala.  They became fast friends and confidants. Their strong friendship and business partnership is centered on a shared vision to help everyone find their place in the world.

Linda identifies with the challenges of divorce and the effect it has on the whole family. Living through divorce at a young age with her brother, Linda experienced first-hand the disruption and instability of a traditional home life. Linda experienced her own divorce with a new born baby. Her attorney gave her little guidance and did not counsel her on what to expect.  After this experience, she felt the need to guide others through the trials and tribulations of this most trying time. Linda and Rachel have represented numerous divorcing couples in various stages of the divorce process. The intricacies of any real estate transaction require that clients are fully informed and all questions are answered. Additionally, when a dissolution is transpiring, matters can become more financially and emotionally complex. In these situations, offering a separate point person for each party can help to keep the process moving along smoothly. They actively listen to their clients and offer confidentiality and discretion.

They were very impressed after attending the informative discussion about Vesta, and its expansion to San Diego County.  Because of their experiences with divorce, representing their clients and a desire to give back, they believed there was a need for change and support in this area.  Their services have been marketed to the family law community in San Diego and they have been providing educational newsletters to local divorce attorneys to keep them informed.  They also host various events, including their Quarterly “Meet, Mingle & Mix “gatherings, which provide an opportunity for networking and friendship.

Their services are characterized as “hands- on”, with a boutique style and personal attention to each client. They emphasize that they know their sales area intimately. As a team, they are

consistently evolving and growing with newer technology and marketing strategies. They place a great deal of importance on offering a caring and personal connection to each of their clients, giving them a completely dedicated and committed approach to meet their needs.

To learn more about Linda, visit www.surfandturfhomes.com 

Dr. Erika Austin is a Transformational Life Coach specializing in helping people through major life transitions. Whether dealing with divorce, the death of a loved one, career changes, or overwhelming health concerns, she will be your guide. In addition to her work with Vesta, Erika offers one-on-one coaching and is a motivational speaker and writer.

Erika understands divorce from a professional as well as personal level. She went through her own divorce over ten years ago, and during that time, she recalls feeling overwhelmed and a bit isolated. Sadness and shame were central themes during her divorce, and while she did have some support, she wished for more guidance and direction during that challenging time. 

Over the past four years, as a transformational coach, Erika has had the opportunity to serve others going through a divorce by providing the guidance, support, and resources she wished she had during her divorce. Her role as a Transformational Life Coach is to provide people with coping strategies to understand and manage their emotions and thought patterns. By doing this, her clients are better able to develop productive, healthy, informed decisions designed to benefit them and their families.

Erika’s work directly aligns with Vesta’s mission. Her coaching vision is also to help transform challenging life transitions into an opportunity for positive growth and expansion. By providing the space for healing and growth, her clients and their families can create a renewed life. She is passionate about eliminating the fear and shame that may be associated with divorce. Instead, she offers a container of support and empowerment in a welcoming, friendly setting. 

Erika has a B.A. in Psychology from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and earned her M.A. and Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of California, Irvine. In addition to owning her life coaching practice, Erika has worked in many capacities, including non-profit director, university professor, and middle school, and high school director. Beyond teaching several Sociology and Psychology courses, her professional experience as a director of a school sharpened her practical experience of working with divorced families. Together with parents and students, she supported families as they navigated divorce through various stages. 

Since that role, she has loved guiding people via one-on-one coaching sessions on how to better navigate divorce and start a new life post-divorce. This includes going through the grief stages, redefining oneself, co-parenting, healing, dating again, and creating a renewed future. 

Erika’s extensive background in psychology, sociology, and coaching gives her a unique perspective in helping people achieve greater joy, satisfaction, and success in their relationships and all areas of their lives.

To learn more about Erika, visit https://drerikaaustin.com/ 

Melissa is a Wellness Consultant and Educator who provides clean living solutions that empower people towards optimal health. Her specialties are in brain function, detoxification, lymphatic and digestive system improvement, stress reduction, weight management, women’s health, spirituality, and self-healing. In addition to her work with Vesta, Melissa works with individuals and groups, facilitates workshops, events, and training. Her inspirational speaking stems from worldwide resources and impacts a wide range of audiences.

Married for over 17 years, Melissa landed sunny side up after a very difficult divorce. She failed a few times, learned about her own power, and picked up the pieces. Her biggest success was blazing new trails within the court system. Through the grace of God, her family’s loving support, and her willpower to attain freedom, she heard not just once, but three times, “That rarely happens!” as she navigated the divorce process. Now Melissa dedicates her time to providing wellness divorce support to others.

Working with Vesta, she has the opportunity to aide others in their transformation at all stages of divorce. Her role as a Health and Wellness Educator is to help teach people how to maintain mental and emotional health during the divorce process so they can make effective, healthy, and informed decisions. Though it can be difficult to steer away from emotionally-driven decisions, these decisions are frequently more expensive and ultimately, not always in their or their families’ best interests. The entire Vesta team places great value on establishing strength from within, which in turn builds the foundation for positive growth and change. The divorce process is a challenging life transition that provides the opportunity to create something even better for themselves in their post-divorce life.

Melissa received her education through a formal degree and informal educational sources. Being in a constant state of continuing education she opens herself to being both a teacher, and a student. In addition to growing her own business, Melissa has worked in a variety of other settings, including community health centers, non-profit agencies, boards of directors, and government agencies. 

With her extensive background in integrative health options, and wellness consulting, this gives her a unique perspective in helping people achieve greater results. Peace is accomplished by attaining happiness and success in all areas of life. It’s everyone’s right to thrive. Every moment of every day we can be our best, most loving and vibrant selves. Together, let’s step up to show up better than yesterday.

To learn more about Melissa, visit https://www.r2wtransformations.org/ 

Growing up in Chicago, Nick followed in his grandmother’s footsteps and attended Northwestern University where he studied International Political Economics. Recruited on campus in 2005 by a 30-year financial advising veteran, he joined New York Life and began working in personal financial advising, with an emphasis in retirement income planning. His passion in advising was centered on helping the blue-collar community that he grew up in. Eight years into his career Nick decided to move to California so he and his family could be closer to his wife, Candice’s hometown in Orange County. While there, he joined the advising firm, Signature Resources 

After moving to California Nick was introduced to Vesta and its collaboration of professionals. They were so passionate about helping families that were going through the divorce process that Nick quickly became very interested in joining their cause. Coming from a family of divorce, Nick witnessed first hand the emotional and financial stress that divorce put on a couple and their loved ones and could easily see the value and impact that Vesta made in the divorce community. Collaborating with the amazing team of professionals in Vesta has given Nick the opportunity to serve families in Orange County and help them reach the best financial outcomes possible while going through the divorce process.

To learn more about Nick, visit https://pacificcoast.massmutual.com/about-us/our-management-team/nicholas-ewen

After earning his degree in Economics, Brett started his career in institutional asset management with clients including pensions, endowments and foundations. He later moved into alternative investment syndication, helping to develop programs for institutional and accredited investors. After the major market declines in 2008 and its aftermath, Brett moved into financial planning because it became clear to him that for people to truly have a successful financial experience they need a thorough financial plan that includes ways to grow their wealth and also protect it from the inherent risks of investing and the financial impact of life uncertainties.

 Working with a broad range of clients, from individuals and families to for profit and non profit organizations, Brett has seen first hand the pain, fear and frustration his clients experience with the various stages of divorce. Whether they are just considering, going through or on the other side of a divorce, Brett and his team offer people comprehensive divorce financial planning services that include clarifying asset division options, providing cash flow analysis and the future implications of the financial decisions people make during the divorce process.

 Ultimately, Brett’s goal in working with clients is to help them answer the question “Am I going to be okay?” He believes in the value a team approach brings when helping people feel they are informed about the process to make decisions that positively impact themselves and their families. Brett and his team are unique in that they guide the client through divorce and help them in rebuilding their financial life after divorce. Whether a financial plan or investment advice is needed, Brett focuses on the strategy of how to get people on track to accomplishing their goals.

To learn more about Brett, visit http://srcmadvisors.com/why-signature/the-team/

 Patricia is passionate about helping individuals, families, and business owners achieve peace of mind by developing and implementing creative cost-effective plans tailored to the unique needs each clients. 

Patricia has been a practicing attorney since May of 2011. Prior to attending law school, she was a family law paralegal for approximately 20 years.  In that time, she acted as a Paralegal for several attorneys. After establishing her own practice, she used her skills and knowledge from her two decades of previous experience to develop her own family law practice with the best interests of her clients at heart. 

Patricia went through her own divorce when her three children were very young. During that time, she was working as a paralegal and used those skills to assist her in preparing her own documents to present to her attorney. 

Patricia understands the challenges of going through a divorce and understands that no matter who decides that it is time to ultimately end a marriage, the process can be a difficult and painful one.  Patricia strives to assist her clients in getting through the divorce process with the least pain possible. She also understands the challenges of raising children without a partner and seeks to assist families in transitioning to co-parents from being a couple. 

Patricia raised three children as a single mother while working and attending law school at nights and on weekends. After graduating from law school, she established her first office and opened her doors as a sole practitioner.  The focus of her practice is to assist families in their life transitions and growth. Patricia’s office prides itself on being able to establish personal connections with their clients. While working at other law firms, Patricia realized that very often the attorneys knew little about the client or the family that they were working with and she wanted to practice differently.  Patricia’s understanding of the key to being a trusted counselor and advisor and the key to achieving the client’s objectives is to genuinely know the client on a personal level. 

Patricia knows that family is important, which is why she wanted to create a family focused practice.  Patricia is determined to create sincere, long lasting relationships with her clients, and help guide them through life’s journeys and changes the best she can.  Patricia represents both married and single individuals with family law related legal needs. This includes, but is not limited to, adoptions, prenuptial agreements, post-nuptial agreements, contested and uncontested divorces, child custody matters, guardianship, military divorce, paternity cases and child support modifications.  With this experience, Patricia has become comfortable with understanding intricacies of property arrangements, and the characterization of property as it relates to her clients’ situations and needs. Patricia’s office can help you with family law matters through litigation, collaborative divorce or mediation.

In addition to practicing family law, Patricia works in the probate arena in setting up guardianships and conservatorships for minors, individuals with special needs, and individuals who can no longer manage their own affairs. Patricia treats her clients like family, protecting their interests as if they were her own, and make sound recommendations to help them accomplish their planning goals.

Patricia is a new member of Vesta. She has wanted to find a way to use her skills to educate the public about the process of divorce and to help her community.  Vesta has the same philosophies that Patricia uses in her practice and she wants to be able to provide her clients with a collaborative approach to the divorce process and to provide them with resources that they will need to assist them after the divorce is over. Vesta can help Patricia achieve these goals. 

To learn more about Patricia, visit pcvlawyer.com 

Nicole M. Christopherson is a highly respected and sought-after real estate expert who has been helping couples, families and individuals buy and sell throughout the coastal and estate neighborhoods within Orange County since 2003.  A Southern California native, she is renowned for her in-depth knowledge of the real estate system—from demographics, market trends and timing to property sales, management and leasing. Over the years, she has earned a stellar reputation as a trusted advisor and partner to clients and colleagues alike in choice locales such as Newport Beach, Mission Viejo, Coto De Caza and Huntington Beach as well as high- and mid-rise communities in Irvine.

Prioritizing family, health and personal well-being, Nicole is passionate about helping people navigate the stress that comes with a move, particularly when it is initiated by a divorce, which often presents more than logistical, financial and legal challenges. Clients who face the added stress of this transition require a thoughtful, grounded and compassionate real estate professional who can be trusted beyond reproach to ensure their needs and expectations are not just met but exceeded. With a wealth of experience providing steadfast support to many clients before, during and after divorce, Nicole is committed to helping people move forward and embrace the next chapter of life with clarity and confidence.

With an undergraduate degree in education from Arizona State University and a master’s degree in literacy from Chapman University, Nicole leverages her rich background and applies it to every aspect of real estate, from growing a one-person operation into a successful full-service real estate agency—NMC Realty—to educating her clients. As home and property values rise and fall, she works tenaciously to keep them informed and market savvy to help protect their most valuable assets. This is especially important when divorce is part of the equation. With a keen awareness that dividing assets and households even in the most amicable of circumstances can be life-altering, she communicates with genuine authority that puts people at ease and lifts their burdens. Being so passionate about her ability to support others throughout the home buying and selling process and having the keen awareness to give strength during what is often an uncharted path or time in a person’s life is sincerely the driving force that led her to partner with Vesta in 2019.

To learn more about Nicole, visit: www.NMCRealty.com

Heather is a Divorce Coach, a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst, a Financial Coach and a CPA (inactive). She founded Divorce Transition Mentors thinking there must be a better support system for the days that people are too emotionally and physically exhausted to face all of the decisions and organizing that the divorce process requires.  Her goal for her clients is to have them come through their divorce as emotionally, financially and physically whole as possible. 

Heather started her practice after going through her own divorce 3 years ago and wondering who she could have called to support her. She needed someone to help her “adult” through the decisions and be a sounding board for making the hard decisions that divorce requires.

Vesta’s mission of redefining divorce by providing education, connection and empowerment to people before, during and after divorce resonated with Heather’s vision for her practice immediately. She is really excited to be a part of the founding group bringing this successful model to the California market and work with a vetted group of like-minded professionals. 

Heather brings a unique balance of a strong financial background and passion for coaching and change management. In her previous career she was a supply chain executive managing large integrations and re-organizations. She is passionate about bringing these skills to help individuals through the transitions that divorce can bring about.

Learn more about Heather at DivorceTransitionMentors.com 

Garrett is a Financial Advisor with specialties in income protection, retirement planning, overall financial strategies. Garrett offers financial planning services for those considering or going through the divorce process. He helps by looking at asset and insurance options, cash flow analysis, and the future implications of the financial decisions people make during the divorce process. All in all, his goal in working with his clients is to help them answer the question “Am I going to be okay?”. 

 While he is not a child of divorce itself, he has seen the effect it has had on his family members who have gone through it. Coming from a background where divorce is practically seen as taboo, Garrett saw the effects that divorce had on his family members and the shame they felt for “failing” in their marriages. His drive for his work is fueled by a passion for helping others. He hopes to change the stigma around divorce that has left a dark cloud around several of his family members in recent years. 

 Garrett recently joined Vesta as part of their West Coast expansion. He found Vesta’s model and core values to be immensely powerful and a great fit for his own personality and penchant for helping others in need. Garrett understands the value of a team approach to help clients feel they are informed about the process to make decisions that positively impact themselves and their families. Garrett helps his clients navigate the financial options that they have and the future implications of those decisions. Most insurance and financial professionals help the client for a certain period and don’t offer services beyond a certain point. Garrett and his team are unique in that they help guide their client through the process, this is particularly important in the divorce process and helping the client in rebuilding their financial life after divorce. 

Garrett graduated with a B.S. in Kinesiology with a concentration in Sport Psychology from California State University, Long Beach. Garrett has always had a love for helping and connecting with others which was a key factor in his decision to pursue a career in financial services. He hails from a family of financial advisors and is the 3 rd generation of his family to come into the business. He feels very fortunate to be able to help others while doing something he loves. 

 To learn more about Garret, visit https://advisors.massmutual.com/garrett-kaltenbach

Amanda Singer Esq., MDR, CDFA is a family mediator and co-owner of San Diego Family Mediation Center. She is also a licensed attorney and Certified Divorce Financial Analyst. She works to help families improve communication, solve problems and reach agreements while staying out of court.

Amanda strongly believes that communication is the key to resolving any conflict. She works with families, divorcing and pre-marital couples to help deal with conflict constructively. Amanda and her colleague recently co-authored a chapter on Blended Family Mediation that was featured in Putting Kids First in Divorce: How to Reduce Conflict, Preserve Relationships and Protect Children During and After Divorce, which is now an Amazon #1 Best-Selling Book in Divorce & Separation!

Amanda is on the board of Academy of Professional Family Mediators and is the co-chair for this year’s conference. She is a member of the State Bar of California and actively involved in Lawyers Club of San Diego.

To learn more about Amanda, visit https://sdfmc.com/amanda-d-singer/Meet

Kenneth Lee is an attorney specializing in Family Law and is the Principal and Senior Counsel at Schweitzer Law Group.  He earned his Bachelor of Science degree from California State University, Los Angeles and was awarded his Juris Doctor degree from Whittier College School of Law.  He represents clients in all aspects of divorce, from beginning to end, and even after a divorce is over. He advises clients in all divorce related issues, which include child custody and visitation, child support, spousal support, dividing assets and debts.  He further advises clients regarding issues arising after a divorce judgment is entered such as modifying child custody and visitation, modifying child or spousal support or enforcing terms of a divorce judgment.

Kenneth has been practicing law for over 22 years and has handled a variety of cases ranging from criminal law, civil litigation and military law.  He uses his broad experience to help clients navigate and understand the divorce process, as well as assist them in making decisions throughout the process on what is best for them and their particular situation.  

In his representation of persons undergoing a divorce, Kenneth has come to realize how frightening and stressful the divorce process can be due to people not understanding the process, what their options are, or what information they need to effectively deal with the divorce process.  Kenneth distinguishes himself by making it a point to ensure that his clients understand all the steps of the divorce process and what information they need to collect so that they are best equipped to deal with the divorce case, bring it to a conclusion, and best set themselves up for success going forward for a new start after the divorce is completed by the court system.

To learn more about Kenneth, visit https://slgfirm.com/staff-member/kenneth-lee/

What sets Kelly apart as a real estate agent is her passion, both for real estate and helping clients through two of the biggest transitions of their lifetime –  a divorce and a House Sale. Achieving a special designation as a Real Estate Collaboration Specialist in Divorce – RCS-DTM and going on her 14th year as a divorced, single mother of 3 children (now grown), she wanted to pursue a deeper knowledge of how to better assist divorcing couples through the process of uncoupling. Assisting couples in this capacity has been a goal of Kelly’s for quite sometime and partnering with Vesta gives her the ability to become a resource and be able to provide a service to those who seek to be more informed about the divorce process. 

Kelly has been living in North County San Diego, specifically Carlsbad, for seventeen years as well as in the Carmel Valley and Del Mar communities for 8 years before that. Her college degree is in Advertising & Marketing and out of college she worked for a local ad agency in Del Mar. She left that career to raise her children and pursue her passion in real estate. Prior to becoming a real estate agent, she worked as a real estate appraiser and as a mortgage loan officer. Her combined experience in real estate is going on 19 years, the last 9 of them being a full time Realtor®. 

Having gone through her own divorce created a fire in her to pay it forward to help women and men in a similar situation navigate the divorce process, sharing the knowledge she gained from her own experience.

“I made a lot of mistakes in my divorce because I just didn’t know. Vesta would have been such a valuable resource for me when I was going through it. I want to help the couple as a whole to preserve their home ownership eligibility once the dust settles and help protect their credit scores so they can move on after divorcing and be able to purchase a home of their own and begin their fresh new start. Emotions can escalate where decisions are made out of spite and I want to help in keeping things calm and serve to remind my clients of what’s important to get to the finish line.” 

Selling the marital home can can be the most emotional part of uncoupling. Her business approach in working with divorcing clients is to give them extraordinary, compassionate and professional service that goes above and beyond a typical client/ agent relationship. If the client’s desire is to stay in the home, she will help with the house homework to stay in the home, and work collaboratively with the attorney and lender to assist in the buyout of the exiting spouse. On the flip side, often times the house has to be sold to to finalize the divorce, and Kelly is there every step of the way. Preparing the home to sell is a big task and can be overwhelming. She has a vetted team of subcontractors to assist in the preparation and will take that burden off of her clients so they can focus on other things. 

Outside of her job, Kelly loves to volunteer, travel, explore local farmers markets, wine tasting, the beach, and the mountains. Her genuine love for her work and helping people through challenging times obviously shines through in both her personal and professional life. 

Learn more about Kelly at https://kellygriffin.elliman.com/

Valerie Upham is a licensed real estate agent with over 15 years of selling in the coastal and central San Diego cities. She is a Real Estate Collaboration Specialist in Divorce (RCS-D™) focusing on consumer protection in divorce and elder real estate. She is among the 1% of licensed real estate agents who hold this designation. She’s also a Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES ® ). She has assisted hundreds of clients reach their real estate goals as a top 5% selling Realtor in San Diego. Determining property values all over the county is one of her strengths. 

As a Realtor, Valerie has assisted many clients going through divorce. She partners with both spouses to find the best solution, whether that’s selling a home or finding a way for one party to stay in the home. If the decision is to keep the house, Valerie can provide the fundamental documents to satisfy your “house homework” for your attorney at no cost to you. If you proceed with selling the house, it’s her priority to protect one of the marriage’s most valuable assets—your home. 

Valerie analyzes each unique situation and advises on how to maximize your return. She works in a friendly, compassionate, and productive way for all parties. She accommodates each person’s individual needs because she recognizes that both parties are not always coming from the same place. Valerie provides guidance through all of the decisions and logistics involved in dividing and selling the house. She educates and recommends options that may not have been considered so everyone involved can make an informed decision on what’s best for their post-divorce needs.

Divorce can be challenging. Valerie makes the home buying and selling experience as easy as possible and sets you up for success as you settle into your new home and begin your new journey. 

To learn more about Valerie, visit https://www.theuphamgroup.com/

Juergen Schmid is a highly engaged Mortgage Consultant and Coach who specializes in problem solving, perspective and enhancing lives by providing the proper resources to move forward in life after divorce. A large portion of his practice deals with people going through life changes and he has earned the prestiges RCS-D Designation (Real Estate Collaboration Specialist, specializing in Divorce). His alliance with VESTA is an extension of his passion to support people going through any stage of divorce and move on to the next chapter of their life. 

Having two children, including one that was in the Little League World Series in 2015, has magnified the importance of proper leadership and guidance to achieve desired goals. The collaboration concept promoted by VESTA is one that rings true in every aspect in life. The African proverb of “If you want to go quickly, go alone-If you want to go far, go together,” rings true to him every moment of every day. It just makes sense. Support makes sense. 

Divorce has touched Juergen personally in many ways, including the most recent divorce of his younger sister. He was part of the family recovery in a big way supporting his two nephews and his sister, who has since moved on to continue supporting her kids in a positive way. 

Juergen’s role as a mortgage coach is to provide options in the often found dissolution of the family home through creative refinancing or repurchasing a home. Working with a Broker allows him to offer wholesale rates and programs that are not as easily found. The ability to truly work for the client by “shopping” a loan, allows for greater flexibility. He places an enormous emphasis on maintaining credit scores and guiding clients to the most informed decisions possible. 

Ultimately, Juergen believes that there is no “I” in “Team” and that team members all have a role to play. He also sits on the Board of the National non-profit Board of Directors for VAREP (Veteran’s Association of Real Estate Professionals). Collaboration is key. 

Learn more about Juergen at https://www.westerncapitalmtg.com/juergen

Dr. Erika Austin is a Transformational Life Coach specializing in helping people through major life transitions. Whether dealing with divorce, the death of a loved one, career changes, or overwhelming health concerns, she will be your guide. In addition to her work with Vesta, Erika offers one-on-one coaching and is a motivational speaker and writer.

Erika understands divorce from a professional as well as personal level. She went through her own divorce over ten years ago, and during that time, she recalls feeling overwhelmed and a bit isolated. Sadness and shame were central themes during her divorce, and while she did have some support, she wished for more guidance and direction during that challenging time. 

Over the past four years, as a transformational coach, Erika has had the opportunity to serve others going through a divorce by providing the guidance, support, and resources she wished she had during her divorce. Her role as a Transformational Life Coach is to provide people with coping strategies to understand and manage their emotions and thought patterns. By doing this, her clients are better able to develop productive, healthy, informed decisions designed to benefit them and their families.

Erika’s work directly aligns with Vesta’s mission. Her coaching vision is also to help transform challenging life transitions into an opportunity for positive growth and expansion. By providing the space for healing and growth, her clients and their families can create a renewed life. She is passionate about eliminating the fear and shame that may be associated with divorce. Instead, she offers a container of support and empowerment in a welcoming, friendly setting. 

Erika has a B.A. in Psychology from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and earned her M.A. and Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of California, Irvine. In addition to owning her life coaching practice, Erika has worked in many capacities, including non-profit director, university professor, and middle school, and high school director. Beyond teaching several Sociology and Psychology courses, her professional experience as a director of a school sharpened her practical experience of working with divorced families. Together with parents and students, she supported families as they navigated divorce through various stages. 

Since that role, she has loved guiding people via one-on-one coaching sessions on how to better navigate divorce and start a new life post-divorce. This includes going through the grief stages, redefining oneself, co-parenting, healing, dating again, and creating a renewed future. 

Erika’s extensive background in psychology, sociology, and coaching gives her a unique perspective in helping people achieve greater joy, satisfaction, and success in their relationships and all areas of their lives.

To learn more about Erika, visit https://drerikaaustin.com/ 

Heather is a Divorce Coach, a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst, a Financial Coach and a CPA (inactive). She founded Divorce Transition Mentors thinking there must be a better support system for the days that people are too emotionally and physically exhausted to face all of the decisions and organizing that the divorce process requires.  Her goal for her clients is to have them come through their divorce as emotionally, financially and physically whole as possible. 

Heather started her practice after going through her own divorce 3 years ago and wondering who she could have called to support her. She needed someone to help her “adult” through the decisions and be a sounding board for making the hard decisions that divorce requires.

Vesta’s mission of redefining divorce by providing education, connection and empowerment to people before, during and after divorce resonated with Heather’s vision for her practice immediately. She is really excited to be a part of the founding group bringing this successful model to the California market and work with a vetted group of like-minded professionals. 

Heather brings a unique balance of a strong financial background and passion for coaching and change management. In her previous career she was a supply chain executive managing large integrations and re-organizations. She is passionate about bringing these skills to help individuals through the transitions that divorce can bring about.

Learn more about Heather at DivorceTransitionMentors.com 

Tanya is a college planning specialist and financial advisor who teaches parents and students how to navigate the financial aid system to make college as affordable as possible and guide them through the college admissions process overall. 

Tanya came to the financial industry, and specifically college planning, because she went through a divorce over 6 years ago and was concerned about how she was going to afford college as a single mother.  Tanya works with parents to make them aware during and after the divorce process of various issues that may arise resulting from the divorce when it is time to send their children to college.  

Tanya has recently joined Vesta as a vetted professional in San Diego.  She chose to become a part of Vesta because when she was going through her own divorce with no support or family close by, she was forced to learn how to be both parents to her small children.  She built her own team of people to help her through the divorce and heal. Tanya joined Vesta to be part of a talented, existing team and offer her own experience and expertise as a resource.

Tanya grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  She graduated from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, with a B.A. in English and History.  She earned her JD from Case Western Reserve Law, also in Cleveland, Ohio. Tanya chose to build a career in legal publishing as a legal editor for Bloomberg BNA in Washington, D.C. and Arlington, Virginia, for over 10 years focusing on corporate law.  When Tanya moved to San Diego, she continued to freelance for Bloomberg and local clients.

Tanya’s education, life experience, and training gives her a unique advantage to financially help families plan for college and beyond.   

 To learn more about Tanya, visit https://tanyaaure.com/

Glenn is a Financial Advisor, Investment Advisor Representative (Series 65), Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA) in progress, Life & Health Agent is Medicare certified and a member of Taylor Financial Services.  He has dedicated a large part of his practice focus to working with clients in all phases of the divorce process. Glenn provides his clients with holistic financial wellness planning and designs plans which take into consideration the division of assets, income analysis, tax diversification and planning for retirement to provide clients with their best financial outcomes in the divorce process.   Glenn’s mission is to give people peace of mind and clarity in knowing “they came to the right place” to navigate the divorce process.  

Glenn is dedicated to working with people through the divorce process and experienced it first hand when his parents got divorced after a long marriage.  Even though he was a young adult, it still had a significant effect on him and his siblings. Additionally, Glenn himself got divorced after 24 years of marriage and raising 3 young adults.  He knows first-hand that many people are operating in a mental and emotional “fog” going through this process which can impair one’s judgement. Glenn is dedicated to helping people in this position navigate to clear waters with the wind in their sails.

Over the course of his career, Glenn has excelled at every level.  Before joining the financial services industry 7 years ago, he was a founder of a successful information technology firm with over 500 employees.  Although he was accomplished in business, he derives greater enjoyment from helping people make sense of the world of financial instruments and financial wellness.   He believes discussions are made to be more complex than they really are. He prides himself in being able to talk about finances in a way that can be easily understood by someone who doesn’t live in the world of finance and says “armed with enough, intelligible information, people will make the right decision in their best interest”.  

Glenn graduated from Arizona State University with a B.S. in General Business administration.  Of note, he was a member of the 12-0 Fiesta Bowl and Co-National Champion SunDevil Football team in 1975.   His special skill is connecting with people and lifting them up. 

To learn more about Glenn, visit https://www.taylorinsfin.com/glenn-crawford/

I am Mike Sangervasi and I am a Financial Services Professional with Signature Resources in Irvine, California. I specialize in working with clients going through divorce.  I am personally motivated to assist persons in the divorce process because their need for support is urgent. I recently chose to work with Vesta because the whole person is supported, and all the resources are immediately available. I work collaboratively with my other financial services professional colleague in the hub and we both have access to our firm’s nation-wide resources.  I am originally from San Francisco, I have a master’s degree and I am currently working on a divorce financial analyst certification.  

To learn more about Mike, visit https://advisors.massmutual.com/michael-sangervasi 

Bio coming soon!

Zivile is an accomplished real estate agent with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties specializing in the residential market here in Southern California. She sold her first property at the tender age of 18 and also was owner and operator of an agency in Lithuania, her birth country.  Zivile worked with major builders and also built several pristine homes from the ground up herself, so she has a strong understanding of construction as well. She has sold 1000’s of properties in her career and consistently provides the highest level of service across all phases of the real estate transaction process.  Whether it’s preparing homes for sale or locating properties for purchase she is adept at marketing, market analysis, social media marketing, negotiating, staging and completing all facets of the paperwork and processing. Moreover, her dedication to customer service and customer satisfaction is of the highest level.  

Her firm offers concierge services that provide interest free loans for property improvements so her clients get top dollar for the sale.   Her clients appreciate the way she goes the extra mile for them and how she makes the process easy by listing out every detail of the timeline and expectations.   Her clients absolutely love her signature open houses replete with her exquisite handmade pastries. 

Zivile’s parents divorced when she was a child and has also gone through the divorce process more than once as an adult.  She knows first-hand the turmoil a life changing event like this can cause and joined the Vesta team to help people go through the process with a lot more clarity and confidence than she experienced.   She places great value in the collaborative process at Vesta.

One of the things that sets Zivile apart in the industry is her deep sense of caring and her ability to quickly connect with people.  Additionally, she is known to brighten up any room she enters.  

Besides running her own real estate agency in Lithuania where she started her career, she also studied Law at Mykolas Romeris University for 3 years before moving to California in 2011.  She is fluent in Lithuanian, Russian and English.

To learn more about Zivile, visit www.zivilerealestate.com 

Teresa is a licensed Real Estate Broker with specialties in divorce focused on the creation of win/win property sale and new home acquisition strategies, real estate asset maximization, 1031 exchange, pre-sale design and preparation and works with a wide range of asset values from lovely small homes to luxury estate properties.   She is an expert in architectural and historic property sales. With years of experience in residential home sales, Teresa sees herself as an expert in transition. At Vesta, her goal is to facilitate transition for her clients with the best information and resources.

Teresa has been divorced for over 21 years.  In hindsight, although her divorce was disruptive and difficult, her post-divorce years are the best of her adult life.  As an entrepreneur, Teresa’s business ventures became local post-divorce and working locally, with little business travel, has allowed her to discover the joy of home and community.  By helping people re-create home during and after divorce, Teresa feels incredible satisfaction. Home, for Teresa, is the launch-pad of new beginnings.

As a founding member of Vesta’s Pasadena Hub, Teresa can help people at all stages of divorce to use the real estate they currently own as a strategic starting place for the next phase of life.  To begin with the end in mind is a powerful tool when creating strategies regarding real estate sale and purchase. Teresa places great value on Vesta’s collaborative approach to divorce, as information is the key to strategic decision making.  Teresa is laser- focused on finding ways to navigate decision-making regarding real estate to create both value and life-style for her Vesta clients.

A fun fact about Teresa; she gave the commencement address at both her high school and college graduations.  At Mills College, Teresa graduated with a BA in Communications and Art History. Teresa earned an MA from USC in Communications Management and while studying at USC taught History of Art and Architecture and studied for an MBA in Entrepreneurship at the Marshall School.  She has studied Historic Preservation at California College of Arts and Crafts with Hand Dunlop and has a certificate in Construction Management from UCLA. After 10 years of highly successful corporate sales and management experience, she has worked in real estate for the past 20 years.  She was #1 agent at Sotheby’s Pasadena in 2017 and transitioned to Compass where she has remained top ten among the most productive agents in the area. She has recently been appointed to the City of Los Angeles Historic Preservation Zone Board.

Teresa’s unique background in art history, architecture, historic preservation, construction, business and marketing is the perfect storm for success in real estate.

To learn more about Teresa, visit https://www.compass.com/agents/teresa-fuller/

 Michelle is a Loan Officer with Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation, a nationwide Direct Lender.  Fairway provides a wide range of mortgage programs – from Conventional and FHA products to Jumbo and Reverse Mortgages.   Their mission is to help determine the best program to suit their customer’s needs.

As a mortgage advisor, Michelle helps those going through a divorce in a couple of ways.  First, she can assist one spouse from buying out the other’s interest in a property through a refinance. Second, she can help with financing options to purchase a new home. Knowing your options as it relates to equity in a property owned jointly,  can be quite a comfort through the divorce process.  

As a child of divorce, Michelle saw firsthand how difficult this process can be on a family, especially when not handled correctly.  She also went through a divorce in 2004 and worked together with her ex-husband to make it as easy as they possible could, for both themselves and their daughter.  Michelle understood then, the importance of communication, planning, cooperation and proper research to make the transition easier for everyone.

Michelle decided to join Vesta when it expanded into Southern California so that she could share her own experience, as proof that a divorce does not have to be contentious, and confrontational. With proper guidance and attention, we can help create a peaceful future, starting with a home of your own.

Michelle graduated from California State University, Los Angeles with a Bachelor of Science Degree.  Since then she has volunteered with Rotary International and TEAM Referral Network, a business networking group in Pasadena CA.

To learn more about Michelle, visit https://www.fairwayindependentmc.com/Michelle-McConville

Mondie is a Licensed Mortgage Banker who specializes in strategic mortgage planning.  She has used this specialty to assist individuals going through divorce to create a plan and ensure they are able to secure financing whether they stay in their current home or purchase a new one.  She understands that navigating the loan approval process while going through a divorce can be both stressful and difficult. 

While Mondie has been married for over 30 years, she is the child of a painful and financially devastating divorce.  This divorce changed the course of her life. She and her mother moved out of their family home and her college plans were put on hold.  She found herself as a teenager needing to support herself. That need to survive led her to a lifelong career in Mortgage Banking and she found her passion in helping families achieve the dream of owning a home. 

Over her career, Mondie has had the opportunity to help individuals in all stages of divorce. It is her goal that every family she helps has a strategic plan to successfully retain their current home or purchase a new one. Her priority is to educate her clients on their choices so they can make confident decisions about their financing, while understanding that any plan takes into consideration their current financial situation and long term objectives.   Over many years she has found that a strategic plan is the key to making good choices and reducing the stress associated with the mortgage process and purchasing a home. It is her goal to be a partner that is relied upon for advice and guidance on the planning and management of their largest financial obligation, regardless of their stage in life.

Mondie has consistently been in the Top 1% of Mortgage Bankers, nationally.  She feels very fortunate to have found a profession that she not only loves but one that also allows her to help people. She understands that mortgage banking is about solving problems and creating financial solutions that are unique to each family. Participating in Vesta has allowed Mondie to help families rebuild their financial and emotional wellbeing through home ownership, something she understands on a personal level is very important to any individual after going through a divorce.

To learn more about Mondie, visit https://www.fairwayindependentmc.com/Mondie-Picl. 

 Lori is a Certified Life Coach, Specializing in Divorce, Life Transitions, Mindset and Positive Aging. In addition to her work with Vesta, Lori works with individuals, facilitates groups and speaks on topics related to personal growth, transformation and moving life forward. 

Divorced for over 12 years now, Lori was able to partner with her former spouse through their divorce with respect, regard and support for their changing family, their children’s wellbeing and theirs as well. They worked together with the goal of doing the best possible for the good of the family. Lori knows that this can be a challenge during an emotion filled and very difficult time and that it is not always possible for both parties to be in agreement, though she absolutely believes that when we help ourselves to make even the smallest changes in our mindset, the impact can be great. 

Lori is proud to be a part of Vesta in supporting her clients as they navigate all the emotion and change that will occur through divorce. She guides her clients as they move through all the stages of divorce, working on mindset, developing new tools and strategies allowing for healthier decisions during this time and for life ahead. Her clients walk through the divorce experience feeling more supported and able to make healthier decisions today, and for living a happy and fulfilling life ahead. Lori believes that divorce can be the beginning of meaningful and happy next chapter and an opportunity for deep personal growth. 

Lori is a CPCC Certified Co-Active Coach, trained by the Co-Active Institute, and holds a PCC Professional Certified Coach designation from the International Coach Federation. . She continues to study and expand her knowledge in many areas of Personal Development and psychology. With years of experience in partnering with clients and going through all kinds of life changes herself, Lori brings her compassion, empathy and deep caring to her work and values so greatly what is possible in this process. 

To learn more about Lori, visit https://lorikleimanlifecoach.com 

As a Wealth Management Advisor, Mike provides personal wealth management services for clients seeking to efficiently grow and position their assets for retirement and effectively mitigate taxes both today and in retirement. Mike also works with a range of business owners to help them build, grow, protect and transfer a successful business and has a thorough understanding of corporate financial needs, from closely-held family businesses to large corporations with hundreds of employees.

 Having experienced family members, friends and clients go through divorce, Mike understands the challenges the divorce process can present.  His passion to help clients through this significant life transition shines through his insight, expertise and clarity to the process of making important financial decisions. Mike sees Vesta as a uniquely valuable resource to people going through any point of the divorce process due to the collaborative and educational focus of the organization.

 Mike takes a tax-centric approach to planning, emphasizing  tax-efficient strategies and solutions than simply seeking the highest rate of return investment vehicles with little regard for the plan. For his personal clients, Mike helps his clients prepare uniquely designed plans with strategies that address each individual’s financial goals and objectives; whether retirement, investment or insurance-related. He tells every client he works with, “I want to help you protect, preserve and grow what’s most important to you.” For his business clientele, he helps them clients attract, retain and reward employees by designing and implementing benefit programs including tax qualified retirement plans such as 401(k), group health plans, and individual disability income, life and long term care insurance coverage.

A Santa Monica native, Mike attended John Thomas Dye and Harvard-Westlake School, followed by UC Santa Barbara with stops at Iowa State and UCLA along the way. Mike and his wife Tiffany live with their two children in El Segundo.

 To learn more about Mike, visit http://srcmadvisors.com/why-signature/the-team/

Russ Siadatian is a Financial Planner with Signature Resources Capital Management. Most of his practice is focused on clients in West LA in all stages of divorce. Through Strategic Divorce Planning, Russ can offer comprehensive divorce financial planning services for those considering or going through the divorce process. He helps by looking at asset division options, cash flow analysis, and future implications of the financial decisions people make during the divorce process. 

Having experienced first-hand those close to him going through the divorce process and the impact that has on all aspects of everyone involved, Russ understands the challenges the divorce process can present. Russ goal in working with clients is to give them a clear picture of what their finances look like today, the day after finalizing their divorce, and down the line during Retirement.

To learn more about Russ, visit http://srcmadvisors.com/why-signature/the-team/

Vida is a Real Estate Broker, one of her specialties is working with buyer, sellers  who are going through a difficult change in their lives, like divorce.

Vida has been divorced over 5 years ago, when she was going through her own divorce, she did not understand the process and felt emotionally and financially overwhelmed. Even though she has friends who had gone through the divorce themselves, it’s always best to have someone who is not related and to look outside of the box for solutions. 

Clients appreciate Vida’s expert advice, patience, organization and thoughtful, strategic approach to the real estate process especially as you are going a huge change in your life. Vida says.  “You have to be accessible to clients. You have to be knowledgeable and you have to be willing to do what it takes to get the job done.”  Her many assets and positive attitude contribute to a smooth, expeditious and successful experience for all participants, including homeowners and everyone involved.

Vida is a graduate of Whittier College.  An outdoor enthusiast, she excels in marathon and ultra-marathon running, back packing through the mountains and many other sports. She brings a similar competitive enthusiasm to her real estate career.  Vida is active in the community and supports many autism-related charities, due to her niece being autistic.

To learn more about Vida, visit www.vidaash.com 

Launching his real estate career in 2005, Mike has immersed himself in all facets of the industry including mortgages, investment properties and residential developments.  An El Segundo native, Mike is knowledgeable of the neighborhood in which he resides and utilizes this familiarity when showing clients the intangible benefits that El Segundo and surrounding South Bay cities have to offer.  Mike’s passion for real estate is evident in every transaction; he listens to his client’s needs, offers feedback on the market and its trends, and demonstrates keen negotiation skills with a low pressure approach. 

An enthusiastic member of the community, Mike contributes to philanthropic organizations such as the El Segundo Education Foundation, Heal the Bay, Surfrider Foundation, and more. 

To learn more about Mike, visit https://www.alexabadrealestate.com/our-team

Peter Cannon is a branch manager at Fairway Independent Mortgage in Hermosa Beach.  Peter has been originating mortgages since 1996. With over 20+ years of mortgage experience; he has helped hundreds of satisfied customers who have used his services to purchase a home or to refinance their current loan.  He is committed to putting his clients into the best loan program that will help meet their financial goals. He is here to support you; not only through the mortgage planning process, but through the entire life of your loan.  Peter is committed to helping “customers for life”!

Why Vesta:  Through my 20+ plus years in the business; I have had to assist hundreds of clients through the difficult divorce process.  Whether it was helping my client stay in their family home or whether it was finding alternative ways of financing a new home; I find great satisfaction in helping my clients through this difficult process.  One main piece of advice that I would recommend to everyone going through a divorce or thinking about doing so is to reach out to an Attorney, financial advisor, a relationship coach, therapist, a Realtor, and a Mortgage Lender as early in the process as possible.  Please contact Vesta for assistance in all of these areas.

Peter received his BA in Business Management from the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth.

To learn more about Peter, visit https://www.petercannon.com/

Aska is a transformational coach and transition expert with specialties in divorce, life and career transitions, self-leadership, mindset and communication. In addition to her work at Vesta, Aska works with leaders and decision-making professionals for individual and group sessions and facilitates workshops for organizations and corporations. She is also a professional interpreter and incorporates holistic wellness in her consultation and coaching services. 

When she was going through her own divorce over 10 years ago, she lived in a different country and had very little support from her family and friends. Eventually she decided to go to Japan to have family close to her, she still faced isolation and cultural stigmas as no one around had been divorced at that time. Through her own trial and errors, Aska realized how powerful emotional support and guidance can be during this process as she continued to help her friends and family when many started to go through their own divorces. One of the reasons why she became a coach was so she can hold space to better support those who are going through transitions. Her most recent divorce support was for her life partner, whom she coached and supported, because she believed everyone deserves to have a cheerleader in their corner while going through these challenging life transitions. Aska believes that sometimes these most challenging times gives us the best opportunities to create the biggest shifts and reclaim and align ourselves with who we have always wanted to be. 

Through her professional and personal experiences, Aska has worked with many who have been going through their own divorce process. She is now thrilled to join Vesta at the Beverly Hills Hub to continue her work to empower and help transform people in all stages of divorce. Her role as a transformational coach is to help people become aware of their stress and inner conversations and guide them through mindset shifting strategies. Managing emotions during this process is important for the families’ best interest to make  effective, informative and healthy decisions that are not emotionally, or distress driven. She believes in the power of collaborative approach to divorce encouraged within Vesta. As she has done herself, she encourages people to find ways to use this challenging transition as an opportunity for personal growth, so they can create something better for themselves post-divorce. 

Aska graduated with a B.A. in International Studies from Trinity College in Hartford, CT, and received her professional coaching certification from the Institute of Professional Excellence in Coaching. She has lived in 21 cities across 4 countries and her unique upbringing and life experiences allows her to connect with people from all walks of life without judgement and brings her a wealth of knowledge in cultural viewpoints. She is also a communication specialist being a professional interpreter for over 20 years and has been passionate in education and empowerment since she was 13 years old. 

To learn more about Aska, visit https://www.askanaito.com/

Sara is a Relationship Coach who specializes in setting the stage for a healthy, collaborative divorce, navigating the divorce process with more ease, and ultimately creating a better life post divorce. For more than 15 years, Sara has been helping her clients discover their own, personal truths, power and purpose using her unique and life-changing techniques. She provides one-on-one sessions around the world via Zoom conference, has had her own radio show, “Two to You: Thriving After Divorce,” hosts industry interviews on her YouTube channel, and provides workshops and
retreats – all designed to provide new ways of tapping into our highest potential, especially during difficult times. Working with Sara, you learn to deeply understand yourself and heal patterns that cause you painful outcomes. Sara wants you to heal from you experience and not drag these subconscious patterns with you to the next relationship.

Sara is currently in the middle of her own divorce which she orchestrated amicably using her own tools and skillset. While she knows this is the right decision, she can attest to how painful and challenging divorce can be for all involved. Putting their children first, she says, has provided the best touchstone for how she and her husband continue to make wise decisions, leaving their egos at the door. Sara feels
it’s important that we begin to change the stigma associated with divorce in our culture. With more and more marriages ending in divorce, she knows the importance of learning skills to do divorce better. She’s grateful to have the opportunity to serve more people now, working within the Vesta model.

While new to her role as a Relationship Coach with Vesta, Sara has an extensive background in helping clients to develop coping strategies to manage their emotions
in the divorce process so that they can make effective, healthy, informed decisions and to reduce the expensive and unhealthy side affects of a combative divorce. She places great value on the collaborative approach to divorce encouraged within Vesta and guides her clients in finding ways to transform their life challenges into positive
growth and change. She is an advocate for using divorce to shift your perspective on what you value and what’s possible for you, to create a life you actually love.

Sara graduated Cum Laude with B.A. in Communications from The University of Tennessee. She spent 15 years working in New York and Los Angeles for international advertising and marketing agencies where she helped well-known brands craft messaging that best communicated the company’s vision and mindset. From here, she was led into holistic healing where she believes she can use her keen
communications skills to serve more people. Sara holds certifications in many healing modalities including DNA Theta Healing, Reiki, Sacred Body Language, EFT, among many others. Her exceptional intuitive skills surprise and support her clients in finding the root of their pain or trauma and ultimately in creating strategies for better outcomes moving forward.

Bio coming soon!