I’ve spent the last 40 years helping individuals, families, and business owners navigate the complexities of financial planning. Early in my career, one of my first roles was working with retired Teamsters in Northern California to help them secure Medicare benefits. I was shocked to see how many hardworking people, people who had done everything “right” and were still struggling financially in retirement. It was like pulling up to the scene of a “financial accident. That experience created a desire in me to help individuals and families plan successfully so they could avoid that lack of financial freedom and enjoy the retirement life they had earned.

At SummitOne, my focus is helping clients build coordinated, comprehensive financial plans that will help allow them to maximize their wealth, reduce unnecessary risk, and maintain financial freedom throughout their lives. There’s a flawed, common understanding of financial decision-making that leaves people exposed to higher taxes, increased market risk, and reduced cash flow. My mission is to dispel that harmful belief.

In addition to my work with clients, I’ve spent years educating others in the industry. I’m a past president of the San Jose Chapter of the Society of Financial Service Professionals and a former director of the CPA/Law Forum of Silicon Valley, and I’ve taught macro-economic financial planning at West Valley College in Saratoga. I believe that financial literacy is one of the most powerful tools people can have. I’m passionate about helping my clients make informed, strategic, and confident decisions about their money.

Outside of work, I’m a dedicated judo instructor. I’ve coached kids who are now adults, and it's one of the most rewarding parts of my life. I also have two adult children, both adopted from foster care. I have a deep appreciation for the people and institutions that supported them along the way

At the end of the day, life is about the people you help and the impact you leave behind. That’s the perspective I bring to my work every day.

Registered Representative and Financial Advisor of Park Avenue Securities and Financial Representative of Guardian. CA Insurance License #0674584.

These awards are not issued by Guardian or its subsidiaries. The annual Forbes ranking of Best-In-State Financial Securities List 2024 is based on criteria developed and obtained by SHOOK Research, LLC.  No compensation was provided in connection with obtaining this rating; however, advisors may choose to pay fees to Forbes and Shook for premium listing features; including, usage rights of the ranking logo. Past performance is not an indication of future results. https://www.forbes.com/profile/david-culler/

I’ve spent most of my career helping people make smarter financial decisions, but I didn’t start out in this industry. Early on, I worked at hardware and software tech companies in Silicon Valley. The work was interesting, but something was missing - I wasn’t building real relationships. I wanted to do something that had a direct, lasting impact on people’s lives.

That’s what led me to financial planning. I saw an opportunity to combine my analytical side (math has always been my thing) with my deep desire to help people create security for themselves and their families. Retirement planning, in particular, is one of the most complex financial challenges people face, and I love helping my clients navigate it with clarity and confidence. As a Retirement Income Certified Professional®, I specialize in helping people make the most of their savings, ensuring their money lasts.

When I work with clients, I see my role as more than just analyzing numbers. People need leadership and someone to help them see the big picture so they can make decisions they feel good about. I want my clients to know they have someone in their corner who understands the complexities of wealth management and will guide them toward a secure future.

In 2024 and 2025, I was honored to be named one of Forbes's Best-in-State Financial Security Professionals. While recognition is always nice, what truly matters to me is the work behind it, and that’s helping my clients achieve lasting financial security.

Outside of work, I’m all about the outdoors. I grew up in the redwoods of Santa Cruz, and now I spend as much time as I can hiking, mushroom foraging, and lifting weights (which is its own kind of therapy). My wife and I have two young children, and being present for them is my top priority. Financial success is important, but at the end of the day, it’s about the life you build with the people who matter most. That’s what I want for myself, and that’s what I help my clients work toward every day. In the past, I’ve volunteered as a court-appointed special advocate for children in the foster system, and I continue to support charities that focus on helping kids.

Registered Representative and Financial Advisor of Park Avenue Securities and Financial Representative of Guardian. CA Insurance License #0K11392.

These awards are not issued by Guardian or its subsidiaries. The annual Forbes ranking of Best-In-State Financial Securities List 2024 is based on criteria developed and obtained by SHOOK Research, LLC.  No compensation was provided in connection with obtaining this rating; however, advisors may choose to pay fees to Forbes and Shook for premium listing features; including, usage rights of the ranking logo. Past performance is not an indication of future results. https://www.forbes.com/profile/ryan-brody/

Some people go through life wanting to be seen. I’ve always been drawn to making sure others are.

At SummitOne, I focus on making every client feel valued, supported, and heard. As the first point of contact, I set the tone for our client experience, handling everything from onboarding and scheduling to making sure all the little details that matter never get overlooked. Financial planning can sometimes feel overwhelming, but my goal is to make every client feel reassured and every interaction enjoyable.

Over the years, my career has always revolved around service, organization, and connection. Whether coaching soccer, leading a PTA (thanks to my “raise-your-hand disease”), or capturing yearbook photos for elementary school students, my focus has always been making sure people feel seen and appreciated. Someone once told me that my photography captures children in their essence, and that idea has stuck with me. It’s the same approach I bring to my work every day.

One of my favorite coaching memories is from my time in women’s sports. I gave every player on my team a colored ribbon, and when they made a great play or effort, I’d tie it on the fence. By the end of the game, we had a tangible, colorful display of every single player’s contribution. To me, that’s what great teamwork is about - every person matters, and their role is worth recognizing. That philosophy has carried into everything I do, including my work at SummitOne.

People say I’m empathetic, thoughtful, and add a personal touch to everything I do. I take pride in being resourceful, so if I don’t have the answer to something, I’ll find it. I also believe that even the hardest conversations can be handled with warmth and care. My job isn’t just to facilitate logistics, it’s to make sure our clients always know that they’re in good hands.

Outside of work, you’ll find me working in the garden, reading a good thriller, golfing with my family or laughing with my friends because a sense of humor makes everything better.

If there’s one thing that has shaped my career, it’s the belief that great relationships drive great results. My focus is always on the people - understanding what they need, anticipating challenges before they arise, and making sure every interaction is positive and productive.

Before joining SummitOne, my career took me through the entertainment industry, an obligatory step as a born and bred Los Angeleno. When I decided to hang up my Hollywood hat (and relieve myself of the burden of having to have an opinion on every movie ever made), I shifted into operations and project management for startups, where I honed my ability to turn big, complex goals into structured, actionable steps.

Eventually, I realized I wanted to apply those skills in a way that made a real impact on people’s lives. That’s what led me to SummitOne in a field and role where I combine my love of problem-solving with my desire to help individuals navigate their financial picture.

At SummitOne, I handle all securities-related workflows, ensuring that our clients' investments are serviced smoothly and efficiently. That includes everything from opening accounts and moving assets to maintaining investment records and preparing reports for client meetings. I also play a key role in process improvement and operations, making sure our internal workflows are as seamless as possible.

To me, “service” means more than just handling transactions - it’s about advocating for our clients, thinking several steps ahead, and making sure no detail slips through the cracks.

I'm currently studying for my securities license, which will allow me to deepen my role in client strategy, and I look forward to continuing my growth alongside yours!

Outside of work, I’m a dedicated weekly bread maker, a lifelong dog lover, (still) a frequent cinema-goer, and a nature enthusiast.

Alisa Chatham Sakowitz joined Pacific Advisors, Park Avenue Securities and Guardian Life in 2014. She has over 25 years of experience in the investment industry.

Alisa is third generation in financial services, following in the footsteps of her father, step-mom and grandparents as well as several aunts, uncles and cousins. The industry is in her blood. Having had a perspective on other careers from fellow students while completing her MBA at UC Berkeley, Alisa affirmed her own belief that working with clients to help navigate the tightly intertwined worlds of financial planning and investing would be her life’s work.

Upon graduating from The University of Arizona with a degree in Creative Writing and a minor in Finance, Alisa began her career at Morgan Stanley where she spent sixteen years in roles ranging from advisor to sales and branch manager. Alisa has been responsible for hiring, training, and helping established advisors to evolve their practices while connecting clients and advisors with the vast resources of their investment firm. Holding these different roles provided immeasurable perspective on various ways to work with clients and the almost innumerable approaches to investment management.

Alisa transitioned from Morgan Stanley to Park Avenue Securities after a successful career in order to work with her family in their investment management practice at Park Avenue Securities, a subsidiary of Guardian. It remains a point of pride that virtually all of her clients made that transition with her. The Chatham family’s history with Guardian dates back over forty years as Alisa’s father founded the Sacramento Agency for Guardian. Park Avenue Securities sponsored Alisa to take her securities licensing exam prior to graduating from college. Having returned “home” to Guardian and Park Avenue Securities in 2014, Alisa now appreciates the latitude offered by Park Avenue’s investment platforms.

Alisa’s primary focus continues to be helping clients to formulate goals and execute a sound strategy based on achieving reasonable risk adjusted returns. This requires taking a hands-on approach, working closely with associated advisors such as CPAs and attorneys to help ensure desired outcomes as it relates to taxation and estate planning as well as family members and trustees, as appropriate, to achieve smooth transitions and responsible stewardship of multi generational wealth.

Alisa and her husband, Rob, live in Sacramento with their two sons. Rob is a photographer by trade but focuses his time on being a stay-at-home dad. The family loves to travel, cook, garden and read when they are not snow skiing or running from one kids’ sport to another.

Registered Representative and Financial Advisor of Park Avenue Securities and Financial Representative of Guardian. CA Insurance License #0C75476.

For over a decade, Anne has dedicated her career to providing education and coaching to help clients make sound financial decisions, enabling them to secure a confident financial future. Anne was recognized three years in a row by Forbes as a Best-in-State Top Financial Security Professional in 2023, 2024 and 2025, a testament to her experience and commitment to excellence in the field.

Anne is deeply commitment to understand clients’ goals and concerns.  Her comprehensive financial planning services include: cash flow analysis, investment management, risk management strategies, retirement income planning, social security optimization, long term care solution, business succession planning, tax-efficient strategies, and estate planning.  

Anne, alongside her professional team, serves clients from diverse backgrounds.  Her clients are busy professionals, executives, small business owners and happy retirees.  She is particularly passionate about empowering clients from multicultural backgrounds and women who are single, divorced or widowed to feel confident in their financial decisions. Anne finds particular joy in assisting pre-retirees and retirees with retirement planning, helping them create sustainable retirement income and addressing their long-term care needs. 

As a CPA with an extensive tax background, Anne possesses unique insights that allow her to develop financial plans incorporating tax-efficient strategies. Anne began her career as an accountant, earning her CPA license in 1999.  Her personal experience with family financial planning through Pacific Advisors highlighted the power of strategic planning to improve financial freedom.  Inspired by this, Anne joined Pacific Advisors in 2012 with a goal to make a lasting positive impact in others’ financial lives. 

Anne and her husband live in SF Bay Area and have two adult children.  She supports several charitable and civic organizations and enjoys gardening, dancing, swimming, and spending time with family and friends.  

Anne holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration (MBA) from Long Island University in NY. She has Series 6,7 and Series 66 securities licenses and has earned designations as a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, RICP® (Retirement Income Certified Professional) and CLTC® (Certification for Long-Term Care). 

Registered Representative and Financial Advisor of Park Avenue Securities and Financial Representative of Guardian. CA Insurance License #0C20772. 

The Forbes awards are not issued by Guardian or its subsidiaries. The annual Forbes rankings are based on criteria developed and obtained by SHOOK Research, LLC. No compensation was provided in connection with obtaining this rating; however, advisors may choose to pay fees to Forbes and Shook for premium listing features; including, usage rights of the ranking logo. Past performance is not an indication of future results

Christopher Real is the Director of Business Development for Pacific Advisors (PA), a West Coast-based financial services firm that specializes in advanced estate, business, charitable, and philanthropic planning. In his leadership role, Chris is responsible for elevating community by acting as the firm’s qualified and nonqualified plans subject matter expert (SME), He also is a member of PA’s Complex Case Team, a group of 4 SMEs with broad experience that serve as consultants to the firm’s advisors for constructing comprehensive approaches to multifarious planning opportunities.

From his start as a Financial Services and Investment Advisor Representative in 1997, Chris has led several business development teams, served as the practice leader for a large insurance company’s deferred compensation business, and has managed not-for-profit, large, and mega market retirement plans. Throughout his career, his focus has been to consult with advisors, business owners, plan sponsors, and other industry intermediaries to help deliver the most appropriate and effective solutions to meet business development and wealth management needs.

Chris has a Bachelor of Science degree from Excelsior College, and holds FINRA Series 7 and 66 designations. He is a member of the American Society of Pension Professionals and Actuaries, and obtained their QPFC (Qualified Plan Financial Consultant) designation. Prior to entering the retirement services industry, Chris served for 8 years in the U.S. Navy as a submarine engineer. He resides in Oregon with 4 kids in or just past their teenage years.

Registered Representative and Financial Advisor of Park Avenue Securities and Financial Representative of Guardian. CA Insurance License #0I54769.