Meet The Team

As a young child, I saw firsthand the stress that personal finances can cause within a family. I often witnessed my parents in disagreement over how money was being spent and whether or not enough was being saved. I resolved at a very early age to learn everything I could about personal finance so that I could help my parents and relieve some of their stress.

By age 12 I was investing in individual stocks, and still have the original stock certificates from my first purchase (Nike). By age 15 I was investing in mutual funds with my savings from working at a local deli. Every Saturday morning I sat down with my folks as they paid the bills. I knew what their salaries were, how much went to taxes, and how much all of the bills amounted to. This was a great early lesson because I knew how much, or little, was left.

I believe it was Confucius who said “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” I am quite proud to say I followed this advice. At Summit Wealth & Retirement we handle the investing and financial planning for about 250 families in the Bay Area and several Western states. Our clients value our honest and direct approach, and know that we have the skills and experience to help them make better decisions and feel more secure about their money. Regardless of net worth, the #1 fear that people have is that they will run out of money. I’ve spent the past 15 years addressing this fear head-on by designing, implementing, and monitoring financial plans that help ensure my client’s money will last longer than they do. Whether it’s protecting what they already have, growing their wealth, minimizing their taxes, or designing a plan to pass assets to their kids, we are here to help. In addition to having a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) designation, I also hold my Series 7, 66, and 24 licenses, and hold certifications in asset management and retirement planning. I am also a registered tax preparer and an Adjunct instructor in Financial Planning at UCLA. Outside of work, I enjoy golfing and spending time with my wife Maryline and our three children, Dylan (14), Tyler (12) and Nyla (9).

Growing up on a farm in Carbondale, Illinois, Madison knows what hard work looks like. While the entire tax industry is struggling to find the next generation of tax professionals, Madison has gone above and beyond, earning a Master’s and B.S. degree in Accounting with a specialization in Taxation, passing her Enrolled Agent’s IRS exam, and now sitting for her CPA.

Madison was added to both the Summit Wealth and Summit Tax Teams because she brings a rare combination to the table, having both served high net worth clients and run a tax division within a fortune 500 company. Madison knows firsthand what proactive client service should look like, and she has the technical tax skills to bring creative ideas to the table.

Madison is recently married to her wonderful husband, Andy, and together they share Mazy, their labradoodle. They enjoy spending summers by the pool while hosting friends and family for backyard BBQs and creating lasting memories.

Summit Tax Planning is led by Debbie Pham, an Enrolled Agent with over 15 years of tax planning experience. Debbie obtained her B.S. degree from the U.C. of Riverside, after which she worked for Ernst & Young, eventually rising up to one of their Tax Managers.

Debbie is passionate about income taxes. She enjoys reading about changes in the tax code and helping her clients make the best tax decisions based on their personal situation. And while most tax preparers focus exclusively on tax compliance (i.e. making sure your taxes are filed on-time), Debbie actually helps her clients with tax strategy. This is one of the reasons Ernst & Young moved Debbie into their high net worth tax group, where she worked with many of the firm’s most successful families.

Debbie has a special affinity for business owners, having been one herself for when she owned & operated an auto repair shop in Alameda, while also working full-time in her profession.

Finally, Debbie has a passion for real estate and a deep understanding of real estate tax law, and she stays informed by being an active member of her local realtor association, where she has served as volunteer Treasurer for the past four years.

* Independent Contractor

Growing up in Akron, Ohio, I was raised with a priority to respect and care for others. My family has a long line of military service such as the Army and the Air Force (I humbly brag and appreciate my older brother’s status as an officer in the Air Force). That same foundation of serving others has been instilled in me since a young age.

I have seen firsthand the power of inserting the right financial planner into an individual’s or family’s financial life. I believe in acting as a teammate and empowering those same people to make financial decisions that brings them comfort and confidence.

As an ambitious student-athlete at the University of Akron, I decided to pursue my passion in finance and helping others through their top ranked financial planning program in the country, and I’ve never looked back. All while playing football and helping the University of Akron reach its second Division I conference championship.

As a tax professional and CERTIFIED FINANICAL PLANNER®, I have helped hundreds of successful families build and implement tax efficient financial plans that fit their dreams. I understand the importance of having an objective teammate guiding a family through the inevitable paths personal finance can create. I hold my Series 65 license and am an Enrolled Agent, administered to practice before the IRS.

I live in Boise, ID with my fiancé Madison, who is a nurse. Outside of work I like to spend time with my family and playing golf. I enjoy rooting for my cursed Cleveland, OH sports teams. A fun fact about the little town of Akron, OH, is that the nations top two basketball stars, Lebron James and Stephen Curry were born there.

Dewi joined Summit in 2017. She assists the Summit tax team with bookkeeping, tax returns, and administration. Prior to Summit, she worked for a small tax firm in San Ramon, CA. Dewi graduated from CSU Sacramento with a Bachelor’s degree in finance. Outside the office, she loves the outdoors, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.