It's an honor to serve.
Our
Why
Our
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Our
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OUR TEAM
Allow us to introduce ourselves.
Thimbleberry Financial has a growing team of specialists who are dedicated to the financial management needs of our clients. When you partner with us, you work with the same small group of professionals who are well-versed in your profession. This pod will be your go-to finance pros whenever you need us!
Amy Groshong Walls
CFP®, RICP®, CRPC® | President and Financial Advisor
She/Her
Here’s the quick rundown: I have been a financial advisor since 2003. I am a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PRACTITIONER™ and have additional specialized credentials in retirement income planning. I am a 3rd generation financial advisor and see my role with clients as being about education.
WANT TO KNOW A LITTLE MORE? KEEP READING...
As a young child, I used to join my father, who was also a financial advisor, when he met with some of his clients at their homes. One of my earliest memories of visiting my dad's clients with him is enjoying the cookies they made, just for me!
I also enjoyed the dogs that sometimes became our family pets when these clients moved out of their homes and couldn’t take their dogs with them. I still love dogs and cookies, but I know that the special part of those visits was about so much more. Even at that young age, I understood that being a financial advisor was about the relationship between the clients and advisor.
My father died when I was six years old. My mother generously saved his life insurance to pay for college for my brother and I, but this decision made things pretty tight when I was growing up.
After graduating high school and before attending college, I served as a Rotary exchange student in Belgium. I came back to Oregon and attended the University of Oregon, where I earned a double major in sociology and planning, public policy & management. I spent several years working in non-profit development before deciding I had a different calling.
In 2003, I made the decision to switch fields and become a financial advisor. I believe educating clients about their choices and how each will help them reach their financial goals is my gift! I understand that the world of planning and investments is complex. Most people have enough complexity in their lives and would like their financial lives simplified. Given my life experiences, I also understand that life doesn’t always follow the path we intend, so it's especially important that a financial plan protects against the unexpected and remains flexible to account for the changes in a person’s life.
I founded Thimbleberry Financial with the idea that people’s money and financial goals are personal. I believe that clients should only ever need to interact with a small handful of trusted and knowledgeable individuals as they navigate their finances.
I enjoy spending time with my husband, Mark, daughter, Lucy (born 2008), son, Oliver (born 2016), and our two dogs, Annabelle (a chocolate lab) and Lyla (an Australian Cattle dog/Australian Shepard mix). I enjoy being active and being in the outdoors. Away from work, you can find me skiing in the winter, and enjoying the coast or one of the many nearby lakes in the summer.
Sara Bundy
Chief of Staff
She/Her
I bring a wealth of experience from my previous role as an Operations Manager at a logistics company to my current position at Thimbleberry Financial. My expertise in streamlining processes and implementing efficient procedures has been invaluable in helping improve operations here. I’m passionate about organization, which is reflected in my love for creating lists — a habit that keeps me focused on ensuring smooth operations and client satisfaction.
When I’m not at my desk, I love spending time on family adventures and game nights with my partner, our three kids, and two pups. I’m also a big fan of meticulously organizing my space, enjoying coffee, spontaneous kitchen dance parties, discovering new places, and indulging in my ever-growing houseplant collection.
Christy Rowe
Operations Paraplanner
She/Her
I’m a dedicated problem-solver with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Financial Services and Planning and Real Estate from Baylor University. With over 15 years of experience in financial services, I’ve developed a strong eye for detail and a passion for helping clients navigate complex financial matters.
Outside of work, I cherish weekends with my loved ones—my children Elizabeth, Victoria, and Stephen (born in 2016, 2018, and 2022), and my supportive husband, Jason. We love spending quality time together, often with our dog, Junior, who has been known to make surprise appearances in virtual meetings!
OUR WORD
Here's what we promise.
Integrity you can rely on.
We adhere to strict industry standards and maintain a strong personal moral ethic for ourselves, so you can count on our integrity. We promise to be honest and straightforward. We work independently, and we will make recommendations based on your best interests as our client.
Strong relationships.
We are committed to our clients and team members both as individuals and as vital, long-term partners here. We recognize the importance of friendships based on mutual trust, so before we take on a client, we always ask ourselves: Would I want to invite them for a meal in our home? (We hope you'll ask yourself the same about us!)
Promises kept.
We take our commitments seriously, work hard to meet deadlines, and communicate any issues to you promptly. We will offer solutions for roadblocks, and if we are unable to meet a commitment, we will propose a workable alternative.
A simple approach.
Finances can be complex, but we will strive for simplicity by keeping our actions and processes direct, honest, and easy to understand. We promise to keep you well-informed and comfortable with any action we propose. We will answer any questions you have before moving forward.
Respect of your time.
During meetings and phone conversations with you, we promise to have our goal in mind and to be respectful of your time. We will be prepared, focused, and organized. We will give our full attention to the matter at hand and maintain professional courtesy.
Decisive action.
Financial decisions often need decisive action, so once we have a good picture of your financial goals, we'll ask for your confidence to call the shots! We take responsibility for managing your finances, and that may mean we will be making quick decisions about financial moves.
You should also know…
We are fiduciaries. Expand to see why that matters to you.
What is an investment fiduciary?
There has been quite a bit of attention given in the last couple of years to the investment fiduciary standard. This has been confusing for consumers and many financial professionals, and there is still no clear answer on how the fiduciary standard will shake out. What we can tell you is that an investment fiduciary is a financial professional who is legally bound to act in the best interest of their clients. The challenge is that, unfortunately, there have been people who have not acted in their clients’ best interests. It’s also not always transparent which financial professionals act as fiduciaries.
Despite all the upheaval, the regulatory changes around the fiduciary standard have little impact on our clients and their accounts. At Thimbleberry Financial, we act as fiduciaries, making decisions in our clients’ best interests. We work together to develop a financial plan to meet your goals, whether the goal is to purchase a new home, fund college for children or grandchildren, retire, or fund other life events.
The background for investment fiduciary rule:
In 2016 the Department of Labor (DOL) questioned the definition of investment fiduciary, redefined it, and potentially changed the industry for advisors and their clients. Fast forward to early 2018, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit ruled that the department had overstepped its statutory boundaries. While we don’t know the ultimate outcome of what this means for the industry and individual investors, there is much speculation that the SEC is the governing body better positioned to implement a fiduciary standard in the industry and that they are likely to do so in a more comprehensive manner than the DOL.
What does all of this mean for you as a consumer?
The fiduciary standard means that, as consumers, you should have a greater awareness and understanding of what your financial advisor is doing on your behalf. If you don’t have a clear explanation, ask questions, and if you don’t like the answer, it may be time to find a different financial advisor.
If you’re unsure if your financial advisor is following the fiduciary standard, request to see their ADV Form that has been filed with the SEC.
If you have questions about the investment fiduciary standard and how it applies to your accounts or simply want a second opinion, please contact us. We’re happy to help.
We have a relationship with Cambridge Investment Research.
Thimbleberry Financial is an independent financial firm under my (Amy) direction. We strive to provide objective advice to clients and wealth management strategies. We put the unique pieces of your financial puzzle together whether that is saving for college education, creating income in retirement, determining the best strategy for restricted stock units (RSUs), or figuring out how to achieve financial independence. I am an independent business owner and not an employee of an investment or financial services firm.
As an independent advisor, I choose the Broker/Dealer (B/D) and Registered Investment Advisory (RIA) firm with whom I partner. A B/D and RIA play two roles: the first is to ensure we are following all the rules of the SEC and FINRA, the industry regulatory agencies, and the second is to act as an intermediary between investment companies and us so that we can obtain the right investment options for clients.
We are proud to align with Cambridge Investment Research because of their commitment to core values of integrity, commitment, flexibility, and kindness, which are similar to our own. Cambridge is an independent, privately controlled firm, meaning they do not own or manage any investment, insurance, or banking products.
About Cambridge Investment Research
Since 1981, the Fairfield, Iowa based Cambridge Investment Research* has partnered with financial advisors, and today, they’re working with more than 3,000 advisors in all 50 states**. They are a 10-time honoree in the Broker-Dealer of the Year annual poll by Investment Advisor Magazine and have earned a score of 9 out of 10 from advisors based on the Cambridge Annual Advisor Satisfaction Survey for the last 19 years. Their purpose is to make a difference in the lives of their financial advisors.
At Thimbleberry Financial, we are dedicated to putting the unique pieces of your financial puzzle together to help you reach your goals. With the support of Cambridge, we deliver quality products and service to our clients.
*Cambridge and its predecessor firm
**As of December 31, 2017
Investment Advisor Magazine, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2010, 2008, 2007, Division IV; 2003, Division III. A broker-dealer becomes eligible for this honor only after a minimum of 10% of its producing rep-advisors cast valid ballots. The ballots rate the broker-dealer in 15 different categories defined by Investment Advisor Magazine as relevant challenges and concerns. Broker-dealers receiving the highest marks in each of four are declared Broker-Dealer of the Year. Results are based on experiences and perceptions of participants surveyed in June of each of the years listed. Experience may vary. This recognition is not representative of investment performance or returns of rep/advisors. Visit advisorone.com.
Reproduced with permission by Cambridge Investment Research, Inc. for specific use by Thimbleberry Financial.
