Dawn Mabery Chestnut (CFP®, MPAS, MSPFP)

Planning Specialties

Financial advice can be intimidating and complex. Unlike your average financial advisor, I strive to make managing money simpler by speaking plainly and offering genuine help instead of hard sales tactics. I prefer a more informal approach – without the stuffy suit.

When I’m not crunching numbers, you might find me tending to my garden with my ducks waddling around, or biking with friends at night with colorful glow-in-the-dark lights on our wheels. My recent fascination is learning to sew. I have an amazing and supportive husband.

I am a natural planner and numbers lover, so it’s no surprise that I became a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ with a master’s degree in financial planning. I enjoy pouring over document details and making sense of the data. To me, it’s like putting together a puzzle. Beyond that, my work allows me to get to know people – their values, goals, and challenges, beyond their paperwork.

My brief behind the facts and figures journey is this. Growing up in a large family where money was tight inspired me to teach basic financial literacy voluntarily. My adult students wanted advice on retirement or social security (info not in the basic curriculum). This lit the spark for me to start my financial planning business! I still teach financial empowerment in underserved communities by contracting with local non-profits. I’ve had my own business for over ten years.

Many people can find money talk difficult and sensitive. I’m here to provide objective, and judgment-free advice for your money questions (big or small). No question is too embarrassing for me – I’ve made my share of money missteps too and I also just didn’t know a lot about money because it was not taught to me.

As a fiduciary, I put your needs first. I can help guide you through the confusing world of money so that you can make informed decisions in reaching your idea of success.