Chicago, IL

As a Partner and Senior Financial Advisor at Apella Wealth, Nick works closely with clients to develop their overall financial strategy, manage their investments, and help them develop a cohesive wealth management plan. Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, Nick has particular expertise in retirement planning, saving and investing for higher education, and socially-oriented investing. He earned the Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) designation in 2005 and has worked in the financial services industry since 1998.

For the past 25 years, Nick has also been active with non-profits and local government issues. He got his professional start with the New York City Urban Fellows Program, then held financial executive positions with non-profit housing developers in New York and San Francisco. These days, he helps non-profit organizations manage their investments and serves on the Board of a local journalism organization in Piedmont, California.

Nick graduated from Princeton University, where he majored in the School of Public and International Affairs, and received an MBA from the Haas School of Business at the University of California Berkeley. He is an avid tennis player and long-time youth sports coach. He and his wife Julie live in Oakland, California, and they have three sons, the oldest of whom works at Apella Wealth.

Tom has spent much of his professional life working with and advising families and family-owned businesses. As an advisor, Tom guides families toward thoughtful, long-term uses of their financial resources based on their family values and personal histories. Tom is co-founder of LK Advisors, LLC, which provides families with a customized roadmap for experiential learning, helping them navigate the opportunities and complexities of life with money. 

Before joining Apella Wealth, Tom was a corporate litigator, where he represented numerous family-owned businesses in complex disputes. In that role, he saw the often-devastating consequences of breakdowns in family communication around business and financial matters. Since then he has sought a way to provide proactive guidance to help other families avoid similar outcomes. During his time in private practice, Tom was selected to the National Law Journal Chicago’s “40 Under 40” list.

Tom is a cohost of Money, Meet Meaning – a podcast exploring the surprising, practical relevance of the world’s spiritual traditions on our life with money – and the author of All That’s Holy: a Young Guy, an Old Car, and the Search for God in America. His writing on religion, values, and American life has been featured in national magazines, major newspapers, and on TV and radio.

A Manhattan native who, since 2000, has been proud to call Chicago home, Tom is civically active, with a focus on interfaith cooperation and neighborhood mentoring. He serves as a Life Director for Interfaith America and as a board member of the Religion News Foundation. Tom is a past board member of KAM Isaiah Israel Congregation and an active volunteer mentor at the Hyde Park Neighborhood Club.

Tom is a cum laude graduate of Princeton University, and received a Master’s of Theological Studies from Harvard Divinity School and J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School. He and his wife Elizabeth, a psychiatrist and educator, have two children.

Richard, a Senior Financial Advisor for Apella Wealth, also serves as Director of the CPA Investment Services Group. Richard has several decades of experience in the accounting field, and advises his clients on investments, retirement saving, and taxation issues for individuals and businesses. For over two decades, he has lectured and conducted seminars on personal financial planning topics. He founded and was President of The Business Connection of New York, which has successfully networked professionals for 30 years.

A graduate of Adelphi University, Richard received a BA in Accounting and an MBA in Taxation and Finance. Richard began his career at Ernst & Young before founding his own firm, Richard A. Backer CPA PC, based in Manhattan.

Richard is an avid downhill skier, certified rescue scuba diver and a 5th degree black belt in the Japanese martial art Aikido. A resident of Long Island, Richard has a daughter in sports medicine and a son who is a real estate developer.

Samantha Ngooi (pronounced “Noo-EE”) is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) and an Investment Advisor Representative for Apella Wealth. Samantha (or Sam, as she’s also known) has served in a variety of roles before joining Apella Wealth. From client service to operations, Sam’s experience in client care, marketing, compliance, and portfolio management informs her work helping clients navigate their financial lives.

As an advisor, Sam delights in reconfiguring financial complexities into elegant solutions, empowering people to make more joyful decisions with their money and their lives. Raised in Southeast Asia and immersed in many different cultures, beliefs, and values (especially around money), Sam’s lived experiences shape her belief that financial advice is not one-size-fits-all. She applies a holistic approach to help each client plan for life events and transitions in a way that feels authentic to their unique values and history. Sam is passionate about financial literacy and making financial planning more accessible (and enjoyable) for all.

Sam is a member of the Financial Planning Association and the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Chicago, as well as a Master’s in Public Policy from the University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy. Her background in data analytics laid the foundation for both her love of numbers and excitement about processes, efficiency, and checklists.

Sam enjoys Olympic weightlifting, gardening, and cooking overly elaborate meals. When she’s not working on crossword puzzles, Sam serves on various advisory boards focused on empowering women to lead and serve their communities. She currently lives in Chicago with her partner and their very spoiled cat.

Nate is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) and Financial Advisor for Apella Wealth. Nate provides financial advice to Apella Wealth’s clients and works closely with them to deliver thoughtful guidance and service.

Nate attended Macalester College, where he majored in Economics, minored in Philosophy, and played on the baseball team. He lives in Santa Clara, California, with his wife, Nuria, and his dog, Peanut.

As a Client Services Manager with two decades of experience in the investment advisory industry, Leslie is responsible for the day-to-day servicing of our clients’ accounts, including serving as a key contact person for welcoming and onboarding new clients. Leslie combines warmth, professionalism, and a commitment to providing wonderful client service.

Leslie lives with her husband and two sons in the Los Angeles area. They’re big fans of cross-country road trips, vintage cars, and delicious road-side restaurants.

As a Client Relationship Specialist, Kathryn is responsible for the day-to-day servicing of our clients’ accounts, serving as a key contact person for transfers, trades, and new account openings. Kathryn is thoughtful and curious, and she values the opportunity to build relationships with our clients while providing a personal level of care.

Kathryn graduated from Western Michigan University with a degree in Public Relations. A Michigan native, she now lives in Minneapolis with Luna and Vin Diesel, her two adopted cats. In her free time, Kathryn enjoys reading, baking, rock climbing, and hiking.

Amanda is efficient, proactive, and detail-oriented. She is serious about getting things done on behalf of our clients – without taking herself too seriously.

Amanda graduated from Rowan University with degrees in Business and Human Resource Management. She lives with her husband and two daughters in southern New Jersey. Amanda is a big fan of spending time outdoors with family and friends, and she also enjoys exploring food scenes in cities across the country.

As a Platform Specialist, Heather plays a key role in firm-wide projects and continually improving internal processes and workflows. Heather is collaborative and solutions-oriented and enjoys getting to know our clients while caring for their needs.

Heather has six kids and lives with her family in Yuma, Arizona. In her free time, she enjoys participating in a road bike club, baking cakes, and supporting her kids’ sporting events.