A Fiduciary Financial Advisor Serving Kenmore, WA

A5 Financial brings boutique, fee-based financial planning to Kenmore residents — retirement income strategies, tax-efficient investing, and equity compensation planning delivered by the same two advisors, every time.

Kenmore Residents Deserve More Than a Call Center

Big institutional firms route you through junior staff and one-size-fits-all portfolios. At A5 Financial, every client in Kenmore works directly with John Carruthers CFP® and Neil Fenning CFP® — two advisors who know your name, your goals, and your full financial picture. No handoffs. No rotating associates.

 

We operate as independent fiduciaries, which means our only obligation is to you. We receive no commissions on any product we recommend. Our compensation is straightforward, and our advice is shaped entirely by what makes sense for your situation.

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Financial Planning Built Around Where You Are in Life

Whether you're a pre-retiree mapping out your final working years, a retiree managing distributions, a tech professional navigating RSUs and stock options, or a woman taking a more active role in household financial decisions — A5 Financial has worked with clients in exactly your position.

 

Our core services for Kenmore clients include:

 

  • Retirement Income Planning: We build CD, bond, and annuity income ladders designed to deliver principal-protected income in the near term while keeping a growth sleeve working for your long-term needs.
  • Investment Management: Risk-adjusted allocation built around your timeline, tax situation, and income requirements — not a generic model portfolio.
  • Tax Planning: Roth conversion strategies, tax-efficient withdrawal sequencing, and coordination across account types to reduce what you owe over time.
  • Equity Compensation Planning: RSU vesting schedules, ESPP decisions, and stock option timing for tech employees at Amazon, Microsoft, Google, and Seattle-area startups.

Why Kenmore Families Choose a Boutique Fiduciary Firm

There's a meaningful difference between a firm that manages assets and one that thinks through your full financial picture. A5 Financial is built around the latter.

 

  • Independent fiduciaries — no broker-dealer affiliation, no product quotas
  • No commissions on any investment or insurance product
  • Direct access to John and Neil, not a rotating team of associates
  • Deep familiarity with the Seattle–Eastside market and the financial patterns common among Pacific Northwest households
  • Specialized knowledge of equity compensation for tech employees in the region

 

We serve clients across Kenmore and the surrounding communities, including Bothell, Kirkland, Woodinville, and Redmond.

Common Questions from Kenmore Residents

Ready to Talk Through Your Financial Picture?

If you're in Kenmore and looking for a financial advisor who will know your name and your goals — not just your account number — we'd like to meet you. Schedule a consultation with John and Neil to start the conversation.

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • Do I need a minimum amount of assets to work with A5 Financial?

    We work with clients across a range of financial situations. The most important factor is whether our planning approach is a good fit for your goals. The best way to find out is to schedule an introductory conversation — there's no obligation and no cost to that first meeting.

  • How is A5 Financial different from a financial advisor at my bank or a large brokerage?

    Bank and brokerage advisors often operate under a suitability standard, which permits them to recommend products that earn them a commission as long as those products are considered suitable. As fiduciaries, John and Neil are held to a higher standard — they are legally required to act in your best interest. And because A5 Financial collects no commissions, there's no financial incentive to recommend one product over another.

  • I work in tech and have RSUs vesting this year. Can you help with that?

    Yes. Equity compensation planning is one of our core service areas. We help tech employees in the Seattle–Eastside region think through RSU vesting decisions, ESPP participation, and stock option timing in the context of their broader tax and investment picture. If you're at Amazon, Microsoft, Google, or a local startup, this is a conversation worth having before your next vest date.

  • Do you work with clients who are still a decade or more from retirement?

    We work with pre-retirees across a range of timelines. If you're in your 50s and starting to think seriously about what retirement will look like — income sources, tax strategy, Social Security timing — that's exactly the right time to start planning. The decisions you make in the years before retirement often have more impact than the decisions you make after.

  • Where is A5 Financial located, and do you meet with clients in person?

    We're based in Bothell, WA, and we serve clients throughout the greater Seattle–Eastside area, including Kenmore. We meet with clients both in person and virtually, depending on what works best for you.