DRAFT 7-28-21 – About – FirstPurpose Wealth

OUR
TEAM

We're here to help you find and fund your purpose.

FirstPurpose Wealth helps business owners, executives, retirees and others clarify their purpose and create the financial means to fulfill it. Because achieving purpose-driven goals is more satisfying than chasing empty numbers, we first help clients clarify their purpose, so they know their why. Then we create and execute an integrated financial plan including traditional and private investments, tax strategies, estate planning, and charitable giving. We work best with clients who will collaboratively create and co-pilot a long-term financial plan. Working together, we strive to build wealth, minimize taxes, optimize transactions, manage outlier years, plan for financial independence and implement successful retirement income strategies.

FirstPurpose Wealth:
Live your life on purpose.

Partners

Tim Whipple

CAP, CFP^®, CPWA^®, EA

Tim Whipple is a financial savant with an abundant mindset and a contagious generosity. He earned enough credits in college to have graduated with multiple degrees in such diverse subjects as Arabic and chemical engineering. As First Purpose’s chief financial strategist, Tim thrives on solving complex financial situations for clients by devising strategies that require a holistic approach and blur the lines between financial disciplines. For renewal, Tim enjoys cycling and playing racquetball. With his wife and five children, Tim also enjoys doing service vacations to orphanages in Mexico and Bethlehem with A Child’s Hope Foundation.

Timothy K. Whipple

CFP®, CPWA®, EA, CAP
Wealth Advisor

Adam Taylor

CFP^®

Whether its financial planning or big-game hunting, Adam Taylor enjoys guiding people towards achieving their goals and having memorable experiences. Building life-long friendships is the best part of his job. Away from work, Adam enjoys spending time with his wife and two sons and teaching young men to appreciate the great outdoors. An expert fly fisherman, Adam has traveled to Los Roques, Venezuela, and the Seychelles Islands off the East Coast of Africa to test his skills. He also guides hunting groups throughout Utah’s backcountry. Having volunteered for years as a baseball coach, Adam helped Pleasant Grove High School build a state-of-the-art clubhouse.

Adam N. Taylor

CFP®
Wealth Advisor

Ken Bown

CFP^®, CPWA^®

Ken Brown’s career blends strategy with execution. After earning his information systems degree from USU, Ken worked in tech support for Andersen Consulting (now Accenture) in downtown Chicago and earned an MBA from Northwestern University in nearby Evanston, Illinois. After working in marketing and product management for several tech startups, Ken rekindled a long-time interest in personal finance and completed his CFP® certification. Today, Ken enjoys tailoring financial strategies for specific clients so they can build and leverage real wealth. Annual family outings to Lake Powell and travel are favorite activities, along with a passion for pickleball.

Kenneth G. Bown

CFP®, MBA, CPWA®
Wealth Advisor

Bryant Armstrong

CEO

Bryant Armstrong is a versatile financial advisor. As an early employee at Squire & Company, Bryant gained both tax and audit experience, trained clients in Quickbooks, provided outsourced CFO and controller services, and built the firm’s technology practice, including Great Plains ERP software implementations. Bryant also worked as a controller and designed accounting systems at Private Capital Group. He and his wife are the proud parents of five children and a growing passel of grandkids. In his free time, Bryant takes on century rides as an avid cyclist and enjoys canyoneering. He earned his MAcc (Master of Accountancy) at BYU.

Bryant Armstrong

CFO

Jason McMullin

EA

Growing up, Jason McMullin didn’t have any strong financial examples to follow. That’s why being able to show clients how to make money work for them — instead of just working for money — brings him so much satisfaction today. At FirstPurpose, Jason has been instrumental in building the firm’s tax practice as an integrated offering with wealth management. He and his wife have four boys and enjoy hot, sunny beach vacations — especially in Kauai. Along with CrossFit workouts, Jason enjoys boating, mountain biking and cheering for his kids at their various sporting events. Jason earned a degree in finance from Utah State University.

Jason L. McMullin

EA
Wealth Advisor

Jim Spainhower

CHFC^®

Before he found his calling as a financial advisor and teacher, Jim Spainhower ran his own advertising agency for fifteen years. Today, Jim enjoys developing creative concepts to help clients learn how to make the most of their financial situations, including maximizing their social security benefits. Eliminating ignorance is key to Jim’s education-based process. His goal is to replace ignorance and uncertainty with understanding and peace of mind. When he’s not working, Jim enjoys spending time with his wife and two grown children, serving in his church, the outdoors, and managing a rare herd of Japanese Black Wagyu cattle.

Jim Spainhower

ChFC®
Wealth Advisor

Rob Strasburg

CFP^®, EA

Rob Strasburg is a veteran CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional with over twenty years of industry experience. Rob’s favorite part of the job is interacting with clients and developing a personal friendship with them. He guides them through the process of navigating the investment and retirement process with a sincere commitment to protecting their hard-won assets. Rob enjoys spending time outdoors with his three sons in his free time. Together with his wife Ali, Rob also supports his boys in their competitive trapshooting activities. In addition to his CFP® certification, Rob is also an Enrolled Agent so he can prepare tax returns for his clients.

Rob Strasburg

CFP®, EA
Wealth Advisor

Sam Deaver

CFP^®

In a personal finance class at UVU, Sam Deaver caught the vision for making money grow, so he switched majors from pre-med optometry and was in the first class of personal financial planning graduates. Now he helps clients see how important it is to have a meaningful financial goal to work towards, so saving seems worth it. Sam also enjoys assisting retirees in discovering what to focus on for the rest of their lives. On the home front, Sam and his family love riding bikes together and caring for their garden, three sheep, three dogs and a cat. He is a dedicated cyclist and loves to enlist others to buy high-end bikes en masse.

Sam Deaver

CFP®
Wealth Advisor

Scott Carlson

Operations Manager

After learning about compound interest as a teenager, Scott Carlson has always wanted to work in the financial planning industry. Scott runs First Purpose’s business and investment processes so its financial advisors can focus on helping clients. When he’s not working, Scott enjoys playing pick-up basketball, reading, helping his wife build her illustration business and raising their three girls. He does his girls’ hair so well that they often prefer that he do it! Scott also enjoys playing sports and physical fitness training and wants to do a clean muscle-up someday. Scott holds a BS in Personal Financial Planning from Utah Valley University.

Scott Carlson

Operations Manager

Greg Caldwell

CFP^®

Greg Caldwell is a builder. Had his father not passed away so young, Greg might still work in construction as a project manager. But his desire to care for his mother and siblings gave Greg a new home and a newfound appreciation for planning ahead. So much so that Greg earned a financial planning degree and his CFP® certification. While solving financial puzzles is rewarding, Greg thrives on building friendships with clients by helping them remove financial fear, uncertainty and doubt. For fun, Greg rides Razors and dirt bikes with his family and puts his welding skills to work, fixing up his dad’s old truck. Despite all this adventure, Greg’s worst injury was from wall ball.

Greg Caldwell

CFP®, MBA
Wealth Advisor

Alex Haviland

CFP^®

Building his own business has always been a goal for Alex Haviland. He started mowing lawns at age 10, repaying his dad for the mower within a couple of summers. In high school, he and his buddies built custom cabins and barns in scenic locations like Oakley and Bear Lake. Now Alex enjoys helping clients build stable financial futures. At home, Alex is happily married and has a growing portfolio of young kids who each have very distinctive personalities. He also enjoys trap shooting, camping, backpacking and fly fishing in remote areas like the Wind River mountain range in Wyoming. Indoors, Alex enjoys designing and publishing strategy-driven board games.

Alex Haviland

CFP®
Wealth Advisor

Wealth & Tax Advisors

Alex Long

Wealth Advisor

Alex has been with FirstPurpose Wealth since 2013 and is a Wealth Advisor with the firm. He graduated from Utah Valley University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Personal Financial Planning. He works with clients to help them with financial planning goals and decisions. Alex believes that education and the understanding of financial principles allows for the best financial decisions. When Alex is not working you can find him on a golf course, playing basketball, or spending time with his wife Dani and daughter Macee.

Alex Long

CFP®
Wealth Advisor

Annie Johnson

Tax Services Advisor

Annie is a tax services advisor at FirstPurpose Wealth. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the Woodbury School of Business at Utah Valley University, Magna Cum Laude. Annie has 16 years of tax experience. She is an Enrolled Agent, licensed to practice before the IRS, and assists with tax preparation, and filing. When not working, Annie loves to hike, read, and play racquetball.

Annie Johnson

EA
Tax Services Advisor

Lauren Loucks

Wealth Advisor

Lauren, a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, began working for FirstPurpose Wealth in February 2014. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Utah Valley University, with a Bachelor of Science in Personal Financial Planning. Her awards and honors include the Dean’s Choice WolverineAchievement Award for the Woodbury School of Business in 2015, the TD Ameritrade RIA NextGen Scholarship in 2014, Outstanding Student Award for the Personal Financial Planning program in 2016, and acceptance into the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. Her expertise on intern experiences and best practices has landed her panelist roles at national financial planning conferences. She served as the Financial Planning Association (FPA) Ambassador for Utah Valley University and maintains her FPA membership. Lauren has an ardor for lifelong learning. This, coupled with a passion for serving others, illustrates why we find Lauren to be well-suited for the wealth management profession. Her volunteer activities include guest-lecturing local high school students in the personal finance discipline and speaking via webcast on how best to transition from student to working professional. When not at work, you will often find Lauren with her two young boys snowboarding, bike riding, practicing yoga, or dancing.

Lauren Loucks

CFP®, EA
Wealth Advisor

Kelby McMullin

Director of Client Service

Kelby is grateful for the fact that he loves coming to work ever day. He loves helping people in any way he can. Currently as an associate advisor that involves helping clients implement their financial plan and helping with client service for the firm. Helping people live their best life is what inspires him and makes him happy. Personally Kelby McMullin enjoys serving in his calling at church and simply loves all things golf. If it’s above 40 degrees and there isn’t snow on the ground, he is probably going to be outside doing something golf related. Family is everything for him and he feels like the luckiest guy in the world for having such a great family.

Kelby McMullin

Associate Advisor

Trina Vidolin

Tax Advisor

Trina joined FirstPurpose Wealth in December of 2015 after spending the first 8 ½ years of her career working as a Revenue Agent for the Internal Revenue Service. She worked with Small Business/Self-Employed division and has a vast amount of knowledge and experience with IRS procedures and regulations gained through the examination of a wide variety of tax returns. Knowing how to correctly interpret the tax code is something that Trina excels in, and she uses that knowledge to help clients reduce their tax burden. Trina graduated Magna Cum Lade with a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Trina is an Enrolled Agent and is licensed to practice before the IRS. In her spare time, Trina enjoys spending time with her family, baking and traveling.

Trina Vidolin

EA
Accounting Department Manager

Taylor Olsen

Tax Advisor

Taylor Olsen is a tax associate at FirstPurpose Wealth. Taylor graduated from Utah Valley University with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the Woodbury School of Business. When Taylor is not at the office he likes playing sports, being outdoors, working on the family ranch, or spending time with his family.

Taylor Olsen

Tax Advisor

Scott Stratton

Wealth Advisor

Scott Stratton is a practicing attorney, a faculty member at Utah Valley University’s top 5 nationally ranked Financial Planning program, and a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional. Though he focuses on planning strategies with high net worth individuals, families and business owners, Scott works with clients from all parts of life’s financial journey. Scott has founded multiple professional practices and business. His approach to his professional practices and teaching is with an entrepreneurial spirit. After obtaining two bachelor degrees from the University of Utah in Business Administration and Information Systems, Scott received a Juris Doctorate (JD) and a Masters degree in Personal Financial Planning from Texas Tech University.

Scott Stratton

J.D. MS, CFP®
Wealth Advisor

Nick Stecklein

Associate Advisor

Nick is an associate advisor at FirstPurpose Wealth. He graduated from Utah Valley University in 2018 with a B.A. in Finance. Nick is passionate about helping people reach their financial goals through developing strong habits, understanding their financial behavior and providing advice. Outside of work Nick can be found spending time with his wife Morgan in the mountains (preferably in the winter on a snowboard) or training for his next marathon.

Nick Stecklein

CFP®
Associate Advisor

Landon Wray

Associate Advisor

Landon joined FirstPurpose Wealth in 2019. He graduated from Utah Valley University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Personal Financial Planning. When he is not working Landon enjoys rock climbing, backpacking, and canyoneering.

Landon Wray

Paraplanner

Chris Ward

Paraplanner

Chris started at FirstPurpose Wealth in 2020 as a paraplanner after working for three years at Fidelity Investments. He completed a B.S. in Personal Financial Planning from Utah Valley University .Chris has developed a passion for financial planning and helping people achieve their financial goals. While not in the office, Chris enjoys working out, playing sports, gaming, and spending time with his wife and four boys.

Chris Ward

Paraplanner

Support Staff

Cindy Nelson

Executive Assistant

Cindy specializes in providing prompt service to all clients’ needs. She focuses on building long-term relationships with our clients based on trust, open communication and integrity. Cindy has previously worked in the mortgage and insurance industries for over 25 years and brings a vast amount of customer service experience to her position. When not at the office she enjoys reading, photography, movies, and music.

Cindy Nelson

Executive Assistant

Heidi Ward

Client Services Associate

Heidi was born and raised in Brazil, but has been in the US for almost 20 years. She has been with FirstPurpose Wealth since 2015, when she left the money lending industry to pursue a carrier helping people achieve and maintain financial health. As a client service associate, she strives to provide our clients with an excellent experience and takes a lot of pride in her work. Heidi is always ready to help clients with their needs, but she also loves to pass on her experience and knowledge by training the newer client services associates. When she is not at work or spending time with her husband and 4 kids, she can usually be found at the gym, outdoors, hiking, biking or running.

Heidi Ward

Client Services Associate

Maralee Page

Client Services Associate

Maralee has been with the firm since September of 2014 and during her time has held a variety of roles. She is currently a Client Service Advisor working directly with the clients of Ken and Sam. She balances her time between work and her two beautiful children and loves the flexibility to be a mom and help clients. Maralee focuses on managing client data and processing paperwork and money movement for clients. She is dedicated to helping clients receive timely and effective answers to their questions and takes great pride in providing superior service. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Personal Financial Planning from the Woodbury School of Business at Utah Valley University. In her spare time, Maralee enjoys baking and decorating cakes. She also loves being outdoors with her husband and two children.

Maralee Page

Client Services Associate

Thomas Felt

Accountant

Tommy first dabbled in accounting while providing customer support for Intuit’s QuickBooks Online, eventually supporting accountants using the program and training new customer support staff. Oddly enough, Tommy found he enjoyed accounting and decided to go back to school while working full time. Tommy graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from Western Governors University. Whenever possible, Tommy can often be found reading or listening to audio books.

Thomas Felt

Accountant

Claire Brown

Office Administrator

Claire Brown is a Client Service Associate at FirstPurpose Wealth working directly with Jim Spainhower and Alex Long. She started with the company in December 2019. Claire loves her work and is always willing to help her associates and clients with their needs. She processes paperwork, schedules appointments, does money movement for clients, and assist clients with any account-related questions. Claire is married to Terry Brown and has two kids and three adorable granddaughters with an extended family that gathers every Sunday for a dinner that consumes the entire house. When she is not working, she is either training for her next half-marathon, with a full marathon hopefully in her near future, or spending time with her grandkids.

Claire Brown

Client Services Associate

Carrie Boren

Tax Services Associate

Carrie Boren is a Tax Services Associate at FirstPurpose Wealth. Carrie graduated from Boise State University with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accountancy. She is customer service driven and strives to give clients the best experience possible. On the weekends you will find Carrie enjoying time outdoors with her husband and 4 kids.

Carrie Boren

Tax Associate

Lana Johnson

Client Services Associate

Lana is a Client Service Associate here at FirstPurpose Wealth. Lana primarily supports Adam Taylor’s clients and will provide additional assistance for other advisors. Lana’s focus is making sure her client’s questions are answered in a quick and efficient manner, all while managing client data, processing paperwork, and scheduling appointments. Lana has worked in different capacities over 20 years building trust and strong relationships with clients. Before working at FirstPurpose, Lana was a cosmetologist and salon owner in Arizona. She recently moved back to Utah with her husband and two children. When not at work, Lana enjoys spending time with her family. Her favorite hobbies include hiking, boating, and exploring new places.

Lana Johnson

Client Services Associate

Marcii Palmer

Client Services Associate

Marcii Palmer is excited to be a part of our client service team. She has spent her professional life as an educator, and brings with her a love of working with people of all ages. Marcii prides herself on being professional and thorough. She believes it is her job to make sure the clients she works with have a positive experience. When not hard at work at FirstPurpose Wealth, Marcii enjoys her time playing with the Utah Valley Symphony, getting outside to hike, bike and run, and cooking for her family.

Marcii Palmer

Client Services Associate

Adrian Perez

Bookkeeper

Adrian was born in Los Angeles, California, but grew up in Guadalajara, Mexico where he studied Accounting. He later moved back to L.A., continued studying Accounting and worked for a company in LAX doing Payroll and Accounts Payable for over 13 years. Adrian moved to Utah in 2018, seeking other opportunities and finally made his way to us. Adrian is fluent in both English and Spanish. Adrian enjoys hiking and international cuisine

Adrian Perez

Tax Associate

Iris Bench

Executive Assistant

Iris enjoys anything and everything that has to do with organization, getting things done, and helping those around her succeed. She finds great satisfaction in being part of the FirstPurpose family where she is able to work with both tax and wealth teams. Family and culture have always been a big part of her life. She has five siblings, four of which are older which means she is an aunt to 8 awesome nieces and nephews. Iris enjoys a wide range of activities, especially if it involves getting to spend time with her husband, friends, or family. Some of her favorite activities include watching movies, rock climbing, reading, doing her nails, cooking, and playing sports.

Iris Bench

Executive Assistant

Abraham Mendez

Tax Associate

Abraham Mendez earned his Master of Accountancy (MAcc) and Bachelors from Brigham Young University in April of 2019. Since then, he has been working for PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and just recently joined our team. Abraham is an avid lover of all things finance, including investing and taxes. He takes pride in knowing how to save his clients money and make their money work for them. Abraham and his family enjoy spending time in the outdoors hiking, camping, riding bikes, and exploring all that the National Parks have to offer.

Abraham Mendez

Tax Associate

OUR TEAM

We're here to help you find and fund your purpose.

Partners

Tim Whipple

CAP, CFP®, CPWA®, EA

Adam Taylor

CFP®

Ken Bown

CFP®, CPWA®

Bryant Armstrong

CEO

Jason McMullin

EA

Jim Spainhower

CHFC®

Rob Strasburg

CFP®, EA

Sam Deaver

CFP®

Scott Carlson

Operations Manager

Greg Caldwell

CFP®

Alex Haviland

CFP®

Wealth & Tax Advisors

Alex Long

Wealth Advisor

Annie Johnson

Tax Services Advisor

Lauren Loucks

Wealth Advisor

Kelby McMullin

Director of Client Service

Trina Vidolin

Tax Advisor

Taylor Olsen

Tax Advisor

Scott Stratton

Wealth Advisor

Nick Stecklein

Associate Advisor

Landon Wray

Associate Advisor

Chris Ward

Paraplanner

Support Staff

Cindy Nelson

Executive Assistant

Heidi Ward

Client Services Associate

Maralee Page

Client Services Associate

Thomas Felt

Accountant

Claire Brown

Office Administrator

Carrie Boren

Tax Services Associate

Lana Johnson

Client Services Associate

Marcii Palmer

Client Services Associate

Adrian Perez

Bookkeeper

Iris Bench

Executive Assistant

Abraham Mendez

Tax Associate

OUR
TEAM

CAP, CFP^®, CPWA^®, EA

CFP^®

CFP^®, CPWA^®

CHFC^®

CFP^®, EA

CFP^®

CFP^®

CFP^®