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We get you to think about money like you’ve never thought about it before
Has rolling up your sleeves, working hard, and building success always been part of your DNA? Then we believe Mercer Advisors is the wealth management firm for you.
Because we’re here to help you keep building on that success. But at the same time, we fundamentally believe there’s a point in life where the wealth-builder in you deserves to become the wealth-enjoyer of all you’ve attained.
Because to us, helping you protect and grow your wealth is about much more than just your investment portfolio
Of course, a well-managed investment portfolio is the cornerstone to building wealth. And we strive to do that exceptionally well.
But if returns are your sole focus, those returns can quickly be offset by what happens in the other parts of your financial life. Like not preparing for major taxable events, having an incomplete estate plan, a retirement plan that’s on autopilot, or a less than ideal business succession strategy.
So, unlike most firms, we have expertise across financial planning, investing strategy, tax and estate planning, trust services, insurance coverage, and more. With specialists across each of these areas communicating with each other about you, and with you.
Put simply, we help oversee and connect all the dots of your financial life.
They’re here to help you connect all your financial dots
Jonathan Mitchell
Sr. Wealth Advisor, Sr. Director
Jonathan Mitchell
Sr. Wealth Advisor, Sr. Director
MBA, CFP®, ChFC®, CPWA®
Jonathan graduated cum laude from Westmont College, with dual degrees in political science, economics and business. He earned his MBA from Western Governor’s University and holds CFP®, ChFC®, and CPWA® certifications. Prior to joining Mercer Advisors, in 2013, Jonathan gained experience in a variety of fields, including education, law, sales, and construction management. Jonathan is a good teacher, an excellent listener, and a great coach. He is unconditionally committed to serving his clients with integrity.
Emi Umezawa
Sr. Wealth Advisor
Emi Umezawa
Sr. Wealth Advisor
Emi has close to 20 years of experience in the financial services industry, all with Mercer Advisors. In taking clients through the financial planning process, she places the client’s life at the center. Drawing from her life coach training, Emi takes time to get to know a person, and learn what financial peace of mind looks like to them. Then in participation with the client, she finds an optimized financial solution for each unique situation. Emi also emphasizes education and coaching to increase a client’s confidence in taking charge of their financial wellbeing.
Emi is an active member in Mercer Advisors’ InvestHERs initiative, which focuses on helping to serve the specific needs of women and to increase their representation at the firm. Emi graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara, with a degree in Business Economics and Accounting.
Yvonne Wood
Sr. Wealth Advisor
Yvonne Wood
Sr. Wealth Advisor
Yvonne began her career in the financial services industry in 1990. She worked in the brokerage industry prior to joining Mercer Advisors. Yvonne worked as a bond trader, managing the firm’s fixed income investments before her promotion to Client Advisor. She graduated from the University of California. Yvonne lives in Solvang, California with her husband and two daughters.
Kelly Palmer
Sr. Wealth Advisor
Kelly Palmer
Sr. Wealth Advisor
CFP®, ChFC®, CLU®
Kelly is passionate about helping his clients achieve Economic FreedomTM. He has been providing comprehensive financial planning to his clients since 1988. Kelly graduated from California Polytechnic State University with a degree in Human Development. As a member and past president of the Santa Barbara Chapter of the Financial Planning Association, and member of the Santa Barbara Estate Planning Council, he is committed to the further development of his profession. Kelly has been a California Life Agent.
Stefani Kohler
Wealth Advisor
Stefani Kohler
Wealth Advisor
Stefani has over a decade of experience in the financial services industry, all with Mercer Advisors. She previously served as an investment operations supervisor, where she served as a liaison between advisors and custodians. Ultimately, her desire to work with clients directly led to her transition to client services. Stefani is a Wealth Advisor who’s passionate about assisting clients work towards financial independence. She graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara where she received a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. Stefani is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional and holds the FINRA Series 65 license. Stefani lives in Santa Barbara with her husband and two children. She enjoys traveling, the outdoors, and bringing joy to family and friends through her passion for cooking.
Justin Shane
Wealth Advisor
Justin Shane
Wealth Advisor
Justin began his career in the financial services industry in 2013. He has a passion for helping families and individuals navigate financial decisions and achieve Economic Freedom. He is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, holds a FINRA Series 65 license, and is a member of the Financial Planning Association. Justin graduated with honors from the University of Nevada, Reno, with a degree in Finance and currently lives in Santa Barbara.
Jeff Minc
Wealth Advisor
Jeff Minc
Wealth Advisor
Jeff began his career in the financial services industry managing client portfolios and trading equities and fixed-income products in Investment Operations at Mercer Advisors. After three years with the trading desk, he earned the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification and made the transition to client services, where he’s now an advisor. Jeff graduated from the University of California in Santa Barbara, where he still lives with his wife, four-year-old son, and baby girl.
Chanelle Van Pelt
Sr. Financial Planner
Chanelle Van Pelt
Sr. Financial Planner
John Voralik
Financial Planner
John Voralik
Financial Planner
John began his career in financial services with a national broker-dealer and joined Mercer Advisors in 2022. He is passionate about helping successful professionals, entrepreneurs, and families create, preserve, and grow their wealth. John focuses on investment management, tax mitigation, wealth transfer, and charitable giving.
As a financial professional with an MBA from the UCLA Anderson School of Management, he also serves as Co-Trustee of the Voralik Family Trust and brings over 20 years of relationship management expertise from the entertainment industry. John received his Bachelor’s degree from Westmont College in Economics & Business and holds the Series 66 and CA Insurance licenses. He and his wife live in Sierra Madre where he coaches their son’s little league team and enjoys their many family adventures.
Nathan Cha
Sr. Client Service Specialist
Nathan Cha
Sr. Client Service Specialist
Nathan has a background in wealth management at Merrill Lynch and UBS. He brings a high level of understanding about the business to Mercer Advisors and always strives to provide a high-quality client experience. Nathan graduated from Westmont College with a BA in economics and business, and was a member of Omicron Delta Epsilon, the economics honor society. He’s currently pursuing CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERTM certification because he loves seeing clients achieve their financial goals. In his free time, Nathan enjoys being outdoors, especially fishing and camping.
Caitlin Smith
Sr. Client Service Specialist
Caitlin Smith
Sr. Client Service Specialist
Caitlin believes in providing high level customer service and gains great satisfaction assisting our clients along their wealth management journey. Caitlin was born and raised in Sacramento, later moving to Santa Barbara. There she attended Westmont College and earned her bachelor’s degree in Biology, before pivoting into financial services. In her free time, Caitlin enjoys reading fantasy books and watching hockey
Russ Johnson
Client Service Specialist
Russ Johnson
Client Service Specialist
with one of our talented wealth advisors who’ll help you connect all your financial dots
We’ll touch base to discuss your individual needs so that we can connect you with a wealth advisor who’s right for you.
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Please Note: The achievement of any professional designation, certification, degree, or license should not be construed by a client or prospective client as a guarantee that he/she will experience a certain level of results or satisfaction if Mercer Advisors is engaged, or continues to be engaged, to provide investment advisory services.
May 21, 2024
May 17, 2024