William "Bill" Morrissey, CFP®

E-mail: wtmorrissey@soundfinancialplanning.net

Prior to founding Sound Financial Planning Inc. in 1982, Bill Morrissey was in the real estate business in Seattle from 1971-80.  He was in residential and then commercial real estate, owned and managed a substantial real estate investment portfolio, and was President of two real estate development companies.  From 1980-82 he was the managing partner of the Islander Lopez, a major resort in the San Juan Islands.  In June 1982 he sought a line of work more fulfilling and connected to the community. He aspired to use his business acumen to help people achieve financial security.

The result of over three decades of hard work and perseverance is Sound Financial Planning (SFP), the company Bill founded and is President of today. The company provides a “holistic approach to comprehensive financial planning.”

“I'm really glad I made the transition to financial planning,” says Bill, who became a Certified Financial Planner^TM (CFP®) in 1984. “I love helping people achieve that peace of mind when they make good decisions for their financial future.”

Bill enjoys the relationships he develops with clients. “They are part of our extended family,” he says. So much so that Bill and his wife Sharon invited SFP clients to their wedding in 2003.

When talking about helping clients, Bill mentions those who have lost their spouses. He can relate. Bill's first wife died of breast cancer in 1991 when his two sons were 10 and 3 years old.

“When people are widowed, they want to feel cared for and move at their own pace,” he says. “We feel we are uniquely qualified to assist our clients through this difficult life transition.” Bill has spoken about this topic to his peers in Seattle.

Philanthropy is also a focus for Bill. He is the Past  President of the United Way of San Juan County and has been on the board of directors for over 16 years. He said that each year “we help more than 5,000 residents countywide through carefully screened local agencies that are funded by United Way. Our supported agencies are evaluated annually for effectiveness, measured results, and fiscal responsibility. These programs are vital for the community’s most critical needs.” He is also Past President of the Friday Harbor Kiwanis Club and Past President of the San Juan Island Public Schools Foundation.

Bill is a founding member of the Nazrudin Project, which is a group of financial planners and other professionals devoted to working with their clients in a holistic manner. Bill is a member of and past national board member of the Financial Planning Association as well as Past President of the Puget Sound Chapter of the Financial Planning Association. He is also a member of the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors, which is the Nation’s leading organization of Fee-Only financial planners. He is a member and Past President of the Northwest Washington Estate Planning Council.

Bill enjoys spending personal time with Sharon and his two grown sons, Travis and Stephen as well as Sharon’s grown daughter and son, Erika and Nils. Bill and Sharon escape to a “warm place” at least once a year. Those trips have included the Caribbean, where they enjoy snorkeling

Bill has lived in the Pacific Northwest his entire life and loves the beautiful environment. He lives on the water on San Juan Island and is grateful that he can kayak “outside his front door.” He also enjoys hiking in the national park adjacent to where he lives. Bill has been a pilot since 1979 and flies to and from his two office locations. He has enjoyed flying all over the Pacific Northwest. Bill has had a lifelong commitment to physical fitness and stays fit with swimming, hiking, strength training, and yoga.

Other highlights from Bill's career include:

• Being published in the Wall Street Journal, Money Magazine, Financial Planning Magazine, Skagit Valley Herald, The Journal, Bellingham Herald, and Business Pulse
• Contributed to two nationally-acclaimed books: “Financial Planning Can Make You Rich,” and “About Your Future...Financial Planning Will Make the Difference.”
• Conducted financial planning programs for KOMO, KBRC, and KGMI Radio, KING Radio's Money Talks, KING TV's Top Story, KVOS TV's Digest, KCTS TV's Serious Money, and KIRO TV's Noon News.
• Hosted the "Washington Business News Forum" for KEZX