|
Meet JAKE MENDEN
|
Jake started his career working in the banking field. After 6 years of commercial relationship management Jake left his career in banking behind him and started as an Advisor with a large broker dealer where he spent just shy of 6 years building a large client base and completing many milestones including a top 1% achievement. Along with business accomplishments Jake takes his education seriously and completed his Series 6, 63, 65, CLU and ChFC designations. "Education will always be important and we owe it to our members to be at the top of our game.", he says.
In January of 2024 Jake left the large broker dealer and wanted to become an independent advisor working as a concierge for clients where they are part of a small group of members and can expect outstanding customized service, education, unique investment choices, and simple easy to understand pricing.
"Redwood Financial Strategies has the opportunity and ability to be a market disruptor in the financial advising space." Jake says. "It's unbelievable the excitement we get from people when we explain how we are so different and what being a member means vs. the old school way advisors work. It's night and day."
Being independent might not mean much to someone not in the industry so what it means for clients is many things. It means that when someone signs up with Jake, they become a participating member. Becoming a Financial Planning Member means Jake becomes the head of finance for the family or business in ALL aspects of their financial planning world. Not just specifically on an investment account. It brings customization to a members investment portfolio as RFS is not tied to a broker dealer and does not collect commissions or fees on any funds used. RFS actively waves every commission that is possible to wave and gives it back to the client.
"A flat fee approach gives money back into clients pocket, because when the accounts grow, our members keep the growth in their accounts and our fee does not go up as the accounts increase. This is drastically different from the old school way of advising where a 1.5% or so fee is charged no matter what the account is doing." Jake says.
Outside of saving people money on their financial advising costs, increasing client experience and disrupting a 100+ year old industry you can find Jake doing many things with his family.
Jake married his high school sweetheart, Julie, in the spring of 2013. Since 16 years old the two have shared countless memories and experiences.
"I couldn't ask for a better partner to do life with. God truly blessed us and played a hand in seating us next to each other in Spanish class in 2006. Smartest thing I've done to this day is ask her out on our first date." Jake says.
Their now 7-year-old son, Sawyer, does everything with Dad including hunting (he got his first turkey in the Spring of 2024), fishing, hiking, camping, golfing, working on cars, and all sports imaginable. While he loves doing all that stuff with Dad, he gets just as excited for movie nights just him and Mom where they kick Dad out and have their special time just the two of them. Jake and Julie have been blessed with Sawyer and a thriving, strong marriage. "I can't be anymore grateful for our strong marriage. It got us through and is still getting us through some of the speed bumps God has put in our path." Jake says.
Julie was diagnosed with late-stage Lyme's disease in 2022 after going undiagnosed since 2018. Julie became sicker and sicker and finally was able to start getting things under control and feeling better once the diagnoses was found. But even still, 6 years later, each day is something new to deal with and overcome. Jake also had some health scares in 2022 when he was diagnosed with Stage 1 Testicular Cancer. By the grace of God Jake made a speedy recovery and is now cancer free. The Menden's take their health very seriously and accredit the quick recovery and Julie's progress to their healthier lifestyle, better choices, and prayer. This has led Jake and his wife, Julie, to start a "side hustle" company called The Healthfull Co. A company dedicated to sharing information about natural healthy choices that can be implemented into families’ lives. Julie is the CEO and founder of a coaching and training company that she took full time in 2020. She works with many Fortune 500 companies doing keynote speaking, training, workshops, and executive coaching. She also host's a podcast called "It starts with you". Jake is also the host of the Father Figure$ podcast. This is a podcast dedicated to sharing stories and growth opportunities from Entrepreneurial Dads who want to put family first, business second. The podcast focuses on becoming a better father and husband, discussing faith and mindset, and business growth ideas and how other Dads are managing the stress of trying to be everything to everyone. "It's an amazing community of Dad's. We all are trying to be better for our families and we all have some wisdom to share and lots to learn." Jake said.
In January of 2024 Jake left the large broker dealer and wanted to become an independent advisor working as a concierge for clients where they are part of a small group of members and can expect outstanding customized service, education, unique investment choices, and simple easy to understand pricing.
"Redwood Financial Strategies has the opportunity and ability to be a market disruptor in the financial advising space." Jake says. "It's unbelievable the excitement we get from people when we explain how we are so different and what being a member means vs. the old school way advisors work. It's night and day."
Being independent might not mean much to someone not in the industry so what it means for clients is many things. It means that when someone signs up with Jake, they become a participating member. Becoming a Financial Planning Member means Jake becomes the head of finance for the family or business in ALL aspects of their financial planning world. Not just specifically on an investment account. It brings customization to a members investment portfolio as RFS is not tied to a broker dealer and does not collect commissions or fees on any funds used. RFS actively waves every commission that is possible to wave and gives it back to the client.
"A flat fee approach gives money back into clients pocket, because when the accounts grow, our members keep the growth in their accounts and our fee does not go up as the accounts increase. This is drastically different from the old school way of advising where a 1.5% or so fee is charged no matter what the account is doing." Jake says.
Outside of saving people money on their financial advising costs, increasing client experience and disrupting a 100+ year old industry you can find Jake doing many things with his family.
Jake married his high school sweetheart, Julie, in the spring of 2013. Since 16 years old the two have shared countless memories and experiences.
"I couldn't ask for a better partner to do life with. God truly blessed us and played a hand in seating us next to each other in Spanish class in 2006. Smartest thing I've done to this day is ask her out on our first date." Jake says.
Their now 7-year-old son, Sawyer, does everything with Dad including hunting (he got his first turkey in the Spring of 2024), fishing, hiking, camping, golfing, working on cars, and all sports imaginable. While he loves doing all that stuff with Dad, he gets just as excited for movie nights just him and Mom where they kick Dad out and have their special time just the two of them. Jake and Julie have been blessed with Sawyer and a thriving, strong marriage. "I can't be anymore grateful for our strong marriage. It got us through and is still getting us through some of the speed bumps God has put in our path." Jake says.
Julie was diagnosed with late-stage Lyme's disease in 2022 after going undiagnosed since 2018. Julie became sicker and sicker and finally was able to start getting things under control and feeling better once the diagnoses was found. But even still, 6 years later, each day is something new to deal with and overcome. Jake also had some health scares in 2022 when he was diagnosed with Stage 1 Testicular Cancer. By the grace of God Jake made a speedy recovery and is now cancer free. The Menden's take their health very seriously and accredit the quick recovery and Julie's progress to their healthier lifestyle, better choices, and prayer. This has led Jake and his wife, Julie, to start a "side hustle" company called The Healthfull Co. A company dedicated to sharing information about natural healthy choices that can be implemented into families’ lives. Julie is the CEO and founder of a coaching and training company that she took full time in 2020. She works with many Fortune 500 companies doing keynote speaking, training, workshops, and executive coaching. She also host's a podcast called "It starts with you". Jake is also the host of the Father Figure$ podcast. This is a podcast dedicated to sharing stories and growth opportunities from Entrepreneurial Dads who want to put family first, business second. The podcast focuses on becoming a better father and husband, discussing faith and mindset, and business growth ideas and how other Dads are managing the stress of trying to be everything to everyone. "It's an amazing community of Dad's. We all are trying to be better for our families and we all have some wisdom to share and lots to learn." Jake said.