Our Team of Wealth Advisors

Chad learned an invaluable lesson at a young age in a very hard way. “My father died of Leukemia when he was 30 years old, so my mom was left to raise my brother and I—and my father had done no planning.” Chad responded to tragedy by building a life centered around helping others create plans that not only bring security in the event of the worst but also plans that build a foundation for a life of prosperity. “Life constantly changes. I’ve seen several clients experience different priorities throughout their journey,” he says. “Seeing clients in a position surrounded with unknowns and then being able to bring certainty and clarity, to be there to help them through their life’s journey, brings me great joy.”

As a founding member of 5280 Associates and with a career in the financial services industry dating back to 2003, Chad’s leadership and experience have been instrumental in making 5280 Associates the type of company it is today. “My entire business has been built on relationships,” Chad says. “Simply put, I care. When someone chooses to work with me, I will give them everything I have.”

Chad says his life revolves around his son, Kingston, spending time with him, attending his sporting events, and just “being a dad.”

Chad is insurance licensed in the following states: AZ, CO, CT, FL, IL, KS, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NV, OH, OK, PA, TN, TX, VA, WA, and WY.

When Scott was in the sixth grade, his dad gave him a book about the stock market. He turned around and bought stock in Qwest, which promptly went bankrupt. Having learned an important lesson about diversification, he went on to become a Senior Wealth Advisor. He now works with clients to create and implement financial plans that help them fulfill their goals: “Seeing someone retire with an income plan that will fund a joyful retirement for the rest of their lives is something pretty special,” he says.

Scott’s coworkers call him a “true leader” and admire his ability to think through problems methodically and his commitment to transparency. He is responsible for guiding 5280’s marketing strategy and monitoring and improving the company’s internal systems and processes. He also played a pivotal role in the company’s shift away from a sales-based business toward a model that provides ongoing service and advice for a predetermined, flat fee. “This helps our advisors become true advocates for our clients,” he says. “People don’t want to be sold a product: They want to know what to do overall in their entire financial life. No plan is the same, and they all are changing all the time”

Scott pursued a career in professional golf before coming to 5280 Associates in 2011. He and his wife, Jenna, have three children, Wyatt, Weston and Lilly. Scott still plays golf and also enjoys skiing, camping, working out, craft beer, and his cheering on the Broncos.

Scott is insurance licensed in the following states: AR, CO, DC, FL, MD, NE, and OR. AR Insurance License #16639386

Nate's journey into finance began at the age of 17 when he had his first meeting with a stockbroker. This pivotal moment ignited his passion for becoming a financial advisor, driven by a commitment to empower others in making sound financial decisions. Nate pursued this aspiration diligently, earning a finance degree from the College of Business Administration at Kansas State University, before finding his professional home at 5280 Associates.

As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, Nate embodies the essence of being a fiduciary and is passionate about simplifying complex financial decisions. Beyond traditional financial planning, his strength lies in his ability to build genuine connections with people. He believes in making meetings more meaningful by delving deeper than just financial matters, taking the time to understand individuals, their aspirations, and where they envision themselves in the future.

Beyond work, Nate’s cherishes time with his wife, Rachel and raising their son, Crew. When not outside running, you can find Nate and his family on a mountain or river somewhere in Colorado, enjoying all the wonderful activities the state has to offer.

Nate is insurance licensed in the following states: CA, CO, CT, GA, NM, and NV. CA Insurance License #4056232.

Ted assists all the financial representatives at 5280 Associates, writing and presenting financial plans, doing research, and managing the practice’s advisor investment software. His deep financial background notwithstanding, including more than two decades in accounting, Ted values simplicity—using tools that convey information in a straightforward, understandable way. In addition to simply number crunching, the reports Ted prepares demonstrate to clients the financial state they are currently in, the lifestyle they’d like to enjoy in retirement, and steps they can take to get there.

His coworkers marvel at his approach toward his job (which they describe as “relentless”) and his ability to bring calmness and positivity wherever he is. “There are countless ways to help individuals meet their goals,” he says. “I enjoy finding the best way for each person to do so.”

Ted is married with three children. In addition to standard Colorado outdoor pursuits, Ted also enjoys diving.

Ted is insurance licensed in the following states: CO.

Beth has made a life filled with such a large cast of people, array of settings, and variety of experiences that her resume reads more like a good novel than a list of jobs: Teaching English in Taiwan, coordinating education and outreach for Oregon’s Department of Environmental Quality, running a student exchange program in Idaho, teaching free community yoga classes, leading her church’s youth group and even operating a unique family business on the side — puppeteering.

She draws from those rich life experiences as Senior Officer, Operations finding new and efficient ways to enhance business operations, deliver a white-glove level of service and challenge the status quo.

Beth spends her “wonderful, crazy life” with her husband, Dave, and two teen sons. Together, they hike, go to the beach “as frequently as possible!” and spend Sundays with their church family.

Ann keeps several 5280 plates spinning in the air, including heading up our Estate Planning Program, as well as managing our HR/Administrative department. She is known in the office for her warmth, strength, and for being a great conversationalist; skills she puts to good use as she interacts with our 5280 clients.

Before joining the team, Ann was the executive assistant to the owner and CEO of a major fashion marketing company in Times Square. She also discovered a passion for personal finance while in New York City after a mentor taught her the value of budgeting. "It's exciting and fun to make your money work the way you want it to," she says. "Setting financial goals, creating a plan to attain those goals, and seeing yourself hit them is an incredible feeling!"

Ann moved to Denver in 2016 to be near her now-husband, David, and soon after put her many talents to use at 5280 Associates. David and Ann are the proud parents of Grace and Caleb. Outside of work, Ann's time is filled to the brim with keeping her kids fed, healthy, clean, and entertained. Occasionally she finds some spare moments to read a book, keep in touch with friends and family across the country, and volunteer at her church. Ann and David love working together to create their family's budget, and dream about creating a lasting financial legacy for their kids, teaching them by example to live with great generosity!

Having worked for wealth management firms in the past, Marnie is happy to be a part of 5280 Associates as Office Manager. You a can be sure that at every office visit and on every phone call, you will be greeted with a warm smile and chuckle from Marnie.

Marnie’s previous roles in retail and administration have provided her with amazing experience in customer service that she clearly has taken with her into her position at 5280. She is a team player who is always looking for a chance to help both our clients and her colleagues.

Marnie is a Colorado native and enjoys music, taking walks, and cooking.

After 14 years in the oil and gas industry, Scott rekindled his enjoyment for finance after earning his Master’s Degree in Finance from Colorado State University. Having done financial planning early in his career, Scott has a true passion for assisting others in their personal finance journey.

Scott is responsible for meeting the service requests of our clients. Scott’s determined, yet calm demeanor ensures that a white-glove client experience is brought to our clients as these requests are met. His desire to learn and friendly personality make him a great fit in the 5280 Team.

Scott’s life outside of work is certainly eventful with his wife, Elizabeth, and their three children, Mason, Gianna, and Jonah. He has fun coaching Mason’s baseball team and enjoys Colorado’s great outdoors. In their free time, the Freas family can be found hiking, fishing, and exploring the surrounding National Parks.

Scott is insurance licensed in the following states: AR, CO, DC, FL, MD, NE, and OR. AR Insurance License #16639386.

Lee’s passion for education around personal finance led him straight to an opening in our service department. We are so glad it did! He is now responsible for supporting our service team in client task execution, specifically related to new accounts.

Lee hails from a “military family” and moved 10 times before college! After all those relocations, he always had a dream to live near the mountains and chose his college experience accordingly. Lee is a proud graduate of CU Boulder, with a double major in personal finance and real estate.  He loves the Colorado vibe – and fits in perfectly as an avid snowboarder and a general lover of the outdoors.  When not outside, you might find him playing a video game or two.

Lee’s experience with meeting new people and encountering new circumstances makes him the perfect person to tackle many different tasks and work with different clients daily. Clients will truly enjoy working with Lee and his calm, kind, enthusiastic, and determined temperament.

Lee is insurance licensed in the following states: CO.

Originally from North Carolina, Matt took a nontraditional route to college. He spent two years working to save and invest enough to pay for his first semester at CU Boulder. Without knowing how he would fund the rest of his education, he relied on the same mindset that got him through grueling ocean rescue training in his early twenties — after each step, focus on taking just one more. That mindset carried him through CU’s business school, where his interest in math and financial markets led him to enroll in CU’s Quantitative Finance program.

It wasn’t until a conversation with a wealth management professional that Matt learned about financial planning as a career path. After enrolling in an introductory financial planning course at CU, he started getting answers to the financial questions he had been trying to solve for himself when planning for his own college education. Within weeks of attending that introductory course, he left his original program and enrolled in the Financial Planning Program. He recognized that because of his personal experience, he was in a unique position to help others plan for, build, and maintain their own financial success.

Matt moved to Colorado in 2013. When he's not helping clients build strong financial futures, you’ll find him playing jazz piano or guitar — interests he started cultivating as a child. He still finds time to occasionally book studio sessions and manages to play music for at least a few minutes a day.

Matt and his wife, Claire, were married in June 2020 and are proud to call Colorado home. Whether its ocean rescue, music, or financial planning, his approach remains the same: patience, dedication, and a determination to navigate challenges with confidence.

Xander Larsen brings enthusiasm and a rapidly growing depth of knowledge to his role as an Associate Advisor at 5280 Associates. A December 2024 graduate of UC Boulder's CFP program, Xander's passion for finance began early—way back in 5th grade when he bought his first stock, Under Armour. That same year, the stock was named one of the top performers in the market, which brought a sense of validation and solidified his goal of becoming a financial advisor.

Born and raised in Denver, Xander is a dual citizen of Denmark and the U.S. When he's not helping clients navigate their financial futures, you’ll likely find him carving down Colorado’s ski slopes, embracing his love for the mountains. If he hadn’t chosen finance, aviation would have been his calling—his fascination with flight started before he can even remember. A dedicated hobbyist, Xander enjoys building model airplanes, finding joy in the entire process— “the building, flying, and, of course, the crashing!” he jokes.

Whether in the world of finance, on the slopes, or up in the skies Xander thrives on passion and a sense of adventure—qualities that make him a valuable member of the 5280 Associates team.