LEGACY FINANCIAL - Key Persons
Donald Tanaka - Chief Compliance Officer
Don Tanaka is responsible for State & Federal Regulatory compliance. He develops and manages back office operations, including computer and Internet systems, security of client data, accounting, payroll, business plans and business operations.
Don holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Illinois and a Master of
Business Administration from USC. He holds the Series 6,7,24,53,63, 65 and 66 securities registrations.
Don and Melanie have two young adult daughters. He enjoys golfing, hiking and running. He has hiked and backpacked on the John Muir Trail (2018), Grand Canyon Rim to Rim
(2019), 1OO Mile Wilderness (2019), and Sequoia Kings Canyon (2020). He has also hiked to the
"I found my way to financial planning because of my tick for analytics and working with
numbers and my desire to make a positive impact in peoples lives. I can't think of anything more
rewarding than helping people reach their lifetime goal of retirement and beyond. I am
Hadley Nielson works with the team to build comprehensive financial plans for clients using
Job Titles:
- Financial Advisor
- CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER
Jeanette Castillo is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ practitioner and Behavioral Financial Advisor with over 10 years of financial advising experience.
She has a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration with a Concentration in Finance from California State University, Fullerton.
Jeanette believes that the power of knowledge transforms lives and changes situations for the better. This is the reason she takes an educational approach in creating holistic plans for her clients to help them reach their goals.
Job Titles:
- Client Services and Office Manager
"When in high school, I enrolled in a Geometry class thinking it would help balance out my right/left brain education. I struggled with the class because it wasn't logical to me like algebra and physics - seemed more like boring memorization. The fact that the class was 90% male students did not help. I went to my teacher for help. He pointed out that most of the class (boys) was doing fine. Maybe math was not one of my strengths, he suggested.
The teacher finally met with my parents and recommended that I drop the class, which I did thinking math wasn't my forte. Later in college, I gravitated more to fashion, design, and marketing which I excelled at. Little did I know that my various careers after college would incorporate a great deal of math. Contrary to my Geometry teacher's opinion, turns out that I was good with the numbers."
Jill Rieger is the Client Services and Office Manager at the Camarillo office. She handles everything from answering calls, fielding questions, distribution and investment requests, scheduling appointments, and closing the loop on client requests.
Jill came to Legacy Financial Group from the Gerhart Group when the two merged. She is a seasoned professional and has a special talent for making clients feel part of an extended family. One of the things that makes Jill so valuable is her varied work experience as an executive in a department store chain, business owner designing and manufacturing high-end custom bed ensembles, project manager for an e-transcript document company, and finally the best - financial services. Jill's management skills and attention to detail serve her well in her position.
Jill holds Series 6 and 63 Securities registrations. She has a BA degree from University of Utah in Fashion Merchandising/Marketing.
Married to Ron for over 35 years, the pair reside in Camarillo. They have three adult children. She enjoys traveling, good food/wine, and socialized with friends/family. She is active in Pilates, aqua aerobics, weight training, and walking. Jill also enjoys gardening, cooking, reading, and home design projects.
Job Titles:
- Chief Investment Strategist
- Financial Advisor
"When I was 15, I started sending out letters to secure an internship at a financial firm and at 17 was taken on at Salomon Smith Barney. In the first few months I observed a client who had implemented a financial plan that was coming to fruition. Two decades later I am still excited to see that happen and now I have the honor of being the person assisting my clients achieve those goals."
Matthew Drehs serves as Legacy Financial Group's Chief Investment Strategist and oversees the clients' investment strategies. As a financial advisor he works with clients to find an appropriate portfolio strategy that meets their personal risk tolerance and most valued life goals through financial planning.
He previously worked at several large financial services firms prior to joining Legacy Financial Group.
Matthew has a B.S. Business Administration from the University of Southern California, Marshall School of Business and has been a Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor® (CRPC®) since 2012. He is currently the President and Chairman of the Finance Board for First Lutheran Church and School of Torrance.
Matthew lives in Torrance with his wife Laura and their two daughters. The family enjoys traveling, camping, and spending time outdoors.
Job Titles:
- Founding Partner
- Managing Director
Job Titles:
- Consultant
- Founding Partner
Ray and his wife Donna have lived in Rancho Palos Verdes since 1975. He is an active supporter of the National Endowment for Financial Education, the Life and Health Insurance Foundation for Education, and the Norris Center for the Performing Arts. He is also a member of the Los Angeles County Sheriff Department's Disaster Communications Service and is an active amateur radio operator. Ray also enjoys international travel, photography and scuba driving.
Sharon Payne has been with Legacy Financial Group since the firm opened in 2002 and has a history with each and every client. Her goal is to ensure the needs of each client are met in the most effective and efficient manner possible.
Sharon is the firm's Estate Administration Specialist and takes the tremendous responsibility of this to heart. She also handles everything from account applications to trade requests for all our clients and holds the Series 7 and 63 securities registrations.
As an annual participant in the Southern California Renaissance Fair, Sharon can combine her sewing skills and love of history to create historically accurate clothing. She also enjoys skiing, camping, and photography with her two adult sons.