+ Who do you typically work with?

We specialize in serving breadwinning women—professionals and executives who are the primary earners in their households. Many of our clients work in tech, finance, law, healthcare, or business, and they come to us for personalized, high-level financial planning that reflects the complexity of their lives.

+ Do I need to be a breadwinning woman to work with you?

Not at all. While we specialize in serving breadwinning women, we work with anyone who resonates with our approach and values. If you're seeking thoughtful, personalized, and holistic financial guidance—we’re here to help.

+ What services do you offer?

We offer fully integrated financial services, including:

Financial planning
Tax strategy and preparation
Investment management
Equity compensation guidance
Retirement and legacy planning
Cash flow and budgeting strategies

Our goal is to bring all aspects of your financial life under one roof so you can make confident, coordinated decisions.

+ How do you charge for your services?

We offer a transparent fee structure with no product commissions. Depending on your needs, we provide:

Ongoing comprehensive planning and investment management
Project-based planning engagements

We’ll walk you through our pricing structure during our initial consultation so you know exactly what to expect—no surprises. To learn more about our pricing, visit our How We Help page.

+ Do I need a certain net worth or income to work with you?

Most of our clients are mid- to high-income earners (with incomes greater than $400k/year) who appreciate a proactive, strategic approach to managing complexity. Our ideal clients have a net worth of over $3M. While we don’t have strict asset minimums, we’re a particularly good fit for professionals dealing with equity compensation, tax challenges, and/or dual-income family dynamics.

+ Do you work virtually or in person?

We have a physical office in Burlingame, CA and about 80% of our clients live and work in the state. Before COVID, most clients liked meeting us in person at least once at the beginning of the engagement. However, after COVID, most clients prefer to meet virtually.

Further, given our virtual capabilities, we proudly serve clients across the United States. All remote meetings are held via secure video conferencing, giving you the flexibility to connect on your terms—wherever life takes you.

+ Why did you name your firm Ballast Point?

Ballast Point is the name of a location at the end of Point Loma in San Diego, CA where ships would load up on heavy rocks (ballast) to prepare for their upcoming trips. The rocks would add ballast to the bottom of the ship to provide stability in case of rough seas. In terms of your finances, we will work as your guide to provide financial stability throughout the course of your personal, professional, and financial life.

On a personal note, Shawn and his wife got engaged at an overlook with a view of a different Ballast Point. This overlook is located near the port town of Two Harbors, which is on the island of Catalina.

To be clear, we do not have any affiliation with Ballast Point Brewing Co..

+ What makes Ballast Point different from other financial advisors?

We combine financial planning, tax expertise, and investment management into a single relationship—with an intentional focus on serving women who lead financially. You won’t be handed off to different departments or feel talked down to. We’re here to listen, simplify, and advocate for your goals.

+ What are the core values at Ballast Point?

At Ballast Point, we have three core values. We:

Enjoy Life Now. We embrace today while building toward a better tomorrow
Cultivate Curiosity. We are passionate about continuously building our knowledge
Unleash Potential. We empower others to pursue their goals with confidence. Including our team members and our clients.