I’m Lowell Parker

Wealth Advisor, CFP®

Helping tech professionals INVEST WISELY so they can LIVE FULLY.

Let's Talk

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.

Learn more

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.

Learn more

Helping you invest and plan wisely so you can achieve the goals that matter most to you.

My passion for investing and financial planning was spurred by my high school freshman math teacher. It was the late 90’s and he was convinced the current stock market euphoria was rational and boundless returns would continue. With my parents’ help, I opened a Roth IRA, purchased a few shares of Cisco and… proceeded to watch it plummet by more than 85%.

Fortunately, the value of the lessons learned from this experiment exceeded the monetary outlay. The importance of diversification and the value of Roth IRAs, in this case. Since then, my investment and planning philosophy have evolved. I believe investing should start with a goal. For many, this is simply to have a comfortable retirement. Once that goal is taken care of, we can begin to craft peripheral goals around saving for college, leaving a legacy, buying a house, or managing investment taxes, for instance.

Get Started
If you find yourself asking questions like these, I can help:

Am I saving enough to make work optional? How much is enough?

How do I effectively and tax efficiently manage my stock option plan?

What's the difference between an IRA and a Roth IRA? Which should I choose?

How do I save for my children's education? How much should I save?

What is an estate plan? Do I need one and how do I set it up?

How can I pay less in taxes?

What's the difference between a broker and a Wealth Advisor? Who can I trust and why?

Let's define your goals

The first step in crafting your financial plan is to figure out what it is that you want to accomplish.

We'll build a plan

Together we’ll develop a clear understanding of what it will take to get to where you want to go.

And track your progress

Your financial journey will take turns. We’ll review your goals and make changes along the way.

I'll be your personal CFO

I’ll do the heavy lifting to execute your customized plan, holding you accountable and adjusting as your plan evolves.

About Me

A CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ born and raised in Washington State, Lowell graduated from the University of Washington with a bachelor’s degree in economics and joined the Merriman team in 2006. He is a partner with the firm and his practice focuses on mid-career technology professionals.

Lowell currently resides in Snoqualmie, WA with his wife and two sons. Outdoor recreation is a big part of their lives – they enjoy hiking, mountain biking, skiing, and golf. Lowell is also an avid reader and enjoys books on business and science fiction. Another passion of Lowell’s is the guitar. On a sunny day you may catch him strumming a few chords out on his deck.

Let's chat.

What is wealth management?

Wealth management is a comprehensive approach to financial planning. It covers all areas of your financial life, making wise use of your assets to help you in achieving your goals and living life to the fullest. Do you want to spend more time doing the things you love and worry less about your finances? 

Then wealth management is for you!

Wealth Enhancement - make your assets work for you
  • Minimizing taxes – now vs future?
  • Managing appropriate cash reserves
  • Should you pay off your mortgage early?
  • How can you get the most out of Social Security?
  • Evaluate your options for college savings
Wealth Preservation - strategies to help reduce risk
  • Diversification
  • Asset allocation and rebalancing
  • Trend following
  • Stock option planning
  • What to do with concentrated stock positions?
Wealth Protection - proper coverage is key
  • Disability or Long-Term-Care insurance planning
  • Is umbrella insurance right for you?
  • What type of life insurance makes the most sense?
  • What level of homeowner’s coverage is appropriate?
  • Is your rental property adequately protected?
Wealth Transfer - leaving a lasting legacy for your heirs
  • How can you leave the most behind to your heirs without sacrificing too much now?
  • Are your assets correctly titled so they’ll pass on in the way you intend?
  • Are your healthcare directives and letters of instruction in place?
  • Does a trust make sense for you? Which kind?
Charitable Giving - make the most of your contributions
  • What charities are important to you?
  • How can you make the most of your gifts to charity?
  • Is a charitable trust right for you?

Plan with intention,

not by default.

Make An Appointment

Online Blog Resources

You’ve Decided to Donate – Now What?

You’ve Decided to Donate – Now What?

There are more than one and a half million nonprofits in the U.S. and ten million worldwide. No wonder the process of deciding where you want to donate can be overwhelming! Whether you are donating for the first time, consolidating donations, or considering making a large gift: Begin by reflecting on your motivation for giving. Continue reading to learn how you can maximize the impact of your donation.

April is Financial Literacy Month

April is Financial Literacy Month

Since April is Financial Literacy Month, Wealth Advisor Alan Hensley shares some personal and professional stories highlighting how Merriman empowers our clients to live fully by providing peace of mind in their financial lives.

Don’t wait any longer. Start living your life to the fullest today!