Who We Are
Equalis Financial is an independent fee-only firm based in Los Angeles, California & Portland, Oregon specializing in financial life planning, responsible investment management, and business management. Since Equalis was founded by a member of the LGBTQ+ community, serving the underserved is at the heart of everything we do.
We are here to balance the financial playing field.
Who We Serve
Our mission is to empower and equip heirs redistributing wealth and thoughtfully ambitious progressives, especially LGBTQ+ creatives who work in entertainment.
After years of grinding, life is suddenly more complex because you’ve gone from not enough to a point where your income & resources exceed your daily need. Now you have new choices and opportunities and you’re looking to be intentional with your wealth.
Meet Leighann Miko, CFP® (she/her)
Founder of Equalis Financial Certified Financial Planner™
There are many reasons why people become certified financial planners, but mine was to help others create the financially secure life I never thought I’d have.
Raised by a strong single mom, I grew up in a volatile financial environment. I never knew when the utilities would be shut off or if our car would start or even be there in the morning. I still remember traveling thirty miles to use our food stamps at a grocery store where no one knew us.
Maybe you can relate with your own experiences of financial uncertainty. Like you, I know what it’s like to be underestimated and under resourced. But with the right guidance, financial stability is possible and within reach.
When it comes to finances, I am a woman with a plan. And my plan is to help you with yours.
Qualifications
aka “Look, ma, I can do this!”
Master of Science degree in Taxation from Cal State Northridge
Bachelor of Science degree in Financial Services from Cal State Northridge
Certificate in Personal Financial Planning at UCLA to complete the education coursework requirement for CFP® certification
Registered Life Planner®
Honoree in the InvestmentNews 40 Under 40 Class of 2017 (one of my proudest accomplishments!)
Fun Facts
1
Road trips are my jam. My longest was a 12-day, 3,000 mile trip from Los Angeles to Vancouver, BC and back.
2
As a kid, I was a "background actor" on Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman for two seasons.
3
Finances aren't the only thing I plan. I can throw a mean party!
4
if i had a second career, I would be a Home renovation consultant.
5
There are few things I love more than pizza and midcentury design.
6
I have a cat named Queso and a rescue pup named Olive.
Meet katrina soelter, CFP® (she/her)
VP of Financial planning Certified Financial Planner™
Aligning your core values with your finances and your future in a financial plan is deeply life changing. I knew this at my core during an elective course on personal finances my senior year of college. I was so frustrated that the course was not part of the required curriculum because as we all know, how you manage your money impacts every area of your life.
I strove to embody these lessons during my time as an elementary school teacher, budgeting weekly groceries to the dollar and stretching to make sure I could still save for retirement. However, I still ended up with investments that weren’t the right fit for me because I simply didn’t know enough to sort the good from the bad.
Your finances shouldn’t be complicated to understand. Every family deserves quality financial guidance that allows them to live according to their values, with dignity and stability. Let’s co-create the plan to get you there together.
Qualifications
aka “Look, ma, I can do this!”
Certificate in Personal Financial Planning at UCLA to complete the education coursework requirement for CFP® certification
Master of Arts degree in Reading Instruction from Loyola Marymount University
Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy and German from UC Berkeley
Fun Facts
1
My son and my dog teach me everything I need to know about being a good human
2
I love a specific tea from Northern Germany called Ostfriesentee that I grew up drinking with my grandma
3
My perfect afternoon involves a good book and a good fire in the fireplace
4
I seriously considered being an event planner before choosing personal finance
5
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough ice cream is under-appreciated
6
My best friend and I sang holiday carols as teenagers on Halloween instead of Trick or Treating
Meet MELISSA TOVAR, fpqp® (she/her)
DIRECTOR OF CLIENT EXPERIENCE
I began working in banking in 2003 and absolutely loved the feeling of helping my clients achieve their goals.
Throughout my career, I had the privilege of seeing my clients purchase their first home, establish their own business, and even taking that long awaited European vacation. Helping others truly makes me happy and I am eager to be of service to the Equalis Financial family.
I’ve completed the Financial Paraplanner Qualified Professional (FPQP®) designation and am working towards becoming a financial therapist. I really do love helping others and cannot wait to do more to assist with the financial goals in my community.
Fun Facts
1
I won the KROQ World Tour in 2004 and got to see U2 in Barcelona.
2
I have completed a Spartan Sprint, Super Spartan race, and a half marathon.
3
I have a daughter who has taught me everything about My Little Pony as well as how to be a better human.
4
I am working towards becoming a financial therapist.I really do love helping others.
5
You would probably want me on your trivia team - I retain way too much random bits of info in my brain.
6
I taught myself to read crochet patterns and can make amigurumi dolls.
What We Offer
Financial Planning
We will help you realign your mindsets and goals with a clearer vision. What results is a highly personalized plan of action based on your unique needs.
Investment Management
We will customize and manage your investment portfolio based on the social causes you believe in and the long-term goals you want to reach.
Tax & Business Management
We offer business management support to our financial planning clients through tax planning, monthly bookkeeping, payroll processing, and more through our preferred partner.
Publications and Awards
