John was drawn to financial planning because it allowed him to combine his interest in finance with his desire to interact with and help people. He especially enjoys working with individuals and families to help them define their financial goals and create sound, sensible plans to build and maintain wealth.

John entered the financial planning profession in 2005 while pursuing his MSBA, and supports the team by working with clients to develop financial models and conduct investment research.

John Chapra is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional. He has a Master of Science in Business Administration with an emphasis in Financial and Tax Planning from San Diego State University and an MBA with an emphasis in Finance from the University of San Diego.

Prior to entering the field of finance, John obtained a BS in Computer Science (UCSD, summa cum laude) as well as a BA in French with a minor in linguistics (SUNY Albany). He has worked for 30 years as a consulting software engineer designing and developing software products. He is also fluent in French and lived in France for four years while studying linguistics at the University of Nice and teaching English as a second language to senior citizens and university students.

✉ john@financialalternatives.com
☏ (858) 459-8289 ext. 313

After working in the financial services industry for several years, Jim was inspired to start his own Fee-Only firm in 1991 to eliminate conflicts of interests with his clients. Since that time, he has been named on numerous occasions by Robb Report Worth Magazine as one of the top Wealth Advisors in the United States.

Jim oversees both the financial planning and investment management divisions for the firm.

Jim holds a BA in Psychology from Point Loma Nazarene University and also holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® designation. He is a member of the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA) and the Financial Planning Association (FPA).

In his free time he enjoys cycling, running, going to the gym, reading, traveling, and spending time with his wife and kids as well as extended family and friends.

✉ jim@financialalternatives.com
☏ (858) 459-8289 ext. 302

Andrew developed an interest in the financial markets from a young age while participating in an investment project in elementary school. However, it wasn’t until his college years that he discovered the power of financial planning and the impact it can have on people’s lives. This inspired him to shift study paths from corporate to personal finance.

Andrew joined the firm in 2021as a  lead advisor after previously working for a decade at a Fee-Only advisory firm, and is now a partner. He is passionate about financial education and multigenerational planning and highly experienced in modeling various financial scenarios for our clients.

He is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional and earned his BS in Finance as well as a Certificate in Personal Financial Planning from San Diego State University. He is also a member of the Financial Planning Association (FPA).

Andrew enjoys spending time with his wife and two children, golfing, working on house projects and attending sporting events.

✉ andrew@financialalternatives.com
☏ (858) 459-8289 ext. 309

Chris wanted to be a financial advisor from a young age, but was deterred by the major conflicts of interest present in the industry. Upon learning that he could serve clients on a commission-free, Fee-Only fiduciary basis, he enthusiastically started his career in 1998.

In 2002, Chris joined Financial Alternatives, and is a partner with the firm. He helps to oversee the financial planning and investment management divisions.

Chris holds a BS in Finance from San Diego State University, as well as the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® and Chartered Financial Analyst® designations. He is a member of the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA), the Financial Planning Association (FPA), the CFA Society of San Diego, and the San Diego Estate Planning Council.

He enjoys a variety of outdoor sports and world travel, as well as simply enjoying local treasures like Balboa Park and our beaches with his wife, two kids, and one energetic dog.

✉ chris@financialalternatives.com
☏ (858) 459-8289 ext. 301

Marcelle has a deep interest in investments and passion for helping others. Recognizing that true impact comes from empowering individuals, she has made it her mission to help people achieve their financial goals. Marcelle is committed to educating and guiding younger generations with financial literacy tools that will enable them to achieve lasting success. 

Marcelle joined Financial Alternatives in 2024 as a Financial Planning Analyst. She assists senior advisors with the financial planning process for clients. Before joining Financial Alternatives, Marcelle gained valuable experience working in the investment banking sector and holds the SIE and Series 66 licenses.

A recent graduate with a BS in Finance from San Diego State University, Marcelle will soon begin her education requirements to sit for the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® exam.

Born and raised in San Diego, Marcelle is fluent in three languages: English, Chaldean, and Arabic. In her spare time, she enjoys Bible study and volunteering at her local church. She is passionate about traveling, learning new languages, reading classic English literature and philosophy (with Kate Chopin and Marcus Aurelius among her favorite authors), and staying active through Pilates and running.

✉ marcelle@financialalternatives.com
☏ (858) 459-8289 ext. 314

Ellen was born and raised in Taiwan and she speaks five languages: English, Mandarin, Japanese, Cantonese, and Taiwanese.

Upon graduation from SDSU, Ellen worked as an intern at Financial Alternatives, Inc. She then worked for another Fee-Only advisory firm in San Diego for two years before returning to Financial Alternatives, Inc. in 2010. Ellen is a partner at Financial Alternatives and a lead advisor for many of the firm’s clients and has a special focus on financial planning.

Ellen has an MSBA degree in Financial and Tax Planning from San Diego State University and she holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® designation. She is a member of the Financial Planning Association (FPA).

In her spare time, Ellen enjoys mountain climbing, tennis, swimming, travel, photography, and spending quality time with her husband, family, and friends.

✉ ellen@financialalternatives.com
☏ (858) 459-8289 ext. 303

At a young age, Damon experienced first-hand how much life can change in an instant after an unexpected passing. Among the many challenges his family faced, the financial impacts of this event inspired his interest in financial planning by demonstrating the importance of having knowledgeable guidance when it is needed most.

Damon joined Financial Alternatives in 2024 as an Associate Advisor, supporting the firm’s clients with their financial planning needs. He has over 10 years of experience working in banking and financial services, focusing on building lasting relationships with his clients. He enjoys getting to know his clients, understanding their needs, goals, and aspirations, and working together to help them live their ideal life.

Damon earned his BA in Economics from California State University, San Marcos, and is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional.

He was born and raised in San Diego and takes great pride in his hometown. He likes to spend his free time playing soccer, golf, and tennis and you will find him on a field, course, or court most weekends.

✉ damon@financialalternatives.com
☏ (858) 459-8289 ext. 315

Adrienne is an Operations Assistant at Financial Alternatives. She is responsible for client account service, administration, and collaborating with other members of the team to implement financial planning, portfolio management, and associated services.

Adrienne is a proud native San Franciscan who has adjusted well to the San Diego lifestyle. A graduate of Santa Clara University, she has over 20 years of experience working in financial services in addition to her extensive background in client/customer service. She worked at Charles Schwab and two other well-respected wealth management firms locally in San Diego.

Adrienne is a super fan of The Ohio State University Buckeyes football team and band, and she has a 10-year-old Golden Retriever named Buckeye. You will often find her and her husband at Del Mar Dog Beach or one of the local dog parks. She is a Europhile at heart and hopes to be able to live across the pond someday.

✉ adrienne@financialalternatives.com
☏ (858) 459-8289 ext. 308

Will is an Operations Associate at Financial Alternatives. He has over 10 years of experience improving business operations, enhancing processes, and implementing automation to support organizational goals. At Financial Alternatives, Will focuses on streamlining workflows, integrating technology solutions, and driving efficiency across teams.

Throughout his career, Will has worked in various industries, using his expertise to deliver practical and impactful solutions. His approach emphasizes collaboration, data driven decision making, and continuous improvement.

Will studied music composition in Europe, where he developed a deep appreciation for both classical and contemporary styles. Music remains one of his favorite pastimes, whether he's attending live concerts, discovering new artists, or playing for his own enjoyment.

✉ will@financialalternatives.com
☏ (858) 459-8289 ext. 305

Marilynn Miller works in Operations and Client Services for Financial Alternatives. She works directly with clients to open and maintain their accounts, assists with our CRM management, and collaborates with other members of the team to implement financial planning and associated services.

She has a Business Management degree from the University of Houston with an emphasis in Human Resources Management. She worked for Stewart Title Guaranty Co in Houston, Texas for over 20 years, first as a manager of a large Accounts Receivable department and later as one of the Directors of their software development subsidiary. After moving to San Diego in 2002 and taking a short sabbatical to home-school her sons, she started working part time with our team in 2006. Marilynn and her husband moved back to Texas in 2021 to be closer to family but she continues to work with us from home.

She enjoys reading, genealogy, word and logic puzzles and spending time with her family.

✉ marilynn@financialalternatives.com
☏ (858) 459-8289 ext. 312

Yasbeth Salgado works as the Operations Lead at Financial Alternatives and joined the firm in 2018. She works directly with clients to open and maintain their accounts, assists with company regulatory compliance, database management, report preparation, and collaborates with other members of the team to implement financial planning, portfolio management, and associated services.

Yasbeth worked in the operations department of another San Diego based financial firm for seven years before joining Financial Alternatives. She has an extensive background of more than twenty years in administrative work, client/customer services and operations experience. She has an AA in Liberal Arts from San Diego City College and is a Public Notary.

Outside the office, you will find Yasbeth attending heavy rock concerts, enjoying romantic movies and novels, watching Mexican league soccer games, and spending quality time with her family.

✉ yasbeth@financialalternatives.com
☏ (858) 459-8289 ext. 306

Mary Rose is a Marketing and Operations Specialist at Financial Alternatives.

She held marketing and management positions with several large financial firms in Boston, Houston, and Los Angeles before settling in San Diego. After taking a sabbatical to raise her now-adult children, she returned to the financial services industry.

Mary Rose graduated from Boston University School of Management with a BSBA in Economics and Marketing.

She enjoys spending time with friends and family, hiking, biking and learning to play bridge.

✉ maryrose@financialalternatives.com
☏ (858) 459-8289 ext. 304