What is “boom”?
In sailing, the boom is the pole along the bottom of the mainsail that helps control the angle and shape of the sail. It helps the sailor navigate an easy and straight path. Our goal is to empower you to navigate your financial future and help you live the life you dream about. It’s this unique voyage that we aspire to bring to financial services—we want the process to be energetic, engaging, and most of all, effective. Meet the team that can help steer you, your business and your family in the right direction for decades to come.
Meet the founder
Amy R. Blodgett*, CFP®
Founder & CEO
Boom Planning | Sound Living, Planned.Office Phone: 415-364-0201
Meet the Founder and CEO of Boom Planning.
Amy Blodgett*, MBA, CFP, Fiduciary, Friend
Amy’s boundless energy, enthusiasm and empathy are the kickoff point with Amy! With a mission to create meaningful impact with her clients, Amy has been interested in helping people effectively plan for the security of their financial futures for over 25 years.
Amy has been the trusted advisor that clients turn to for help reaching their goals and dreams. Her east coast core values of pragmatism, honesty and integrity have helped to guide and advise her clients using a one-size-does-not-fit-all approach. Her holistic and down to earth planning approach make the sometimes-overwhelming task of financial planning fun and enjoyable. Easy going and passionate about helping others, it’s clear Amy really enjoys what she does, and she has fun with the clients and the planning process. However, don’t let that easygoing exterior fool you, Amy is an award-winning industry leader, served on and led advisory boards and has earned numerous professional distinctions and honors,
After starting her finance career in Boston, Amy moved west to earn her MBA degree and the CFP designation. She has built her Bay Area based practice focusing on the LGBTQ+ community, singles, couples, families, business owners, and the causes they care about. She offers next-level service, goes easy on the challenges, and leads with kindness. She may be most proud of the decades-long relationships she has built with her clients.
A recent empty nester, Amy lives in the Bay Area with her husband Bill, and their sweet mutt pup rescue Lukie. Determined to find a balanced lifestyle, Amy loves spending time outdoors hiking, skiing and paddle boarding with her family and never tires of the remarkable beauty of the Bay Area, the Sierras, and her native New England.
Meet the team
John Feldman
COO
Office Phone: 415.367.0232
Mobile Phone: 513.678.6488
As President, Chief Operating Officer and Partner of Boom Planning, John’s responsibilities include daily oversight of the firm, helping to drive business growth, and recruiting and retaining high-quality team members. In addition, John leads our client service and support, marketing and events, technology, training, human resources, vendor relationships and more. He thoroughly enjoys working with the talented Boom Planning team and their creative and diverse clients.
John and Amy have known each other for more than twenty years through her broker/dealer relationship with Ameritas Investment Company, LLC, and through their partnership, Amy and John share a vision for the future direction and growth of Boom Planning. John brings 35+ years of experience including leading operations, trading, new business, customer service, practice management and sales initiatives. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Liberal Arts from Xavier University and is fully licensed in securities. An avid reader and podcast listener, John enjoys fiction and history-oriented novels as well as politically focused multi-media. He and his family are quite active and enjoy playing and watching sports as well as live music of all genres. John has a wife (Debbie) and two adult children (Ryan and Taylor) who are both married (Carli and Dylan). John and Debbie have one beautiful grandchild so far (Ryli) and they are also extremely fond of their adorable rescue kitty (Luna).
Read more
Marjorie Hudnut
Client Relations Manager
Office Phone: 415.364.0211
Marjorie has been working closely with Amy for over 25 years. A juggler of projects, she is dedicated to providing top-notch service to our clients. As Client Relations Manager, Marj directs and oversees a wide variety of client needs. She enjoys the diversity of our clients at Boom Planning, and getting to know and work with them over time. Marj appreciates the real fulfillment of helping clients get their financial house in order and continuing to work with them to keep it there.
Prior to joining Boom Planning, Marj was a successful entrepreneur owning a retail shop on the waterfront in downtown Tiburon. She worked for Mill Valley City Hall and has served as a first responder 911 dispatcher for police and fire emergencies in Marin County. A former competitive masters rower, Marj loves sports and is an avid hiker and fly fisherman. She and her chef husband brew their own beer and volunteer in their spare time. She holds her bachelor’s degree in English and Biology from Lewis & Clark College, has lived in Australia and is most proud of her two delightful adult children.
Read more
Kristen Chirhart*
Financial Planner
Office Phone: 415.364.0226
Kristen entered the financial services industry in 2008. Prior to joining Boom Planning, she worked on the bond floor of the Chicago Board of Trade, traded options on the floor of the Pacific Stock Exchange and worked in investor relations for a private equity firm. She brings her vast experience in the financial world to her work as a financial planner. Kristen is committed to helping people reach their financial goals and she enjoys being a resource for all of her client’s financial-related questions and situations.
Kristen is the insurance specialist for Boom Planning licensed to offer life, health and disability income insurance. She is an Investment Advisor Representative of Ameritas Advisory Services, LLC and is licensed to sell securities in several states including California, New York, Minnesota and Colorado. Kristen was raised in the Midwest, received her bachelor’s degree in accounting from Colorado State University and has lived in San Francisco for over 20 years. She enjoys skiing, traveling, Giants baseball, reading and spending time with family and friends.
Read more
Rita M. Abraldes* CFP®, CRPC®
Lead Financial Planner
Office Phone: 415.364.0231
Rita works closely with Boom clients through the various stages in the planning process: preparing plans, developing portfolio solutions, reviewing budgets and updating financial goals to best meet our clients’ needs. She also collaborates with the team on systems-building to improve practice management, and is particularly interested and prepared for issues affecting older adults.
Rita is dedicated to working with individuals, families and small business owners helping them make educated decisions about their goals in life. Before joining Boom Planning, her passion for food and entrepreneurship led her to co-found two Cuban restaurants in San Francisco. Rita holds her undergraduate degree from Vassar College and a graduate degree in History from Stanford University. A New York native, Rita feels fortunate to be in the Bay Area with all it has to offer. She and her partner enjoy getting outdoors with their kids to hike, bike and travel. Sharing meals at home with friends and family as well as dance parties with the kids keeps Rita and her family laughing with joy and silliness.
Read more
Ana Abraldes* CFP®, RICP®
Financial Planner
Office Phone: 415.364.0205
Ana is dedicated to providing comprehensive, personalized services to our Boom family of clients and to helping them reach their financial goals. She enjoys working with a dynamic, collegial team who share a passion for service and excellence and engaging our clients fully in the planning process.
Prior to joining Boom Planning, Ana was a communications consultant providing web and marketing services to local non-profits and small businesses. She holds an undergraduate degree from Vassar College and a Ph.D. in Classical Archaeology from UC Berkeley.
Ana loves hiking and exploring the spectacular outdoors of Northern California with her family and friends. Her other passions include art, music, soccer, cooking, travel and lifelong learning.
Read more
Bryan Koppel*
Associate Financial Planner
Office Phone: 415.364.0204
Bryan was born and raised in the San Francisco bay area before moving to Nashville, TN. His hobbies include golf, supporting his favorite football team – Liverpool FC, and working on his 1966 Ford Mustang.
Fun facts: before working at Boom Planning, Bryan was in the United State Marines from 2006 – 2010, and Bryan loves animals - especially his cat, Mo.
Read more
Hale McCullough*
Associate Financial Planner
Office Phone: 415.364.0221
As an Associate Financial Planner, Hale ensures that the financial needs of clients are met with the greatest attention and care. Detail-oriented and always wanting to learn, he enjoys the balance between analytics and team collaboration that his position provides. Hale is also very passionate about sustainability and impact investing.
A native of Portland, Oregon, Hale has lived in the Bay Area for over 6 years, where he received his bachelor’s degree in Finance from Santa Clara University. In his free time, Hale loves trail running, trivia, and listening to music.
Read more
Luke Wright
Client Excellence, Operations & Compliance Manager
Office Phone: 415.364.0215
Luke started in the financial services industry in 2005. Before joining Boom Planning, he worked as an operations specialist with other financial service companies and as a Registered Investment Advisor in Orange County, CA. Because of his diverse experience, Luke is consistently called upon during challenging situations; his extensive knowledge makes him a great addition to the Boom Planning team to help solve complex issues. He enjoys learning, staying ahead of the curve, and then passing on that knowledge to clients and advisors alike.
Luke works remotely from Southern California, holds multiple FINRA registrations, and has a BS from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. In his spare time, Luke loves spending time with his family, experiencing the splendor of nature, long-distance hiking, food, music, golfing, ocean sports, and participating in his two sons’ lives.
Read more
Maricela Simkins
Operations Workflow Manager
Office Phone: 415.364.0207
Maricela Simkins brings over 20 years of financial services expertise to the Boom family. Her talents span from the oversight of the firms operations, technology, training and most importantly the care of existing clients and supporting their new business opportunities. Because of her unique abilities to problem solve, she discovers solutions and wow’s clients with her specialized and client centric approach, ensuring a celebrated outcome.
Maricela works remotely from sunny San Diego where she loves her beach walks with her family and Frenchie Bleu. She is bilingual and her degree in Social Sciences from Cal State San Marcos and Masters degree in Counseling, from the University of Redlands only add to her competitive spirit and knowledge in supporting clients and the team she serves. She and her family are soccer enthusiasts, food lovers, and extensive travelers with a love for adventure and enjoying a good cheers at the end of the day!
Read more
Jennifer Elliott ChFC®, CLU
Operations and Communications Manager
Office Phone: 415.364.0206
Jennifer began working in the financial services industry in 2000. Before joining Boom Planning, she worked in various operations and service-focused positions at a large insurance and investments company. Jennifer enjoys detail-oriented work and problem solving. She works remotely from southwestern Ohio.
Outside of work, Jennifer is a very active performing musician (flute) in the greater Cincinnati area and also the music director at her church. She and her husband (also a musician) perform with several local and regional orchestras and ensembles and also perform together as a flute and percussion duo. Besides music, Jennifer also enjoys reading, cooking, baking, spending time with family and friends, and watching the daily antics of her cats.
Read more
Karina Chang
Portfolio Analysis & Training Manager
Office Phone: 415.364.0235
Karina has been working with Amy since 2008. Karina wears many hats at Boom Planning including research and analysis of financial instruments, design of asset allocations and strategies and trading. She greatly enjoys the mathematical analysis involved with each situation and being able to translate data into something that clients can relate to and understand.
A native of Peru, Karina holds her BS in Economic Science and a professional degree in Accounting from the National University of Trujillo. She attended UC Berkeley Extension’s program in Finance and Program Management, and interned with Merrill Lynch. Karina is full of wanderlust and is always up for a creative challenge. She enjoys spending time with her family, especially her son Lucas. Karina enjoys baking, cooking, reading, solving puzzles, traveling, and learning new and creative hobbies.
Read more
Marshall Dearden CFP®
Portfolio Analyst & Trader
Office Phone: 415.364.0211
Over his 35+ years with the company and in the financial industry, Marshall has served many roles. His focus now is to work with the client portfolios implementing a variety of financial roadmaps tailored to client needs. Marshall holds a variety of FINRA registrations and serves the company remotely from the Mid Atlantic.
In his spare time In his spare time Marshall enjoys working with wood, traveling with his wife, and spending time with his adult children and granddaughter.
Read more
Angela Grundig
Paraplanner
Office Phone: 415.364.0210
Angela is a Bay Area native who now works remotely from sunny Southern California. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara, studying Economics and Communication.
In her free time, she loves hiking, going to the beach, traveling, and spending time with friends and family. Angela also loves to play soccer and was on the women’s club soccer team during her time at UCSB.
Read more
Bob Swires*
Financial Planner
Mobile Phone: 510.672.7158
Bob Swires provides Boom Planning clients with unparalleled knowledge involving financial strategies and products that allow clients to take control of their financial lives. He most enjoys when he’s able to help appreciative clients gain financial success and security.
Bob was a financial planner with San Francisco Associates for 10 years prior to joining Boom Planning, and is dedicated to solving complex financial problems for his clients. Bob is also an experienced small business owner who founded a company that supplied independent consulting, products and human resource services to Bay Area businesses. He earned his undergraduate and graduate degrees from Ohio State University. Bob is an avid reader who also writes his own mystery stories. He enjoys sailing, theater, travel and spending time with his pets – all of which provide great inspiration to the curious writer.
Read more
Bartley A Corfee*
ChFC®
Office Phone: 303.674.0188
Bart is a 4th Generation Native born and raised in Sacramento and Davis, California. In 1992, Bart and his wife Toni moved to Evergreen, Colorado where his practice, Corfee & Associates, a branch office of Boom Planning, is located.
Bart graduated from California State University at Sacramento with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting in 1978. Bart is an inductee in the Sacramento Sports Hall of Fame for his participation in Golf throughout his College years. In 1992 he became an Evergreen Fire & Rescue Volunteer Firefighter and EMT, retiring after 13 years. Over the past 26 years Bart is Past President of the Fire Volunteer Board, is a Rotarian, past Rotarian of the year, and past Evergreen Chamber of Commerce President. In 2017 Bartley A. Corfee, ChFC dba: Corfee & Associates received a Rotarian “Ethics in Business” award from the Evergreen Rotary Club.
After college, Bart pursued a career in Investment Asset Management with Sutro & Company and E.F. Hutton & Company in San Francisco, California. Since 1980 Bart has specialized in Asset Management for his client practice.
Bart is a 3rd generation Mason, a Past Master of Idaho Springs Lodge #26 in 2016 and a Scottish Rite KCCH honoree in 2017, a member of Scottish Rite Masonic Center Committee, a member of the Scottish Rite Masonic Finance Committee, a member of the Scottish Rite Masonic Centennial Line of Perfection and a member of the El Jebel Shrine.
Toni and Bart are blessed with two wonderful children, Katelyn who works for Unbridled Solutions, Denver and Brenden, a student at San Diego State University studying Business / Economics.
Read more
Jeffrey J. Heitzman*
CFP®, ChFC®
Office Phone: 616.774.2372
As CEO of Heitzman & Associates, a branch office of Boom Planning located in Grand Rapids MI, Jeff thrives on customizing plans for clients based on their needs, objectives, and risk tolerances. Jeff recognizes that client’s needs are different, and so he offers a variety of products and services to fulfill those needs including referrals to other professionals such as attorneys and CPAs. With over 50 years of combined financial service experience in their firm comes a certain wisdom, knowledge, and "common sense", essential in quality financial planning strategies.
At Heitzman & Associates, their mission is to create and nurture long-term relationships with trust, honesty, and integrity at the core.
Jeff is very passionate about the education system in West Michigan and is actively involved in raising money for and supporting Christian education. He has also been active in the Foundation for Catholic Secondary Education and is currently a Board Member
Jeff has been married to his wife, Alice, for over 25 years and they have four wonderful children. While not in the office, Jeff enjoys watching his kids play soccer, baseball, basketball, rugby and much more. Personally, Jeff likes to camp, fish, and hunt with his three sons.
Jeff is very passionate about the education system in West Michigan and is actively involved in raising money for and supporting Christian education. He has also been active in the Foundation for Catholic Secondary Education and is currently a Board Member
Jeff has been married to his wife, Alice, for over 25 years and they have four wonderful children. While not in the office, Jeff enjoys watching his kids play soccer, baseball, basketball, rugby and much more. Personally, Jeff likes to camp, fish, and hunt with his three sons.
Read more
Ivar Jones, Jr.*
Financial Advisor
Office Phone: 415.494.8041
Ivar Jones, Jr. has been assisting clients and building relationships since 1993 and is a Registered Representative with Ameritas Investment Company, LLC (AIC) and an Investment Advisor Representative with Ameritas Advisory Services, LLC (AAS). Ivar holds his series 6,7,63 and 65 securities licenses.
Ivar enjoys the process of helping individuals, small businesses, and non-profit organizations with Comprehensive Financial Planning. Emphasis is placed on discovering wealth leaks in client finances. Ivar specializes in personal financial planning, wealth management, tax planning strategies, pre-retirement and post-retirement planning, executive benefits, and employee benefits. Clients that benefit the most from Ivar’s experience are typically those who don’t have the time or experience to be actively involved in the day-to-day operations to plan for their retirement or managing their money. Outside the office when Ivar is not assisting clients, he enjoys spending quality time with his wife, their dogs, and family & friends. Ivar loves the great outdoors. His favorite hobbies include hiking, mountain biking, and snowboarding in Lake Tahoe and the Bay Area.
Read more
Jennifer Howard
Director of Operations & Client Services for Ivar Jones, Jr.
Office Phone: 415.937.0724
Jennifer has over 20 years of experience in operations and client services management for small businesses and nonprofits. Passionate about helping clients achieve their goals and providing highly responsive service, she works remotely from her home in New Jersey.
Jennifer holds master’s degrees from the Mendoza College of Business at the University of Notre Dame and the Columbian College of Arts & Sciences at George Washington University, along with a bachelor’s degree from Vanderbilt University. A professional wanderluster and member of the Antarctic Polar Bear Club, she and her partner Shawn are dedicated animal-lovers who spend many hours volunteering at a local cat rescue.
Read more
Interested in learning more about how Boom Planning can help you? Contact us »
Check the background of Ameritas Investment Company, LLC or your financial professional on FINRA BrokerCheck »