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Spuds Powell, CPWA® Managing Director

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Awards

Highlights

START DATE

Industry: 1993
KAR: 2004

EDUCATION

B.S., Industrial and Labor Relations,
Cornell University

PRIOR WORK EXPERIENCE

  • National Mid-Plan Sales Manager – Financial Engines
  • Retirement Plan Consultant – Retirement Plan Strategies
  • Franklin Templeton Funds

CERTIFICATIONS AND CREDENTIALS*

Certified Private Wealth Advisor®

RECOGNITION

  • 2013-2026 Barron’s Top 100 Independent Financial Advisors list
      • Barron’s Hall of Fame Advisor (inducted 2022)
  • 2018-2026 Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Advisors
  • 2022-2026 L.A. Times B2B Publishing Banking & Finance Visionary
  • Formerly served on the Fidelity Wealth Advisor Solutions® Client Advisory Council
  • Frequent public speaker and has been quoted in the Wall Street Journal, Barron’s, Forbes, Investment News, Investors’ Business Daily, Wealthmanagement.com, and ThinkAdvisor
Fun Fact
I love to cook and can prepare a mean halibut osso buco and chicken biryani.
Q: What Do You Enjoy Most About Your Job?
A: I feel very lucky to do what I do and there’s a lot about it that I enjoy. The most rewarding aspect of my job is developing very close, personal, and trusting relationships with my clients. I love putting in the time and effort necessary to truly understand what they’re trying to accomplish with their wealth and developing a customized investment strategy that aims to help them achieve the financial peace of mind that they’re looking for.
Q: What Do You Enjoy Most About Working at KARWA?
A: I love working with so many amazing people! Our firm prides itself on having a corporate culture built on integrity, honesty and trustworthiness and the people here walk that walk. They’re very smart, experienced, friendly, warm, and willing to help each other and our clients. I feel grateful to be able to work with them.
Q: How Does KARWA Approach Wealth Management Differently?
A: We seek to play great defense and protect our clients’ wealth during difficult markets. One of the ways I believe we have had success in this area is through the utilization of different asset classes including alternatives. One of the few guarantees in our industry is that there will always be periods when the stock market does poorly; however, by allocating a portion of our clients’ wealth to asset classes that may provide better downside protection during those periods when equities struggle, I believe we create more opportunities to generate better performance with less risk. Another thing that I appreciate about KAR is that we manage the wealth of our senior investment professionals and principals. I’m always very proud to tell prospective clients and existing clients that we are a classic example of a firm that “eats its own cooking” by investing alongside clients in the same portfolios.

Q: What Do You Hope to Achieve for Your Clients?
A: I strive to provide my clients with financial peace of mind, the notion that they can continue to have confidence in the investment strategy that we’ve implemented for them.
Q: What Are You Involved in Outside of Work?
A: I strive to have a balanced life and spend as much time as possible with my family. I married my high school sweetheart, Ann and we have four children: Emmet, Mary Clare, Finn and Margot. We support Providence TrinityKids Care, Homes of Hope, Moira’s Mission, Manhattan Beach Education Foundation, and American Martyrs Catholic Church, among other organizations. I enjoy playing sports and cooking and am a loyal fan of the San Francisco Giants, San Francisco 49ers and Notre Dame Football.
More from Spuds
News
The Financial Considerations of Becoming a Law Firm Partner Spuds Powell Shares Career Reflections on Barron’s Advisor Gray Divorce, Retirement Planning, and Inheritance: Insights from Spuds Powell What Clients Have Taught Me: 6 Reflections From a Career in Wealth Management What Ultra-Wealthy Clients Teach Their Advisors
Insights
Video
May 8, 2026 | by Julie Biel, Andrew P. Grant, Kimberly C. Friedricks and Spuds Powell
KAR Spring 2026 Market Update Webcast
Article
May 5, 2026 | by Spuds Powell
What My Clients Have Taught Me About Being a Wealth Advisor: Reflections on Trust, Lessons Learned, and 13 Years of Recognition
Video
February 9, 2026 | by Julie Biel, Andrew P. Grant, Kimberly C. Friedricks and Spuds Powell
KAR Winter 2026 Market Update Webcast
Video
November 19, 2025 | by Julie Biel, Andrew P. Grant, Thomas Pontius and Spuds Powell
Fall 2025 Market Update Webcast
Fall 2025 Market Update Webinar
Video
August 1, 2025 | by Julie Biel, Kimberly C. Friedricks, Andrew P. Grant and Spuds Powell
Summer 2025 Market Update Webcast

*If you have any questions regarding a particular professional’s credentials or for more information regarding each credential’s requirements and qualifications, please contact KAR to receive a copy of your professional’s Form ADV Part 2B.