Bryan Sullivan is the founder and Managing Partner of Vellum Financial. Bryan is also a member of the Investment Policy Committee. He has worked as a wealth advisor his entire career since graduating from Oregon State University in 1991. He spent most of his career working for major Wall Street firms including UBS and Merrill Lynch before founding Vellum Financial where he is principal and senior financial advisor.
Bryan’s vision is that a registered investment advisory firm is the final step in the evolutionary process toward providing unbiased investment management. Vellum Financial is an objective financial advisory firm that strictly incorporates best practices of investment management while avoiding the potential conflicts of interest in the brokerage industry. Vellum Financial represents a higher standard of service and performance within our industry, providing an ethical, intellectual, and deeply personal opportunity for us to be true stewards for the benefit of our clients.
Sullivan is also the author of the book, “Protecting Your Money From Yourself – A Retiree’s Guide to Insuring You Have Enough Money to Enjoy Your Retirement,” He also writes articles on the Vellum Financial blog (www.VellumFinancial.com) to keep clients up to date on the latest news developments and how they might affect their investments. He’s also been featured in USA Today, CNBC, Morningstar.com, CBS’Moneywatch.com, The Boston Globe, The Miami Herald, MarketWatch, Yahoo Finance, The Wall Street Journal Online among many others.
Bryan is married and has four children. He is a former president of the Morro Bay Lions Club and remains active as a member. In his free time, he enjoys camping and snow skiing.
Kelly Smith, AAMS is principal and senior financial advisor at Vellum Financial. He is also a member of the investment policy committee. He specializes in retirement and financial planning for individuals that have retired or will soon retire. He also works closely with many small business owners. He uses a conservative approach with clients, allowing for a “margin of safety” when market conditions are not as favorable as history has demonstrated. His goal is for all Vellum Financial clients to live the lifestyle of their dreams.
Kelly began his career in the investment management industry in 1994. Prior to joining Vellum Financial, he was a financial advisor for Edward Jones Investments for 6 years. He graduated from California Polytechnic State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in social sciences. He holds the Accredited Asset Management Specialist designation which he received from the College for Financial Planning. He also attended the University of California, Santa Barbara where he received his certificate of completion for all of the course work necessary to successfully take and pass the Certified Financial Planner examination. He is a registered representative of Multiple Financial Services.
Kelly contributes to the communities of Santa Maria and San Luis Obispo through his involvement as a Rotarian in the Santa Maria Breakfast Rotary Club, an affiliate of Rotary International. He has been married for over 15 years, and enjoys playing golf, basketball, and spending time with family and friends.
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Anthony Diaz, CFA is vice president at Vellum Financial and is a member of the investment policy committee. He performs client portfolio allocation analysis, conducts investment research, and supervises client operations.
While serving in the U.S. military, Anthony earned his undergraduate degree in finance with highest honors from the University of Southern Mississippi. After being honorably discharged, he worked in marketing research before pursuing a career in investment management. He was accepted to the UCLA Anderson School of Management, earning his MBA in finance and completing a ten-month internship at Wedbush Morgan Securities where he conducted primary research and prepared research reports. After graduation, he joined Odyssey Advisors as an equity research analyst, conducting independent research on companies and industries across multiple sectors.
Anthony’s article “Value Investors Never Pay Retail”2 has appeared in the West L.A. Business Monthly. As a holder of the Chartered Financial Analyst® designation, he is a member of the CFA Institute and the CFA Society of Los Angeles where he serves as a CFA Review Program coordinator and mentor. He is also a member of the Financial Planning Association.
Anthony has been a volunteer for the Make-A-Wish Foundation for over 15 years. He enjoys reading, music, inline skating, and spending time with friends.
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Arlene Sheller is client relations manager at Vellum Financial. She brings to the firm over 30 years of client service and asset management experience in the financial services industry.
Arlene worked at Wells Fargo Bank for over 15 years as a banking services officer, overseeing the consumer loan department. Prior to joining Vellum Financial, she was a branch office manager with Edward Jones Investments for over ten years. In addition to providing office support for the financial advisors, she was also one of Edward Jones Investments’ California regional coordinators, providing training and mentoring for new employees of all 35 Edward Jones Investments office locations at or near the central coast.
Arlene is active with the Santa Maria Noontime Kiwanis and serves on their board of directors. She has raised two sons, the oldest of which graduated from Fresno State University and has recently married. Her youngest recently graduated from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and now works as an industrial engineer. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, gardening, spending time with her two Labrador Retrievers, and making custom jewelry for family and friends.
Greg Franklin, AAMS is a Partner and Financial Advisor at Vellum Financial. Greg began his investment career in 1984 after earning both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in business management and economic programs. Although he has been helping clients with their financial affairs for nearly three decades, Greg always seeks additional knowledge whenever possible. Among the most notable achievements is Greg’s certification as an Accredited Asset Management Specialist through the College for Financial Planning. His depth of understanding has allowed Greg to be one of the few financial industry advisors who truly have a sense for what is working and what isn’t. A desire for strong client relationships with the personalized service received from Greg and his staff will give you the confidence it takes to be successful in a fast changing environment.
The world changes quickly, this is evident in almost everything that surrounds us. If you are managing your money utilizing “successful ideas of the past,” you’re likely not having the experience you might expect. Greg understands that our economic and life situations are unique for all of us; however, none of us have 20 years to “wait out” market corrections and downturns. Greg understands that you want results and at the same time, desire to utilize a successful process proven to help protect your assets.
Greg’s pursuit of combining technology with a quantitative process is what turns uncertainty into a greater propensity for financial success.
Sherry King is an Office Administrator for Vellum Financial at the San Luis Obispo office. She is responsible for client service and relationship management; however, her range of prior administrative opportunities as well as depth of understanding service needs of investors keeps the office running. Sherry’s efforts make her a valuable and desirable member of the Vellum team as she is assisting staff and communicating with the partners, all while enhancing customer satisfaction. She has one main goal and she’ll tell you… “take care of the client.”
Raised a proud citizen of Wisconsin, Sherry brings a sincere, strong Midwest work ethic to all she endeavors. Aside from her organizational and technical skills, she offers professional seamstress services to a large, top notch equestrian show coat company. And if you ask her about her favorite investment?… it’s definitely her five children and six grandchildren. Sherry resides in beautiful Los Osos, CA where she enjoys keeping a nice yard that backs up to a breath-taking view of the Seven Sisters.
Kevin Swanson, CRFA, is principal at Swanson Financial Services and a Registered Principal with United Planners. He specializes in retirement and financial planning for individuals that have retired or will soon retire. Kevin’s clients are business owners, managers, successful professionals, educators, doctors, accountants, and government employees.
Kevin began his career in the financial services industry with Chase Bank in 1991 while attending Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. In 1998, Kevin left Chase Bank to open an Edward Jones Investments office. While at Edward Jones, Kevin mentored other successful Investment Representatives who assist their clients in the community today. In 2004, Kevin opened Swanson Financial Services to offer his clients independent financial service. Kevin is a Certified Retirement Financial Advisor.
Kevin and his wife Toni were married in 1986 while Kevin was stationed with the U.S. Army at Fort Hood, Texas. Currently Kevin and Toni live in Morro Bay along with their three children, Alix, Tanner and Garret. Kevin enjoys spending time with his family and friends along with surfing and biking.
Michelle Roberts is an Office Administrator for Vellum Financial at the San Luis Obispo office. She is responsible for client service and relationship management.
