What we do for others:

• We donate annually to an organization as part of our holiday appreciation for our clients
• We offer matching to team charitable donations

How we get involved:

• Teaching at Golden Gate university
• Board positions/volunteering – Several of us serve on boards and/or volunteer for organizations we are passionate about

Here are a few things we do together as a team:

• Get out and give back
• Happy hours – in prompt in the office and scheduled virtually
• Wine tasting – take off half day for tasting wine at wineries near by
• Group lunches – we get away from our desks and order lunch for the group
• Sports events – we have gone to many baseball and basketball games
• Company retreat – we get away on an annual basis and focus on fun – no business.

Cesar enjoys resistance training, Salsa dancing, and spending time with his family, including his loyal (and royal) four-legged companion, Rex. Cesar and his family love playing pickup games whenever he returns home. They play soccer, volleyball, or tag when the kids are around, and Texas Hold’em when the games are exclusively for the adults.

Prior to working at Meritas, Erich interned at River City bank’s wealth management department where he worked with 3 CFP’s, learning about banking and asset management. In his free time he enjoys hiking, and considers himself a restaurant connoisseur. Erich’s goal is to one day start his own firm.

Her journey also led her to the Marin JCC, where she delved into operations management. By streamlining processes, optimizing resources, and fostering a positive work environment, she contributed to the seamless functioning of the organization and enhanced the overall experience for staff and members. In addition to her professional endeavors, she finds great joy in spending time with her family and friends. Building and nurturing meaningful relationships is a cornerstone of her life, and she cherish the moments spent creating memories, sharing laughter, and supporting one another.

Tiffani Clarke brings extensive experience as an auditor and financial operations specialist to her position as Chief Financial and Compliance Officer at Meritas. Prior to joining Meritas, Tiffani was the Manager of Financial Operations at InterMedia Partners and worked as an auditor for a national public accounting firm.

In addition to an undergraduate degree in psychology from the University of California at Davis, Tiffani has a degree in accounting from San Jose State University, graduating with honors.

Tiffani is married to Gregg Clarke, and together they are the proud parents of two sons. Tiffani volunteers with Extra Food and is Vice Chair of the San Rafael City Schools Parcel Tax Citizens’ Oversight Committee. Her hobbies include making stuff, listening to classic R&B, and hiking the beautiful hills of Marin and Sonoma counties.

With many years of experience working in the retail industry, Lynn fundamentally understands the importance and value of creating and maintaining a welcoming environment for our clients, be it via phone, email, or in person. Additionally, her positive outlook and thoughtful nature make her the perfect person to assist with client communications.

Prior to joining Meritas in 2018, Lynn worked as a para-educator with Novato Unified School District which provided her with the opportunity to hone great organizational skills and enhance her love for collaboration. Relying on these skills, Lynn flourishes in her role of facilitating office operations. She lives in Novato and has two children. She enjoys gardening, hiking the Marin hills, and spending time with her friends and family.

John has spent years cultivating relationships with clients while working at a bank, a brokerage firm and at a registered investment advisory firm.

As a Client Service Administrator at Meritas, John is responsible for maintaining the quality relationships we have with our clients. He and his wife, Lyn live in Novato with their two teenage children. John enjoys volunteering as an ice hockey coach and is a fan of music and motorcycles.

Cristi is the second official participant of our 3-Year Financial Planning Residency Program. She is a recent graduate from the University of Georgia Financial Planning program (Go Dawgs!) During her time at UGA, she was a member of her school’s chapter of the Student Financial Planning Association. She also acted as Treasurer and Small Group Leader for her campus ministry.

Prior to coming to work at Meritas, Cristi interned at Defender Capital, a hedge fund out of Charlotte, North Carolina. This internship gave her the opportunity to deepen her knowledge of and admiration for the financial industry.

With years of experience in a variety of professional settings, Jen’s knowledge brings a unique perspective to Meritas. Having spent many years traveling, living, working, and studying abroad in several countries, Jen has developed strong interpersonal communication skills and the capacity to think on a global scale. Her voracious love for learning makes her a valuable team member. Throughout her career at Meritas which she began in 2015 and grew through several positions, Jen has developed foundational knowledge and strong client relationships.

She is a lover of languages and holds a B.A. in Italian Studies from UC Berkeley, an M.A. in French Language and Culture from Middlebury College, and is currently working on an M.S. in Financial Planning at Golden Gate University. Jen is an avid reader and enjoys painting and writing. She also loves being outdoors and spending time with loved ones.

Having previously held a variety of positions within the firm, Jackie is now one of Meritas’ valued Financial Planners. Her ranging roles have not only allowed her to cultivate a deep knowledge of Meritas’ core values and operations but have also given her the opportunity to acquire extensive experience in financial planning. Using these skills, Jackie assists clients with retirement planning, financial life planning, and portfolio management. She obtained her CFP® in August of 2018 after completing her coursework at the College for Financial Planning.

Jackie holds a B.S. in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance and a minor in Spanish from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. Prior to joining Meritas in 2013, Jackie lived in Spain teaching English, an experience which allowed her to develop cross-cultural communication skills and an international perspective. Jackie is a Marin native who enjoys traveling, hiking, and spending time with friends and family—most importantly, her baby daughter whom she adores.

Kacy Gott has been a financial advisor since 1995. He has a passion for comprehensive financial planning services and strives to create a unique and inspiring decision-making environment for each client. Kacy is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®); Kacy’s undergraduate degree is in Finance from San Diego State University.

Kacy is active in the profession and as an educator, having served on the national Board of Directors of the Financial Planning Association (FPA) and the Board of Trustees of the Foundation for Financial Planning (served as Chair). He also served on and chaired the Council on Education of the CFP Board. Kacy has taught financial planning at UC Berkeley Extension and Golden Gate University and has mentored new professionals in the FPA Residency program. He is a national recipient of the Heart of Financial Planning award.

Kacy lives in the Sonoma Valley and can often be found exploring wine country in the Russian River, or Dry Creek Valley, or Italy, or… Kacy is passionate about wine and has built an extensive wine collection, which he loves to share with family and friends. He admits that his cooking skills are not on par with the wine selection, but fortunately, his wife and many of his friends are excellent cooks.

Gregg Clarke, founder of Meritas Wealth Management, LLC, has been a financial advisor since 1990. He has a passion for comprehensive financial planning services with an emphasis on goal setting, investments, asset allocation, and retirement planning. Gregg also works with many clients in the area of employee stock option planning. Gregg is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®), and has an MBA in Financial Planning from Golden Gate University. Gregg’s undergraduate degree is in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California at Davis.

Gregg is past President of the Financial Planning Association (FPA) of San Francisco and continues to serve on the Programs Committee. He currently serves on the board of the Community Media Center of Marin as Vice Chair and he also is an adjunct professor in the Masters in Financial Planning program at Golden Gate University in San Francisco. He continues to participate in the FPA Residency program as a mentor.

Gregg lives with his wife, Tiffani, in San Rafael, California, and together they are actively involved in the community through volunteer work for charitable organizations. Gregg participates in a variety of outdoor sports and activities, which includes multiple wine tasting trips. He also enjoys spending as much time as possible with family and friends – his personal goal is to laugh every chance he gets.