Kris West

I am a firm believer that anyone can make the necessary changes to create their dream life with the correct mindset, support and hard work.

I grew up as the oldest of five kids to parents who married very young. My parents worked hard but always seemed to struggle with finances and getting ahead. Just putting food on the table was a monthly challenge. And when emergencies occurred, they were devastating. Watching their struggle and wondering if it was possible to change one’s lot in life led me to study finances in order to create a future that didn’t include living paycheck to paycheck or stressing about money.

From the many lessons I learned, I was able to buy my first car before I could drive at the age of 13 and purchased my first home at 19. Saving and investing became my passion and life’s focus.

My mission is to help individuals discover their purpose and set a game plan for achieving it. I believe proper planning and mindset is the key to someone’s financial independence and success. I feel the most valuable assets a person can have are their physical health, mental/spiritual health and personal relationships. As an advisor, I feel it’s my job to provide financial guidance to support and help enable these areas of my clients’ lives.

After earning a Bachelor of Science degree in finance from Portland State University, I became a financial advisor. I joined the Addison Avenue Investment Services team in 2016. I work with employees of local high-tech companies who tend to have high salaries but complex benefit plans. My job is to first help them understand their benefits packages, then create efficient tax strategies and finally design a financial game plan that helps give them confidence about their future as they work toward and transition into retirement.

When I’m not chasing around my son, Koen, I enjoy date nights with my wife, Amber, and spending time with friends and family. As a sports enthusiast, I like to fit in the occasional Blazers game or attempt to play golf. I also make time to serve my community as an active member of such organizations as Financial Beginnings, a program dedicated to educating Inland Northwest youth on financial literacy and goal achievement.