My name is Derek Stone, and I am the newest associate financial advisor at Alaska Wealth Advisors. It has been a fast 6 weeks. I started between the end of the fiscal first quarter and tax season, one of our busiest times of the year. Because I started at such an active time, I was able to see firsthand the dedication of the team at AWA and how hard everyone works to provide the detailed service our clients have grown accustomed to. Regardless of how busy everyone has been, they have always taken the time to answer my questions, assist in my training, or just check in and grab a coffee. It has been a great environment and I am excited for future development.
I am a lifelong Alaskan, and I am happy to be back in the Last Frontier. This past year I graduated from Pacific Lutheran University (PLU) in Tacoma, WA with a BA in Economics, and a minor in Business Administration. My education at PLU provided a foundation in finance, and working at AWA allows me to apply the knowledge and skills I gained to help fellow Alaskans reach their financial goals. Now that I’ve started at AWA, I am continuing my education as I study for the Series 65. At PLU, I also competed as a member of the Varsity Men’s Tennis and Soccer teams. Balancing dual collegiate sports while pursuing my degree was a challenge, however, it taught me time management, how to stay focused on a task, and that hard work pays off, both on and off the field.
During my summers in college, I worked as a tennis pro at Lakewood Racquet Club in Tacoma. In this role, I co-directed a youth tennis program. We introduced hundreds of kids to the sport of tennis and taught them the fundamental skills needed to make it a lifelong hobby. The ages ranged from 3-18 and each age group required differently thought-out lesson plans. Similarly, in financial planning, every individual client has different wants and needs. Understanding those wants and needs and building a personalized plan to meet their goals is critical to their happiness and success. I just hope with my newest endeavor I don’t have to worry about tennis balls and rackets flying all over the place!
In my free time, I find myself as active as ever now that I am back here in Anchorage. I enjoyed the long winter this year by going skiing and walking my dogs but playing in the local indoor tennis and soccer leagues offered a nice excuse to get inside! As summer approaches I am excited to get outside hiking, playing pickleball, listening to local music, and whatever other adventures I find myself around the state.
Derek Stone
Associate Financial Advisor
5/15/23
Advisor Disclosure: Alaska Wealth Advisors is an investment adviser registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. More information about Alaska Wealth Advisors’ investment advisory services can be found in its Form ADV Part 2, which is available upon request.