The Clarity Team

clarity wealth development careers

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Kay Dee Cole, CFP®, RLP®, CeFT®

CEO and Founder

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Dr. Kim Hall, CFP®, RLP®, GFP®

Director of Financial Planning

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Eric Stein, CFA

Investment Strategist Partner, East Bay Investment Solutions

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Garrett Dresen, CFP®

Associate Advisor

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zach wagner – clarity wealth development

Zach Wagner

Intern

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Kay Dee Cole, CFP®, RLP®, CeFT®

CEO and Founder

My passion is working with people who have lost their financial partner or are dealing with a situation that requires many moving parts.

 

Transitions are hard.  When I watched my Mom navigate Alzheimers and then transition to being single it made me want to protect her.  I wanted to make sure others understood why it's important to have someone outside your family to help.

My father passed away from Alzheimer's Disease in 2010.  My Mom was dealing with a prolonged illness and grief that was hard to explain to people.  My own personal experience helps me to understand how grief comes in all forms and is extremely different for all people.  

When you lose your financial partner, whether divorce or loss, clients find our process comforting. We allow you space and really let you decide what it is you need from us. We spend time getting you to a place that allows you to breathe. Sometimes you need to get into a decision free zone and get permission to take time when needed. No pressure but slight nudging from us to keep you on track.

Growing up a farmer’s daughter just south of Corvallis, Oregon, I learned the value of hard work and perseverance. I attended school in Corvallis and graduated from Oregon State University with a Natural Resources Economics Degree and minors in business and statistics. After college I worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture as a statistician in California and Colorado. In 1996 my husband and I returned to Corvallis to help with the family farm. In 2000, my entrepreneurial spirit helped me realize my dream of owning my own retail business, as a florist.

My background and experience in running that retail business and being involved with the sale of our family’s business gave me a unique perspective in family-owned businesses. I also realized that running a retail business was not my dream career. With the help of my financial advisor, I decided financial planning was what I really wanted to do. I started out in a large broker business but decided I wanted to help people plan for life; not just sell investments.

So I took a huge leap of faith and opened Clarity Wealth Development in 2010 and became a Certified Financial Planner™ in 2012. I knew this was a great way to provide value and it turns out I was right. As a CFP® I have a fiduciary duty to my clients, a higher standard than most advisors. Being a fiduciary means putting my clients interests first at all times.

That courage to go out on my own came in handy when I became a cancer survivor. I understand the complexity of financial planning during a serious illness. In late 2012 I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, stage IIIB. This was a stressful time for my family, my clients and myself. However, this did give me valuable insight as a financial planner for those unexpected life changing moments.

I am more determined than ever to provide the best service to my clients. I find joy in my family and especially my husband of 30 years. We also have two wonderful dogs, Bailey a yellow Labrador and Bella a Great Pyrenees mix. We enjoy traveling together and being active in our local community.

Kay Dee is a member of the National Association of Professional Financial AdvisorsXY Planning Network and a CFP® professional

Kay Dee Cole, CFP®, Owner of Clarity Wealth Development in Corvallis, Oregon has been authorized by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards (CFP Board) to use the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and CFP (with flame design)® in accordance with CFP Board certification and renewal requirements. Kay Dee Cole specializes in working with widows/widowers or women going through a major transition. She completed coursework at the University of Portland to earn her Executive Certificate in Financial Planning.

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Kim Hall, PhD, CFP®, RLP®, GFP®

Director of Financial Planning

If you’re looking to make a big change in your life, whether it be a new career, an international move, or retirement (or maybe you don’t even know yet!), I 'm here to guide you through the decision making process.

 

We will work together to focus in on what truly matters to you and put a financial plan into place to make your vision a reality. The first step is to start a conversation. 

I still remember the mix of exhilaration and terror I felt when I announced to my colleagues that I was leaving my position to pursue my current career. The decision came as a surprise to many, including myself. I had a great job and was on track for a promising future in my profession, but something was missing. 

I had become so caught up in the everyday busy-ness of life –career, family, friends-- that I hadn’t even noticed that the path I was racing down was not the one that I truly wanted. It took an injury accident to force me to slow down and figure this out.

I knew I needed to make some changes. But what? And how? What would these options mean financially? Despite my expertise in economics and decision science, navigating this process felt paralyzing. Thankfully, I pushed through to pursue my calling and haven’t looked back since. The good news is that you do not have to sustain an injury in order to have this opportunity.

Two of my biggest inspirations, when it comes to making bold life changes, are my parents. They each made the decision to make international moves as adults. I have had the privilege if seeing them both navigate this process and build wonderful new lives in their new home countries. Leaving everything behind to start a new life takes courage and resilience, but it also requires navigating complicated and unfamiliar systems. It is easy to make costly mistakes that can set you back, but with a little forethought, planning, and the right professionals on your side, you can avoid the pitfalls to best set yourself up for success. The same is true for all big transitions.

I am blessed to call Corvallis home, where I live with my husband and two daughters. I fell in love with being outdoors in the summers here, and In a surprising turn of events, the South African in me has learned to love winter here (thanks skiing and hygge).  If I'm not home you'll probably find me visiting family and friends in far-off locations such as Australia or South Africa, or joining a friend for tea just down the block. Adventuring (or sipping tea) through life with the people I love brings me joy!

Kim is a Certified Financial Planner®  professional, holds a Global Financial Planner designation and is a member of the National Association of Professional Financial AdvisorsXY Planning Network and Financial Planning Association.

Kim Hall, CFP®, Co-owner of Clarity Wealth Development in Corvallis, Oregon has been authorized by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards (CFP Board) to use the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and CFP (with flame design)® in accordance with CFP Board certification and renewal requirements. Kim Hall specializes in working with clients with international planning needs. 

Learn more and connect with Kim on LinkedIn

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Eric Stein, CFA

Investment Strategist Partner, East Bay Investment Solutions

Prior to joining East Bay, Eric worked for a variety of firms, both large and small.  

This includes 7+ years with Goldman Sachs Asset Management where he held roles in areas such as performance measurement, client service, risk analysis, and portfolio construction. 

During his tenure there, Eric had the opportunity to cover many different types of asset classes, vehicles, and client types.  Eric also worked at RSM U.S. Wealth Management for 10+ years, serving as the Chief Investment Officer while providing strategic leadership and solutions for their national investment platform.

As a Partner at East Bay, Eric serves a select group of financial advisory firms as their outsourced Chief Investment Strategist.  Responsibilities of this role include continuous oversight of advisor clients’ investments, bespoke strategies for unique situations, client communications, and more.  

Eric is a proud graduate of Indiana University where he earned a B.S. in Finance.  Eric also earned the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation in 2001 and continues to stay involved in the local CFA society.  Eric has been quoted several times in the Wall Street Journal and has written extensively on topics covering asset allocation, manager due diligence, financial markets, and economic events.

Eric enjoys traveling with his wife, Laura, and their two sons, Scott and Jack.  In his spare time, Eric is an avid cyclist and includes finishing a Half-Ironman as one of his greatest athletic accomplishments. 

Learn more and connect with Eric on LinkedIn.

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Garrett Dresen

Associate Advisor

Garrett grew up on in the small coastal town of Brookings, Oregon.

He came to Corvallis to attend Oregon State University, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Finance in 2021.

 

As an Associate Advisor at Clarity, Garrett meets with clients, creates financial plans, tracks client progress, and helps drive the overall client experience.

Garrett aims to use his knack for personal finance to help people reach their financial goals.

In his spare time, Garrett enjoys long distance running, snowboarding, and other high intensity sports.

Learn more and connect with Garrett on LinkedIn.

zach wagner – clarity wealth development

Zach Wagner

Intern
Zach is a junior studying finance at Oregon State University. He loves being outdoors, whether it’s going on hikes, playing spikeball, or throwing a frisbee. Additionally, he enjoys playing piano and performs with the OSU drumline. He’s excited to be a part of the team at CWD!