Redmond's Fiduciary Financial Advisors — Built for the Life You're Planning Next

A5 Financial brings boutique, fee-based financial planning to Redmond — retirement income strategies, tax-efficient investing, and equity compensation planning, delivered by two CFP® advisors who know this community.

Redmond Residents Deserve More Than a Call Center and a Junior Advisor

When you work with A5 Financial, you work directly with John Carruthers, CFP® and Neil Fenning, CFP® — the same two advisors, every meeting, every year. There is no handoff to a junior associate after onboarding, no rotating team of strangers reviewing your accounts. That consistency matters when you're navigating something as important as retirement or a major equity compensation decision.

 

We're based in Bothell and serve clients across the Seattle–Eastside region, including Redmond, Kirkland, Bellevue, and beyond. Many of our Redmond clients work in tech — at Microsoft, Amazon, or one of the area's many high-growth startups — and come to us with questions that go well beyond basic portfolio management.

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Who We Work With in Redmond

Our Redmond clients tend to fall into a few categories, though every situation is its own:

 

  • Tech professionals at Microsoft, Amazon, or local startups navigating RSUs, ESPPs, or stock options alongside retirement savings
  • Pre-retirees in their 50s and early 60s building a transition plan and stress-testing their retirement income
  • Current retirees who want a second set of eyes on their withdrawal strategy and tax efficiency
  • Women managing household finances — whether as primary earners, recent widows, or partners stepping into a more active financial role

 

If you're in Redmond and recognize yourself in any of these, we're worth a conversation.

Retirement Planning

We help pre-retirees and retirees build income that lasts. Our signature retirement income ladder pairs principal-protected income sources — CDs, bonds, and annuities — with a growth sleeve designed to keep pace with inflation over time. The result is a retirement paycheck you can count on without watching the market every morning.

Investment Management

We build risk-adjusted portfolios aligned to your timeline, your income needs, and your tax situation. Every allocation decision is made with your full financial picture in mind — not a model portfolio pulled from a shelf.

Tax Planning

Tax-efficient withdrawal sequencing, Roth conversion strategies, and coordinated planning across your accounts can meaningfully reduce what you pay over a retirement that could span 20 to 30 years. We build tax strategy into the plan from the start, not as an afterthought.

Financial Planning Services for Redmond Clients

Equity Compensation Planning: RSUs, ESPPs, stock options, and concentrated positions in a single employer's stock are a financial reality for many Redmond professionals. We help you understand what you have, when to act, and how to diversify in a way that minimizes tax exposure and fits your broader retirement strategy.

What It Means to Work with a Fee-Based Fiduciary in Redmond

As a Registered Investment Advisor, A5 Financial is held to a fiduciary standard — meaning we are legally required to act in your interest, not in the interest of a product manufacturer or a commission schedule. We do not earn commissions on anything we recommend. Our compensation comes directly from you, which keeps our advice clean and our incentives aligned with your outcomes.

 

For Redmond residents comparing financial advisors, that distinction is worth understanding before the first meeting.

Frequently Asked Questions — Financial Advisor Redmond WA

  • Do you work with clients in Redmond, or only in Bothell where you're based?

    We serve clients throughout the Seattle–Eastside region, including Redmond, Kirkland, Bellevue, Kenmore, Woodinville, and Seattle. Many client meetings happen virtually, and we're also available to meet in person when that's preferred.

  • What does fee-based mean, and why does it matter?

    Fee-based means our compensation comes from the fees you pay us directly — not from commissions on financial products. That structure removes a significant conflict of interest and means every recommendation we make is driven by what we believe is right for your situation.

  • I work at Microsoft and have a large RSU position. Can you help with that?

    Yes — equity compensation planning for tech professionals is one of our core service areas. We work with clients holding RSUs, ESPPs, and stock options regularly, and we build vesting, diversification, and tax strategy into a cohesive plan rather than treating it as a separate problem.

  • How is A5 Financial different from a large brokerage or bank?

    The most meaningful difference is direct access to the same two CFP® advisors throughout the relationship. At larger firms, clients often find themselves reassigned to junior staff or rotating teams. At A5 Financial, John and Neil are the ones doing the work — and that continuity tends to produce better planning outcomes over time.

  • What's the best way to get started?

    The easiest first step is scheduling an introductory call through our Calendly link. There's no obligation — it's a chance to talk through your situation and see whether we're a good fit before any commitment is made.