The term “Nerd Nation” may not have officially existed until 2012, but one could argue that Chris has embodied its spirit throughout his life. He grew up in different parts of the country, spending time in Illinois, Tennessee, and Utah before making his way to California.

Chris found an incredible community of like-minded Nerds when he arrived as an undergrad at Stanford. He forged lifelong friendships singing a cappella with the Stanford Mendicants, learning to speak Italian and studying abroad in Sicily and Florence, leading the peer writing tutor program on campus, and cheering on all sorts of Stanford sports. He graduated in 2004 with a degree in Classics/Ancient History and a profound appreciation for spending time with people who are proud and passionate about the “nerdy” aspects of what they do. After spending 3 years as a Consultant in the healthcare industry, Chris launched his business with Northwestern Mutual in 2007. 

While he built his client base and expanded his financial planning credentials, Chris found that many of his former classmates and colleagues were coming to him for expert guidance. Many were establishing their careers in tech while also navigating big questions in their personal lives:

“How much can I afford to spend on a house?”

“How do I balance my vesting company stock with the rest of my investments?”

“What financial considerations do I need to address in getting married and/or having kids?”

Chris built his team at Nerd Nation Financial to support these early clients, and the business has continued to evolve along with the needs and goals of those families and individuals. Today, Nerd Nation Financial still helps clients with their most important life questions and decisions, assisting with the management of complex and growing resources, aging parents, tax-efficiency, retirement strategy, and legacy planning.