David has 15+ years of financial planning experience, with a specialty in retirement planning and portfolio management* and focuses on collaborating with and managing our high net worth clients with specific investment needs. He studied Technical Sales at Weber State University in Ogden, Utah. He holds a Series 65 license.

David has been a supporter and volunteer with Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for children and is a Bakersfield Museum of Art (BMoA) board member. He has four children, three of which who were adopted through the foster care system. He enjoys seeking nature, writing music, relaxing in his backyard hammocks under his favorite pomegranate tree and despises cilantro.

*Moneywise uses third-party money manager (*TPM*) partners including but not limited to, SEI Investments Management Corporations (“SIMC”), Assetmark and Fidelity. Investment portfolios held with a TPM are designed, implemented, maintained and rebalanced by the TPM. In addition, a TPM conducts the investment research and analysis used as the basis for the portfolios and executes necessary trades on behalf of Moneywise.

Sherod has a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in finance from California State University, Bakersfield. He holds his Series 7, 24 and 66 securities licenses.

Sherod is actively involved in the local community serving several charities,  nonprofits and initiatives.  He is often found hiking with his dog, concert going with his wife, and avidly reading.

He is on the boards of the Bland Company and the Housing and Opportunity Foundation of Kern. Samy is a twelve-year member of Rotary in Bakersfield and previously served six years as a board member and finance committee for Goodwill Industries of South-Central California.

Garro received his license to sell securities in 1998 and still continues to be extremely knowledgeable and current in this area. He has a degree in Business, Commerce and Industry from University of Wyoming, where he also played football on scholarship. He has 20+ years of experience keeping tabs on financial markets by using technical analysis – a way of analyzing the market by comparing past trends to indicate future performance.

In addition to his duties as a financial advisor, Garro is also a co-host on the Moneywise Guys Radio Show + Podcast.

Garro was an actor in the early 1990s and has appeared on stage, in film and television. He also moonlights as a country music singer and has written more than 30 songs. He and his wife are proud parents and now grandparents. If you visit our office on a Friday, you will see Garro’s Harley Davidson parked out front and as long as it is baseball season, he can always be found watching a Dodgers game with friends.

Before becoming a financial advisor, Kris worked for eight years at multiple levels within special education. That same drive to be a reliable mentor and educator directly applies to his advisory approach at our firm and the ever-changing financial industry.

Kris holds both the Series 7 and 66 securities licenses, as well as a California Life Insurance license. He has a bachelor’s degree in Communications with a minor in Business from California State University, Bakersfield.

He enjoys donating his time to events like the “Night to Shine,” which is part of a global effort organized by the Tim Tebow Foundation and offers a prom experience for people that have special needs. He also serves on the board for Bakersfield PAL (Police Activities League) and Lovewater. He is married and has three daughters, is highly active in his church and enjoys counseling young married couples. He can often be found coaching his daughters’ softball teams, camping with his family or off-road, dirt biking with friends.

Justin has a bachelor’s degree in Business Management from the University of Phoenix, holds a CA State Life and Health Insurance license as well as his Series 6, 63 and 65 securities licenses.

He is a proud Eagle Scout, is married with three sons and is actively involved in his son’s Boy Scout Troop. He is a member of the Rotary Club of Bakersfield and currently serves on the board. He also serves on the Waterman Foundation Board and the Executive Board for the Southern Sierra Council BSA, is a Leadership Bakersfield 2017 graduate from the Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce and a long time financial supporter and Board Member of the Kern Community Foundation. In his down time, Justin loves to take his sons camping and hiking, playing music and cooking a mean chili.

LaTroy and his family came to Bakersfield 7 years ago to assist as a youth Pastor at Change Community Church. But LaTroy said, “I had an unquenchable thirst for the finance world. I was eager to work with a great team and serve great clients.”  This led him to Moneywise. On his time off LaTroy loves to follow football and is a huge fan of the Rams.  He also has a favorite pastime – “I love trading the markets and studying stock charts.”  There is that “unquenchable thirst” in action!  LaTroy brings humility and unparalleled determination to everything he does.

While on his path to become a teacher, he found his way to Moneywise in 2018 and was instantly won over by the opportunity to help make a difference in people’s lives through a different form of education – financial education. By working with Moneywise, he is continuously inspired to help people empower themselves to take control of their own financial success.

Outside of the office, TJ is a passionate patron of the arts, loves his uncle time and is always looking forward to his next adventure. When not in town, he is often on the Central Coast enjoying wineries with family and friends. Also, he has a curious love for the color “camouflage.” TJ is a graduate of Fresno Pacific University and in 2020 TJ completed his Master’s degree in “Communications with an Emphasis in Education” from Grand Canyon University.

When not at the office, Dessie is often hanging out with her husband, participating in two car clubs and travelling around to car shows in their 1966 Mustang. She has great pride in her California hometown – Wasco, adores her daughters, has a weak spot for Diet Dr. Pepper and is very active in her church and various other community organizations.

Outside of our office, Michele has a passion for fast cars and racing. In the past she has worked for NASCAR, and since 1996 she has worked as a race official for the SRL Racing Series. She loves spending time with her family and supporting her kids in all of their extracurricular activities and is quite the cat whisperer.

Chelsea came to us with a diverse background of managing a nationwide western retail company and substitute teaching, along with a B.A. from Cal State Bakersfield in Economics and Political Science with emphasis in Pre-Law. This allowed her to develop amazing qualities such as enjoying numbers and finances. Combined with a love of being helpful to others made her fit at Moneywise effortless.

When not at the office, Chelsea’s happiness in life is created by taking her daughter and dogs anywhere and everywhere with her. Whether it be on the road for an adventure at the beach and mountains or just around town doing everyday errands, you can spot Chelsea and her trio singing and just enjoying the ride. Chelsea enjoys a broad spectrum of activities from fishing, hunting and going to the gun range to brunching with friends at local spots to traveling to see her family scattered across the US. But her day to day passion is raising her daughter in what she considers an amazing town and community.

As a Bakersfield native, Heather enjoys spending time outside of the office with any of her 7 siblings and multitude of nieces and nephews.  She enjoys cooking, gardening and the occasional crossword puzzle.  Heather also has an appreciation for the arts: music, architecture + film, and loves to spout useless trivia.

Out of the office she and her husband Aaron and their three children Oliver, Ramona and Josephine, often enjoy being outdoors camping and hiking. One of her favorite outdoor pastimes is going to Six Flags Magic Mountain but at home she takes joy in relaxing by completing puzzles and Lego sets.

Away from the office she enjoys going to Avila Beach and spending family time with her son ,Grant, and close family and friends. She is especially fond of cooking and baking her grandmother’s old-fashioned recipes, but be wary of playing her in ping-pong. She takes her own paddle wherever she goes just in case someone wants to challenge her to a match.

Previous to joining our team, Debbie had experience in sales, account management, and customer service. She also has a passion for and experience in the feature film/tv/commercial production industry. Debbie holds a bachelor’s degree in World Arts and Cultures with a concentration in cultural studies, theater, and public art at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Away from work, she is regularly traveling, attending live comedy and music, playing squash or tennis, enjoying good food with loved ones, volunteering with the Bakersfield Museum of Art, and harassing strangers who own beagles. She currently serves on the board of directors for The Hub of Bakersfield and is passionate about contributing her passion, skills, and resources to help positively transform the landscape of her hometown, Bakersfield.

Sally worked in the healthcare industry for nine years, and owned her own marketing and public relations firm for 13 years where she worked with a wide variety of businesses and not-for-profit organizations in support of their marketing and public relations needs. Sally is a graduate of the University of Southern California (BA in journalism with an emphasis in public relations) and holds an MBA from CSUB.

When not at Moneywise, Sally loves being with family and friends. Being at the beach, gardening in the yard, walking her pup or planking at Pilates are her go-to activities for fun and relaxation. She loves traveling with her family and also loves the friendship and fellowship she finds at her church and as a Rotarian. She enjoys most all sports, but is particularly fanatical for her USC Trojans and LA Dodgers. Sally is active in the community and is thrilled to share her knowledge and expertise with the Moneywise Team.

Pre-Moneywise, Steven was the Program Director for KERN Radio while producing other radio shows including “The Moneywise Guys.” He continues his love for football on his own radio show on ESPN Bakersfield on the weekends, “The Fantasy Breakdown,” which is LIVE Sundays from 7 to 9:30 AM. He is a proud graduate of Ridgeview High School. 

When not in the office or the studio, Steven enjoys attending and promoting local music, spending time with his family – he is the very proud father to his son, Ryan – and working in his garden. He has been collecting vinyl, KISS and Miami Dolphins memorabilia since he was 3 years old. No joke.

Emily has a B.S. in Education from Brigham Young University and spent the last 24 years following various passions and diverse jobs while she and her husband, Sherod, raised their three sons. From elementary school teacher to photographer to personal trainer, Emily has had a wide range of opportunities to learn new skills and generate personal growth. Outside of the office, you can find her volunteering at Wind Wolves Preserve assisting the rangers with rehabilitation and preservation of the natural environment right here in Kern County. Emily is an avid hiker, passionate playlist creator and voracious reader. Also a lover of gardening and plants, she has given names to each one she cares for. Most of all, Emily finds joy in spending time with her family and loved ones and appreciating each moment that she is lucky enough to be here.