Jamie Alpaugh CFP®, MSFP
Growing up, money was something my family had to stretch. Watching every dollar work hard has a way of sharpening your awareness and your motivation. Combine that with a natural interest in numbers and spreadsheets, and I found myself genuinely enjoying the process of solving my own financial puzzle. Helping other people solve theirs turned out to be even better.
I enjoy building projections, mapping out tax strategies, and creating plans that turn complexity into clarity. But the moments that matter most are when clients move from overwhelmed to organized. Accounts are consolidated, decisions feel clearer, and uncertainty is replaced with confidence. That kind of clarity creates real freedom.
Most conversations start with a simple question: Why now? Understanding what brought you here helps set the direction for everything that follows. From there, the focus is on structure, accountability, and building a roadmap you will actually use, not one that just looks good on paper.
I earned my CFP® certification and master's in financial planning from Golden Gate University and now lead tax planning at Brio. I also serve as the co-chair of the FPA Programs Committee for the San Diego Chapter, which keeps me deeply connected to the planning community (and happily nerding out about it).
In the end, my approach is shaped by how I learned to think about money in the first place: Pay attention to the details, understand the trade-offs, and make sure every decision has a purpose.
EDUCATION & ACCREDITATIONS
- B.S., Economics, University of Minnesota Twin Cities
- M.S., Financial Planning, Golden Gate University
- CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification
- Series 65 Uniform Investment Adviser Law Exam – FINRA
- Passed the P, FM and IFM actuarial exams
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
- Member of Financial Planning Association, San Diego Chapter
LIFE PASSIONS
Life outside of work is split between San Diego (where I live with my fiancée, Julia, and our two cats), and near family in Minnesota. Free time usually means playing sports and planning the next trip. So far, that includes 32 countries and more than 70 National Park Service sites, with plenty left to go. I also love reading, trying new food, and slowly working through AFI’s 100 greatest films.