Meet Our Team

Ginger advises families, non-profit organizations, and businesses on a broad range of financial planning, tax planning, and fiduciary issues. She is a Senior advisor with Premier, providing comprehensive financial estate planning for complex client estates. Ginger also leads Premier’s advisory team, which is responsible for researching, developing, and managing the firm’s investment strategies. Ginger brings more than 21 years of experience in the financial services industry to Premier and joined the firm in 2000. She received the Certified Financial Planner™ credential in 2007 and is a Business Administration graduate of Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo.

Wayne, along with his two partners, has built Premier into a prestigious SEC RIA firm that services over 450 clients. Wayne’s major responsibilities are superior practice management, maximizing equity in the firm, enhancing strategic alliances and preparing the next generation of Premier’s professionals. All Premier’s efforts are directed toward holistic client relationships to enhance their financial peace of mind. Wayne has been a resident of Humboldt County since 1978 and now resides in McKinleyville. Wayne got into the financial services industry in 1983 when he began the Certified Financial Planner™ program, and prior to that was involved in income tax preparation and business planning. Wayne now holds the CFP^®credential along with the Registered Financial Consultant (RFC). Wayne has a strong passion for the fiduciary stand that Premier takes with each client. Over the last 15 years, he has spoken at many events and made numerous pleas in support of the fiduciary standard and the Prudent Investor Rules.

MY BACKGROUND I was born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma. I graduated from the University of Tulsa with a bachelor’s in economics, then went on to earn M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from Oklahoma State University in economics. From 1969 to 1979, I taught economics at Humboldt State University. I then went into private practice as an investment advisor. In 1990, I joined with Wayne Caldwell and John Gloor to establish Premier Financial Group. Six years later, we established a relationship with Dimensional Fund Advisors, providing Premier with access to passively managed institutional mutual funds. I am the author of The Unbeatable Market: Taking the Indexing Path to Financial Peace of Mind. OUTSIDE INTERESTS I enjoy spending time with my two adult children, Garen and Carly, my son-in-law, John Washington, and especially John’s and Carly’s two boys, Gus and Hugh. Garen lives in Arcata, and Carly, John, and their boys live in Ames, Iowa. My primary hobbies are jogging, golf, and gardening. I serve on the Board of Directors and the Greens Committee at Baywood Country Club in Arcata.

John has been in the financial industry since 1987, and prior to that he worked his way through college doing construction. John is one of three co-founders of Premier Financial Group, Inc and is the Senior Advisor to our Retirement Plan Department. He has been instrumental in guiding and advising many significant local retirement plan sponsors. John is passionate about being a true fiduciary for every client he comes in contact with, and is an advocate for the protection and education of all retirement plan trustees and participants. He resides in McKinelyville, CA with his wife.

MY PATH TO PREMIER I became the professional I am today as a result of working with and learning from many great individuals and professionals. I entered the service and administrative field when I was just 15, thus learning the importance of hard work, professionalism, and serving others at an early age. I wouldn’t be where I am today without the excellent mentorship, dedication, and perseverance of those who invested their time and energy into helping me develop as a professional and as a person…I consider this a priceless gift. WHAT I LOVE MOST ABOUT WORKING WITH PREMIER The best part of my position at Premier? The relationships I’ve built with clients, my colleagues, and the community. Being able to add value and work intimately with clients to promote financial well-being is a huge privilege, and I thoroughly enjoy building relationships with each and every client. Our clients are diverse and wonderful individuals with unique and interesting lives; I’m blessed that they share them with me and allow me to be of service to them. I’M PASSIONATE ABOUT… I’m passionate about assisting clients with estate planning. Through my years as an advisor, I’ve had the privilege to assist many clients and survivors with the implementation of estate plans; during this time, I’ve encountered multiple instances where good planning has helped clients avoid pitfalls or challenges associated with administering an estate. My commitment lies in planning strategically to avoid unnecessary taxes and, most importantly, fulfilling clients’ wishes in an efficient, seamless manner that minimizes stress for survivors.

WHAT I LOVE MOST ABOUT MY ROLE Along with the opportunity to provide solutions for clients, my favorite part of being on the Premier team has to be the relationships I’ve forged between co-workers, clients, and the community. These bonds exist thanks in large part to our firm’s cultural focus on open communication. An emphasis on making connections also allows me to help clients realize that they don’t have to be afraid of personal finances and that this common fear can be mitigated — or even eradicated — by taking an educated and proactive approach to financial planning.  If I could tell my clients just one thing, it would be “You don’t have to do it alone.” Creating a financial planning partnership with my clients is where I really shine. Another favorite about working with Premier? Helping clients plan for retirement. I believe that we, as a society, need become more reliant on ourselves to prepare for a comfortable retirement, and I love helping clients formulate a plan so they can independently prepare to reach their retirement goals. ABOUT ME I’m a Humboldt County native, and after almost a decade spent working in the financial industry as a Trust Investment Officer in the Central Valley, I came back to raise my family in the community that I call home. I was excited to join the Premier team in 2012, as Premier’s focus on fiduciary responsibility aligns with my personal commitment to putting the needs of the client before the needs of the firm. In my role as an advisor to individuals, families, estates, foundations, and retirement plans, I put that commitment into practice on a daily basis. But I didn’t start out with the goal of becoming the financial professional I am today; rather, I loved creating art, especially the creativity and critical thinking it requires. I also loved science; solving mathematical and formulaic equations has always been enjoyable to me, much like a game or a puzzle. Financial advising lets me do both! I get to use scientific techniques in creative ways to solve unique, real-world problems for real individuals.

WHY I ENJOY BEING PART OF PREMIER I enjoy being on the Premier team because we are a local company who truly cares about the well-being of our clients and our community. We each have our own unique backgrounds and strengths, however our investment management and care for clients is consistent. We effectively collaborate as a team to provide excellent service to our clients and community. Above everything else, the needs of our clients come before our own and those of our firm. We take our role as advisors seriously. That is the foundation of the trusting relationships we build with clients. MY PROFESSIONAL JOURNEY By working my way through high school and college, I found my passion for helping people. While attending HSU, I completed a management intern training program for JCPenney and was hired as a merchandise manager after graduation. I was fortunate to work with a family of amazing people who taught me how to be a team member. I took these lessons and skills with me into the financial industry which is where I have grown the most over the last 27 years. The time I have spent as a trusted advisor to individuals and their families has given me the opportunity to establish strong relationships while providing excellent service and a being leader to our team.

THE BEST PART OF PREMIER The amazing individuals that I get to work with every day is what inspires me most about Premier! Each person is genuine, communicative and truly cares about the relationships that they foster with clients and co-workers. I feel like I’ve been a part of the team from day one. BACKGROUND Before joining Premier, I worked for nearly 10 years as a receptionist in a very busy, female-owned veterinary hospital. While I loved seeing animals on a daily basis, my passion was for their people. Bringing your pet to the vet can be such an emotional experience, and it was my job to make sure each client’s needs were met, whether that meant getting their questions answered or bringing them a cup of water. Their comfort was my top priority. I was born and raised in Alaska and spent my teens and early 20’s in the Bay Area. After my parents moved to Humboldt County, my husband and I visited them once or twice a year. As the years went on, that increased to three or four visits or more. After each visit, our yearning to come back grew stronger and we realized that this is where we want to build a home and raise our family. In 2017, we made it happen. OUTSIDE OF WORK My two young daughters keep us active. Our oldest loves her weekly gymnastics classes in an amazing local program and my husband enjoys taking the girls to feed the fish at Mad River Fish Hatchery. We thoroughly enjoy all of the local events that are featured here, especially over the summer. However, our ideal weekend is spent taking walks around the neighborhood and hanging out in the backyard with the dogs.

WHY I’M A RETIREMENT PLAN SPECIALIST I started my career as a Third Party Administrator (TPA) somewhat by accident. I joined a small TPA firm in Sacramento, and my interest in the retirement plan industry grew as I thrived on the complexity of IRS regulations and guidelines. There was always a need to keep learning in the retirement plan arena and I quickly advanced, handling over 100 retirement accounts on my own and completing everything from discrimination testing to IRS form 5500 filings.  After moving to Humboldt County, I jumped at the chance to join Premier Financial Group’s retirement plan department and applying for that position at Premier is still my best career move! I started in the operations department in 2003, moved to the Investment Administrator position and now I’m the retirement plan specialist, maintaining over 50 retirement plan relationships, a position that’s as challenging and fulfilling as TPA work. I’ve learned so much about the investment component of retirement planning at Premier. WHY I’M PROUD TO BE ON THE PREMIER TEAM Premier’s retirement planning department is superb! We offer comprehensive, high-quality services to trustees and participants of the retirement plans we manage, providing everything from one-on-one financial planning meetings to assistance preparing forms needed for a distribution or 401(k) rollover. We’re always available to educate participants about their 401(k) investment options, and we’re committed to ensuring they have access to full disclosure of all fees paid from their retirement assets. I’m proud to be a part of Premier’s retirement department because it is my passion to provide ideas that can help my clients better prepare for retirement and educate anyone who is willing to listen. I add value to my position through: Investment administrators/retirement plan specialists add value by serving as the liaison between custodians and/or record-keepers and our clients. We are always available to handle this time consuming-task by facilitating and following up on transfers and withdrawals, helping with beneficiary updates, and setting up new accounts. We pride ourselves in taking on all that we can do to help our clients complete their goals.  We truly are the premier in client service!

Why I Work for Premier Premier encourages collaboration at all levels of the firm, meaning each team member is valued and respected. The culture here is unique in this aspect. Our leaders, (Board of Directors and Management), are committed to my professional and personal growth, and prove to me constantly that they are my biggest advocates. I also value the level of communication and transparency we have, and expect, with each other and our clients. We are continually seeking out ways to better enhance our client’s experience and provide them with peace of mind and confidence. As a very result-oriented and solution-based individual, working for Premier has surrounded me with like-minded people and for that I am grateful. Working in this industry has always been a dream of mine and Premier has taken me under their wing, and I know my future here is endless.

How did I become the Professional I am today? Years of customer service ranging from the banking, marketing, and engineering industries have shaped me to become the professional I am today.  My goal has always been to work for a local organization that I believe in and am proud to be a part of, and to work every day to make that organization even better. The experience I have gained in the past 6 years has led me to pride myself in providing excellent customer service and always going above and beyond for my team members and our clients. My strong willingness to learn combined with my determination to always be bettering myself helps me continue to grow as a professional. You can count on the fact that if you call us or walk through our doors, I will greet you with a smile and friendly welcome and will do whatever I can to make your experience at Premier the absolute best it can be. What inspires me most about Premier? What inspires me most about Premier Financial Group is the outstanding company culture that Premier has cultivated. Before I had even joined the team, I was blown away by Premier’s core values, vision statement, and set of communication agreements, which all establish how dedicated Premier is to its client’s and team member’s success. I am also greatly inspired by Premier Financial Group’s 30+ year history, and the people who have gotten Premier to where it is today. I very much look up to the group of people I have the honor of working with.

HOW DID YOU BECOME THE PROFESSIONAL YOU ARE TODAY? I began my career in the retail banking industry, not yet knowing that it would evolve into a meaningful opportunity to develop and share my passion of serving others. I learned that I could use my expertise and the tools available to me, as well as teamwork and creativity, to positively impact the lives of those I served. During that time, I had the privilege of working alongside and learning from many dedicated mentors who invested in me and inspired me to strive for excellence. This has shaped me into the confident, solution-oriented, and eager-to-serve professional I am today. MY HISTORY… Originally from Chicago, I first moved to Humboldt County in 2010 and attended two years of high school at Six Rivers Charter School in Arcata. I then moved on to graduate from Southridge High School in Beaverton, Oregon. After attending my first year of university in pursuit of a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, I knew my passion was for serving others, but was looking for a different field in which to bring that passion to life. I found myself returning to Humboldt County in 2015. The spirit of our close-knit community is so special and the primary reason I now call Eureka my permanent home. WHAT INSPIRES YOU MOST ABOUT PREMIER? Premier’s service mentality and dedication to excellence are incredibly inspiring to me. I admire that everyone on the Premier team has a strong focus on supporting one another and our clients with the highest level of care. Before I even became an employee, it was evident to me that Premier’s values aligned with my own personal values. It’s important to me to work for a company that truly cares about the well-being of their people – clients, employees, and community – and Premier is an outstanding example of such a company. Premier’s continuous desire to raise and exceed expectations on all levels is what drew me to join the firm, and I consider it a privilege to support both our clients and our team.

HOW DID YOU BECOME THE PROFESSIONAL YOU ARE TODAY? Years of customer service and management. My goal has always been to work in an office and be involved with the world of finances. The experience I have gained in past years has led me to pride myself in providing excellent customer service and always going above and beyond for my team members and our clients. My strong willingness to learn combined with my determination to always be bettering myself helps me continue to grow as a professional. WHAT INSPIRES YOU MOST ABOUT PREMIER? What inspires me most about Premier Financial Group is the dedication everyone has for serving clients and their commitment to working as a team. We are all very passionate about working together and strive for our client’s satisfaction and success.