Our Staff
Financial planning isn’t all about numbers — it’s also about trust and communication between you and your advisory team. Our talented and dedicated team works well together, has fun in the process, and takes seriously the privilege and responsibility of managing your financial assets.
Karen Ramsey, CFP® — Founder, President, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™
Karen has over 20 years’ experience as a fee-only CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional. She is the author of Think Again: New Money Choices, Old Money Myths and the creator and leader of a nationally presented workshop based on her book, Caring for Your Soul in Matters of Money®.
Karen has been profiled in numerous publications (see In the News page). She has appeared on TV as a finance education program host as well as being interviewed as a financial expert on KUOW (Seattle’s affiliate of NPR), CBS’s "This Morning", and CNN’s Financial News Shows, and in Glamour Magazine, The Seattle Times, and The New York Times. Karen has written a monthly column for US News & World Report titled The Smarter Investor.
The Ramsey team has won numerous awards for excellence in wealth management and client satisfaction. Karen proudly received the Seattle Mayor's Small Business Award in 2007. She is an Associate Member of the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA).
Karen’s current interests are:
Karen has over 20 years’ experience as a fee-only CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional. She is the author of Think Again: New Money Choices, Old Money Myths and the creator and leader of a nationally presented workshop based on her book, Caring for Your Soul in Matters of Money®.
Karen has been profiled in numerous publications (see In the News page). She has appeared on TV as a finance education program host as well as being interviewed as a financial expert on KUOW (Seattle’s affiliate of NPR), CBS’s "This Morning", and CNN’s Financial News Shows, and in Glamour Magazine, The Seattle Times, and The New York Times. Karen has written a monthly column for US News & World Report titled The Smarter Investor.
The Ramsey team has won numerous awards for excellence in wealth management and client satisfaction. Karen proudly received the Seattle Mayor's Small Business Award in 2007. She is an Associate Member of the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA).
Karen’s current interests are:
- Family fun and personal well-being
- Fostering a healthy work-life balance atmosphere in the workplace
- Broadening the audience of Caring for Your Soul in Matters of Money® seminars to help people discover their Money Baggage and create a new, personally-inspiring Money Message
Shawn Donnelly, MA, CFP® — CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™
Shawn came to work at Ramsey & Associates in 1998 as a fee-only CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional. She has conducted seminars for many organizations including Weyerhaeuser, The Seattle Times, Boeing, Children’s Hospital and the City of Seattle.
Shawn has been highlighted in The Seattle Times as an investment advisor, and appeared on TV as part of a forum on retirement (see In the News page).
Shawn is a NAPFA-Registered Financial Advisor. She holds Bachelor of Arts degrees in Sociology and Speech Communication, as well as a Master’s degree in Sociology from the University of Washington.
Shawn’s current interests are:
Shawn came to work at Ramsey & Associates in 1998 as a fee-only CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional. She has conducted seminars for many organizations including Weyerhaeuser, The Seattle Times, Boeing, Children’s Hospital and the City of Seattle.
Shawn has been highlighted in The Seattle Times as an investment advisor, and appeared on TV as part of a forum on retirement (see In the News page).
Shawn is a NAPFA-Registered Financial Advisor. She holds Bachelor of Arts degrees in Sociology and Speech Communication, as well as a Master’s degree in Sociology from the University of Washington.
Shawn’s current interests are:
- Exercise, and being in nature
- Great food and fun with friends
- Enjoying the excellent variety of fare Seattle has to offer by trying something new every chance she gets
- Making sure clients are taken care of and on the right track
Steve Holdsworth, MBA, CFP®, CLU® — CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™
Steve has over 17 years’ experience as a fee-only CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ practitioner including six years management experience as a partner and director. He joined Ramsey & Associates in 2020 as a Senior Financial Planner. Steve serves a broad range of clients in providing holistic financial planning to help them achieve overall financial wellbeing.
Steve has been recognized in Financial Planning magazine's – “Movers and Shakers”, "MBJ Top 40 under 40" and as a FIVE STAR Wealth ManagerSM. For three years, he served as Adjunct Faculty and Instructor for Kaplan Financial teaching the CFP® Certificate program. Steve is a past chapter board member, membership director and member of the Financial Planning Association (FPA) as well as member of the Estate Planning Council and Planned Giving Council.
Steve graduated from The University of Texas at Arlington with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Finance. He also holds a Master of Business Administration degree in Financial Planning & Estate Planning from The University of Dallas, Graduate School of Management.
Steve’s current interests are:
Steve has over 17 years’ experience as a fee-only CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ practitioner including six years management experience as a partner and director. He joined Ramsey & Associates in 2020 as a Senior Financial Planner. Steve serves a broad range of clients in providing holistic financial planning to help them achieve overall financial wellbeing.
Steve has been recognized in Financial Planning magazine's – “Movers and Shakers”, "MBJ Top 40 under 40" and as a FIVE STAR Wealth ManagerSM. For three years, he served as Adjunct Faculty and Instructor for Kaplan Financial teaching the CFP® Certificate program. Steve is a past chapter board member, membership director and member of the Financial Planning Association (FPA) as well as member of the Estate Planning Council and Planned Giving Council.
Steve graduated from The University of Texas at Arlington with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Finance. He also holds a Master of Business Administration degree in Financial Planning & Estate Planning from The University of Dallas, Graduate School of Management.
Steve’s current interests are:
- Spending time with family and friends
- Exploring the Pacific Northwest with family
- Hiking, kayaking, and biking
- Passionate about serving clients as a fiduciary for their financial wellbeing
Diane Bell — Paraplanner
Diane joined Ramsey & Associates in 2018. Prior to joining the team, she
worked in fundraising and development for nonprofit organizations over the
last several years following a decade long career in corporate and
commercial real estate consulting. She holds a B.S. in journalism from the
University of Maryland.
In her role at Ramsey and Associates, Diane supports all preparations for client review meetings and is responsible for data management.
Diane’s current interests are:
Diane joined Ramsey & Associates in 2018. Prior to joining the team, she
worked in fundraising and development for nonprofit organizations over the
last several years following a decade long career in corporate and
commercial real estate consulting. She holds a B.S. in journalism from the
University of Maryland.
In her role at Ramsey and Associates, Diane supports all preparations for client review meetings and is responsible for data management.
Diane’s current interests are:
- Family time with her kids, watching them flourish and thrive
- Spending time in nature
- Writing poetry
- Ensuring secure, accurate information for clients
- Providing excellent service
Steve G. — Paraplanner
Steve joined the Ramsey Team in 2015. He has a background in financial planning and investment services having worked at a variety of firms in the Seattle area.
Steve received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics. Additionally, he holds the Series 65 license.
Currently, Steve monitors client portfolios, places trades, and provides customer service.
Steve’s current interests are:
Steve joined the Ramsey Team in 2015. He has a background in financial planning and investment services having worked at a variety of firms in the Seattle area.
Steve received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics. Additionally, he holds the Series 65 license.
Currently, Steve monitors client portfolios, places trades, and provides customer service.
Steve’s current interests are:
- Developing new skills in the workplace
- Creating a great workplace
- Making sure clients are taken care of
- Ensuring secure, accurate information for clients
Brett Tatsuno — Paraplanner
Brett joined the Ramsey team in late 2016. Before arriving here, he spent seven years at Boeing and its financing solutions arm, Boeing Capital Corporation, doing credit analysis on the company’s suppliers and customers. Brett earned a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting & Finance in 2009 and a Master’s in Professional Accounting in 2010, both from the University of Washington.
He supports all preparations for client review meetings and assists with various other client service activities including investment proposals, trading and ad-hoc requests.
Brett’s current interests are:
- Travelling as often as possible
- Summertime baseball games at Safeco Field
- Hiking Washington’s many trails
- Ensuring accurate and thorough preparation of client data
Britteny W. — Office Manager
Britteny came to us in 2018. Her 11 years in the Telecommunications industry as an analyst and Program Manager provide a strong foundation for her office management work at Ramsey & Associates. She handles office administrative duties and provides support for our paraplanners and advisors.
Britteny’s current interests are:
Britteny came to us in 2018. Her 11 years in the Telecommunications industry as an analyst and Program Manager provide a strong foundation for her office management work at Ramsey & Associates. She handles office administrative duties and provides support for our paraplanners and advisors.
Britteny’s current interests are:
- Developing new skills in the workplace
- Creating a great workplace
- Ensuring secure, accurate information for clients
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