Meet our Financial Advisors

Our financial advisors work with each client to identify and focus on the most important issues that will help that client create and maintain a strong financial future. They help each client apply the available resources to meet the client's short-term needs and achieve long-term goals through appropriate savings and investment strategies. They then monitor those strategies and adjust them as needed when the client's circumstances change.

Tyler Bartlett ChFC, CFP®

Tyler is a Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC), a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional and an active member in the Financial Planning Association of Puget Sound. He was listed in "Seattle Magazine" as among "the best in client satisfaction wealth managers in the Seattle area" in 2007 and again in 2008.

He has a bachelor's degree in business administration from Seattle Pacific University and formerly supervised financial planning for American Express Financial Advisors. He has had his own financial planning practice and was employed as a wealth planner for high-net-worth clients at U.S. Trust.

Tyler spends as much time as he can with his wife, Tabitha, and their two young children. He also likes to play golf and softball.

Jeremy Burger, CFP®

jeremy@merrimanberkmannext.com

Originally from Salem, Oregon, Jeremy is a graduate of Seattle Pacific University with a degree in business administration and a minor in economics. Before joining Merriman Berkman Next he was a financial advisor and financial analyst at Synergy Financial Management, LLC. A member of the CFA Institute and of the CFA Society of Seattle, he is currently a 2009 Level 3 CFA candidate.

In his free time, Jeremy enjoys hiking, snowboarding and spending time with his wife, friends and other family members.

Cheryl Curran, CFP®

cheryl@merrimanberkmannext.com

A CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, Cheryl joined our firm in 1993 and was the company's first financial advisor outside the Merriman family. Cheryl holds a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Washington. In 2007, she was listed in "Seattle Magazine" as among the best personal wealth managers in the Seattle area.

Cheryl is an ardent college football fan. She loves to travel, swim, scuba dive, bike, read and volunteer at Children's Hospital.

Phuc Dang, CPA

phuc@merrimanberkmannext.com

Phuc was born in Thailand but has lived in Seattle for over 28 years. He is a candidate for CFP(R) Board certification in addition to being a Certified Public Accountant in the state of Washington. He graduated with honors from the University of Washington with a degree in business administration. He has over ten years of experience in the banking, accounting, and financial services industry. He continually draws on these different disciplines to help his clients achieve their financial goals.

He lives in Seattle with his partner and enjoys golfing, shooting pool, watching movies, and spending time with friends and family.

Eric Jonson

ericj@merrimanberkmannext.com

Prior to joining us, Eric spent 16 years with Charles Schwab, a nationally based investment firm. During the last four years, he worked exclusively with private clients in that firm's wealth management division.

A 1982 graduate of the University of Washington with a degree in business administration, Eric has over 22 years of financial services experience. He has a strong background in investments and financial planning and is currently pursuing certification as a Certified Financial Planner. Eric was listed in "Seattle Magazine" in 2008 as being among "the best in client satisfaction wealth managers in the Seattle area."

Eric lives in Seattle with his wife, daughter, and son and enjoys golf and coaching youth baseball.

Paresh Kamdar, CFP®

paresh@merrimanberkmannext.com

Paresh is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional and holds a bachelor's degree in finance from Indiana University. He joined our firm after being a financial consultant with Charles Schwab for six years. Prior to that, he was a stockbroker for six years with Olde, now part of H&R Block Financial Advisors.

His interests include skiing, climbing and backpacking with his wife, Sibylle.

Mark Metcalf

mark@merrimanberkmannext.com

Mark is a 1986 graduate of Eastern Washington University with a degree in business administration and has spent over 20 years in the financial services industry. Prior to joining our firm, Mark spent over 18 years with the Charles Schwab Corporation, including several years with Schwab's U.S. Trust subsidiary where he worked with high-net-worth clients.

Mark enjoys spending time with his wife as well as travel, reading, golf and enjoying the Pacific Northwest.

Elaine D. Scoggins, CFP®, ChFC

Client Experience Director

elaine@merrimanberkmannext.com

As a Client Experience Director for the advisors, Elaine works with our financial advisors to ensure that they have the tools and information they need in order to serve our clients well. She is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional and a Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC).

Elaine joined our firm in 2006 after 20 years as a bank executive for Barnett Bank and Bank of America, followed by two years in her own fee-only investment advisory practice. She holds a bachelors degree in business administration and has been quoted frequently in the financial press, including "The Wall Street Journal," "The New York Times," "Fortune," "Money," Dow Jones Newswire and the "Journal of Financial Planning."

Elaine enjoys hiking, long distance swimming, skiing, traveling and spending time with friends and family. She has worked extensively as a volunteer teaching financial literacy to lower-income populations.

Aaron Spencer

aaron@merrimanberkmannext.com

Aaron came to us from U.S. Bancorp, where he worked for seven years as a financial specialist. He graduated from the University of Washington with 2 bachelor degrees: one in economics and one in Germanics.

He is a member of the Financial Planning Association (FPA) and is in the final stages of earning the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation.

Aaron enjoys playing tennis as well as growing bonsai and orchids at his home in Duvall. He is fluent in German, a language and culture he is teaching his wife and their children.

Jim Whipps

jim@merrimanberkmannext.com

Jim has a master's degree and has completed the required doctorate course work in organizational development at the University of Washington. He also taught at the University of Washington School of Business for three years.

Jim joined our firm after 17 years with Boeing, three years as a mortgage banker and two years with Edward Jones. He is a member of the Financial Planning Association (FPA) and is pursuing certification as a Certified Financial Planner.

In his off hours, Jim enjoys playing golf, traveling with his wife and spending time with his three grown sons.

Laura Wood, ChFC, CASL

laura@merrimanberkmannext.com

Laura holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Washington Business School. She ran an independent financial planning practice for more than four years before she joined us in 2006.

She is a Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) and a Chartered Advisor for Senior Living (CASL). Laura is in the final stages of earning the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation as well. Laura was listed in "Seattle Magazine" in 2008 as among "the best in client satisfaction wealth managers in the Seattle area."

In her free time, Laura enjoys riding and training her horse for equestrian events as well as travel, reading and spending time with family and friends. She lives in Kirkland.

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Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. owns the certification marks CFP®, Certified Financial Planner™ and federally registered CFP (with flame design) in the U.S., which it awards to individuals who successfully complete CFP Board's initial and ongoing certification requirements.

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