About Us
We are passionate about helping align your money with your life, freeing up your time to enjoy what matters most. We know that no two people are the same and therefore no two financial life plans should be either. We take the time to show you where you currently are, help you gain clarity about where you want to go, and lay out the next steps to help you get there as quickly as possible.
Stone Steps provides comprehensive financial life planning and investment management designed to help you plan better and live better.
Our Story
We are passionate about helping align your money with your life, freeing up your time to enjoy what matters most. We know that no two people are the same and therefore no two financial life plans should be either. We take the time to show you where you currently are, help you gain clarity about where you want to go, and lay out the next steps to help you get there as quickly as possible.
Stone Steps provides comprehensive financial life planning and investment management designed to help you plan better and live better.
The Stone Steps Team
Scott R. Frank, CFA, CFP®
Founder
Scott founded Stone Steps Financial in 2015, a financial planning and investment management firm located in Encinitas, CA.
Scott holds the designations of Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), Certified Financial Planner (CFP), and Registered Life Planner (RLP). Scott earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with an emphasis in Finance at the University of Colorado at Boulder.
Scott believes strongly in giving back to the community as well as his profession. Scott co-hosts a weekly podcast, Real Personal Finance, in which one personal finance question is answered by real financial planners in plain english. Scott currently serves on the Leadership Development Committee for The National Association Of Personal Financial Advisors.
Scott was named to Investment News 40 under 40 in 2019. He has also contributed to numerous articles on personal finance for the Los Angeles Time, CNBC, the Washington Post, and USA Today.
Scott lives in Cardiff with his wife and two boys.
Mary Brennan, CFP®
Senior Associate Advisor
Mary joined Stone Steps Financial in 2019 as an Associate Advisor.
Mary has been working in wealth management since 2007 and earned the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP) designation in 2019. She has also worked in the entertainment industry and real estate.
Mary received her undergraduate degree in Political Science from California State University Northridge.
She was raised in San Diego and has lived here most of her life but as an adventure seeker she still manages to find new ways to explore and enjoy life in the incredible city she calls home.
Wilson Liu, CFP®
Associate Advisor
Wilson joined Stone Steps Financial in 2022 as an Associate Advisor. He earned his CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP) designation in 2024. He worked in Information Technology for over 20 years and made the shift into finance to follow his passion for helping others.
Wilson received his undergraduate degree in Asian American Studies from the University of California, Los Angeles.
An avid skier, Wilson was a part-time ski instructor for 8 years in Big Bear Lake, California. He lives with his lovely wife and two mischievous cats in Los Angeles; just 15 minutes away from where they both grew up.
Patti Ferguson
Client Service Associate
Patti joined Stone Steps Financial in 2018 as the Client Service Associate. She received her undergraduate degree in International Business from the University of San Diego.
In 2006, she started a bookkeeping business and had been working in financial and accounting services until her family moved to Okinawa, Japan as her husband served in the Marine Corps. She has lived in San Diego for over 16-years and has raised her children during this time as a stay-at-home Mom.
Patti enjoys spending time with her family, traveling and keeping up with their English Bulldog and Chocolate Lab.