Succession planning, M&A and your practice

Jorge Bernal is an accomplished leader with over 30 years of experience in the financial services industry. As EP Wealth Management's first-ever Chief Operating Officer, Jorge brings a wealth of expertise in leading nationwide and international teams, with a proven track record of managing front-, middle-, and back-office functions for some of the most successful firms in the industry, including SageView, Goldman Sachs, United Capital, Fidelity, and JPMorgan. In his role, Jorge is responsible for leading the Advisor, Marketing, Investments, Wealth Advisory Services, Wealth Management Services, Operations, and Client Service teams, working across the organization to drive value and efficiency while enhancing the client experience. His efforts focus on evolving EP Wealth’s service offerings, ensuring that the company continues to exceed the expectations of clients, employees, and stakeholders across all markets. Jorge’s leadership is grounded in his entrepreneurial spirit and his deep commitment to serving clients, alongside his passion for fostering an environment where employees thrive, aligns perfectly with EP’s mission to build a nationwide, fee-only Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) firm that never loses focus on what matters most: the success of its clients. Jorge is based in Seattle with his wife and three-year-old daughter and has three older children.

Matthew Carter joined Turkey Hill Management in February 2024, following a career dedicated exclusively to wealth management. Most recently, he served as Director of Wealth Management Services, where he delivered financial planning and investment advice to clients of a rapidly growing, full-service wealth management firm. Through these roles, Matt developed a deep appreciation for how wealth managers build enduring client relationships and the meaningful guidance they provide every day. He brings that same client-centered mindset to his work at Turkey Hill, where he advises firms navigating sell-side M&A transactions. Outside of work, Matt enjoys time on the golf course, at a cookout, or cheering on his favorite teams at a sporting event. He lives in Richmond with his wife, Ashley, and their three children.

With over 25 years in wealth management, Stacy Coffey is a results-driven executive known for driving firm growth, advancing advisor and client experience, and actionable leadership development. As Managing Director and Head of Advisory Partnership Success at Rise Growth Partners, she expertly guides RIA leaders and advisors on growth acceleration strategies and achieving exceptional outcomes for both firms and their clients. Stacy began her career at Charles Schwab, where she spent over 19 years advising high-net-worth clients, leading advisory teams across the West Coast. She later relocated to Schwab’s corporate headquarters to lead firmwide initiatives focused on client experience, wealth planning, and long-term, sustainable growth. She most recently served as Senior Vice President of Wealth Strategies at Wealth Enhancement Group, where she led specialized teams delivering scalable financial planning, investment consulting, tax preparation, estate planning strategies, high-net-worth services, and insurance solutions. Her leadership drove deeper client engagement and fueled organic growth in net new assets. Known for distilling complex strategies into actionable insights, Stacy has been featured in Barron’s, U.S. News & World Report, and Forbes, reflecting her stature as a respected voice in the industry. Stacy is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER®, a certified executive coach through the UC Berkeley Executive Coaching Institute and holds a BA in secondary education from Ottawa University.