BOARD OF DIRECTORS
ALEXIA P CLOUTIER, Co-President
Alexia is a CPA and Principal at Cloutier Accountancy. Alexia specializes in income tax planning and preparation for high-net worth individuals and successful family businesses – ideally doing the tax planning for the entire family unit – individuals, family businesses, trusts, and estates.
Alexia grew up in San Rafael, California and is currently working on her MST at Golden Gate University.
Alexia is a member of MCEPC, CalCPA and co-chair of the CalCPA Marin Discussion Group.
SAFIA KRYGER-NELSON, Co-president
Safia Kryger-Nelson is Director of Philanthropic Planning at MCF. In her role, she serves individuals and families in the Bay Area, in close partnership with their advisors, by offering a comprehensive suite of boutique philanthropic services to help them engage in effective and meaningful philanthropy. Prior to joining MCF, Safia was Regional Director, Business Development, at ImpactAssets, a nonprofit financial services firm that increases the flow of capital into impact investments. Before becoming engaged in philanthropy, she worked in Finance, in both San Francisco and London and also as a legal translator for the European Court of Justice. Safia is a native of Denmark, has a Bachelor of Arts, Law Degree from the University of Copenhagen, and a Masters in European and International Law from the University of Paris. She lives in Marin with her husband and two sons.
colin kelley, Secretary
Colin is a partner in the Kelley & Farren, LLP. He has a B.A. from the University of California, San Diego (2001) with honors and a law degree from the University of California, Berkeley, Boalt Hall School of Law (2006). Colin's practice includes a wide range of estate planning and trust litigation matters, including representation as a guardian ad litem. Prior to joining Kelley & Farren in 2011, Colin worked as a law clerk for the Honorable Walter L. Carpeneti of the Alaska Supreme Court and practiced litigation at two prominent national law firms. He is also fluent in Spanish.
CHIP PYFER, TREASURER
Chip Pyfer is a Managing Director and Advisor in the San Rafael office of Wealthspire Advisors (formerly known as Private Ocean Wealth Management).
Early in his career Chip held positions in several high-profile investment advisory and tax firms and at Wealthspire he brings an extensive background in family wealth and independent financial planning, investment management, executive compensation, legacy & estate planning, retirement planning, and risk management analysis.
Chip enjoys building personal relationships with his clients and in listening to their unique experiences he is able to focus on finding the right planning solutions to help improve outcomes. His mission is to understand the client’s past, present, and future so that their financial plan supports them as they pursue a rich and fulfilling life.
Chip earned his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Oregon and his law degree from Willamette University College of Law. Chip is a Certified Financial Planner™ professional (CFP®), a Certified Investment Management Analyst® professional (CIMA®), and a Certified Private Wealth Advisor® professional (CPWA®).
Chip and his wife Susie live in Mill Valley and have three children. In his free time Chip enjoys skiing, trail running, and high-elevation mountaineering.
Chris cook, speakers chair
Chris is the owner of the Law Offices of Christopher J. Cook. After graduating with distinction from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento, California Christopher obtained his Juris Doctorate. He earned a Tax Concentration while in law school, focusing his studies on estate planning and tax. After law school Chris started his practice in family law and civil litigation before opening his firm in 2012 with a focus on trusts and estates.
While in law school, Chris studied abroad in Salzburg, Austria, under the United States Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy.
Nick Bucklin, meeting sponsorship Chair
Nick Bucklin is a Director and Client Advisor at Freestone Capital Management. Freestone is an independent, fee-only fiduciary wealth management firm serving high net worth families and institutions. Nick works closely with clients in a variety of ways, ranging from personalized financial planning, investment management, estate planning, concentrated stock positions, tax planning, and more. Prior to joining Freestone in 2021, Nick was a Vice President and Portfolio Manager at Franklin Templeton Investments where he managed a variety of municipal bond portfolios. Nick earned his BA from Boston College, MBA from UC Berkeley – Haas School of Business, and is a CFA Charterholder.
Nick serves on the board of the Montana Land Reliance Foundation, where he helps oversee the investment portfolio for the largest private land trust in the state of Montana.
Nick lives in Mill Valley with his wife and two kids.
Mike zaidlin, MEMBErShip and Continuing education
Mike Zaidlin, J.D., is the founder of Madrone Investment Advisory, LLC, a San Rafael-based Registered Investment Advisor and financial planning firm which currently manages $105M in assets for families and individuals. He is a graduate of the U.S.F. School of Law and practiced estate planning law prior to forming Madrone in 2009.