The Rice Partnership Hires Portfolio Manager Ryan Luna

The Rice Partnership Hires Portfolio Manager Ryan Luna

The Rice Partnership is pleased to announce that Ryan Luna has joined its wealth management team as Portfolio Manager. He will be based at the firm’s California office in downtown San Luis Obispo.

Luna has worked in the investment industry for over 16 years. For the past three years, he was a Portfolio Manager for a $10.5 billion investment advisor in Southern California where he managed multi-asset portfolios, as well as coordinated trading, operations, marketing and compliance groups. He has previously held portfolio management roles with Nuveen Investment affiliates Nuveen Asset Management and Tradewinds Global Investors.

“Ryan has proven he knows how to balance performance and risk across a broad range of portfolios,” says Senior Wealth Manager and Portfolio Manager Ashley Wilken. “He brings a high level of expertise to the table and we’re excited to make his valuable experience available to our clients.”

Luna graduated from the University of Southern California with an MBA in finance and two BA degrees from the University of California, Riverside.

He recently passed the Certified Investment Management Analyst® certification exam, administered by Investments & Wealth Institute ® and taught in conjunction with Yale School of Management.

The Rice Partnership is a boutique wealth management firm headquartered in Honolulu with offices in Maui and San Luis Obispo, CA. The firm offers wholistic wealth management services including asset management, family office, and financial advisory.

The Rice Partnership Supports Local Girl Scouts during Challenging Cookie Season

For the third year in a row, The Rice Partnership has supported local Girl Scout Troops by doing a cookie booth buy-out.

Girl Scouts all over the country have faced major obstacles to their annual cookie sale this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The process of selling cookies not only teaches Girl Scouts entrepreneurial skills, it also directly funds activities and opportunities for troops. It has been a challenge for troops to meet their sales goals this season while observing pandemic regulations.

Luckily Girl Scouts are no strangers to challenges! The Girl Scouts of California’s Central Coast have adopted new creative and safe ways to sell cookies, such as selling online and through food delivery apps. Booth buy-outs, or purchasing a large number of cookies in bulk, are playing a crucial role this year. The Rice Partnership bought out a booth from Troop #45301 and donated all 100 boxes to a military base through the Girl Scout’s Cookie Share program.

Troop #45301 is made up of eighteen girls from a variety of backgrounds. Over this past year being in a Girl Scout troop has helped the girls get through a challenging season. The girls were able to bond through take-home activity kits, online meetings, and some socially distanced gatherings. This troop also put together dog treat holders for local animal shelters, made cards for local seniors, and did some virtual Christmas caroling. The Rice Partnership is happy to help fund future projects for this inspiring troop.

For more information on the Girl Scouts of California’s Central Coast and buying your own cookies, click here: https://www.girlscoutsccc.org/en/cookies/about-girl-scout-cookies.html

Ashley Wilken earns National Football League Players Association’s Registered Player Financial Advisor designation

San Luis Obispo, CA – Ashley Wilken, Senior Wealth Manager with The Rice Partnership, has officially added NFLPA Registered Player Financial Advisor to her list of credentials.

Wilken has met the extensive professional requirements and rigorous standards put forth by the NFLPA’s Board of Player Representatives for financial advisors in their Program.

The National Football League Players Association, or NFLPA, established their Registered Player Financial Advisor Program in 2000, which is the first of its kind in professional sports. The Program was established to give players an additional layer of protection when selecting a financial advisor.Ashley Wilken CFP

“I’m excited for the opportunity to help active and former players reach their financial goals and build sustainable legacies,” Wilken said.

“Because our firm’s wealth management team understands the unique circumstances that professional athletes face, we feel well qualified to work closely with players and their families to sustain and grow their assets.”

Wilken is the head of The Rice Partnership’s San Luis Obispo office and has been in the finance industry since 2011.

“My goal is to become that go-to person my clients can always rely on,” she said. “If I can help top athletes achieve peace of mind, they are then free to focus on their passion.”

Wilken is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ with previous experience as a commercial lender specializing in commercial real estate, as well as a capital markets analyst. She has a BA in Agribusiness and an MBA from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.

The Rice Partnership LLC is a national financial advisory firm with branches in Honolulu, Maui and California. The firm specializes in customized investment management and estate planning, in addition to tax and strategic advisory services for individuals, families and charitable organizations throughout Hawaii and California.

Cathy Tajiri joins The Rice Partnership HONOLULU 

Cathy Tajiri has been named Senior Wealth Manager with The Rice Partnership, a Honolulu-based wealth management firm.

Cathy with the Rice PartnershipIn her new role, she will be assisting clients with a wide range of financial needs from investments to retirement, estate and tax planning to risk management and philanthropic
strategies.

Tajiri was a former Vice President and Relationship Manager with The Private Bank at Bank of Hawaii. She was also a Vice President and Financial Consultant with Charles Schwab for almost 18 years.

Tajiri graduated with a BA from the University of Hawaii-Manoa and holds an Accredited Asset
Management Specialist (AAMS) designation. Active in the community, she does volunteer work for Hawaii DECA and Boys and Girls Club of Hawaii.

The Rice Partnership LLC is a national financial advisory firm headquartered in Honolulu with
branches in Maui and California. The firm specializes in investment management and estate planning, as well as tax and strategic advisory services for individuals, families and charitable organizations throughout Hawaii and the mainland.

 

 

Ashley Wilken nominated as Woman to Watch – Emerging Leader 

Ashley WilkensSAN LUIS OBISPO – Ashley Wilken has been nominated for the California Society of CPAs’ (“CalCPA”) Woman to Watch Awards in the Emerging Leader category. CalCPA, in partnership with the American Institute of CPA’s Women’s Initiatives Executive Committee, recognizes women in accounting and finance for their leadership, community and public service, advocacy, mentoring and contributions to the profession. The awards are given in three categories: Emerging Leader, Experienced Leader and Trailblazer and will be presented at CalCPA’s 2020 Women’s Leadership Forum on April 24th.   

Ashley is a Senior Wealth Manager with The Rice Partnership, a wealth management firm in San Luis Obispo. She was nominated for her commitment to her community along with her advocacy and passion for the financial profession.  Wilken is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER TM for The Rice Partnership and their subsidiary company, Wealthjar Investment Advisors (“Wealthjar”). Wealthjar is geared towards millennial investors and offers unlimited financial planning and ESG investment strategies.

Wilken is involved in the community through her current and past contributions to the Rotary Club of Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce, Girl Scouts of California’s Central Coast, California Women for Agriculture, and the County’s Cattlewomen’s & Cattlemen’s Associations. Ashley feels passionately about supporting local community organizations including the Economic Vitality Corporation of San Luis Obispo, the Foundation for the Performing Arts Center, the Junior Livestock Auction at the California Mid State Fair, and Cal Poly Mustang Athletics along with others. 

The Rice Partnership LLC is a national financial advisory firm with branches Honolulu, Maui and California. The firm specializes in investment management and estate planning, as well as tax and strategic advisory services for individuals, families and charitable organizations throughout Hawaii and California.

The Foundation for the Performing Arts Center

The Rice Partnership guarantees that arts and culture will continue to thrive in San Luis Obispo County through their partnership with The Foundation for the Performing Arts Center (FPAC) in 2020.

The Foundation for the Performing Arts Center works to elevate the arts in San Luis Obispo by providing accessible arts and theater to schools and the local community. Founded in 1986, the Foundation constructed the Performing Arts Center building ten years later in 1996 at the California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly). The Foundation for the Performing Arts, the City of San Luis Obispo and Cal Poly continue to maintain the world-class venue, keep the hall affordable and ensure it is as accessible as possible for the local community.

Aside from their generous contribution to San Luis Obispo County, the Foundation is best known for their annual Heart of the Arts Gala, an elegant dinner featuring a spirited silent auction and energetic after party held on the building’s loading docks.

Portfolio manager Tony Brizzolara serves as a current Board Member for the Performing Arts Center, as well as Chairman of the Investment Committee for The Foundation.  As a San Luis Obispo native, Tony is happy to support the growth of the arts in our local community, help maintain the beautiful venue and encourage the communities’ accessibility to the arts through his volunteer work.

Tony has previously served on the boards of the American Heart Association, CASA of San Luis Obispo and Festival Mozaic – a Music Festival that holds an epic concert at the PAC.

For more information of FPAC: https://fpacslo.org