Colorful, Collaborative, Collegial and Culture

Colorful diversity with collegial collaboration, that’s how Karen works, and it’s the culture at Raymond James. Building trust and respect is crucial, achieved through identifying suitable solutions and nurturing our relationship with you – this is the path to achieving your goals.

Karen has over 30 years of experience in the financial services industry and serves as the primary consultant to a variety of institutional plans including Corporate, Endowment, Foundation, and Taft-Hartley Joint-Trusteed plans. She also serves as the principal consultant responsible for assisting clients with the development and implementation of their defined contribution programs. This includes providing educational support and opportunities for participants and the program fostering their growth and development.

Ms. Yasukawa was named to the NAPA Top Women Advisors – All-Stars*** in 2019, 2021 and 2023. In 2002, Ms. Yasukawa earned the CIMA® designation from the Investments & Wealth Institute taught in conjunction with The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. In 2010, Ms. Yasukawa earned her Accredited Investment Fiduciary (AIF) designation. Ms. Yasukawa currently serves as a member of the Raymond James RIAC (Retirement Plan & Institutional Advisory Council) and the National Retirement Advisor Council where she works with the FinLitFuture$ Fueling Financial Futures Program/Curriculum Sub-Committee.

Ms. Yasukawa graduated with Distinction from the University of Hawaii in English Literature. After graduation, Ms. Yasukawa went on to live in Germany, visited many European countries and returned to Honolulu to begin her career in the Employee Benefits Division of Aetna Life Insurance Company. She became the first female manager of an Aetna Employee Benefits Branch in the United States. During that time with her husband, Max, two children were born, a daughter and a son. These adult children have blessed them with four granddaughters. Max and Karen lead vibrant lives surrounded by the warmth of family, friends, pets and a continuous buzz of activity. Life always has some new adventure around the corner.

A fifth “C” is Customized – Ms. Yasukawa’s passion is to be that resource her clients come to in seeking customized solutions for the quality of life they want including managing difficult financial issues. Holistic planning of customized outcomes for all participants and their beneficiaries is her goal. This is a privilege to her that comes with an obligation of always having her client’s interest first.

Ms. Yasukawa is the founding member of the Western Pension & Benefits Conference - Hawaii Chapter, past Chair of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society – Hawaii Chapter, and a founding Director of the Hands of Hope Foundation. She has been a member of the Metropolitan Rotary Club of Honolulu and is a Legacy Member of the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii**.

Investments & Wealth Institute™ (The Institute) is the owner of the certification marks “CIMA” and “Certified Investment Management Analyst.” Use of CIMA and/or Certified Investment Management Analyst signifies that the user has successfully completed The Institute's initial and ongoing credentialing requirements for investment management professionals.

Raymond James' Retirement Plan & Institutional Advisory Council membership is based on assets under management, number of qualified group retirement plans, designations obtained, and compliance record. Membership is not an endorsement, is not representative of any one client's experience, and is not indicative of future performance. No fee is paid in exchange for this membership. Requalification is not required.

Formed in 2009, the Retirement Advisor Council is a national organization that advocates for successful qualified plan and participant retirement outcomes through the collaborative efforts of experienced, qualified retirement plan advisors, investment managers and defined contribution plan service providers. To advance its mission, the Council undertakes initiatives in the areas of research, public relations and promotion, general public education, regulatory positions and practice management. The council accomplishes this mission by:

• Identifying duties, responsibilities, and attributes of the Professional Retirement Plan Advisor.
• Sharing professional standards with plan sponsors who are responsible for the success of their plans.
• Providing collective thought capital to decision makers, product providers, legislators and the public.
• Giving voice to the retirement plan advisor community.
• Offering tools to evaluate advisors to ensure the quality of services provided.

** The above organizations and/or charitable causes are not affiliated with Raymond James.

***The 2023 NAPA Top Women Advisors list is created and conducted by the National Association of Plan Advisors, an affiliate organization of the American Retirement Association, a non-profit association. Nominations from the list were provided by NAPA Broker-Dealer/RIA Firm Partners. Nominees had to be women, had to be retirement plan advisors with their own book of business. Nominees are required to submit responses to an application comprised of a series of quantitative and qualitative questions about their experience, size and composition of their practice, awards and recognitions, and industry contributions, which were then reviewed by a panel of senior advisor industry experts, who, based on those criteria, and following a broker-check review, selected the top women advisors. Time period upon which the rating is based is from 6/1/2022 to 6/1/2023 and was released on 10/17/2023. Within the group of top women advisors, Captains are those who were principals, owners, or team captains of their organizations. All-Stars are top producers who have their own practice. Rising Stars are top producers who have less than five years of experience with retirement plans as a Financial Advisor (some have been working with plans longer, but not as a plan advisor). For the 2023 award, there were nearly 500 nominations and 261 applications completed and considered. There were 50 Captains, 50 All-Stars, and 19 Rising Stars on the final list. This ranking is not based in anyway on the individual's abilities in regards to providing investment advice or management. This ranking is not indicative of an advisor's future performance, is not an endorsement, and may not be representative of an individual client's experience. Neither Raymond James nor any of its financial advisors pay a fee in exchange for this ranking. Raymond James is not affiliated with National Association of Plan Advisors (NAPA).