LifeYield Process™ Fiduciary Financial Advisor
Grow your assets, pay less taxes and have more income over your Lifeftime.
LifeYield Process™ Fiduciary Financial Advisor
Grow your assets, pay less taxes and have more income over your Lifeftime.
About Us
Momentum Starts with You!
We get the ball rolling by understanding where you want to be in terms of your financial planning. What are your dreams and goals? What's important to you and your family?
You’re at the center of everything we do. And, the best way to plan for tomorrow is by getting to know you today.
A Proven Approach
Our Philosophy:
We have developed and refined a process primarily for those individuals who aspire for a work optional lifestyle in retirement. This means that ideally, we will design and implement a plan that minimizes taxes and maximizes income over a lifetime.
Our unique Momentum LifeYield Process™ and our Team Based approach is panoramic in that it incorporates the things that matter to clients lives and provides the control needed to address the primary factors that can impact a successful retirement. Through our process we seek to provide our clients with Clarity, Comfort and Confidence knowing their plan is solid.
Why Us?
We’re passionate about what we do. And, while our team is comprised of people with a wide range of financial, legal, and tax experience, we all share a deep commitment to ethics and integrity. You can always count on unbiased recommendations, impartial guidance, and our desire to serve your best interests.
We know how to create momentum for your financial goals, and we’ll do all we can to help you get there.
Our Team
Merrit Strunk CFF® - President
Darren Leavitt, CFA, MS, Portfolio Manager & Sr. Market Analyst, Foundations Investment Advisors
David Young, Chief Investment Officer
Merrit is an Investment Adviser and Certified Financial Fiduciary™ (CFF). He has been a business leader all his life and is the creator of the "Momentum LifeYield Process". He has also traveled around the world speaking on Business, Marketing, Financial and Personal Achievement. Merrit has always been passionate about financial planning.
Merrit is an Investment Adviser and Certified Financial Fiduciary™ (CFF). He has been a business leader all his life and is the creator of the "Momentum LifeYield Process". He has also traveled around the world speaking on Business, Marketing, Financial and Personal Achievement. Merrit has always been passionate about financial planning. This is precisely why he started Momentum. Merrit is proud to be a fiduciary financial adviser and the role he plays in helping his clients achieve better financial outcomes.
David Young, Chief Investment Officer
Darren Leavitt, CFA, MS, Portfolio Manager & Sr. Market Analyst, Foundations Investment Advisors
David Young, Chief Investment Officer
Strategic Partner - David Young has provided investment strategy, portfolio management, and asset allocation for many of the largest and most sophisticated institutional and private investors across the globe. David has served as the Executive Vice President of Pacific Investment Management Company (PIMCO) for fourteen years, retiring in
Strategic Partner - David Young has provided investment strategy, portfolio management, and asset allocation for many of the largest and most sophisticated institutional and private investors across the globe. David has served as the Executive Vice President of Pacific Investment Management Company (PIMCO) for fourteen years, retiring in 2008 to teach at the Paul Merage School of Business in Irvine, California. From 1999 to 2006, David also served as head of the PIMCO account management group in London, managing approximately $50 billion in assets.
David holds the chartered financial analyst (CFA) designation from the CFA Institute, an MBA with a concentration in finance from the Paul Merage School of Business, and degrees in economics and political science from the University of California, Irvine. He sits on several non-profit investment committees and boards, including the county-organized health system, CalOptima, serving residents of Orange County, California.
Darren Leavitt, CFA, MS, Portfolio Manager & Sr. Market Analyst, Foundations Investment Advisors
Darren Leavitt, CFA, MS, Portfolio Manager & Sr. Market Analyst, Foundations Investment Advisors
Darren Leavitt, CFA, MS, Portfolio Manager & Sr. Market Analyst, Foundations Investment Advisors
Darren has been working in the financial markets for over 20 years, primarily as a buy-side institutional investor. He has provided multiple investment solutions to clients utilizing his extensive knowledge of the public and private global markets. Darren has created growth-oriented equity portfolios, fundamental tactical asset allocation
Darren has been working in the financial markets for over 20 years, primarily as a buy-side institutional investor. He has provided multiple investment solutions to clients utilizing his extensive knowledge of the public and private global markets. Darren has created growth-oriented equity portfolios, fundamental tactical asset allocation models, passive asset allocation models, and developed quantitative strategy solutions for clients. Throughout his career, Darren had held a variety of senior positions including Chief Investment Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Portfolio Manager, Senior Analyst, Senior Trader, and Financial Advisor.
Darren received his BS in Finance from DePaul University and an MS in Financial Markets and Trading from the Illinois Institute of Technology. Darren is a CFA charter holder and is a member of the CFA Society of San Francisco. He has also been a member of both the San Francisco and Chicago Security Traders Associations.
Kathrin Strunk - Operations Manager
Kevin Vanderbilt, Sr. Investment Analyst
Darren Leavitt, CFA, MS, Portfolio Manager & Sr. Market Analyst, Foundations Investment Advisors
Kathrin brings her years of organizational expertise and charm to her duties as Operations Manager of Momentum Financial and Insurance Services. Kathrin is an integral part of making our clients feel welcomed and taken care of.
Kevin Vanderbilt, Sr. Investment Analyst
Kevin Vanderbilt, Sr. Investment Analyst
Kevin Vanderbilt, Sr. Investment Analyst
As an advanced investment consultant, Kevin Vanderbilt holds a certified investment management analyst (CIMA®) designation and serves senior investment and analyst.
Cameron Baxter, Investment Analyst
Kevin Vanderbilt, Sr. Investment Analyst
Kevin Vanderbilt, Sr. Investment Analyst
As an investment analyst, Cameron assists the portfolio managers, conducts investment and portfolio research and analysis. Cameron is an investment advisor representative (IAR), has passed his Series 65 exam, and is held to the fiduciary standard of liability.
Our Team Based Model
Gary Quackenbush JD - GQLaw
Craig Fortin EA, ATP- Fortin & Assoc.
Craig Fortin EA, ATP- Fortin & Assoc.
Gary is a San Diego attorney, member of the California and Colorado State Bar Associations and is the President of the California Society of Tax Consultants. He is admitted to practice in all courts in the State of California, Federal District Court for the Southern and Central Districts of California, all courts in the State of Colorado,
Gary is a San Diego attorney, member of the California and Colorado State Bar Associations and is the President of the California Society of Tax Consultants. He is admitted to practice in all courts in the State of California, Federal District Court for the Southern and Central Districts of California, all courts in the State of Colorado, Federal District Court for the District of Colorado, and the United States Tax Court.
Craig Fortin EA, ATP- Fortin & Assoc.
Craig Fortin EA, ATP- Fortin & Assoc.
Craig Fortin EA, ATP- Fortin & Assoc.
Craig has over 30 years experience in banking, insurance, tax and finance. He is an Enrolled Agent and is admitted to practice before the Internal Revenue Service. Craig’s many years of providing small business services makes him an invaluable resource for any practice. He has a keen understanding of capital needs and a wealth of experience in finding ways to help to grow and manage cash flow.
Our Partners
