When grit meets guidance, independence follows. Casey Elkins and Mark Stimpson combine resilience, experience, and a shared passion for helping everyday Americans achieve financial clarity, confidence, and freedom.
Casey M. Elkins
Casey Elkins has always been about finding a way. He understands what it is like to rely on the experts only to have their expertise fall short. When his wife was first diagnosed with a chronic disease, he naturally depended on the expertise of insurance companies to help determine what medical plan would be best to cover her treatment but found that the answers they provided were conflicting, incomplete, and they used jargon that was confusing and hard to understand. In turn, Casey himself did the legwork of finding what plan would cover the proper medication and specialists to treat his wife. In his own career, there was little guidance on 401k plans; Casey was frustrated by the lack of direction and how those that were supposed to help passed the buck and didn’t take the planning for their clients’ futures seriously. In time, Casey was able to get to the bottom of it and find solutions for himself and in turn proved to be a valuable source for his workmates. With a passion for helping people and a natural aptitude for financial philosophies, a new practice evolved.
With old-world traditions of a strong work ethic and serving others, Casey and Mark embarked on a new family tradition, and launched their practice, Elevated Financial Management. Leading his team with integrity, Casey has made it his goal to simplify financial solutions for his clients. He understands the importance of preserving your hard-earned assets and wants to help you grow those assets for the future. Casey has taken life’s hardships and turned them into a practice driven to make the most positive impact on his clients.
At Elevated Financial Management, Casey and Mark keep it simple for their clients. They don’t use condescending industry jargon designed to confuse people; they keep it real. As an independent practice, Casey provides client-centric planning, creating a “boutique” of personalized plans for the everyday American. As a Certified Financial Fiduciary, Casey is dedicated to putting his clients at the core of his business, with no corporate agenda. He strives to untangle financial principles into simplified language for his clients.
Mark A. Stimpson
Mark Stimpson is managing partner of Elevated Financial Management & President of Mark Stimpson and Associates Inc. of Federal Way, WA. For nearly 40 years Mark’s mission has been to bring Clarity, Confidence, & Independence to the retirement planning process.
Since 1979 Mark has specialized in Tax & Income planning along with reducing market risk, minimizing tax liabilities and protecting assets from the ravaging effects of unexpected long term care expenses.
Mark is a Certified Financial Fiduciary & holds a Series 65 Securities License as an Investment Advisor Representative. Mark is a nationally certified Social Security Advisor (NSSA) that teaches both Social Security & Income Planning at 2 local community colleges. Mark is also a Certified Senior Advisor (CSA). Mark teaches financial education through human resource departments & the Heartland Institute of Financial Education.
Mark is father to 3 wonderful children & 2 grandsons. Mark loves to cook, play golf & really enjoys spending quality time with friends but especially with his beautiful wife of 42 years.
Nicole L. Martinez
Nicole Martinez brings more than 25 years of operational leadership to Elevated Financial Management. She brings a kind glowing spirit to the office, that is always ready to help. Known for her reliability, strategic mindset, and being calm under pressure, Nicole specializes in turning complex challenges into clear, workable solutions.
She plays a critical role in building strong relationships that keep the firm aligned, efficient, and client-focused. As a trusted advisor to leadership, Nicole has guided teams through evolving business environments with a consistent focus on communication, accountability, and culture.
At heart, Nicole is a connector. She finds purpose in supporting others, mentoring teammates, and creating an environment where people feel empowered to do their best work. Her leadership style blends empathy with high standards — because she believes the best organizations are built on both care and clarity.
Originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico, Nicole now calls the Pacific Northwest home. Outside the office, she enjoys traveling (with a special fondness for Italy), exploring Washington’s natural beauty, and spending time with her family — including her husband of 34 years, their two daughters, a son-in-law, and four energetic dogs, two of whom proudly hold the title of “grand-dogs.”
Steven P. O’Flynn
With over 25 years of expertise in financial services and business management, Steven, originally from Coventry, England, is dedicated to helping families and business owners navigate the complexities of insurance and investments.
Steven’s impressive career began with the establishment of a commercial insurance brokerage in Derbyshire, England. After relocating to the United States, he transitioned to a Financial Advisor role, honing his skills at leading firms like Edward Jones and Morgan Stanley. His entrepreneurial spirit led him to found his own Registered Investment Advisory firm, providing him with a unique depth of knowledge he now brings to his role as a Financial Advisor at EFM.
His comprehensive approach includes crafting retirement income strategies, developing financial plans, offering Social Security analysis, facilitating Roth conversions, and expertly managing asset allocation across taxable, tax-free, and tax-deferred accounts.
Craig B. Roth
Craig brings over thirty years of experience helping individuals and families design retirements they can truly enjoy — not just endure. Over those decades, he’s seen just about every kind of market imaginable: the booms, the busts, the bubbles, and the slow climbs in between. Through it all, Craig has relied on his deep understanding of markets, taxes, and income planning to guide his clients safely through uncertain times.
But if you ask Craig what really drives him, he won’t start with charts or financial models — he’ll start with family. To him, retirement planning isn’t about chasing returns; it’s about protecting what people have built and creating confidence for the years ahead. Every client, in Craig’s view, deserves to be treated like family — with honesty, respect, and genuine care.
That realization hit home when his in-laws came to him for retirement help. They had spent decades working hard, taking risks, and saving diligently to build a nest egg. Now, the last thing they wanted was another chance to “hit it big.”. What they wanted now was stability, cash flows, and the peace of knowing they were taken care of no matter what. Craig built a plan focused on reducing risk, minimizing taxes, and delivering dependable income. The result? More than thirty years of living the retirement they’d always dreamed of, traveling the world, celebrating milestones, taking grandchildren on epic adventures, and spending freely when they wished. Even as life changed — and healthcare needs grew — the plan continued to support them. His father-in-law lived a full and happy life until age 90. His mother-in-law, now 92, still travels, teaches bridge, and embraces each day with enthusiasm.
That experience profoundly shaped how Craig approaches every client relationship today. It reminded him that successful retirement planning isn’t about numbers on a spreadsheet — it’s about real people and real lives. It’s about creating stability, preserving dignity, and building confidence so families can focus on living their retirement, not worrying about it.
At Elevated Financial Management, Craig continues to bring that same personal philosophy to every plan he builds. He believes in clarity over complexity, communication over confusion, and steady income strategies over unnecessary risk. His mission is simple: to help each client experience the same freedom, peace, and joy that his own family did.
After helping our clients create the retirement of their dreams, you might find Craig enjoying life with his family. Lucky Craig married his college sweetheart, Jo, and they raised two sons together who grew up to be fine young men. You may find him experiencing some Zen time in his garden, hiking a trail around this beautiful place we are so lucky to call home, at a local farmers market or playing tennis.
Phillip B. Elmendorf
As a creative person, Phil brings something different to EFM. Finance is generally not considered a creative arena, but Phil finds a way to breathe life into the financial planning world. Phil is a results-driven Marketing Director with a passion for building impactful brand strategies that drive growth and create meaningful customer connections. With extensive experience in digital marketing and brand development he helps to make the EFM vision a reality —from concept to campaign launch.
Throughout his career, he implements data-informed strategies that elevate brand visibility and boost engagement. He excels at the intersection of creativity and analytics, using storytelling and innovation to connect with audiences across multiple platforms.
What really makes Phil a special part of the EFM team is his ability to blend creative and strategic thinking with hands on execution. He brings a positive and upbuilding tone to every conversation he is in and truly helps EFM be different – by design.
Phil is also a true sports enthusiast and loves to support the local teams. He has a loving wife and is a great father to his 2 beautiful children.
Kevin A. Ansong
Kelvin Ansong is an accomplished Certified Public Accountant (CPA) with extensive experience in financial statement preparation, SEC regulations, and GAAP compliance. A graduate of Baruch College/CUNY with a bachelor’s in business administration and a minor in Law Policy & Business Law, specializing in Securities Law, Kelvin is skilled in financial analysis, reporting, and auditing. Kelvin is also an active member of the National Association of Black Accountants (NABA).
Kelvin served as an Assistant Plan Controller at Centene Corp., where he oversaw the preparation of financial statements, internal controls, and audits for the organization. Under his leadership, the team achieved 100% successful audits, and his financial review and analysis saved over $2.5 million in wrongful billing. Kelvin began his professional journey at EisnerAmper LLP in New York as a Tax Associate within the Financial Services division. During his tenure he prepared complex tax returns, including 1065s, 1120s, and K-1s for hedge funds, private equity, and real estate clients. Kelvin also compiled K-1 packages and worked on fund-of-funds by calculating realized and unrealized gains and losses, as well as allocating partnership interests in accordance with partnership agreements. Furthermore, Kelvin contributed to client tax research, helping save significant tax dollars by identifying optimal tax treatments for various investments.
Kelvin is the father of a wonderful daughter. He loves playing and watching soccer and his favorite team is Real Madrid.
Charlie G. Griffith
Charlie is a driven and highly motivated intern at Elevated Financial Management. Known for a strong work ethic and a passion for learning, Charlie approaches every opportunity with enthusiasm and a commitment to excellence. In school and with this internship, Charlie demonstrates a relentless pursuit of knowledge in finance and investment strategies.
As an intern at Elevated Financial Management, Charlie immerses himself in the complexities of financial markets and client relations under the mentorship of seasoned professionals. He thrives in environments that challenge him to think critically and develop innovative solutions to real-world financial scenarios. Charlie brings a combination of analytical skills, a thirst for understanding market trends, and a genuine curiosity about how to best serve clients’ financial needs. He is poised to leverage his internship experience to not only contribute to his team but also to refine his understanding of wealth management strategies.
Entering his third year at Arizona State University, Charlie is a Dean’s List student in the W.P. Carey School of Business studying for his B.S. in Finance. At ASU, Charlie is active in tutoring in math at the Business School Student Center, enjoys intra-scholastic sports, and finds time to play golf with friends.