Hi, I’m Chris Ramsby
I'm the founder of Cascara Financial Planning, a fee-only fiduciary practice in Lake Oswego, Oregon. I've been working directly with clients on financial planning for 10+ years, getting my start in 2009.
I started Cascara in 2026 because I wanted to run my practice the way I always thought it should be run. A small book of clients who get the highest level of service. No commissions and no products being sold. A commitment to fee only planning with a strong fiduciary standard, putting my clients needs above all else.
Most of the people I work with are professionals in their 30s and 40s, often in tech, healthcare, or education. They're earning well, thinking about what comes next, and want someone to tell them honestly how to build their future.
A Bit About Me
I grew up in the Portland area. Despite traveling all over the world, there's no other place I'd rather call home. Outside of work you'll usually find me outside, with my wife, our kids, and our dogs, somewhere in the Pacific Northwest.
Closer to home, I'm happiest with a project in front of me, usually something hands-on that rewards patience and attention to detail. I tend to do the work myself, and when it's finished it's often done better than it would have been otherwise, because I know exactly what went into it and made sure every step was done right.
That same care carries into my work. Whether it's a project at home or a client's financial plan, good outcomes come from doing the unglamorous things well and sticking with them over the long haul.
How I Got Here
I started in financial services in 2009 at a small Portland firm right after graduating from the University of Oregon. It was an entry-level role, but I ended up being one of the main contacts for our clients. I was invited to take an active role during planning meetings and encouraged to find new ways to add value to their portfolios. I did that for five years during the slow climb out of the financial crisis. Navigating clients through that level of market panic taught me lessons in risk and discipline that remain central to my portfolio strategy.
From 2015 to 2023, I took a detour into a career as a manufacturing sales rep. I had territories, accounts, and a lot of plane rides to Asia and New York. The job taught me how to run my own book of business and how to negotiate with foreign and domestic suppliers in a demanding industry.
In early 2021, while I was still on the road, a former colleague reached out. Their planning workload had grown and they needed help. What started as a part-time role ended up realigning me with my dream career.
As the main support for the senior advisors, I built the cash-flow models, ran the retirement projections, dug into their tax situations, worked through equity compensation, and mapped out 529 college savings plans. Doing that work hands-on, one real situation at a time, is where I built the judgment and confidence I bring to my own clients today.
I was there for four and a half years and loved every minute of it. In June 2025 I left and started Cascara. The reason was simple: I wanted to bring the highest level of service and dedication to my clients.
Credentials
Education
- Bachelor of Science in Economics, minor in Business Administration. University of Oregon, 2009.
- Certificate in Financial Planning. University of Portland, 2011.
Licensing & Registration
- Series 65 licensed Investment Adviser Representative.
- Investment Adviser Representative, CRD #8188482.
- Cascara Financial Planning, LLC. State Registered Investment Adviser in Oregon, CRD #339300.
My Fiduciary Commitment to You
The word "fiduciary" gets thrown around in this industry without anybody actually explaining it. Here's what it means at Cascara. Your best interest come first in all decisions. Nothing I recommend or do is for my own benefit, it will only to benefit you as a client.
Oregon and the SEC require me to put your interests ahead of my own. That's a regulatory standard, not a marketing slogan, and advisors who violate it face real consequences.
I'm also fee-only. The only people who pay me are clients. I don't earn commissions. I don't sell insurance, annuities, or any investment product. I don't take referral fees from other professionals.
Your money is held at a trusted account custodian, not by me. They're independent and unaffiliated with my firm, so you see your accounts and your statements directly. If something ever looks wrong you can call the custodian directly without going through me.
Every advisory relationship has conflicts of interest, mine included. The honest question is whether they get disclosed in plain English or quietly buried in a fifty-page document. I'd rather tell you about mine up front.
I'll tell you when you don't need me. A real fiduciary has to be okay with losing a fee in order to give honest advice. If our work gets to a point where you're set and don't need to keep paying me, I'll say so.
How I Help Clients
As life evolves, financial decisions naturally become more complex. The people I work with are thoughtful and intentional; they come looking for clarity and perspective to ensure their decisions are aligned and moving in the right direction.
My work is holistic and plan-driven, focusing on the full picture of your financial life. Together, we bring clarity to areas like:
Buying or planning for a home
Raising kids and balancing family priorities
Managing and reducing debt
Building confidence around investing
Understanding whether you’re truly on the right path
We’ll organize your finances, define clear priorities, and build a plan that connects today’s decisions to your long-term goals. The result isn’t just a list of recommendations, it’s a roadmap you understand and trust.
What It’s Like to Work With Me
There’s a quiet confidence that comes from seeing the full picture. In my work, I often see people feel more grounded once their financial life feels clear, connected, and aligned with what matters most to them.
You can expect a process that is:
Structured and thoughtful, with clear next steps
Collaborative, built around your real life
Transparent, so you understand the “why” behind every decision
Grounded and judgment-free, no matter where you’re starting
My goal is for you to walk away feeling confident, not just in the plan, but in your ability to make good financial decisions moving forward.
Here's a recent example, lightly anonymized.
A couple in their late 30s walked in feeling like they were behind. Combined household income over $300,000. Around $250,000 saved across their 401(k)s. Two kids, a college savings goal, plus an inherited IRA neither of them fully understood. They'd been aggressively saving, to the point of cutting back on trips, home projects, and time off they actually wanted to take. They came in wanting me to tell them what else they should cut.
I told them the opposite. After running the numbers, they were already on track. The inherited IRA had distribution rules that were going to hit in a few years and needed to be planned around. Some of their 401(k) allocations didn't fit where they actually were in life. They could ease up on the savings rate, take the trip they'd been putting off, and still hit every goal they cared about.
The point wasn't finding new things to cut. It was helping them see what they already had, and giving them permission to enjoy it.
That's what most planning at Cascara looks like. The work isn't dramatic. It's running the actual numbers, explaining what they mean, and giving you something you can act on.
Memberships & Standards
I'm a member of:
NAPFA (National Association of Personal Financial Advisors)
FPA Oregon & SW Washington (Financial Planning Association local chapter)
XY Planning Network (XYPN)
