I’m Laryssa Freeman and here’s my story!
My mom had a knack for making everyone feel comfortable, welcomed and important. Luckily, even as a young child, I recognized how others responded to being around her. Her enthusiasm for everything and everyone was contagious, and left an indelible imprint that now colors everything I do.
I’ve found in my practice that I bring this inherent level of enthusiasm to all of my clients, whether it’s through educating you on your investments, discussing your options for employer plan rollovers at retirement or reviewing your options to mitigate taxes in retirement. I’m passionate about teaching and guiding you through life’s ever-changing landscape in a way that is rooted in authenticity and warmth.
I take pride in fostering long-term, meaningful connections with all of my clients. My firm, Meritage Wealth Management, is intentionally small to give you a high level of service and advice. While many financial professionals work with hundreds of clients (or more!), I’ve found it’s more important to have in depth conversations with fewer clients vs surface level conversations with many clients. When you call my office, you talk to me personally, and are met with individual attention that aims to exceed your expectations.
On the professional side, I have been working with retirees since 1999 and am a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™️ professional. I am a member of the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA), the Fee-Only Network and the XY Planning Network.
I attended Pacific University in Oregon, moving there from my hometown of sunny Carlsbad, CA, to play college soccer. After two years in the rain though, the weather got the best of me and I moved back to Carlsbad, where I attended college at Cal State San Marcos.
It was during this time that I met the love of my life, Jeff, at Schooner’s Bar in Pacific Beach, CA. Following a whirlwind romance, we eloped on a Friday by getting married at a Justice of the Peace on my lunch break, went back to work, and “honeymooned” that weekend camping in Lake Tahoe. This was my first and last time camping. And after over 25 years of marriage, Jeff is still my first and last husband.
I joined Jeff on his military move with the US Navy to Silverdale, WA. There, I interviewed at my first investment firm in 1999 and haven’t looked back since. I quickly came to realize that I was passionate about teaching clients the importance of investing and clarifying complex strategies for them. I stand by the belief that investing doesn’t have to be complicated, and I help guide clients through transitions in their life by providing clarity in their finances.
I have always had an entrepreneurial spirit. I knew I wanted to provide a comfortable and relaxed environment for individuals to identify their financial goals, objectives, and dreams, but didn’t feel I could do this while working within a larger corporation. I knew that in order to do things in the style I felt was right for me and my clients, I had to build my own company. Meritage Wealth Management was born.
In 2010, Jeff retired after 20 years of military service in the US Navy. He now owns Total Defense Solutions, LLC, a military and government sales company based in Carlsbad, CA.
Somehow, we managed to raise two normal, healthy, strong and beautiful daughters despite all the damage we thought we had done to them. Both have mastered the fine art of juggling young adulthood better than Jeff or I ever did and they have both basically proven that the apple actually DOES fall far from the tree.
A self-proclaimed fitness nut, I dabble in all sorts of activities. I’m a hot yoga enthusiast, weight lifting junkie and aspiring bogey golfer. I love to drink in the morning, but only if it’s a double shot of espresso with a touch of cream.
Big on communication and openness, I’m an outspoken advocate for people knowing the difference between saying “I couldn’t care less” and “I could care less.”
I’ve deemed myself THE Expert Backyard Party Thrower and am pretty sure it’s the planning side of me that loves to host and entertain so much. Good health, good times, family and friends mean the world to me. I still meet at least monthly with my best friends that I met in my teens while growing up in Carlsbad, CA and no, none of us have changed much in 30+ years.
