Clear Guidance For Retirement, When It Matters Most
Clear Guidance For Retirement, When It Matters Most
Favorite Financial Planner
Sacramento Bee
2025
Winner via public voting in 2025. No fee for consideration; licensing fee paid for usage. Learn More.
Favorite Wealth Management
Sacramento Bee
2025
Winner via public voting in 2025. No fee for consideration; licensing fee paid for usage. Learn More.
TOP 100 RIA FIRMS
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2025
Highly Rated Advisor
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2025
TOP FEMALE ADVISORS
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2025
Women Who Mean Business
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2025
Our Reach & Experience
We’re fee-only fiduciary financial planners here to bring you clarity, confidence, and a plan you can trust.
Fiduciary Advice. Purposefully Better.
Tailored Guidance
Thoughtful, tax-smart advice, from an independent, fee-only fiduciary focused on helping you achieve an ideal retirement.
Education Based
As educators, our most important responsibility is to help you thrive via personalized planning and increased financial literacy.
Mid-Career Professionals
We’re in it for the long haul. With decades of experience, our mid-career advisors own the firm and plan on long careers ahead.
Personalized Financial Advisor Services
What We Do and How We Help
Financial Planning
We work to clearly understand your current financial situation, then determine what you want to accomplish in the short- and the long-term. We then develop a personalized strategy that helps you achieve your goals.
Investment Management
One of the keys of the financial planning process, our investment management team creates a strategy to grow your money, limit risk, and generate a level of income that enables you to live free from worry.
Retirement Planning
The transition into retirement is a major life event. Our approach to retirement planning is dedicated to working with you to build a plan that ensures prosperity, income, and peace of mind throughout the entirety of your post-career life.
Specialized Planning
Our partner advisors have a long history of guiding employees of companies such as Kaiser Permanente, CalPERS, Sutter Health, and the University of California. We help pensioners make the best financial decisions for their unique situation.
These Are Your Steps to Financial Independence
Our 5-step process steers the creation of your plan and keeps you on track for the life you want to live.
Discover
First, we learn about:
- Your Goals
- Your Values
- Your Experiences
Goal: Establish familiarity and set the foundation for a meaningful relationship.
Gather
Next, we securely collect your complete financial information:
- Your assets
- Your liabilities
- Your income
Goal: Develop an accurate and up-to-date financial analysis.
Organize
Then, we reduce complexity by:
- Consolidating accounts
- Organizing documentation
- Applying numbers to analyze future outcomes
Goal: Bring order to the financial chaos and set the stage for implementation.
Execute
Next, we will:
- Make detailed recommendations
- Provide a clear roadmap
- Launch your plan
Goal: Take decisive, coordinated action to move your plan forward.
Navigate
This includes:
- The administration of your plan
- Proactive rebalancing
- Meetings & updates that keep you on track
Choosing a Great Financial Planning Team
Can Make Your World a Better Place
Lauren Williams, CFP®, CRPC®, MBA
Co-Founder, Financial Advisor
Roseville, CA
Certified Financial Planner®
MBA in Financial Planning
Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor®
Areas of Specialization:
Tax Planning
Financial Psychology
Pension Decisions
Business Owner Planning
Chris Grellas, CFP®, MSFA
Co-Founder, Financial Advisor
Gold River, CA
Certified Financial Planner®
Master of Science in Financial Analysis
10+ Years of Lead Advisor Experience
Areas of Specialization:
Retirement Planning
Tax Efficient Planning
Investment Management
Faith-Based
Sean David Harvey
Director of Financial Education
San Francisco, CA
Company Writer
Public Relations
20+ years of Professional Writing Experience
Areas of Specialization:
Financial Education & Literacy
Wealth Management Writing
Retirement & Investment Concepts
Behavioral Finance
Client Communication & Financial Clarity
Kris Schwedler
Director of New Client Experience
Fair Oaks, CA
New Client Onboarding
Areas of Specialization:
Relationship Management
First Point Of Contact For New Clients
Appointment Coordination
New Client Engagement
Project Management
Onboarding Specialist
Shannon Auger
Director Of Client Service
Houston, TX
Client Relationships
Areas of Specialization:
Appointment Setting
Money Transfer & Paperwork
Client Service Leader
Account Updates
Appointment Coordinator
Compliance Oversight
Choosing the best retirement gifts!
Cristobal Lopez
Director of Operations
Davis, CA
Company Operations
Areas of Specialization:
Company Management
Operation Standards
Organization Builder
Client Engagement
Spanish Fluency
Community Outreach
UC Davis Alumni
The entities shown above are not affiliated and do not endorse the people, products, or services of NewEdge Advisors, LLC.
What Clients Say About Us
Testimonials are based on unique experiences from current clients and are not representative of all client experiences. Testimonials are unsolicited, and no cash or non-cash compensation has been provided. As a result, clients do not receive any material incentives or benefits for providing testimonials. Investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal and fluctuation of value. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Additional information about NewEdge Advisors, LLC, is available in its current disclosure documents, Form ADV, Form ADV Part 2A Brochure, and Client Relationship Summary Report which can be found online at the SEC’s Investment Advisor Public Disclosure (IAPD) database at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov
Set Yourself Apart
Expert analysis and bold ideas for people who want to achieve extraordinary things.
Hear from Lauren and Chris
Explore Our Resources
News from the ProsperPlan world of financial planning, investing, client relationships, and current events.
Why You Should Partner With a 100% Fiduciary Financial Advisor
An educational guide by ProsperPlan Wealth co-founders Chris Grellas, MSFA, CFP® & Lauren Williams, MBA, CFP®.
Social Security: Developing Your Strategy
A comprehensive guide to help maximize benefits and integrate them with your other income and assets.
The Financial Planning Process
A step-by-step guide to understanding, implementing, and benefiting from fiduciary advice.
Stop By To See Us
Explore our locations to find the ProsperPlan team near you.
Gold River Office
HQ & Mailing Address
2377 Gold Meadow Way
Suite 100
Gold River, CA 95670
(916) 909-3993
Roseville Office
3017 Douglas Blvd
Suite 300
Roseville, CA 95661
(916) 909-3993
Your Most Important Questions, Answered
Here’s everything you need to know about financial advising, planning, and ProsperPlan.
General FAQs
What does a financial advisor do?
At ProsperPlan Wealth, we do more than manage investments. We help people make smart financial decisions through every season of life, including retirement, career changes, family transitions, and everything in between.
A big part of our value is planning ahead. That means helping you lower taxes through strategies like Roth conversions, retirement income planning, and coordinating withdrawals the right way. We also help clients avoid expensive mistakes, like pulling money from the wrong account, missing important deadlines, or creating surprise tax bills. Over time, these decisions can save families thousands of dollars (and sometimes much more).
We also take protection seriously. In today’s world, being financially secure is not just about growing wealth. It is also about protecting it. That includes guidance around identity theft and wire fraud prevention, added cybersecurity layers, and helping clients feel confident that their financial life is organized and safe.
And yes, we absolutely manage portfolios. But the real goal is not just investment growth. It is helping you feel calm, prepared, and confident that you are doing the right things with your money, with a team who knows you, knows your plan, and is always thinking ahead.
How to find a good financial advisor?
When you are choosing a financial advisor, the first question is simple: are they truly qualified to guide your entire financial life? Retirement, taxes, estate planning, and investments all work together. This is not a place for guesswork. Look for an advisor with strong education and training, such as the CFP® designation (Certified Financial Planner™) and a master’s degree. These credentials show they have invested years into learning the craft, not just learning how to sell products.
Next, make sure the advisor is a fiduciary who is required to act in your best interest. A fiduciary advisor must put you first. You should also ask how they are paid. Many people do not realize that some advisors earn commissions by recommending certain products. A fee-only advisory firm is often a strong sign because the advice is built around planning, not sales.
Finally, ask what protections the firm has in place. A trustworthy advisory firm should carry professional insurance like Errors & Omissions (E&O) coverage, and they should take cybersecurity seriously. With financial fraud and identity theft rising, the best firms also have strong procedures to help prevent wire fraud and account takeovers. At ProsperPlan, we take this responsibility personally. We have added multiple layers of cyber protection, and our clients receive $1 million of fraud insurance coverage to help protect against cyber-related losses. A great advisor helps you grow wealth, but they also help you protect it, so you can feel confident and secure.
Do I need a financial advisor?
Not everyone needs a financial advisor, especially if your finances are simple and you feel confident handling everything on your own. But many people reach a point where the decisions start getting bigger, and the cost of getting it wrong becomes much higher. That usually happens when retirement is getting closer, your income is higher, taxes are more complicated, or you are managing multiple accounts and major life changes.
A good financial advisor does much more than manage investments. They help you build a clear plan for retirement, reduce taxes over time, decide which accounts to use (and when), and make sure your estate plan and beneficiaries match your wishes. They also help you avoid costly mistakes and stay organized through important deadlines, life transitions, and financial decisions that can feel overwhelming.
If you want peace of mind, clarity, and a trusted partner who is always thinking ahead, working with a fiduciary financial advisor can be one of the best investments you make. The right advisor helps you keep more of what you earn, protect what you have built, and feel confident about your financial future.
How to choose a financial advisor?
Choosing the right financial advisor is a very personal decision. This is not just about picking someone who understands investments. It is about choosing someone you can trust with the financial side of your life for years, and sometimes for decades. The right advisor becomes a steady partner through retirement, family changes, and major financial decisions.
A good way to start is to ask yourself what you actually want help with. Some people want a second opinion. Others want a complete plan. Many high-net-worth families want a long-term relationship with an advisor they can truly delegate to. They want someone who will stay organized, think ahead, and handle the details so they can focus on family, health, travel, work, or simply enjoying life.
At ProsperPlan, most of our clients are not looking for a one-time meeting or basic investment management. They are looking for a trusted financial partner who can guide retirement decisions, lower taxes over time, coordinate estate planning, protect against fraud, and manage wealth with care. If you want a long-term relationship with an advisor who truly knows you, communicates clearly, and takes the responsibility seriously, that is usually a sign you are ready for the right financial planning team.
What to ask a financial advisor?
Are you a fiduciary 100% of the time?
This matters because a fiduciary is legally required to act in your best interest. Always.How are you paid? Do you earn commissions?
You want to know if the advisor is compensated by selling products, or if they are paid directly by clients. This affects objectivity.What credentials do you hold (like CFP®), and what education do you have?
The CFP® designation is one of the strongest standards in financial planning. Ask if they have advanced education and what their training includes.What does your planning process include beyond investments?
A strong advisor should help with retirement income, tax strategy, estate planning coordination, healthcare planning, and major life decisions, not just portfolio management.How do you help clients reduce taxes over time?
Taxes are often one of the biggest expenses in retirement. Ask what strategies they use and how proactive they are (not just “we do tax planning”).Who will I work with long-term, and what happens if my advisor is unavailable?
You are building a relationship for decades. Ask who supports the advisor, what the service team looks like, and what continuity plan exists.What protections do you have in place (insurance, cybersecurity, fraud prevention)?
Ask about Errors & Omissions (E&O) insurance, cyber fraud insurance for clients, and how the firm prevents wire fraud and identity theft issues.
Pricing & Contracts
How much money should I have to see a financial advisor?
There is no perfect number you need before working with a financial advisor. What matters most is that your financial decisions are getting bigger, more connected, and harder to manage alone. This often happens as retirement gets closer, especially when taxes, pensions, Social Security, and healthcare decisions all start stacking on top of each other.
That said, most people start looking for a long-term financial advisor when they have built meaningful savings and want professional planning to protect what they have worked so hard to build. At ProsperPlan, the vast majority of our clients are retiring with $1,000,000 or more, and they are looking for a trusted planning partner to help guide retirement income, tax strategy, investment management, and estate planning decisions.
We also strongly believe that meeting with an advisor within five years of retirement is one of the smartest financial moves you can make, even for early retirement. This is the window when small decisions can create large results, including lower lifetime taxes, better retirement income planning, fewer financial surprises, and much more peace of mind. The earlier the plan is built, the more options you have.
Expertise & Credentials
What qualifications do ProsperPlan’s advisors hold?
At ProsperPlan Wealth, we believe the best financial advisors are not just smart. They are deeply thoughtful, emotionally steady, and truly invested in their clients’ lives. Money is personal. Retirement is personal. And if you are going to trust someone with your financial future, it should be someone who listens well, communicates clearly, and genuinely cares about getting it right.
That is why we look for advisors who are deeply relationship-based and naturally proactive. Our clients want a long-term partnership with someone they can delegate to and trust for decades, not a transactional experience. We choose advisors who are calm under pressure, detail-oriented, and committed to following through. The kind of people who will protect your peace, not add stress to your life.
Of course, high character must be matched with high competence. Every ProsperPlan Partner Advisor has more than 10 years of experience in an advisory role, holds a master’s degree in financial planning or a related field, and is a CFP® professional (Certified Financial Planner™). We also operate as a fee-only fiduciary firm, meaning we are legally required to act in our clients’ best interests. Our clients choose ProsperPlan because they want the rare combination of deep expertise and a team that truly feels like it is in their corner.
Does ProsperPlan specialize in retirement and business transition planning?
Yes, we do.
At ProsperPlan Wealth, retirement planning and career transition planning are two of our biggest areas of focus. Many of our clients are approaching retirement, considering early retirement, or feeling burned out at work and trying to decide what comes next. We also work with business owners who are planning their exit, selling a business, or stepping into a new chapter after years of building something meaningful. We help people make these decisions with clarity and confidence, without feeling overwhelmed.
Retirement is about much more than choosing an age or picking investments. It includes planning how your income will work, reducing taxes over time, deciding when to take Social Security, coordinating pension and retirement account decisions, and building a plan for healthcare before Medicare begins. We help clients map out a clear timeline so the transition feels organized and calm.
For clients changing careers, stepping away from work earlier than expected, or moving into a new phase of life, we build a financial roadmap that supports the life they want next. That includes income planning, benefits and severance review, tax strategy, and proactive coordination across all the moving parts. Our goal is simple: help you feel prepared, supported, and excited about what’s next.