Financial Planning Built Around Your Life, Your Goals, and Your Terms

You've spent years making smart decisions for your family and your career. A5 Financial works with women across the Seattle–Eastside region who are ready to take a clear-eyed look at their financial picture — and build a plan that actually reflects what they want their future to look like.

What Financial Planning Looks Like When It's Designed for You

Too many women have sat across from an advisor who talked past them, handed them a generic allocation, and moved on. That's not how we work. John Carruthers, CFP®, and Neil Fenning, CFP® take the time to understand your full situation — your income, your assets, your concerns, and your goals — before any recommendations are made.

 

Whether you're managing household finances, navigating a career transition, approaching retirement, or taking a more active role in your financial life after a major life event, we build a plan that fits where you are right now and where you want to go.

 

We're independent, fee-based fiduciaries. That means we don't earn commissions on products we recommend. Our only obligation is to you.

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You Work Directly With the Advisors — Every Time

At A5 Financial, John and Neil work directly with every client, every time. That continuity matters — especially when your financial picture involves nuance, complexity, or decisions that require someone who actually knows your history.

 

We serve women across Bothell, Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond, Seattle, Woodinville, and Kenmore. Whether you prefer to meet in person or work with us remotely, we make the process straightforward.

The Financial Questions Women Ask Us Most

Women face financial dynamics that generic planning often overlooks — longer average lifespans, career interruptions, and a higher likelihood of managing finances alone at some point. These aren't edge cases. They're planning realities that belong at the center of your strategy.

 

We address them directly across four core areas:

Retirement Income Planning

We use a CD/bond/annuity income ladder strategy that pairs principal-protected income with a growth sleeve — so you have reliable cash flow in the near term and your portfolio continues working for the long term. This approach is especially valuable for women who want to know that income is covered regardless of what markets are doing.

Investment Management

Your investment allocation should reflect your actual risk tolerance, your time horizon, and your life — not a standardized questionnaire result. We build and manage risk-adjusted portfolios designed to grow your wealth while keeping volatility at a level you can live with.

Tax Planning

Keeping more of what you've earned is just as important as growing it. We work through tax-efficient withdrawal sequencing, Roth conversions, and year-round planning to reduce your tax burden in ways that compound over time.

Equity Compensation Planning

If you work in tech — at Amazon, Microsoft, Google, or a startup — your RSUs, ESPPs, and stock options are likely a significant part of your total compensation. We help you understand what you have, when to act, and how to integrate your equity into a broader financial plan without unnecessary concentration risk.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Do I need to have a certain amount saved before working with a financial advisor?

    There's no minimum portfolio size required to start a conversation with us. What matters more is where you are in your planning journey and whether the timing feels right. We're happy to have an initial meeting to assess whether we're a good fit.

  • I've always left financial decisions to my spouse. Is it too late to get more involved?

    It's never too late — and getting involved now is one of the most valuable things you can do for your long-term financial security. We work with women at every stage of financial engagement, including those who are stepping into a more active role for the first time.

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

    A fiduciary is legally required to act in your best interest, not in the interest of a product provider or a commission structure. As a fee-based Registered Investment Advisor, A5 Financial LLC is compensated by you — not by the products we recommend. That alignment matters when you're making decisions that affect the rest of your life.

  • Can you help me if I'm going through a divorce or the loss of a spouse?

    Yes. Life transitions often come with urgent financial decisions and significant emotional weight. We work through these situations with care and without pressure, helping you understand your options and make decisions at a pace that works for you.

  • Do you work with women who are still working, or only those approaching retirement?

    Both. We work with women who are actively building wealth — including tech professionals managing equity compensation — as well as those who are five to fifteen years from retirement and want to make sure they're on track.