In addition to her time as a licensed investment advisor, Karen has co-owned her own contracting business with her husband for more than 50 years. She says, “We helped families build their dream homes, much like I have helped them build their dream financial futures. Both are about creating shelter for your future and giving people the opportunity to protect their families. I am proud to help in two areas that seem to define what it means to find success.”

With a Series 65 registration and her life and annuities license, Karen’s specialty is offering actively managed accounts for clients and helping them reach their unique financial goals. A passionate educator, she enjoys teaching clients about taxes and the differences between tax-deferred and tax-free accounts, as well as how choosing the one that matches your goals can be key to a fruitful future. She also assists with the day-to-day management of finances. Karen says, “I help them learn to identify wants versus needs. Wants are luxuries and impulses, but one can’t chase wants without first having the resources for needs in place.”

She is also a pure people person and remains in financial services because of the relationships she has built over her years in business. Furthermore, those personal relationships are what push her to do right by her clients and to continue working on their behalf.

“I have a legal obligation to work in the best interests of my clients, but I’m also tied to their success from an emotional standpoint. My clients are my friends, and some of them have been for nearly 40 years. I care about them the way that I care about family, and I want them to know that they have someone who will go to bat for them and fight at their side in the midst of unpredictable markets and other treacherous financial conditions,” Karen says.

Karen has been married to her loving husband for longer than 50 years. Together, the two have two children and three grandchildren, whom she considers the biggest blessings she has ever received. She thoroughly enjoys cooking and baking, whether that’s for herself and her husband or for her entire family. She also likes to walk, ride her bike, travel, and play board games and card games.

“I just like to spend quality time with the people most important to me. It doesn’t really matter what we’re doing; it only matters that we’re together,” Karen says. “Those are the opportunities I want to unlock for my clients, giving them the financial flexibility and the time to celebrate those they love and make every moment count.”