Our Team

Cory Baer is the Chief Business Development Officer for Strait & Sound. In this role, he fulfills a dual mission. First, he serves clients by ensuring that they have the best possible financial plan to achieve their long-term goals, particularly complete financial independence. Second, he also serves as an ambassador of the Strait & Sound brand by introducing the firm to the larger community and select strategic partners.
Cory is most passionate about coming to deeply understand clients and helping them feel secure in their financial plan. He takes great pride in providing strategies that build true and lasting wealth for clients, so they don’t have to worry about money again. He also enjoys expanding clients’ horizons so they dream bigger dreams and have the guts to go after those dreams.

Cory is also passionate about families, both his client’s families and his own. Cory knows that stories are often at the center of family life and he loves hearing his client’s stories. Cory says: “I love being a dad and a husband and enjoying the journey that goes along with that role. Relationships are so important to me. It’s my client, my wife and my kids and the relationships I hold with each of them that spur me to get out of bed every day and crush life.”

Career Accomplishments
Cory has quite a varied work experience, having entered the financial services industry in 2011. His commitment to serving clients well led him through several organizations, where he often learned of better and more effective ways to handle client relationships. But the opportunity to shape business culture at Strait & Sound is truly exciting for him. In this role, Cory gets to bring to bear the best of what he’s learned to clients every day.

In the five years Cory worked with Morgan Stanley, he received the Portfolio Manager Designation. It was also during this time that he began to discover a competency in guiding clients toward early retirement. His experiences in working with these clients have given him insights about how to achieve complex financial goals with limited resources. This is why Cory believes in being really smart with money.

Work History
Pfizer (2003-2009)
First Data Corporation (2009-2011)
Baer Financial Services (2011-2012)
Wells Fargo Advisors (2012-2014)
Morgan Stanley (2014-2019)
Alpha Cubed (2019-2021)
Strait & Sound (2021-Present)

Education
BA Economics, New Mexico State University, 2002

Articles
How The Pandemic Might, And Might Not, Change Your Financial Plan
How To Help Your Multi-Generational Family Stop Fighting Over Money
Who’s Helping You Make The Big Decisions In Life?
How Much Should I Give My Children?
5 Reasons You Must Take Risk To Achieve Complete Financial Independence

Daniel Barnes is the Director of Wealth Management for Strait & Sound. His mission is to frame and craft his client’s exposure to risk in accordance and alignment with their long-term financial goals. In this way, Daniel is instrumental in helping clients achieve complete financial independence.

Daniel is a passionate person and this comes through clearly when you hear him talk. He cares deeply about delivering superior wealth management services to clients. Daniel also cares about the greater context, the role that those with material financial assets play in serving the body politic and how this impacts the social fabric of this great enterprise called the United States of America.

Daniel believes in listening to clients. It is only by deeply understanding what a client is trying to achieve and why that’s important to them that he can fulfill his mission. He believes that each client, given reasonable disciplines and choices, can be liberated to rejoice in their respective passions and serve their greater communities.

Career Accomplishments
Daniel began his career at an institutional bond trading desk in Düsseldorf, Germany in 1996. He climbed into the Wall Street machine in 1999 as an analyst and did original research in DRAM fabrication supply models in 2001. He became an early advocate for gold positions in 2003 for another advisory firm.

As interim CFO, Daniel restructured a 2nd year start-up company, helping them double sales and build infrastructure. These efforts allowed them to survive and thrive in the hyper competitive world of internet service providers.

In 2006, Daniel launched Barnes Capital. In this role, he has served as a steward to more than 30 families, guiding them to increased wealth and greater peace of mind. In 2016 he began his search for partners to build a world-class wealth management practice. Besides penning some 100 articles over the years, Daniel compiled and published his book “Uncommon Counsel” in 2018.

Work History
Spuetz AG (1996)
Wells Fargo (1998-1999)
California Technology Stock Letter (1999-2000)
Insight Pacific (2000-2001)
Malcolm H. Gissen & Associates (2002-2004)
Etheric Networks (2004-2006)
Barnes Capital (2006-present)
Strait & Sound (2020-Present)

Education
BA International Relations, University of Notre Dame, South Bend, Indiana (1989)</ br>MA Political Science, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet, Munich, Germany (1995)

Certifications
Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA designation), awarded 2002

Articles
Where Is The Economy Headed Next?
How Confident Should You Be In The Age Of Unpredictability?

Daniel Wu is an experienced wealth advisor for high net-worth families and individuals. Daniel has served private clients since 1995, beginning his career with Schwab where he spent a decade. Over the course of his 25+ years in financial services, he has seen the highs and the lows of this industry. He successfully guided clients through the great recession of 2008-2009 and provided peace of mind and a steady hand as his clients grappled with the global COVID-19 pandemic.
Daniel is passionate about problem-solving. He believes everyone has money problems, no matter how much money they have. It is his mission to help all of his clients achieve complete financial independence so they live a life free of money-worries. To achieve this, Daniel remains on the cutting edge of quantitative investment strategies, portfolio management options and financial research.

Daniel enjoys serving entrepreneurs and feels a special bond with them. He understands the financial complexities associated with entrepreneurship, particularly regarding tax strategies and wealth preservation. Entrepreneurs find a listening ear, a keen mind and the voice of experience when interacting with Daniel.

Daniel is committed to building comprehensive financial plans for his clients, Each client receives a customized plan, tailored to their financial concerns and goals. As a precursor to building these plans, Daniel invests the necessary time and energy to come to understand his clients deeply. His discovery process is thorough, inquisitive and centered around what matters to his clients.

Awards
Awarded Chart Market Technician Designation in 2006

Work History
Wealth Advisor, Strait & Sound, LLC (April 2022 – Present)
CEO, Pair Lending LLC (September 2016 – Present)
CIO, GPS Capital Management, LLC (September 2005 – May 2022)
CEO, Onvest LLC (September 2015 – Present)
Schwab & Co. Inc. (July 1995 – August 2005)

Education
Financial Analysis at Golden Gate University, San Francisco, USA
Bachelor of Science, Finance at San Francisco State University, San Francisco, USA

Certifications
RIA – Registered Investment Advisor
CTA – Registered Commodities Trading Advisor
CMT – Charter Market Technician

Gil Wiseman is a seasoned executive and leader in the financial services industry. For more than three decades, Gil worked closely with executive leaders to achieve outstanding results for financial services teams. As a long-term team member with Farmers Insurance, Gil climbed the ladder of corporate responsibility, earning accolades and respect from all who worked with him.

Gil is most passionate about working with clients to achieve their long-term dreams. He enjoys coming to understand what delights and brings joy to his clients so he can help them spend more time doing that. He recognizes that financial worries degrade his clients’ ability to experience the freedom of complete financial independence.

Gil is committed to building comprehensive financial plans for each client, tailored to their specific needs and goals. To build these plans, he must come to deeply understand what matters to each client. He knows these plans give them the freedom to align their time, attention, energy and financial resources to what matters most to them.

Gil specializes in working with clients who have their sights on retirement and are looking for a partner to assess their needs and build a plan, with a realistic timeline. This allows them to move into the next stage of their lives with confidence.

Work History
Over three decades experience in the Financial Services industry, known for building deep and enduring relationships, and solving complex problems.

Education
B.S. Finance, University of Oregon
MBA, Finance & Tax, Portland State University

Certifications
Completed course work for CFP®.

Melanie Lee is the Chief Compliance Officer of Strait & Sound. Melanie is keenly focused on ensuring Strait & Sound Wealth Management meets its fiduciary duties and responsibilities to each of the families we serve.

Melanie’s formal education is in engineering. She brings attention to detail and a strong process orientation to the compliance function at Strait & Sound. In addition, Melanie’s desire to leverage the latest technology tools helps ensure efficiency, empowering the firm to grow in a reliable, stable and compliant manner for years to come.

Since leaving the engineering field and raising two children, Melanie’s focus has been in advising high net worth families on a variety of important issues related to estate planning, tax pre-planning and execution. She was also instrumental in making sure the processes were in place to ensure the smooth transfer of wealth to the next generation.

Previously, Melanie worked as an engineer in Silicon Valley for several technology and biotechnology firms. Her work included providing presentations to well-known entities such as the National Science Foundation.

Education
BS Metallurgical Engineering, University of Washington

Mitch Freedman is a CPA and wealth manager with a stellar 40-year plus career in the financial services industry. Since 1981, Mitch has been bringing ideas, solutions and passion to engagements with his clients. He is a self-described “true believer” in his clients’ goals and dreams. In fact, coming to understand his clients deeply and then building plans to achieve their goals is his primary mission.

Mitch has been a CPA for 35 years and has melded tax-mitigation strategies to his wealth management approach for most of that time. Mitch knows that it’s not enough to earn a high income. For most families in this country, it’s not about how much you earn, it’s about how much you keep and grow. Mitch pairs a tax strategist’s instincts with a wealth manager’s broad view of everything that can impact a client’s wealth. This approach makes him indispensable to his clients, many of whom he’s served for decades.

Mitch really enjoys problem-solving with clients, especially on complex issues that involve money and family. He is a trusted advisor to his clients and holds confidence with them on topics they don’t discuss with hardly anyone. For a numbers guy, Mitch’s emotional intelligence is a standout trait that clients love.

Mitch is also the parent of an autistic adult child. Mitch and his wife struggled for years to understand what was happening with their child. The medical community was often not supportive of their efforts to understand their child and arrive at a diagnosis that reflected their lived reality. The Freedman family’s struggles led Mitch and his wife down some very difficult paths.

Through their advocacy as parents, Mitch and his wife learned to navigate the healthcare system to bolster support for their child. They also entered into a community of families who also have experienced similar challenges. Their collective experiences have impressed upon Mitch the importance of being an advocate and a good listener in complex situations.

Work History
Lehman Brothers Inc. (1981-1987)
Fleury and Co, Inc. (1987-1995)
Mitch Freedman PS Inc. (1995-present)
Strait & Sound (2023-present)

Education
BS Accounting Syracuse University, 1981

Certifications
CPA – Certified Public Accountant
RIA – Registered Investment Advisor

Volunteer
Former Board Member and Treasurer—Autism Society Of Washington
Rotary Club—Rotarian since 2005

Ping Guay is an experienced wealth advisor in the financial service industry. For more than 20 years, clients have trusted her to guide them toward their financial goals. Ping believes in relationships and seeks to develop deep and long-lasting relationships of trust with her clients. Ping knows her strengths well, having been an advisor for many years. She seeks to build relationships with individuals and families who need her unique skills, approach and perspectives.

Ping is passionate about empowering her clients to achieve their financial goals. She knows that most clients want to achieve complete financial independence, so they never have to worry about money again. To achieve this goal, Ping leverages a comprehensive Discovery process to come to understand clients deeply. Then she designs an investment strategy that aligns to her clients’ risk tolerances. All of this culminates in a long-term financial plan. Her clients appreciate and have come to rely on Ping’s approach, which gives them peace of mind about the future.

Ping was recognized as a top financial advisor at Charles Schwab, having earned the prestigious Chairman’s Club award. In 2013, she founded PG Global Wealth Management where she served clients until joining the Strait & Sound team. Through her experiences with PG Wealth Management, she gained an appreciation for the challenges and opportunities that come with entrepreneurship. This empowers her to be an even more effective counselor to entrepreneurs.

Awards
Chairmans Club, Charles Schwab

Work History
Charles Schwab, Vice President
PG Global Wealth management, President

Education
Bachelor of Arts in Business, City University of Seattle

Certifications
RIA – Registered Investment Advisor

Todd Sixt is the CEO of Strait & Sound. He is a successful and seasoned leader of financial service teams. His focus is to ensure Strait & Sound’s clients are provided with a first-class experience and that the work delivered by our people is unsurpassed in the financial services industry. At his core, he believes in excellence.

Todd is deeply committed to helping clients achieve complete financial independence. In an industry known for overwhelming people, Todd prefers straightforward dialogue and strategies that clients can commit to for the long haul. He knows how important financial planning is to realizing long-term goals. He also knows that most clients don’t want to become investment experts themselves but instead want to work with a financial expert who will be a partner for life.

This is why Todd practices, and teaches other financial advisors to practice, the art of getting to know clients deeply. He takes the time to understand how clients feel about wealth, their family dynamics, and how their financial and personal lives change over time. Todd knows that to serve clients well, his counsel and approach needs to evolve with clients as their situation changes.

Career Accomplishments
Since 1996, Todd has been inspiring financial service professionals to serve clients with passion and integrity. The result of these efforts is that clients trust their advisors, feel deeply understood and want to stay for life. This, in turn, has produced substantial growth of the organizations where Todd was a leader.

Todd’s easy-going style and love of life often hide the fierce competitor within. He is driven and goal oriented, both in serving clients and in growing opportunities for his firm. In a previous role, where he was a Principal and Director of the Pacific Northwest region, Todd made strategic moves to stimulate the company’s growth from $450 million in assets under management to over $1.4 billion.

Todd worked for Fidelity Investments for 11 years, winning multiple awards along the way. He moved four times geographically and into higher responsibility roles at the firm. At the time of his departure, he was responsible for managing over $1B in client assets.

Work History
Fidelity Investments (1996-2007)
The Caprock Group (2008-2009)
TD Ameritrade (2010-2013)
Alpha Cubed Investments (2014-2020)
Strait & Sound (2020-Present)

Education
BA History, Miami University (1994)

Articles
Seven Strategies To Achieve Complete Financial Independence – Part Two
Seven Strategies To Achieve Complete Financial Independence – Part One

As Chief Investment Officer for Strait & Sound, William “Bill” Romig is a visionary leader dedicated to expanding the firm’s investment horizons and shaping its long-term strategy. Bill’s focus is on anticipating future market dynamics and introducing sophisticated, forward-looking strategies designed to secure and grow client wealth.

Bill is poised to drive the firm's next generation of offerings, including the introduction of a new, distinctive Microcap strategy. This initiative reflects his conviction that undervalued small companies hold significant potential for long-term outperformance. His future contributions will be central to the firm's direction.

Investment Committee Role: Bill will assume a vital place on the Investment Committee, where his insights will directly inform the firm's strategic asset allocation decisions.
Deep Market Research: His work will continue to be underpinned by rigorous research, including comprehensive Macro level theory, in-depth analysis of markets and stocks, and the disciplined identification of new investment opportunities.

Bill approaches risk as an evolving element of the market, which he will continue to address with intellectual discipline—accepting risk when it is intelligently rewarded for the benefit of our clients' financial futures. His commitment is to clarity and transparency, empowering clients to make informed decisions with confidence as Strait & Sound evolves its investment platform.

Career Accomplishments

Bill brings over two decades of experience in wealth management and investment strategy. Before joining Strait & Sound Wealth Management, he honed his expertise at:

J.P. Morgan: He served as a Private Client Advisor where he worked closely with high-net-worth clients to develop customized investment plans and guide them through complex financial decisions.

Scottrade: He spent fifteen years as a Branch Manager, where he led advisory teams and refined his skills in client service.

His career is distinguished by a consistent commitment to fiduciary excellence and the disciplined pursuit of long-term results.

Professional Designations & Education
Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) – Earned in 2008
Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) – Earned in 2021
Education: Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration, emphasis in Finance, Washington State University, 1996

Education
Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration, emphasis in Finance
Washington State University, 1996