Matt Miller, CFP®, ChSNC®
Wealth Counselor
I believe that we are all products of our stories, and each one of us has one. A harrowing, near-death mountain climbing accident in 2002, while approaching the summit of Mexico’s Pico de Orizaba (the third-highest peak in North America), led me to a lengthy recovery process and reimagining the new world I found myself in. This life-changing experience led to my commitment to helping and inspiring others.
It’s with that same level of commitment I bring to each day a love for every hour, an obsession with self-improvement, and a mandate to help others live happier and more impactful lives. My experience is that the better we understand ourselves, the easier we can make sense of others. I find great joy in helping my clients understand their financial situation, and their life stories. To me, being an effective wealth manager has a lot to do with the relationship itself. If you can understand people beyond their financial statements, realizing what keeps them up at night, as well as what’s important to them and their family and/or business, that’s half the battle.
I began my career in Phoenix as a young advisor working for my father’s firm, then Miller-Russell and Associates. After getting my CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (CFP®) designation a few years later, I was fortunate to land a job at Dimensional Fund Advisors (DFA), an investment firm located in Austin, TX. DFA takes independent academic research and applies it to the real investing world. As a vice president and regional director, I worked in a consultant-like role with many of the largest independent wealth management firms in the country. I was really at the right place at the right time.
While in Austin, I also went back to school to get my MBA at the University of Texas McCombs School of Business. In 2021, I received the Chartered Special Needs Consultant (ChSNC®) designation. The certification program is designed for experienced financial advisors to help parents and caregivers of those with special needs or disabilities plan for care, and guide families through complex financial decisions and benefits systems.
After eight amazing years of being an advisor to wealth management firms, I moved back home to Phoenix in 2015 and haven’t looked back since. I am now a board member for the Financial Planning Association of Greater Phoenix and for K2 Adventure Foundation, which focuses on helping those with disabilities get back up. I love being home again, and I love being at Versant Capital Management.
As a well-traveled public speaker, I share the trials and rewards that came from my mountain climbing accident to help inspire others (klaritylifestylecompany.com). Today, I am an avid outdoorsman who enjoys fly fishing, distance running, mountain climbing, and blogging about my adventures.
