I’m Geoff Curran
Wealth Advisor, CPA/ABV, CFA, CFP®
For every client, my goal is to help them make work optional.
Planning with your goals in mind
We work hard to understand who you are and what you want to accomplish, both personally and professionally, so we can best support you and your family in achieving your goals.
We're more than just investments
Together, we’ll implement a customized plan for all areas of your financial life: Investments, taxes, estate planning, insurance, charitable giving, and more.
My focus is Investing Wisely. You focus on Living Fully.
I have always enjoyed talking with people about finance, learning about their investments, financial strategy, and business sense. My goal was to move on from asking the questions to answering them. This interest only deepened with time, and what began as a hobby has now become a life-long passion.
I have worked hard to develop my knowledge base, earning three major credentials that allow me to serve a client no matter what issue or question they have. I pride myself on being able to speak to multiple topics within the field of finance from the more traditional taxes and investments to insurance and estate planning, business succession planning and executive compensation negotiations.
Are you making a career change?
Do you know the best way to handle your employer stock vesting?
How much should you be saving to meet your personal goals?
Is your tax-minimization strategy too shortsighted?
Is your portfolio designed to last?
Do you want to make work optional?
Financial Planner
Together, we’ll outline your vision and create a plan to achieve it with your current and expected future resources.
Investment Analyst
With the support of our dedicated research department, I’ll continuously evaluate and implement the best tools to meet your needs.
Personal CFO
I’ll do the heavy lifting to execute your customized plan, holding you accountable and adjusting as needed to meet your vision.
Counselor
I’ll protect your vision, making emotion-free decisions, helping you avoid pitfalls, and providing encouragement along the way.
About Me
Originally from Kansas City, I received a Bachelor of Science from the University of Tulsa with a major in finance and minor in accounting. I spent several years as an Investment Analyst for an independent advisory firm based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, before moving to Seattle as an Investment Consultant at TD Ameritrade and ultimately joining the Merriman team.
I have a passion for continuing education. Currently, I hold three major credentials – CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERTM professional (CFP®), Certified Public Accountant (CPA), and Chartered Financial Analyst® charterholder (CFA). Each of these designations is the rough equivalent of a graduate degree in financial planning, tax planning, and financial analysis, respectively. Most recently, I also earned an Executive MBA from Quantic School of Business and Technology. I love being able to speak to the entire realm of financial planning with my clients, as opposed to being siloed by a specific discipline.
In addition to advising clients, I regularly host educational webinars on Merriman Events and contribute articles to the Merriman blog and eBook library to help people navigate important financial decisions and achieve the goals most important to them. I am a member of Merriman’s Investment Committee where I help oversee and steer the firm’s two core investment strategies and hedge fund. In addition, I am on the investment committees for the Tacoma Employees’ Retirement System pension and the Greater Tacoma Community Foundation that have $2 billion and $110 million of assets, respectively. I also serve on the professional advisory committee for the Fred Hutch Cancer Center in Seattle.
Outside of work, I enjoy spending quality time with my wife Christina and sons, Calvin and George. I’ve recently developed a passion for coffee roasting and am currently working on the Merriman’s Live Fully Roast. Ask me about it, I’m happy to share!
How I can help you.
Here are some of the major areas I tackle with my clients to help fulfill their financial goals in the short- and long-term, so they can worry less and spend more time doing the things they love.
Compensation Packages
When taking a new job, like buying a home or car, there typically needs to be some negotiation as employers rarely give their highest offer first. Key factors to negotiate with a new employer include signing bonus (usually in company stock and cash), salary, and your start date. It is critical to use your financial plan as a resource for these negotiations. Knowing what your plan needs will help you negotiate a compensation package that best fits your financial goals.
Savings and Cash Flow Planning
Whether it’s helping clients with maintaining their cash flow in retirement through various income sources or helping clients identify areas for additional savings, cash flow planning plays an essential role in all of my client relationships.
Tax Planning
Paying taxes is a part of life, but we can work together to reduce that burden by making smart tax decisions. Reviewing your tax return is just the start. Here are some other areas commonly addressed:
- Employer benefits
- Charitable giving
- Appreciated investments
- Tax-efficient investments
Legacy Planning
Often overlooked, estate planning is one of the most important parts of my role. I’ll review your existing plan to make sure it aligns with your goals and if not, I’ll work with you and an attorney to align your estate plan with your vision. Specific discussions we’ll have:
- Do we need special planning to minimize exposure to estate taxes?
- Are there minors we need to plan for?
- How best to give to charity from your estate?
- Do you have Power of Attorney’s setup? Do you need to update your personal representative?
Small Business Planning
I partner with small business owners to ensure that they make smart financial decisions. Areas commonly addressed:
- Business structure
- Employee compensation
- Taxes
- Valuation
- Succession
- Retirement and benefits plans
Are you interested in working with someone who can do the heavy lifting for you?
Online Blog Resources
Can You Afford to Spend More and Give More? You Might Be Surprised by the Answer!
What I didn’t realize when I started my career was just how difficult it can be for clients to feel comfortable spending money and giving away their wealth to family or charities they feel good about (and the regret that can come later in life by these decisions). Whether you are currently retired, soon to be retired, or just looking ahead to the future, you can learn about options and make smart decisions that may enable you to spend more and give more.
Geoff Curran and Paige Lee Added to Merriman’s Investment Committee
Merriman Wealth Management, LLC, an independent wealth management firm with over $3.6 billion in assets under management, is pleased to announce the additions of Geoffrey Curran, CPA/ABV, CFA, CFP® and Paige Lee, CFA, CFP®, CSRICTM to the firm’s investment committee.
How to Report a Cash and Stock Merger on Your Tax Return
First: Congratulations on the successful merger of Kansas City Southern (KSU) and Canadian Pacific Railway (CP). Second: It’s no fun to receive a surprise tax bill related to the December 2021 merger, so we’ll try to outline the specifics.
Scott helps our advisory team with the financial planning process by connecting new clients with the Wealth Advisor best equipped to provide advice for their individual situation. He enjoys helping people find solutions to their difficult problems and guiding them on the path toward achieving their goals.
