- 969 Pine Street Grand Rapids, MI 49503
- 505-273-7702
- info@topstpa.com
Contact Us
Our Team
Credentialed experience, in every seat.
Across our advisory partners, actuarial team, investment leadership, and operations professionals,
Tax-Optimized Planning Solutions brings more than a century of combined financial services experience to every client engagement. The credentials behind these names — CFP®, CLU®, ChFC®, CPFA®, CFA®, CAIA®, CPWA®, EA, MAAA, FCA — represent thousands of hours of study, examination, and continuing professional education. They are the reason we are equipped to design plans that other firms cannot.
Combined Years of Experience
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+
Enrolled Actuaries in the U.S.
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Owner Allocation Target
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Compliance Record
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Brent Gordon, CFP®
Managing Partner | Lead Advisor
Certified Financial Planner®
Read Bio
Brent grew up in a small rural New Mexico town where his father owned a local business. Watching his father excel at his craft while navigating the countless demands of running a company gave Brent a firsthand appreciation for how overwhelming business ownership can be, and how rarely the financial side receives the attention it deserves.
That experience planted the seed for a career dedicated to helping business owners find clarity amid financial complexity. Brent earned his degree in Accounting from New Mexico State University and launched his financial services career in August 2007. He was awarded the Certified Financial Planner® designation by the CFP Board of Standards, a credential that reflects deep technical knowledge and an unwavering commitment to the fiduciary standard. Since then, he has built a well-established practice with a reputation for delivering plans that business owners can understand and put to work.
At Tax-Optimized Planning Solutions, Brent leads the client discovery and planning process from start to finish, overseeing firm strategy, advisor partnerships, and the overall client experience. He specializes in working with solo practitioners, medical professionals, and agricultural businesses to help them reduce tax liabilities while strengthening the value they offer employees through meaningful retirement benefit packages. His planning philosophy centers on one belief: that a well-constructed plan should be both sophisticated enough to make a real difference and clear enough that every business owner can own it with confidence.
Outside of work, Brent’s world revolves around his wife and two daughters. If he is not in a meeting, he is most likely wherever his family needs him most.
Sergio O. Pessoa, CFP®, CLU®, ChFC®
Managing Partner | Lead Advisor
Certified Financial Planner®
Read Bio
Sergio began his financial services career on Wall Street and has spent decades building a reputation as a leading financial professional known for pairing sophisticated strategies with a straightforward client experience. His commitment is to help business owners cut through complexity, implement plans that make a measurable difference, and feel confident at every step of the process.
Sergio earned his Bachelor of Science in Finance from Seton Hall University, the Chartered Life Underwriter® and Chartered Financial Consultant® designations through The American College, and was awarded the Certified Financial Planner® designation by the CFP Board of Standards. This combination of credentials reflects both deep technical knowledge and an unwavering commitment to the fiduciary standard.
At Tax-Optimized Planning Solutions, Sergio co-leads advisor relationships and client strategy, driving the planning and presentation process while ensuring every engagement reflects the precision and care that business owners deserve. He specializes in working with business owners, consulting firms, and medical professionals, guided by a planning philosophy rooted in simplicity: the best financial strategy is one a client truly understands and will actually use.
Sergio lives in northern New Jersey with his wife Rita and their son Antonio. He is deeply committed to giving back, supporting local charities and advocating for The National Kidney Foundation.
Keith Jordan, CPFA®
Junior Partner | Retirement Plan Specialist
Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor®
Read Bio
Keith Jordan was born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and graduated from New Mexico State University with a degree in Finance and minors in Insurance and Banking. That grounding across planning, risk, and institutional finance pointed him naturally toward a career in financial services, where he has spent over nine years specializing in employer-sponsored retirement plans.
Keith holds the Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA) designation issued by the National Association of Plan Advisors (NAPA), reflecting deep expertise in fiduciary responsibilities, ERISA regulations, and the ability to serve as both a co-fiduciary and discretionary investment manager for employer-sponsored plans. He currently oversees more than 65 active 401(k) retirement plans across a wide range of business sizes and structures.
At Tax-Optimized Planning Solutions, Keith serves as the primary liaison between the advisory team and the firm’s enrolled actuary, reviewing every plan design before it reaches a client and leading the technical walkthrough in plan presentations. His approach is grounded in a straightforward philosophy: give business owners and their employees the right financial information so they can make confident decisions, reach their goals, and build a more secure future.
Outside of work, Keith is happiest spending time with his wife and two sons, whether that means a round of golf, a day on the water, or a weekend on the ski slopes.
Bob Rietz, EA, MAAA, FCA
Enrolled Actuary
Read Bio
Bob Rietz is one of approximately 3,500 enrolled actuaries currently practicing in the United States, a distinction that carries significant weight in the defined benefit and cash balance plan space. With over 30 years of actuarial consulting experience, Bob has worked with clients across the public and private sectors, as well as multiemployer plans, performing actuarial valuations for pension and post-retirement medical plans covering everything from small businesses to organizations with thousands of employees.
Throughout his career, Bob has developed plan funding policies and strategies, presented actuarial results at pension board and city council meetings, and delivered sessions at local and national pension conferences. He has also provided actuarial specialist support to audit teams performing benefit plan and financial statement reviews.
At Tax-Optimized Planning Solutions, Bob signs every actuarial document the firm produces, a responsibility that reflects both the trust placed in him and the rare expertise he brings. His credentials include a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from the University of Iowa, Enrolled Actuary (EA), Member of the American Academy of Actuaries (MAAA), Member of the American Society of Enrolled Actuaries (MSEA), Fellow of the Conference of Consulting Actuaries (FCA), and Member of the Illinois CPA Society Employee Benefits Content Advisory Group.
Bob lives in Bolingbrook, Illinois with his wife Jennifer, four children, and a granddaughter. He is a devoted fan of Chicago sports and the Iowa Hawkeyes, an avid golfer with Whistling Straits firmly on his bucket list, and a longtime sports official, a role that reflects the same fairness, attention to detail, and steady judgment he brings to his actuarial work.
Ryan Woolhiser, CFA®, CAIA®, CPWA®
Chief Investment Officer
Chartered Financial Analyst®
Read Bio
Ryan Woolhiser brings more than 16 years of investment management experience to Tax-Optimized Planning Solutions, where he serves as Chief Investment Officer. His career spans the full range of the investment industry, beginning as an advisor at JP Morgan, progressing through senior roles at Oppenheimer Funds as Vice President and Senior Advisor Consultant, and most recently serving as Director and Senior Investment Consultant at City National Rochdale, where he designed and managed custom portfolios across multiple asset classes.
Ryan holds three of the most respected credentials in the investment profession: the Chartered Financial Analyst® designation, earned by professionals committed to the highest standards of investment analysis and ethical practice; the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst® designation, reflecting expertise in hedge funds, private equity, venture capital, and real assets; and the Certified Private Wealth Advisor® designation, designed specifically for advisors serving high-net-worth clients. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Colorado Boulder and is completing his MBA at the SMU Cox School of Business.
At Tax-Optimized Planning Solutions, Ryan ensures that every financial plan is backed by an investment strategy designed to match it. He participates in client and prospect meetings to deliver economic context and investment insight, integrates behavioral finance into client conversations to better address concerns, and oversees the firm’s wealth management platform development. Ryan is an active member of the CFA Society of Dallas/Fort Worth and CAIA Texas. Outside of work, he enjoys hunting, fishing, and golf with his wife, Alexandria, and their boys, Leighton and Barrett.
Jeff Blackman
Director of Distribution
Read Bio
Jeff Blackman brings 25 years of sales experience to Tax-Optimized Planning Solutions, spanning door-to-door sales leadership, commercial insurance, and a decade in the medical device industry. He grew up in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and earned his degree from the University of New Mexico with a double major in Sociology and Economics, a combination that gave him an early foundation in both human behavior and financial systems.
Jeff launched his sales career in college, building and managing teams in a direct sales organization before transitioning into commercial insurance, where he spent six years across property and casualty, life, disability, and workers compensation lines. He then spent ten years in the medical device industry, most recently as a Senior Territory Sales Manager with ConMed Corporation, earning two Executive Council distinctions along the way.
At Tax-Optimized Planning Solutions, Jeff serves as Director of Distribution, responsible for introducing the firm’s third-party administrator services to financial advisors, CPAs, and other referral partners. He helps advisors and their business owner clients understand how advanced retirement plan strategies, including defined benefit, cash balance, and 401(k) profit-sharing plans, can significantly reduce tax liability and strengthen the financial futures of the businesses they serve. Across every industry he has worked in, clients have valued his ability to distill complex concepts into clear, actionable conversations, and that is exactly what Tax-Optimized Planning Solutions delivers.
Jeff is married with two sons. Outside of work, he enjoys traveling, coaching youth sports, and chasing the next great rollercoaster with his family.
Viviana Hernandez
Operations Manager | Licensed Client Advisor
Investment Advisor Representative
Read Bio
Viviana Hernandez is the operational core of Tax-Optimized Planning Solutions, the professional who ensures that every client interaction, every plan document, and every partner commitment is executed with precision. A native of El Paso, Texas, Viviana graduated Cum Laude from the University of Texas at El Paso with a Bachelor of Business Administration, double-majoring in Marketing and International Business.
Her background spans both healthcare and financial services. Before transitioning to finance, Viviana served as a marketing representative and an admissions director in the healthcare field, experiences that built a strong foundation in client relationships, operational leadership, and high-stakes communication. Since entering financial services in 2012, she has developed expertise in firm operations, compliance, financial planning workflows, and team development.
At Tax-Optimized Planning Solutions, Viviana owns the full operational and administrative lifecycle of the firm, from scheduling and client communications through plan document processing, invoicing, and co-presenting the firm’s three-meeting client process. As a licensed securities and insurance professional, she operates at every stage of the client journey. Bilingual in English and Spanish, she is uniquely positioned to serve the firm’s Spanish-speaking business owner clients and employees with the same depth and care as any other engagement.
Viviana is married to her high school sweetheart, Matthew, and treasures time spent with her dog and extended family.
Ashley Johnson
Client Relations & Administrative Coordinator
Read Bio
For clients looking to connect with Brent, Ashley Johnson is typically the first voice they hear. She brings a warm and organized presence that makes scheduling seamless and ensures every engagement starts on the right foot. Born and raised in New Mexico, Ashley has a natural gift for building genuine connections, which translates directly into the attentiveness she brings to every interaction.
At Tax-Optimized Planning Solutions, Ashley manages Brent’s client scheduling, oversees client communications, coordinates intake forms and onboarding materials, and helps produce creative materials that support the firm’s brand and client-facing presentations. She serves as the organizational thread that ties together the client experience from the very first appointment, ensuring that business owners and their teams feel informed, welcomed, and well cared for throughout the process.
Outside of work, Ashley is a devoted wife and mother of two. Whether it is a family adventure or a quiet evening at home, she brings the same care and consistency to the people around her that she brings to every client she serves.
Jakelene (Jackie) Amabile
Administrative Support & Client Services
Read Bio
Jackie Amabile brings more than 15 years of client service experience to Tax-Optimized Planning Solutions, including seven years as a client relationship manager within the financial services industry with a focus on insurance underwriting. Her extensive background has given her a keen instinct for what makes professional relationships work well, and a clear understanding of how the connection between clients, financial professionals, and the administrative team is foundational to a firm’s success.
At Tax-Optimized Planning Solutions, Jackie manages client scheduling, document routing, and case file management, ensuring that every case moves forward efficiently and that no detail is overlooked. Her precision and responsiveness give clients and partners the confidence that every commitment will be met and every communication will be timely.
Jackie lives in Brick, New Jersey, and treasures time with her husband, daughter, and two dogs at the Jersey Shore. She is also a dedicated volunteer for American Rescue Dog out of Howell, New Jersey, a reflection of the same compassion and commitment she brings to her professional work every day.
Brent Gordon, CFP®
Managing Partner | Lead Advisor
Series 6, 63, 65, 7 | Certified Financial Planner®
Read Bio
Brent grew up in a small rural New Mexico town where his father owned a local business. Watching his father excel at his craft while navigating the countless demands of running a company gave Brent a firsthand appreciation for how overwhelming business ownership can be, and how rarely the financial side receives the attention it deserves.
That experience planted the seed for a career dedicated to helping business owners find clarity amid financial complexity. Brent earned his degree in Accounting from New Mexico State University and launched his financial services career in August 2007. He was awarded the Certified Financial Planner® designation by the CFP Board of Standards, a credential that reflects deep technical knowledge and an unwavering commitment to the fiduciary standard. Since then, he has built a well-established practice with a reputation for delivering plans that business owners can understand and put to work.
At Tax-Optimized Planning Solutions, Brent leads the client discovery and planning process from start to finish, overseeing firm strategy, advisor partnerships, and the overall client experience. He specializes in working with solo practitioners, medical professionals, and agricultural businesses to help them reduce tax liabilities while strengthening the value they offer employees through meaningful retirement benefit packages. His planning philosophy centers on one belief: that a well-constructed plan should be both sophisticated enough to make a real difference and clear enough that every business owner can own it with confidence.
Outside of work, Brent’s world revolves around his wife and two daughters. If he is not in a meeting, he is most likely wherever his family needs him most.
Sergio O. Pessoa, CFP®, CLU®, ChFC®
Managing Partner | Lead Advisor
Series 6, 63, 65, 7 | CFP® | CLU® | ChFC®
Read Bio
Sergio began his financial services career on Wall Street and has spent decades building a reputation as a leading financial professional known for pairing sophisticated strategies with a straightforward client experience. His commitment is to help business owners cut through complexity, implement plans that make a measurable difference, and feel confident at every step of the process.
Sergio earned his Bachelor of Science in Finance from Seton Hall University, the Chartered Life Underwriter® and Chartered Financial Consultant® designations through The American College, and was awarded the Certified Financial Planner® designation by the CFP Board of Standards. This combination of credentials reflects both deep technical knowledge and an unwavering commitment to the fiduciary standard.
At Tax-Optimized Planning Solutions, Sergio co-leads advisor relationships and client strategy, driving the planning and presentation process while ensuring every engagement reflects the precision and care that business owners deserve. He specializes in working with business owners, consulting firms, and medical professionals, guided by a planning philosophy rooted in simplicity: the best financial strategy is one a client truly understands and will actually use.
Sergio lives in northern New Jersey with his wife Rita and their son Antonio. He is deeply committed to giving back, supporting local charities and advocating for The National Kidney Foundation.
Keith Jordan, CPFA®
Junior Partner | Retirement Plan Specialist
Series 63, 65, 7 | Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor®
Read Bio
Keith Jordan was born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and graduated from New Mexico State University with a degree in Finance and minors in Insurance and Banking. That grounding across planning, risk, and institutional finance pointed him naturally toward a career in financial services, where he has spent over nine years specializing in employer-sponsored retirement plans.
Keith holds the Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA) designation issued by the National Association of Plan Advisors (NAPA), reflecting deep expertise in fiduciary responsibilities, ERISA regulations, and the ability to serve as both a co-fiduciary and discretionary investment manager for employer-sponsored plans. He currently oversees more than 65 active 401(k) retirement plans across a wide range of business sizes and structures.
At Tax-Optimized Planning Solutions, Keith serves as the primary liaison between the advisory team and the firm’s enrolled actuary, reviewing every plan design before it reaches a client and leading the technical walkthrough in plan presentations. His approach is grounded in a straightforward philosophy: give business owners and their employees the right financial information so they can make confident decisions, reach their goals, and build a more secure future.
Outside of work, Keith is happiest spending time with his wife and two sons, whether that means a round of golf, a day on the water, or a weekend on the ski slopes.
Bob Rietz, EA, MAAA, FCA
Enrolled Actuary
BS Mathematics, University of Iowa | EA | MAAA | MSEA | FCA
Read Bio
Bob Rietz is one of approximately 3,500 enrolled actuaries currently practicing in the United States, a distinction that carries significant weight in the defined benefit and cash balance plan space. With over 30 years of actuarial consulting experience, Bob has worked with clients across the public and private sectors, as well as multiemployer plans, performing actuarial valuations for pension and post-retirement medical plans covering everything from small businesses to organizations with thousands of employees.
Throughout his career, Bob has developed plan funding policies and strategies, presented actuarial results at pension board and city council meetings, and delivered sessions at local and national pension conferences. He has also provided actuarial specialist support to audit teams performing benefit plan and financial statement reviews.
At Tax-Optimized Planning Solutions, Bob signs every actuarial document the firm produces, a responsibility that reflects both the trust placed in him and the rare expertise he brings. His credentials include a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from the University of Iowa, Enrolled Actuary (EA), Member of the American Academy of Actuaries (MAAA), Member of the American Society of Enrolled Actuaries (MSEA), Fellow of the Conference of Consulting Actuaries (FCA), and Member of the Illinois CPA Society Employee Benefits Content Advisory Group.
Bob lives in Bolingbrook, Illinois with his wife Jennifer, four children, and a granddaughter. He is a devoted fan of Chicago sports and the Iowa Hawkeyes, an avid golfer with Whistling Straits firmly on his bucket list, and a longtime sports official, a role that reflects the same fairness, attention to detail, and steady judgment he brings to his actuarial work.
Ryan Woolhiser, CFA®, CAIA®, CPWA®
Chief Investment Officer
CFA® | CAIA® | CPWA® | BS Economics, University of Colorado Boulder | MBA Candidate, SMU Cox School of Business
Read Bio
Ryan Woolhiser brings more than 16 years of investment management experience to Tax-Optimized Planning Solutions, where he serves as Chief Investment Officer. His career spans the full range of the investment industry, beginning as an advisor at JP Morgan, progressing through senior roles at Oppenheimer Funds as Vice President and Senior Advisor Consultant, and most recently serving as Director and Senior Investment Consultant at City National Rochdale, where he designed and managed custom portfolios across multiple asset classes.
Ryan holds three of the most respected credentials in the investment profession: the Chartered Financial Analyst® designation, earned by professionals committed to the highest standards of investment analysis and ethical practice; the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst® designation, reflecting expertise in hedge funds, private equity, venture capital, and real assets; and the Certified Private Wealth Advisor® designation, designed specifically for advisors serving high-net-worth clients. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Colorado Boulder and is completing his MBA at the SMU Cox School of Business.
At Tax-Optimized Planning Solutions, Ryan ensures that every financial plan is backed by an investment strategy designed to match it. He participates in client and prospect meetings to deliver economic context and investment insight, integrates behavioral finance into client conversations to better address concerns, and oversees the firm’s wealth management platform development. Ryan is an active member of the CFA Society of Dallas/Fort Worth and CAIA Texas. Outside of work, he enjoys hunting, fishing, and golf with his wife, Alexandria, and their boys, Leighton and Barrett.
Jeff Blackman
Director of Distribution
Director of Distribution
Read Bio
Jeff Blackman brings 25 years of sales experience to Tax-Optimized Planning Solutions, spanning door-to-door sales leadership, commercial insurance, and a decade in the medical device industry. He grew up in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and earned his degree from the University of New Mexico with a double major in Sociology and Economics, a combination that gave him an early foundation in both human behavior and financial systems.
Jeff launched his sales career in college, building and managing teams in a direct sales organization before transitioning into commercial insurance, where he spent six years across property and casualty, life, disability, and workers compensation lines. He then spent ten years in the medical device industry, most recently as a Senior Territory Sales Manager with ConMed Corporation, earning two Executive Council distinctions along the way.
At Tax-Optimized Planning Solutions, Jeff serves as Director of Distribution, responsible for introducing the firm’s third-party administrator services to financial advisors, CPAs, and other referral partners. He helps advisors and their business owner clients understand how advanced retirement plan strategies, including defined benefit, cash balance, and 401(k) profit-sharing plans, can significantly reduce tax liability and strengthen the financial futures of the businesses they serve. Across every industry he has worked in, clients have valued his ability to distill complex concepts into clear, actionable conversations, and that is exactly what Tax-Optimized Planning Solutions delivers.
Jeff is married with two sons. Outside of work, he enjoys traveling, coaching youth sports, and chasing the next great rollercoaster with his family.
Viviana Hernandez
Operations Manager | Licensed Client Advisor
Life Insurance | Series 6, 63, 65, 7 | BBA – Marketing & International Business, UTEP (Cum Laude)
Read Bio
Viviana Hernandez is the operational core of Tax-Optimized Planning Solutions, the professional who ensures that every client interaction, every plan document, and every partner commitment is executed with precision. A native of El Paso, Texas, Viviana graduated Cum Laude from the University of Texas at El Paso with a Bachelor of Business Administration, double-majoring in Marketing and International Business.
Her background spans both healthcare and financial services. Before transitioning to finance, Viviana served as a marketing representative and an admissions director in the healthcare field, experiences that built a strong foundation in client relationships, operational leadership, and high-stakes communication. Since entering financial services in 2012, she has developed expertise in firm operations, compliance, financial planning workflows, and team development.
At Tax-Optimized Planning Solutions, Viviana owns the full operational and administrative lifecycle of the firm, from scheduling and client communications through plan document processing, invoicing, and co-presenting the firm’s three-meeting client process. As a licensed securities and insurance professional, she operates at every stage of the client journey. Bilingual in English and Spanish, she is uniquely positioned to serve the firm’s Spanish-speaking business owner clients and employees with the same depth and care as any other engagement.
Viviana is married to her high school sweetheart, Matthew, and treasures time spent with her dog and extended family.
Ashley Johnson
Client Relations & Administrative Coordinator
Read Bio
For clients looking to connect with Brent, Ashley Johnson is typically the first voice they hear. She brings a warm and organized presence that makes scheduling seamless and ensures every engagement starts on the right foot. Born and raised in New Mexico, Ashley has a natural gift for building genuine connections, which translates directly into the attentiveness she brings to every interaction.
At Tax-Optimized Planning Solutions, Ashley manages Brent’s client scheduling, oversees client communications, coordinates intake forms and onboarding materials, and helps produce creative materials that support the firm’s brand and client-facing presentations. She serves as the organizational thread that ties together the client experience from the very first appointment, ensuring that business owners and their teams feel informed, welcomed, and well cared for throughout the process.
Outside of work, Ashley is a devoted wife and mother of two. Whether it is a family adventure or a quiet evening at home, she brings the same care and consistency to the people around her that she brings to every client she serves.
Shari Spolar
Applications & Operations Specialist
Read Bio
Shari Spolar is the operational specialist at Tax-Optimized Planning Solutions who ensures that once a plan is approved, every document, application, and account is handled with accuracy and care. Her work happens largely behind the scenes, but its impact is felt in every successful client onboarding and every plan that moves forward on time.
Shari attended New Mexico State University and has built a career grounded in the detail-oriented, compliance-conscious work that keeps financial practices running at a high standard. As a life insurance specialist, she manages insurance applications, investment account setup, and document processing in coordination with national carriers and custodians, supporting the smooth administration of plans across the firm’s business owner client base. She is based in Rio Rancho, New Mexico, with her husband and two children.
At Tax-Optimized Planning Solutions, Shari serves as the applications and operations anchor, handling the technical processing requirements that translate an approved plan into a fully implemented one. Her thoroughness and reliability are essential to the firm’s ability to deliver on its commitments to business owners and their employees.
When she is not at work, Shari is happiest outdoors, camping and traveling with family and friends.
Jakelene (Jackie) Amabile
Administrative Support & Client Services
Read Bio
Jackie Amabile brings more than 15 years of client service experience to Tax-Optimized Planning Solutions, including seven years as a client relationship manager within the financial services industry with a focus on insurance underwriting. Her extensive background has given her a keen instinct for what makes professional relationships work well, and a clear understanding of how the connection between clients, financial professionals, and the administrative team is foundational to a firm’s success.
At Tax-Optimized Planning Solutions, Jackie manages client scheduling, document routing, and case file management, ensuring that every case moves forward efficiently and that no detail is overlooked. Her precision and responsiveness give clients and partners the confidence that every commitment will be met and every communication will be timely.
Jackie lives in Brick, New Jersey, and treasures time with her husband, daughter, and two dogs at the Jersey Shore. She is also a dedicated volunteer for American Rescue Dog out of Howell, New Jersey, a reflection of the same compassion and commitment she brings to her professional work every day.
A boutique third-party administrator specializing in advanced qualified retirement plan design for business owners with high tax burdens.
Contact Info
- 505-273-7702
- info@topstpa.com
© 2026 Tax-Optimized Planning Solutions, LLC. All rights reserved.