The Rowling Team

Tara, a Certified Public Accountant, joined R&A in April 2012. As the firm’s Director of Tax Services, Tara’s primary responsibilities include supervising and organizing the tax return preparation for individual, trust, and business tax returns. She leads the tax team to provide personalized tax planning for R&A’s individual and business clients. Tara also manages the firm’s Charitable Committee, which handles everything from client events, to team building exercises, to firm-wide charitable initiatives.Prior to joining the firm, Tara spent three years at OUM, LLP, a CPA firm in Carlsbad where she handled bookkeeping, tax planning, and tax return preparation. She also worked at JGD & Associates in Sorrento Valley preparing tax returns and doing tax planning for individuals and corporations. Tara graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Business with emphasis in accounting from California State University San Marcos and received a Masters in Taxation from National University. She earned her Certified Public Accountant license in January of 2011.

Her industry associations include:

• American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)
• California Society of Certified Public Accountants
• National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA)
• Jewish Community Foundation – Trusted Charitable Advisor (TCA)
• PFS Credential Committee Member

On the personal side:

When not at the office, Tara enjoys spending time with her family.  She has two sons and a daughter who keep her busy!  She enjoys volunteering in their classrooms and with their sports teams. In her free time, she loves running, hiking, and being outdoors. Her summers are usually spent at the beach with her husband and kids.

Some things you might not know about Tara:

She likes listening to country music, going to concerts, and is an avid reader.  She loves traveling and one of her favorite spots to visit is the North Shore of Kauai. She is also a big hockey fan and her favorite team is the LA Kings.

Lorenzo joined the R&A team in November 2013. His primary responsibilities include developing and updating comprehensive financial plans, providing portfolio research and analysis, and account rebalancing. Lorenzo also assists in servicing clients’ accounts, preparing client reports, and other special projects.

Prior to joining the firm, Lorenzo worked in the finance department of a Fortune 500 company at their Latin America offices in Mexico implementing credit risk models and providing market research. Lorenzo earned his B.S. in Finance from the University of Notre Dame and became a Certified Financial Planner™ professional in April 2016.

His industry associations include:

• National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA)
• Financial Planning Association (FPA)
• Jewish Community Foundation – Trusted Charitable Advisor (TCA)
• Certified Financial Planner™

On the personal side:

During his free time Lorenzo enjoys catching a good game of football, soccer, or baseball live or on TV. He is most passionate about his alma mater’s Fighting Irish and the Baltimore Ravens. Lorenzo also enjoys working out and has recently picked up running. He also enjoys spending time with his family and his pug, Max. He enjoys living in San Diego because it allows him the ability for quick trips to places both in California and Baja California.

Something you may not know about Lorenzo:

Lorenzo was born in and studied abroad in Mexico. While studying abroad, he went on multiple community service trips and taught English to local elementary school teachers. He also played baseball for his study abroad school’s team.

Juan joined the team in November 2013. His primary responsibilities include developing and updating comprehensive financial plans, providing portfolio research & analysis, spearheading the firm’s Marketing initiatives and most recently, overseeing Operations. In addition to these tasks, he also participates in servicing client accounts, portfolio administration, and trading, as well as other projects. Prior to joining the firm, Juan worked for an asset manager in Del Mar, CA. He also spent two years working for The Vanguard Group where he received a great foundation while providing investment guidance to high net worth clients. Juan holds an Executive Financial Planner Advanced Certificate and B.S. in Finance from San Diego State University.

His industry associations include:

• National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA)
• Financial Planning Association (FPA)
• All-Star Financial Group
• HIFON
• Jewish Community Foundation – Trusted Charitable Advisor (TCA)
• Bayside Community Center – Board of Directors Chairman

On the Personal Side:

When not working, Juan enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, attending concerts, surfing, hiking, and playing guitar. He listens to a wide range of musical genres and is constantly looking for new music. When given the opportunity, he enjoys encouraging and motivating students by volunteering at Grossmont College, San Diego State University, and Junior Achievement.

Some Things You May Not Know About Juan:
Juan was born in Mexico, he is fluent in Spanish, and he has two daughters. He enjoys spending quality time with his girls exploring San Diego, museums in Los Angeles, Santa Monica beach, and amusement parks, and is constantly looking to create new memories.

On the personal side:

In his free time, Lou likes to try different types of restaurants. His favorites are sushi, Dim sum, and hotpot. To burn all those calories, he enjoys playing soccer and basketball. Lou has been working out for 5 years; his favorite workout routines include HIIT and weightlifting.

Some things you might not know about Lou:

Lou is originally from China and moved to the U.S. at the age of sixteen. He liked American food so much that he gained about fifty pounds in six months! To clarify, he was 6 feet tall and weighed only 120 lbs. back then.

Steve first discovered his interest in finance and investments shortly after graduating from The University of Arizona in 1993 with a BS in mechanical engineering. He accepted a position in an intensive training program along with twenty other recent graduates. Steve’s first employer, a Fortune 500 company, offered excellent health and retirement benefits. “I was surprised and slightly embarrassed that my new coworkers and I were baffled about what choices to make among all the retirement and investment options presented to us during the new employee orientation,” stated Steve.

It was then that he realized the education system does not address the basics of financial planning. It wasn’t his fault that twenty intelligent, college-educated kids didn’t know this stuff. However, no one would be to blame except himself if he didn’t do something about it. So he jumped in head first to self-educate himself by reading every financial book, magazine, and newspaper he could get his hands on. It wasn’t long before his interest in financial planning developed into a passion to help his friends and family navigate the maze of retirement savings plans, tax laws, and investment options.

In 2003, Steve went on to earn an MBA from Arizona State University with a specialization in finance. Upon graduation, Steve accepted a position in Southern California with JPMorgan Chase as a financial analyst working his way up to a client manager and vice president. After several years working at a large financial firm, Steve became a Certified Financial Planner™ professional and started his own financial planning firm in 2009. He met Sheryl Rowling five years later and, as they say, the rest is history!

Educating clients to help them achieve their unique life goals is what Steve enjoys the most about financial planning.

His industry association memberships include:

• National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA)
• Financial Planning Association (FPA)
• San Diego Equality Business Association (SDEBA)
• Columnist for San Diego Uptown News

On the personal side :

Steve loves to get outdoors. Hiking is his first choice and the local trails will be the most likely place to find him on the weekends. He also likes swimming, biking, and yoga to stay healthy while having fun.

Something you may not know about Steve:

He’s been taking sailing lessons so that he can begin chartering catamaran sailboats in exotic locations around the world. His secret dream is to live on a 42 foot catamaran for a year or two while sailing the Sea of Cortez and Central American coastline.

Sanda had worked with Rowling & Associates for more than ten years prior to spending five years as Client Service Manager at Total Rebalance Expert, a financial software developed by Sheryl Rowling. She was involved in improving and testing the software, as well as training and implementation.

Now back at R&A, Sanda’s primary role is to support clients with custodian paperwork, establishing  accounts, transferring assets, generating client portfolio reports, billing etc. She believes that open, honest and clear communication is critical to building and maintaining long-lasting, trusting relationships.

On the Personal Side:

Outside of work, Sanda is most passionate about getting outside and enjoying life with her family and friends. She also enjoys traveling to fun and exotic places. When not in the office, you can find Sanda at La Jolla beaches reading a good book or walking her dog Zuko.

Some things you might not know about Sanda:

She is a huge fan of mystery novels, especially old classics by Agatha Christie.

Jackie joined the firm’s tax team in December 2018. She has a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in accounting. She plans to study for the CPA exam this upcoming year.
Her industry associations include:

• National Association of Personal Financial Planners (NAPFA)
• Jewish Community Foundation – Trusted Charitable Advisor (TCA)

On the personal side:

When not at work, Jackie enjoys getting outside and hanging out in nature with her family and friends. You can find her on a hiking trail, at one of San Diego’s beautiful beaches or spending the afternoon on the golf course. She loves to travel and hopes to be able to see the world and experience different types of cultures. Her dream is to one day get a hole in one while golfing.

Some things you might not know about Jackie:

Jackie is a San Diego native who graduated from San Diego State University. She enjoys watching documentaries and taking her dog, Monty, to dog beach.

Shalmali joined the team as a financial planning intern in May 2017 and has since moved her way up to a Financial Planner. She completed her Masters in Financial & Tax Planning from San Diego State University in 2018 and became a Certified Financial Planner™ in 2019. Her primary responsibilities include creating detailed financial plans for clients and answering any ad hoc planning questions related to their finances. She also works largely with next-gen clients to help them get organized in their finances and start on their journey to investing. Shalmali enjoys tax planning and assists the tax team whenever required.

Her industry associations include:

• National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA)
• Financial Planning Association (FPA)
• Jewish Community Foundation – Trusted Charitable Advisor (TCA)
• Certified Financial Planner™

On the personal side:

When not working, Shalmali spends her time reading, running & experimenting with different kinds of food. She enjoys traveling and exploring the world, preferably from the eyes of a local. She is an avid practitioner of meditation and often preaches its benefits. She enjoys being active and would like to spend more time exploring the great outdoors.

Some things you might not know about Shalmali:

Shalmali was born in India but was raised in Lagos, Nigeria. It was there that she learned to appreciate the different cultures of the world and its people. Recently, she volunteered to teach English to children living in the Himalayan ranges in India. To her, this experience was the most memorable one amongst her travels since she not only visited a new exciting land but also lived there and engaged with its people. One of her goals in life is to volunteer in as many countries as possible, in effect to see the world.

Josh joined the team in November 2015, and he is responsible for building on the firm’s high efficiency and exceptional client experience. Josh also assists in servicing clients’ accounts, portfolio administration, social media, and other special projects.

Prior to joining the firm, Josh worked for Total Rebalance Expert, Sheryl Rowling’s innovative portfolio rebalancing software startup, which was acquired by Morningstar^®. There, he started in marketing and sales, and was promoted to Operations Manager, a position in which he developed the leadership experience that he brings to a similar team role at Rowling & Associates.

On the Personal Side:

When not working, Josh enjoys spending time with his family, playing slow-pitch softball, tending to his garden and cruising with his father in their classic British roadster. Josh loves adventuring around North America by plane, train, and especially automobile.

Something you may not know about Josh:

Josh has a bachelor of arts degree in sculpture and a master’s in architecture. On weekends you can usually find him leading public tours as a paid docent at the Museum of Contemporary Art, San Diego.

​When not at work, Tyler enjoys going to the beach, fishing, and other outdoor activities. You can find him wake surfing at Lake Havasu or camping anywhere from Mammoth to Mexico. He like to spend weekends going on adventures with family and friends.

Some things you might not know about Tyler:

Tyler’s first job was a Balloon Artist at Ruby’s Diner. If he could eat one meal for the rest of his life, it would be an In-N-Out Burger.

Ashley joined the R&A team in March 2021 as an Associate Financial Planner. Her primary responsibilities include creating detailed and comprehensive financial plans for clients. Prior to joining Rowling & Associates, Ashley worked with another fee-only registered investment advisor managing a team of financial planners. She brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise in creating customized financial plans and in developing strategies and solutions that involve taxes, cash flow analysis, retirement planning, estate planning, and risk management.

On the personal side:

During her free time, Ashley enjoys backyard pool life with her husband, 3 young kiddos, and rescue dog. They prioritize their church community and enjoy hiking, camping, and finding new restaurants together as well as family board games, pizza, and movie nights!

Some things you might not know about Ashley:

Ashley is a Certified Financial Planner™ professional who earned her BA in Financial Services from San Diego State’s College of Business Administration, also receiving an SDSU Personal Financial Planning Certificate. During her studies, she spent a semester abroad in Hong Kong. She is passionate about the impact that proper financial planning and education can bring to all she encounters.

After graduation, Jeff accepted a job offer from Vanguard and moved to Scottsdale, AZ where he lived and worked for almost six years. During his career at Vanguard, he had the opportunity to work in four different departments, giving him a wide array of industry knowledge and skills. Over time, Jeff decided he wanted to live by the ocean, moved to San Diego in 2013, and was promptly hired by Charles Schwab. Jeff served as a Client Service Specialist at Charles Schwab for almost three years before joining the Rowling & Associates Team as the Client Service Administrator. Jeff brings years of knowledge and experience from his previous positions and is passionate about helping individuals and families reach their financial goals.

On the personal side:

When Jeff is not working, he enjoys traveling, spending time with family and friends, going to the beach, and staying active in sunny San Diego. He has visited 8 countries and plans to fill up his passport with as many foreign stamps as possible. So far, Jeff’s favorite places to visit are Spain and London. He moved to San Diego because he loves the weather, mountains, beaches and its close proximity to Los Angeles and Baja California.

Some things you might not know about Jeff:

Jeff was born and raised in a small town in New Mexico and has a large, extended family native to the state. After high school, he moved away from his hometown to attend New Mexico State University in Las Cruces.

During his undergraduate studies, he had the opportunity to study abroad for a semester in Spain where he visited many Spanish and Italian cities. He graduated with a Bachelor in Business Administration with a double major in Finance and International Business.

Erika joined the firm in February 2016.

Erika has a degree in Interior Design.  After working many years in that field, she changed careers and worked in the payroll/finance department for Hilton Hotels for eight years.  Her primary role at R&A is compliance.  Erika is also the curator of R&A’s extensive “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame”  collection.

On the personal side:

Erika is a native San Diegan. She enjoys quilting, sewing, reading and baking.  She has three grown daughters in Phoenix, Nashville and San Diego.  She also has three grandchildren who she loves spending time with.

Some things you might not know about Erika:

Erika is an animal lover.  She raises monarch butterflies in her backyard and can often be found at the San Diego Zoo watching the polar bears.  Erika also enjoys traveling, especially cruising.  Her favorite travel souvenir is fabric from the local quilt shop.

Omar recently joined the team in April 2021 as a Financial Services Associate. His primary responsibilities include helping create comprehensive financial plans and assisting the wealth management team with any other tasks. Before joining R&A, Omar worked at eMoney Advisor, where he helped financial advisors construct financial plans for their clients. He also spent a year at a consulting firm primarily focused on private equity. Omar holds a B.S. in Finance from San Diego State University and has recently received a graduate certificate through the College for Financial Planning as a Certified Financial Planner™ professional.

On the personal side:

Omar can often be found in the kitchen or in front of the grill cooking up something new outside of work. He also enjoys going to concerts, watching movies or live sports, and learning new songs on the guitar. He enjoys exploring San Diego as much as possible, typically eating at restaurants he has never been to before with his fiancée. They plan on getting married within the next year and taking their honeymoon in Scotland to explore some of the cities and distilleries.

Some things you might not know about Omar:

He is a local San Diegan and a first-generation college graduate. From a young age, Omar has been interested in personal finance, but the passion for it grew exponentially while he was in college. His parents never had someone to talk to about their finances, and he witnessed the devastation and stress The Great Recession caused them when he was younger. Seeing this unfold motivated Omar to want and help others with their finances and achieve their life goals.

Paxton joined the firm in July of 2018 as the receptionist. In July of 2021, she moved to her new role in Client Services. Her primary duties include servicing client accounts, portfolio administration, and other special projects. Prior to starting at R&A, Paxton worked in Quality Assurance for a mystery shopping company. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Point Loma Nazarene University in May 2017 with a Bachelors in Writing. She has extensive experience in writing and editing, which she brings to her role here at Rowling & Associates​.

On the personal side:

When not at work, Paxton enjoys reading, writing, and spending time with her family and friends. She is an avid fan of musical theater and tries to see as many local shows as she possibly can. Paxton can often be found frequenting San Diego coffee shops while working on her novel in her spare time.

Some things you might not know about Paxton:

Paxton wrote her first novel when she was sixteen, and is currently working on a mystery novel, which takes up most of her free time. Paxton also stars as herself in a commercial for California Coast Credit Union, along with her three younger sisters.

Nicole joined the firm in July of 2021 as the receptionist. Her primary duties include managing company calendars and meeting and greeting clients at the front desk. She is currently attending Cal State San Marcos to receive a bachelor’s in psychology to become a therapist or financial counselor. Since starting at R&A, Nicole has learned how impactful budgeting and investing can be on the future.

On the personal side:

When not working or studying, Nicole enjoys getting outdoors, enjoying the sunshine, and exploring the city with friends. You can often find her at Coronado beach, Disneyland or the San Diego Zoo watching the lemurs and meerkats. Originally from the Bay Area, she loves to explore San Diego for new brunch spots and coffee shops. She tries to visit a new restaurant every week. Nicole loves to travel and hopes to one day enjoy a cup of coffee in all 50 states.

Some things you might not know about Nicole:

Nicole is an avid traveler. One summer she took a solo trip to Europe and visited 7 countries in 21 days! Her favorite adventures include sliding down the world’s longest slide in Switzerland and making pasta in Italy. Her favorite travel souvenirs are magnets and post cards to write down memories.