Money is about more than math, it’s emotional. 

If all your financial questions could be solved within the rows of a spreadsheet, my expertise as a financial planner wouldn’t exist. 

But fair warning… 

I do financial planning differently. 😉

I believe you can… 

Make responsible financial decisions for tomorrow, without ignoring what your soul needs today. Save and invest wisely, while simultaneously planning for a trip abroad. Practice mindful spending and map out a responsible plan to purchase your lifelong dream car or home.

Yes, I’ll make sure your retirement accounts are stacked. I’ll burn the midnight oil to diligently lower your taxes. Together, we’ll protect your family and finances no matter what the future (or market) holds. 

But I’ll also challenge you to dream. 

To use your hard-earned money in creative and courageous ways that will make your future self proud. If life gets turbulent, I’ll help you identify ways to buy back your time so you can take better care of yourself until the dust settles.

All of a sudden, money sounds a lot more enjoyable, doesn’t it?  

Are you ready to let go of the stress around your finances? Do you want to navigate important financial decisions with thoughtfulness, intentionality, and personal integrity? 

Great! 

Because that’s what I do. 💁‍♀️

I’m obsessed with helping high-achieving professionals live fully now while planning responsibly for the future. 

Here’s what I want you to do next… 👇🏻

Shoot me a quick DM with an answer to this question: 

“If tomorrow you had unlimited funds in your bank account, what is one of the first items you would love to check off your bucket list?” 

I look forward to hearing your answer. 

Here’s to bringing the heart, soul, and excitement back to your finances. ❤️

- Emily 

Find Me Online
💻  Website: https://archerim.com 
📞  Schedule a call: https://archerim.com/book-a-meeting

4 years ago, I took a leap of faith ✨ 

I looked into these blue eyes and knew I had to make a huge shift with my career. 

Changing firms and “starting over” is a big deal in our industry. 

But here’s what I learned:

What I feared would be a step back or side step was a leap toward something much better…

→ Fewer clients, but deeper relationships
→ More time and energy for the people I serve
→ A firm built around the right technology, the right support team, and a very clear picture of who we serve best

I chose work-life harmony.
I chose mental health.
I chose doing right by my family and my clients.

And here’s what I believe in my soul: 

When you make decisions rooted in values, things just… tend to work out. Call it the universe, timing, God, alignment… whatever you believe in.

That choice is why I’m so passionate about helping busy tech executives fight for work-life harmony today, while their kids are young. 

Not just a financial plan, but a life plan:
→ One that supports physical health
→ Mental well-being
→ Career sustainability
→ Personal growth and happiness

I’ve lived the shift from busy professional to balanced professional.

Growth doesn’t happen by accident - it happens when you’re in the right environment, with the right support, and enough space to breathe

I’m unbelievably happy with where I landed.
And I love helping my clients build lives (and careers) that feel just as aligned.

#worklifebalance #financialplanning #harmony

Emily Casey Rassam CFP®, CDAA, AIFA®, CRPS®, NSSA

People-focused financial planner who deeply cares about her clients and their success in achieving life goals.

Forbes Top Woman Advisor | Investopedia Top 100 Advisor and Advisor Council | Speaker | Author | Wife | Mom of Two

You know how Derrick Kinney has to skip a meal each time a financial advisor introduces himself as a financial advisor?  

We finally starved him. RIP

All kidding aside, people have negative feelings about the term ‘financial advisor’.

What comes up for you when you hear that profession? 

I’ve seen people immediately put up their guard and start to back away. 

Every advisor attending #estatecon is different… we are empathetic, with high emotional intelligence, looking to expand our knowledge so we better serve the clients we love. 

Today, Derrick gave us communication skills to better introduce ourselves. 

Here’s my draft:

“Emily, what do you do for a living”

“You know how busy tech professionals earn a solid income, but quietly worry about what happens if their stock drops or job disappears? We help fix that” 

Wealth.com we ❤️ Derrick - MainStage next year!! Not enough people saw him present today

“I’m 47 years old, I can’t rent an apartment” 
-A relocating tech exec client 

Yes, you can.

Renting is not a failure, it’s a strategic move that has real benefits and a place in your housing trajectory. 

My path? 

🪴Bought a house 
🪴Rented an apartment, rented out 1st house
🪴Bought a house 
🪴Rented a house (relocation) sold both NY houses 
🪴Bought a house in Charlotte, then sold 
🪴Bought a house in Matthews (close to fam) 
🪴Bought a house in Weddington (school decision) 

After buying my 1st house, I didn’t consistently stay a home owner. I rented twice in that path, both for strategic reasons. 

🔥No home maintenance 
🔥More flexibility 
🔥Lower switching costs 

I also sold my house with a 2.87% interest rate and bought a house with a (gasp) 6.25% interest rate. 

Your primary residence is a lifestyle decision driven by factors, such as: 

📍Getting to know an area 
📍Staying flexible for job changes
📍Moving close to family, community, school or cultural attractions

That’s why purely math-based financial planning will never win. I believe in people focused planning that takes the whole human, their needs, their comfort, and their goals into the decision. It’s a balance. 

My path wasn’t the “right one”, nor was it the most financially beneficial one. But I’m glad I broke some ‘rules’  💜

Did anyone else’s budgeting app absolutely ROAST them in the annual recap? 

“You don’t go to Target for one thing… you go for the experience” 
-Monarch  

#budgeting #financialplanning

👏🏻 it’s a wrap 

#EstateCon was fantastic! I’ll be back next year 

Although…

Now that Wealth.com is rolling out tax planning, what will it be called? 

TaxCon…. Just… doesn’t work the same way.

Any ideas? 

The speakers were fantastic and Wealth met everyone where they’re at:

🌵101 level help for newbies
🌵301 level help for seasoned pros 
🌵Marketing and communication 
🌵Real-world advisor stories and implementation ideas 
🌵Personal growth and inspiration
🌵Exciting product launches 
🌵Fireside chats 

Any advisor looking to increase value to clients needs to seriously consider this conference in 2027. 

Tax and Estate planning knowledge are essential to all advisors serving clients in a comprehensive way, it was refreshing to attend a conf focused on these topics. 

__

Next up: Futureproof Citywide in Miami in March 

Advisor friends - which conferences are you attending this year?

💪🏻Pumped for day 2 of EstateCon
Wealth really opened up with a bang yesterday 💥 

I love stepping away from my office several times per year to grow my brain 🧠 

Sure, I can read books at home or watch presentations, but conferences offer the full immersion. I’m surrounded by world class presenters and 300 advisors who seek to actively level up their estate planning knowledge and services. 

My key takeaways from yesterday: 

1. Wealth.com produced and incredible heart tugging video about the impact advisors have on our clients’ legacies. It struck me how impactful it is to help someone work through their legacy and improve family relationships. We have the power to help avoid conflicts, confusion, loss of access to assets, and reduction of time and taxes. 

2. Tim White grinned on stage like a proud groom at his wedding while delivering helpful, funny, brief opening remarks with the queen Anne Rhodes. They set the stage for the days to come and teased out some big announcements they’ll make today!

3. Michael Kitces rocked our brains with real, specific, implementable asset location framework. I love how the kitces team takes each problem apart, tests outcomes, and challenges old assumptions. I always picture a big metaphorical science lab where the team objectively seeks real answers. 

4. Admiral William H McCraven captivated us with his story and life lessons. 

➡️Discipline creates momentum - make your bed 
➡️Work as a team, you can’t succeed alone 
➡️Success and toughness isn’t about your size, it’s about your heart and grit 
➡️Life isn’t fair, accept it and keep moving forward anyways 
➡️Keep hope alive 
➡️Be a good human - always make decisions that are ethical, legal, and right 

It was a masterclass in public speaking.

Let’s go, day 2! 

If you’re here, catch me on a panel at 4:15pm 
Inside the Playbook: How Power Users Build, Scale, and Grow with wealth.com 

__

Fill in the blank: “if this cactus can grow out of the rock, I can probably ____________”

#estatecon #estateplanning #financialplanning

📺10 years ago, I had my first brush with 'fame'

I wrote a private post inside a dog rescue's facebook page, thanking them for rescuing Cooper, my sweet dog. I wanted to share the news that his adoption led to meeting my now-husband at the local dog park.

This post was shared widely and caught the attention of a local TV channel, which filmed a segment for the news, and I went live on the local radio for interviews. 

With all of the crazy headlines in the news, it was fun to be part of a good story.

🗞️Let's do it again today - does anyone have good news, fun news, or dog-related news for this cold Friday?

Cooper is now 15 years old. We both look older and move a little slower than we did back then. It's crazy to think how 'big' the local news felt at the time, and how many national venues I've been on since

xo

If I worked at a large firm, they’d probably fire me...

My plan delivery meetings keep getting longer and longer. I'm not an efficient employee.

Why? 

Because when you uncover opportunities that add immediate and massive value, how do you cut that short? 

I can't. Perfection can’t be rushed. 💅

Plan delivery meetings used to be 60 minutes. Then I bumped them to 90. This week? We hit 90 and had to book a second meeting to finish the recommendations. 

Sorry, not sorry.

Every minute was worth it.

This single mom, powerhouse tech exec had so many impactful tweaks we could make. 

Here’s a glimpse of what we accomplished just in one meeting:

✅ Insurance Optimization
→Cancelled unnecessary, expensive life insurance policies
→Recommended increased disability insurance
→Increased auto and homeowners deductibles
→Boosted liability coverages where needed
→Found extra (free!) benefits through work she wasn't using
Net annual savings: $1,500+

✅ Cash Optimization
→Consolidated 11 scattered accounts
→Shifted excess cash into high-yield savings/money market
Extra interest earned annually: $2,000

✅ Tax-Advantaged Accounts
→Maxed out HSAs (previously only funding annual spend) → $2,000 tax savings
→Added a DCFSA for summer camps → $2,500 tax savings

✅ Retirement Strategy
→Switched from Roth to pre-tax contributions at top tax bracket → $8K–$9K deferred taxes
→Rolled IRA into 401(k) for backdoor Roth contributions → future tax savings

✅ Advisor Cost Savings
→Moved from a high-cost advisor who ignored planning → $5,000 annual savings
Plus all the benefits of tax-efficient investing +++++++

✅ Credit Card Optimization
→Closed unused cards
→Shifted her spending to cards that maximize travel points
Likely outcome: A free weekend trip each year!

✅ Estate Planning
→Updating estate planning documents
→Adding missing beneficiaries
→Creating a process to document and communicate doc location, passwords, and other important info

✅Tax Withholding Adjustment
→Ran tax projection in Holistiplan to help adjust tax withholdings
Likely outcome: Avoid/Reduce underpayment penalties next year

✅ Behavioral Finance Wins
→Lower stress and more clarity
→Confidence in her financial future
→Organization of financial data
→Relief that she had a thinking partner for future decisions

I can’t wait to deliver her retirement plan showing retirement two years earlier than expected, plus all the fun goals we’ve peppered in:

→Upcoming travel
→Hobby budgets
→Budget for health and beauty optimization
→An upgraded vehicle
→A giving strategy for her kiddos later on

This is why I’ll never rush a plan delivery. 

When you take the time to dig deep, you uncover opportunities that change lives. And that’s worth every extra minute.

Which rec do you think was the most valuable?

“Doing everything right” can still leave you exposed…

A tech exec came to me for a second look. He was proud he had “done everything right”:

✅ Maxed out his 401(k)
✅ Maxed out ESPP contributions
✅ Used his HSA
✅ Received and retained significant RSUs
✅ Created estate planning documents

On paper, it looked great. But here’s what he missed... and what we fixed:

1. Mega Back-Door Roth contributions

We signed him up TODAY to save another $40k annually in Roth 401(k) dollars. He's going to amass a solid Roth balance to use Tax Free in the future.

2. Back-Door Roth IRA for his partner

Adding $7k for 2025 and $7,500 for 2026, immediately converting to Roth. More tax-free growth and accumulation. 

3. Maxing out HSA

He contributed $1,500/year and spent it. We flipped the script: starting in 2026, he’ll max out his HSA and accumulate it long-term for future healthcare costs.

4. Consistent taxable brokerage savings

“Save whatever’s left” worked okay, but we wanted to prioritize and solidify regular saving. We set up a $3k monthly pull into a diversified portfolio.

5. Idle cash

He had $70k sitting stagnant in checking. We dropped it to $20k for liquidity and moved $50k to a money market earning 3.5%. Still accessible, but now working for him, adding $1-2k in annual interest.

6. Diversifying RSUs

He had $4M in company stock and felt frozen: “What if it keeps going up?"
But... "what if it tanks?”
We built a multi-year diversification plan to reduce risk, spread out taxes, and keep enough stock to avoid FOMO.

Beyond the numbers, we did some dreaming...

🏡 Upsizing his home
✈️ Traveling more
🎨 Investing in neglected hobbies

Suddenly, these felt more accessible after unlocking some of his RSUs.

We tuned up insurance policies, updated beneficiaries, and started a tax strategy that could save six figures (maybe seven) over time.

Of all the wins, I’m most excited about his hobby budget. Because money should fuel joy, not just sit in accounts.

If you could add more to your hobby budget, what would you do more of?

__

I love attending random Skillpop classes here in Charlotte with my mother-in-law. Our recent class was on watercolor bookmarks.

Any advisor can put "tax strategies" on a brochure
But I KNOW 21-year-old Emily, pictured below, didn't know $hit about tax strategies.  

I do now.

How do we differentiate ourselves in a world where anyone can put tax planning strategies on a website or brochure?

Advisor friends - join me TODAY, in 1 hour, for a Holistiplan webinar

Differentiating Yourself In Discovery Meetings
2:00pm ET

You'll walk away with...
💡Practical strategies to strengthen discovery conversations
💡Ways to qualify leads and find mutual fit - focusing on the right connections
💡Techniques to discuss and show value early to boost engagement rates

Register here: https://hubs.la/Q03_jdwc0 

See you soon!!

“They’re too young to remember travel” 

But I will 

And memory isn’t the only ROI. 

I believe in creating wonder, sharing experiences, and shaping my kiddos into curious, empathetic, and adaptable humans 

Their brains are growing and we’ll build on these experiences.

They’re worth it 

How did your travel change after having kids? 

My tech exec clients are much more willing to spend money on conveniences. They don’t overdo it. 

And they hire travel planners like Emily Miller to reduce friction, handle travel hiccups, and dial in on the highest impact activities.  

It’s chaotic, but magical.

When she’s older, I’ll show Nora this picture and tell her the story about our trip. Including how her giggles at takeoff made everyone around us laugh.

“That’s where the millionaires live” 
-My client with $2M 

I see this wealth dissociation at least once per week. 

They can HAVE $2M and not BE millionaires in their minds. 

Can anyone explain the difference?

This industry is shifting. We're no longer valued for math skills, we're here to create a real connection with our clients.

If you want to grow as an advisor... start by upgrading your empathy and connecting skills

In the High Performance Financial Advisor podcast, I share advice I'd give any advisor about how to use tech to handle the mathy part of the job and to work on the peopley aspect. 

Great use of 34 minutes today! Tony is a great interviewer and asked several questions I've never been asked, nor answered on a podcast before.

Give it a listen, and let me know what you think -

I help RIAs and Family Offices hire Financial Advisors who stay and produce | Former FA turned Recruiter | Radium Search Founder Host of the High Performance Financial Advisor podcast

What does success really look like in financial advising?

In the latest episode of the High Performance Financial Advisor Podcast, Emily Rassam, CFP® Heart-Centered Financial Planning for Tech Execs shares a powerful perspective on redefining success-one rooted in client milestones, emotional connection, and meaningful life experiences.

From helping a lifelong saver finally embrace travel, to measuring achievement through client happiness rather than awards, Emily reminds us that the most impactful moments in our careers often don’t come with plaques on the wall.

Click the link in the comments to listen/watch the full podcast episode.

#FinancialAdvisor #FinancialAdvisorPodcast #HPFA #RadiumSearch #FinancialAdvisors

📢It's NOT junk!

I almost missed this announcement because my inbox thought it was spam... but this is BIG news: Wealth.com is offering deed prep! 

I'm v v v v interested in this information. This step is often missed because clients run out of steam after signing the docs. 

Wealth continues to crush it when it comes to reducing friction in estate planning:

✅Getting advisors involved in the process
✅Super-simple document creation interface
✅Beautiful visuals and client education 
✅Clear FAQs that make the process approachable

And now, more on the implementation support -

They've already partnered with a mobile notary service (no more excuses there!), plus a brand new deed transfer service.

I love adopting technology that actively solves our clients' largest hurdles. These guys and gals are working hard.

Can't wait to go hang out with my wealth.com friends next week at EstateCon, where I'll be speaking at a breakout session.

See you there?

#estateplanning #financialplanning #estatecon2026

🕵️ We’re still searching, but I may need to file an insurance claim for my missing ring 😢

My tip of the day? Don’t hand your ring to your 2-year-old. They have a way of disappearing things. I should have already known this lesson. 

But my engagement ring, is simply gone. 

I’m even checking diapers.

But what if I can’t find it? 

We have insurance for this. 

Do you? 

A typical homeowners insurance policy doesn’t cover valuables, collectibles, and items valued above set caps.

We added a jewelry endorsement to our homeowners policy, extra coverage that kicks in to try to replace the irreplaceable.

Please check your policies, do they cover valuable jewelry? Watches? Collections? Art? Instruments? 

I’m still hopeful and not ready to call my insurance company yet…. 

Does anyone in Tucson own a metal detector? 😅

It was great to catch up with Marla Sofer of Knomee on the Knowing Me, Knowing You podcast

We discuss how I ventured into the world of Behavioral Finance and how we use technology to leverage our time and deepen relationships. 

You can listen here:
https://lnkd.in/erisz56C

The number one question I receive during Holistiplan webinars?

➡️"Is this going to be recorded?"

✅YES!

The YouTube Channel for Holisitplan is a treasure trove of short how-to videos and webinar replays. 

The next most popular theme is...

How do we actually... do this work?

Most advisors understand the benefits of tax planning and the technical rules, but my webinars serve as a how-to.

➡️How to communicate with clients and CPAs
➡️How to get organized
➡️How to divide responsibilites
➡️How to use technology to create streamlined processes and the heavy lifting
➡️How to show your clients the MASSIVE VALUE of tax planning

Below you'll find my most recent webinar linked: Differentiating Yourself in Discovery Meetings.

What else would you like to see presented this year?

https://lnkd.in/eY44FzeP

I’m excited for tomorrow! We are focusing on the conversational skills and how to differentiate your practice to prospective clients. 

Can’t wait! Registration link is below

Differentiating Yourself in Discovery Meetings: What to ask, what to listen for, and how tax conversations build trust

Join us TOMORROW, January 20th at 2 PM ET for a live session with Emily Rassam, CFP® Heart-Centered Financial Planning for Tech Execs, where she’ll share how she creates stronger first meetings by introducing tax planning in a way that feels clear, natural, and immediately valuable to clients.

You’ll walk away with:
• The questions that surface real priorities fast
• The client cues worth listening for early
• A simple visual approach that helps prospects “get it” sooner

Don’t miss out: https://hubs.la/Q03_jdwc0

❄️2 phone calls you need to make on this snow day

1. Account consolidation/retitling

It's time to roll over your old 401k
Or consolidate your brokerage accounts
If you have multiple accounts open, it's time to simplify your life

2. Negotiate down cell phone/internet bills

Each year, I call my cell phone and internet providers to search for cost reductions. Last time I did this? I saved $780 for the year!

📉Saved $25/mo on internet bill 
📉Saved $40/mo on cell phone bill 

I could add more... but this sounds plenty to accomplish!

Let me know how you do -

Here’s why blanket advice doesn’t work.

“Should I use mascara?” 

I need more info… 

How old are you? 
🔍 Are you… 2 years old?? Or 40? 

What are you doing? 
🔍Are you… going out on the town, or going to sleep? 

What are your current eyelashes like? 

What is your preferred style? 

I could go on… 

Context always matters.

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