Our Team
William Whidden, CFP has been helping clients plan for and achieve their personal financial goals and dreams in the Columbia River Gorge since 1992. A graduate of Colby College in Waterville, Maine, Bill began his financial service career with IDS/American Express Financial Advisors as a financial planner. Early in his career path, Bill decided to leave American Express and join an independent broker dealer in order to offer his clients a pure, unbiased level of service and investment products. After receiving his Certified Financial Planner designation, he increased his focus on providing state-of-the-art, personal financial planning services to successful individuals and entrepreneurial businesses.
Professionally, Bill has devoted his career to the study of financial goal attainment and wealth accumulation. As a commitment to his profession, he pursued the CFP designation which he achieved in 1995. Subsequently, he studied for and attained the Chartered Mutual Fund Counselor designation also offered by the CFP Board of Standards. He is a member of the Financial Planning Association, past President of the White Salmon/ Bingen Rotary Club, President of the Skyline Foundation and active member of his church.
Prior to his entry in to the financial services industry, Bill was President of Freedom Sailmakers International, Ltd on the island of Maui in the Hawaiian chain. The precursor to this career in the sailing industry was his position as Vice-President of Sales and Marketing for Windsurfing International, Inc in Torrance, CA. Bill's love of the wind, water and mountains originally attracted him to the Columbia Gorge area.
Bill is married to Heather M. Whidden, a dedicated reading specialist at Henkle Middle School in White Salmon. They have two children, Courtney and Ian each in the White Salmon school system. Bill enjoys spending quality time with his family and all outdoor activities, specifically, mountain biking, back country and telemark skiing, tennis, and hiking.
Email Mr. Whidden at proactive@gorge.net.
Matthew Hanson
Matt joined the Proactive Financial team in the summer of 2007. With previous experience in accounting and taxes he is especially sensitive to the tax costs and benefits when examining financial strategies. Matt graduated from Portland State University with a degree in Finance in 1997 and has been involved in the accounting and finance field since then. Additionally he manages the business affairs of his wife's dental practice so he is able to empathize with the small business owner.
Here at the office Matt's focus is on college savings plans and small business retirement planning startegies. Additionally he is able to offer his expertise on individual retirement planning and general wealth accumulation and management. He is very excited and passionate about helping people achieve their financial goals whether that goal may be to take a dream vacation, send a child to college or retire early. Matt's approach to financial planning is to stay focused on the client's needs and expectations while using his experience and knowledge to maximize investment returns and minimize risk.
Matt grew up in Michigan, moving to the Northwest in 1994 where he met and married his wife, Staci. They now live in Underwood, WA with their two children Conner and Taylor. In addition to spending time with his family Matt enjoys windsurfing, snowboarding, golfing, and working on his home. He also loves yachting and has enjoyed several great sailing vacation with his family and friends. Matt participates in the PTO for Whitson Elementary School and coaches his son's soccer team. He is looking forward to continued involvement in the community and in his children's activites.
Email Matt at matt.proactive@gorge.net.
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