David W. Powell

Having graduated from San Diego State’s School of Business, my passion for helping people and building close relationships led me to years of work in the fields of accounting and investment real estate. After searching for the perfect fit for my life, I was led to join a team climbing Denali (Mt. McKinley) in Alaska. After two weeks on the glacier, it was summit day. Having little oxygen, committing step-by-step through rough terrain, and climbing with pickaxes and ever-changing weather, I found myself at 19,500 feet, struggling with altitude sickness. I was abandoned by my team who wanted to summit in spite of my condition. Without the timely help of some Austrian climbers who found me and took me down 2,500 feet, I would not have survived. My journey provided an epiphany. Without the help of caring individuals who look out for your well-being, we often struggle and sometimes don’t make it. The same can be said in the financial arena. Without caring wealth managers who put their clients’ needs first and create a plan to meet their unique goals, people can be misled and mismanaged. 

I established Powell Financial Group in 1987, more than 35 years ago, with the motto “Taking the Time to Listen.” Powell Financial Group is staffed with a caring, well-educated staff who work hard each day to provide independent advice, complex analysis, and active management of clients’ accounts. With a constantly changing landscape of political and financial change, keeping abreast of trends is crucial to providing top advice to clientele. 

Erin, my wife of over 40 years, is my soulmate. She supported me through years of working long hours, building a practice, and meeting the needs of people through wealth advising and charitable work all over the country. We are the proud parents of four children. Our older daughter, Sierra, is married and works for PFG as the Technology and Account Services Manager. She and her husband have provided us with our two grandchildren. Our older son, Steven, graduated from CSU Chico with a degree in animation and video game design. Our younger daughter, Carolina, is a talented pastry chef, having worked in several high-end restaurants. Our younger son, Michael, is a sergeant in the U.S. Army, serving as a medic/paratrooper, and has graduated from Army Ranger School.

I love giving back to our local and global communities. Along with family, friends, and clients we have worked together over the years to build homes for families in Mexico and the Conejo Valley. We also give back to a local charity called My Stuff Bags. They help foster children and local victims of fires with needed personal items, toys, blankets, and stuffed animals, which are put in duffle bags and delivered to foster homes and shelters. My Stuff Bags is close to my heart since three of our four children are adopted. In addition, I support various non-profits that protect endangered species, save forests and land, and help keep our oceans clean. In retirement I have more time to focus on those activities I only used to participate in in my limited spare time; I work on my golf game, travel to see the world I strive to protect, and learn photography to record the memories.

My wife, Erin, and I

My children: Carolina, Michael, Sierra, and Steven

Making blankets with staff, family, and clients at My Stuff Bags