Meet our Money Managers
Our money managers work with each client to identify and focus on the most important issues that will help that client create and maintain a strong financial future. They help each client apply the available resources to meet the client's short-term needs and achieve long-term goals through appropriate savings and investment strategies. They then monitor those strategies and adjust them as needed when the client's circumstances change.
Tyler Bartlett ChFC, CFP®
tyler@merrimanberkmannext.com
Tyler is a Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC), a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional and an active member in the Financial Planning Association of Puget Sound. He was listed in "Seattle Magazine" as among "the best in client satisfaction wealth managers in the Seattle area" in 2007 and again in 2008.
He has a bachelor's degree in business administration from Seattle Pacific University and formerly supervised financial planning for American Express Financial Advisors. He has had his own financial planning practice and was employed as a wealth planner for high-net-worth clients at U.S. Trust.
Tyler spends as much time as he can with his wife, Tabitha, and their two young children. He also likes to play golf and softball.
Jeremy Burger, CFP®
jeremy@merrimanberkmannext.com
Originally from Salem, Oregon, Jeremy is a graduate of Seattle Pacific University with a degree in business administration and a major in economics. Before joining Merriman Berkman Next he was a financial advisor and financial analyst at Synergy Financial Management, LLC for three years. A member of the CFA Institute and of the CFA Society of Seattle, he is currently a 2008 Level 2 CFA candidate.
In his free time, Jeremy enjoys hiking, snowboarding and spending time with his wife, friends and other family members.
Cheryl Curran, CFP®
cheryl@merrimanberkmannext.com
A CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, Cheryl joined our firm in 1993 and was the company's first financial advisor outside the Merriman family. Cheryl holds a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Washington. In 2007, she was listed in "Seattle Magazine" as among the best personal wealth managers in the Seattle area.
Cheryl is an ardent college football fan. She loves to travel, swim, scuba dive, bike, read and volunteer at Children's Hospital.
Phuc Dang, CPA
Phuc was born in Thailand and has lived in Seattle for 26 years. His primary role is tax preparation, and he often assists with matters relating to estates and trusts. He has a business degree from the University of Washington and became a CPA in 2005. He was an IRS auditor before joining Berkman, Purdy & Lindstrom.
He lives in Seattle with his partner and likes to spend non-work time bowling, watching movies and spending time with his 11 nieces and nephews.
Eric Jonson
Prior to joining us, Eric spent 16 years with Charles Schwab, a nationally based investment firm. During the last four years, he worked exclusively with private clients in that firm's wealth management division.
A 1982 graduate of the University of Washington with a degree in business administration, Eric has over 22 years of financial services experience. He has a strong background in investments and financial planning and is currently pursuing certification as a Certified Financial Planner. Eric was listed in "Seattle Magazine" in 2008 as being among "the best in client satisfaction wealth managers in the Seattle area."
Eric lives in Seattle with his wife, daughter, and son and enjoys golf and coaching youth baseball.
Paresh Kamdar, CFP®
paresh@merrimanberkmannext.com
Paresh is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional and holds a bachelor's degree in finance from Indiana University. He joined our firm after being a financial consultant with Charles Schwab for six years. Prior to that, he was a stockbroker for six years with Olde, now part of H&R Block Financial Advisors.
His interests include skiing, climbing and backpacking with his wife, Sibylle.
Marina Lefelman, CPA
marina@merrimanberkmannext.com
Marina, born in the Ukraine, graduated from high school in Los Angeles and has a business degree in accounting from the University of Washington. She has been a CPA since 1996, preparing tax returns for and consulting with individuals and small businesses.
She lives in Bellevue with her husband and two grade-school daughters. She likes to spend non-work time pursuing books, movies and travel.
Mark Metcalf
Mark is a 1986 graduate of Eastern Washington University with a degree in business administration and has spent over 20 years in the financial services industry. Prior to joining our firm, Mark spent over 18 years with the Charles Schwab Corporation, including several years with Schwab's U.S. Trust subsidiary where he worked with high-net-worth clients.
Mark enjoys spending time with his wife as well as travel, reading, golf and enjoying the Pacific Northwest.
Rick Miller, CPA
Rick, who grew up in Boise and graduated from the University of Idaho, has been a CPA since 1992. He has expertise in the areas of business transitions, professional practice firms, retirement plans, mortgages, agricultural and timber issues as well as tax returns for individuals, partnerships and corporations.
Rick lives in Redmond with his wife and two young daughters. He enjoys hiking, bicycling, skiing, reading and family activities.
Doug Purdy, CPA
Doug has provided accounting and tax services to clients for 28 years, including 24 at Berkman Burgher Purdy & Lindstrom and now Merriman Berkman Next. His primary role is providing services to an interconnected group of companies and the families that operate them.
Doug was born, raised and educated in Montana and received an accounting degree in 1977 from the University of Montana. He has lived in Seattle since 1981. In his free time he can often be found on a golf course, traveling with his wife, Karin, or enjoying the company of other friends and family members.
Elaine D. Scoggins, CFP®, ChFC
Client Experience Director
elaine@merrimanberkmannext.com
As technical manager for the advisors, Elaine works with our financial advisors to ensure that they have the tools and information they need in order to serve our clients well. As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional and a Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC), she also works directly with our clients.
Elaine joined our firm in 2006 after 20 years as a bank executive for Barnett Bank and Bank of America, followed by two years in her own fee-only investment advisory practice. She holds a bachelors degree in business administration and has been quoted frequently in the financial press, including "The Wall Street Journal," "The New York Times," "Fortune," "Money," Dow Jones Newswire and the "Journal of Financial Planning."
Elaine enjoys hiking, biking, skiing, traveling and spending time with friends and family. She has worked extensively as a volunteer teaching financial literacy to lower-income populations.
Aaron Spencer
Aaron came to us from U.S. Bancorp, where he worked for seven years as a financial specialist. He graduated from the University of Washington with 2 bachelor degrees: one in economics and one in Germanics.
He is a member of the Financial Planning Association (FPA) and is in the final stages of earning the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation.
Aaron enjoys playing tennis as well as growing bonsai and orchids at his home in Duvall. He is fluent in German, a language and culture he is teaching his wife and their children.
Jim Whipps
Jim has a master's degree and has completed the required doctorate course work in organizational development at the University of Washington. He also taught at the University of Washington School of Business for three years.
Jim joined our firm after 17 years with Boeing, three years as a mortgage banker and two years with Edward Jones. He is a member of the Financial Planning Association (FPA) and is pursuing certification as a Certified Financial Planner.
In his off hours, Jim enjoys playing golf, traveling with his wife and spending time with his three grown sons.
Laura Wood, ChFC, CASL
Laura holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Washington Business School. She ran an independent financial planning practice for more than four years before she joined us in 2006.
She is a Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) and a Chartered Advisor for Senior Living (CASL). Laura is in the final stages of earning the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation as well. Laura was listed in "Seattle Magazine" in 2008 as among "the best in client satisfaction wealth managers in the Seattle area."
In her free time, Laura enjoys riding and training her horse for equestrian events as well as travel, reading and spending time with family and friends. She lives in Kirkland.
Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. owns the certification marks CFP®, Certified Financial Planner™ and federally registered CFP (with flame design) in the U.S., which it awards to individuals who successfully complete CFP Board's initial and ongoing certification requirements.
Free Initial Consultation
Interested in meeting with one of our money managers for a review of your financial goals?
Click on the city name to register or view the schedule, complete with full descriptions of our free workshops.
The ALL NEW Live it Up Without Outliving Your Money
Federal Way, WA 5/14/2008
Berkeley, CA 5/17/2008
Portland, OR 5/20/2008
Edmonds, WA 5/22/2008
Mercer Island, WA 5/28/2008
Bellevue, WA 6/21/2008