Meet Kristen
Kristen is a Wealth Advisor based in Columbus, Ohio. She joined Mercer Advisors in 2026 through the acquisition of NorthAvenue Financial Advocates, which she founded in 2018. She also served as Managing Partner and Sr. Advisor at the firm. Before her time at NorthAvenue Financial Advocates, Kristen was Managing Partner and Sr. Advisor at Partnership Financial and Sr. Financial Planner at PDS Planning. She is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional and an IRS enrolled agent. Kristen earned a BSBA degree in finance and marketing from Xavier University.
She is also a two-time past President of the Financial Planning Association of Central Ohio and past national board member of the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors.
Kristen’s specialties
At Mercer Advisors, all of our wealth advisors provide a highly personalized approach, backed by a team of specialists that ensure every part of your financial list is addressed. Additionally, Kristen has focused experience in these areas:
- Planning for retirement, from high-earning years to long-term income strategies
- Multi-generational planning that aligns with your values and minimizes tax impact
- Support for business owners, from growth and succession to liquidity events and legacy planning
- Guiding clients through living in retirement with steady income and smart planning
- Complexities of inherited wealth, from taxes to legacy
Her working style
Kristen is known for her clear, thoughtful communication and proactive approach to client service. She anticipates needs, pays close attention to details, and personalizes interactions to make clients feel understood and supported. By taking the time to learn what matters most to each client, Kristen and her team often address questions and concerns before they arise. She strives to share information in a way that inspires confidence, drawing on deep experience to help clients feel informed, cared for, and comfortable moving forward with their financial plan.
Kristen in real life
What keeps you busy outside of work?
Reading both fiction and nonfiction extensively, planning my next trip (as I have been to over 40 countries and counting), and spending time with my husband, parents, and beloved three cats
What makes you tick?
Strong moral convictions. It impacts my work ethic and the team I oversee as well as my desire to be a true philanthropist and be involved in my community, like serving on the board of The Women’s Fund.
Favorite thing about where you live?
We have more than 20 metro parks in Columbus, Ohio, and endless quaint neighborhoods. We also have a Broadway series come through town every year, and I purchased season passes for my myself, my husband, and my parents. At least once a week I love to wake up early with my husband, go to breakfast, and walk the paths and trails at one of the metro parks or picturesque neighborhoods.
Kristen’s snapshots
Meet Kristen’s Teammates
Jeff Theado
Relationship Manager
What Kristen Says
Jeff has a calm demeaner, and whenever the advisor team is hyper focused on a concern, he always has a thoughtful perspective and distinct ideas for a path forward.
Trista Hill
Relationship Manager
What Kristen Says
Trista genuinely cares and takes time to know all of our team members and clients. When you walk in the door, her presence makes you feel welcome and seen, and you can have complete confidence that she will make each client comfortable when she helps them.
Stephanie Bailey
Wealth Advisor
What Kristen Says
Stephanie and I have worked together closely most days for over six years, and she is still a breath of fresh air each time we get together. She’s kind, patient, and has worked hard to be a truly comprehensive advisor for our clients.
Tracy Friedel
Service Operations Associate
What Kristen Says
Tracy demonstrates every day how important it is to do her job well. She asks clarifying questions because she wants to minimize any potential issues that could come up with a client, and she doesn’t hesitate to jump in and help us so we can do an outstanding job for them.
Emily Paulus
Service Operations Associate
What Kristen Says
Emily lightens the mood every day while taking her work seriously; she makes us laugh but gets the job done. When she was nearly nine months pregnant and had a 2-year-old on her hip, she drove to a hospital to help a terminally ill client notarize documents, and Emily acted like it was nothing. She’s Superwoman.
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