Monique San Miguel Lopez

I enjoy guiding clients through financial opportunities, choices, and decision-making. Helping people identify what they’re striving toward — and why — is what makes financial planning such a powerful blend of art and science. I work with clients to map out the “lay of the land” in their personal finances and create actionable paths toward their goals. Whether it's understanding an employer benefits package or making sense of complex financial terminology, I find meaning in helping clients connect all the pieces together.

I’m a Bay Area native and a graduate of San Francisco State University, holding a BA in Economics and a BA in Spanish. I also earned an Executive Certificate in Financial Planning from SFSU’s College of Extended Learning. I’ve also earned my Certification as a Chartered Financial Consultant which holds me to a fiduciary standard in service of my clients.

With nearly two decades of experience in financial services, I’ve worked across both the non-profit and corporate sectors. I began my career as a Credit and Housing Counselor during the 2008 financial crisis, helping families nationwide avoid bankruptcy, prevent foreclosure, and navigate first-time homebuying in a turbulent market.

From there, I led a financial education program for a non-profit organization, where I developed and taught courses throughout San Francisco, San Mateo, and Marin counties. I also had the opportunity to teach at the college level alongside Ira and Liz at San Francisco State’s Financial Planning program.

After seven years in the non-profit space, I transitioned to the corporate side, working in retail services at a national brokerage firm. In that role, I partnered directly with clients to develop investment strategies for brokerage and retirement accounts, serving as an educator and thought partner through many of life’s financial stages. I helped clients evaluate service providers and investment options, always focusing on what best aligned with their needs and goals.

Most recently, before joining SAS, I worked at a fintech startup advising clients on their employer-sponsored 401(k) plans — a role that paired my passion for education with the benefits of workplace-based financial planning.

I love helping clients understand how markets work, select goal-based investment strategies, and make informed decisions about account types and asset allocations. My work is also about helping clients uncover financial blind spots and develop clarity around how their financial lives support their bigger-picture goals.

I’ve always believed that financial planning should be empowering — not intimidating. I’m not a “numbers person” by nature, and that’s exactly why I approach this work the way I do. I don’t assume that charts, big numbers, or technical language come naturally to everyone. I take pride in making complex financial topics approachable and helping clients build confidence in their decisions.

I live in San Francisco with my husband, our two children and three doggies.