We’re wealth, life, and legacy optimizers.

Our Founder | Principal

Lan J. Shaw, CFP®, CEPA®, MBA

“I’m a synergizer who’s skilled in solving problems and optimizing outcomes.“


Vision Private Wealth & Lan J. Shaw

Lan’s background and awards

After being born in the communist country of China and living in a re-education camp at 4 years of age, to later enduring the 7.5 magnitude Tangshan earthquake of 1976 and consequently spending 3 more years of her childhood living on the streets, it may have been tempting to see life through a lens of limitation. Fortunately, Lan has always had a natural tendency to look for what’s possible rather than settling for what seemed probable, and to make possibility a reality. Her innate optimizing talent has led to miracle after miracle.

Lan:
• Was born in Beijing, China
• Survived a cultural revolution and a 7.5 magnitude earthquake, which left her family destitute
• Earned her undergraduate degree in Systems Engineering
• Excelled in her career, which opened the opportunity to visit America
• Became a global corporate executive
• Earned her MBA in England in just one year
• Moved permanently to California
• Transitioned to financial planning
• Achieved her CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER
certification (CFP®) and her Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA®)
• Earned the trust of her clients through hard work and excellent service
• Left a large financial institution to cater to the custom needs of her clients
• Opened a virtual family office to optimally support her clients’ financial and lifestyle needs
• Five Star Wealth Manager award winner every year 2018-2023*

Lan’s story

I’m a born optimizer. As an immigrant born in China whose family was displaced after a massive earthquake, I could have settled for what was then my reality, but instead I developed a hunger for exploring what’s possible.

With an undergraduate degree in systems engineering, I bootstrapped my way to an affluent American lifestyle with a global corporation, but I didn’t want my life to be about “arriving” at a destination, instead I kept looking for a way to evolve and embrace new opportunities as they unfolded. That’s what led me to wealth management where I realized my passion was helping clients with complex lives optimize their outcomes. I combined my undergraduate systems engineering degree with an MBA in finance. In my first decade as a wealth planner, I met many experts with a thorough grasp of their subject material.

Lawyers, accountants, insurance specialists, concierge medical doctors, charitable foundation specialists, and more. They all did good work but they carried out that work in silos.

The wealthy have complex needs that require a synergistic family office approach. At that time, a family office was only available to the ultra-rich.

I made it my mission to change that and started my own wealth management practice with all the tools, strategies, methodologies, and processes needed to make a meaningful difference in the lives of my clients.

I strongly believe that my clients’ desired outcomes first need to be deeply understood. Then, the goal of the entire team is to work towards that ultimate goal, which often requires the synergistic collaboration of specialists.

Lan Shaw (CA Insurance Lic# 0F94440) is a Registered Representative and an Investment Adviser Representative with/and offers securities and advisory services through Commonwealth Financial Network®, Member FINRA/SIPC, a Registered Investment Adviser.  Fixed insurance products and services are separate from and not offered through Commonwealth Financial Network.

*2018-2023 Five Star Wealth Manager Award, created by Five Star Professional. The 2023 award was presented in Dec 2022 based on data gathered within 12 months preceding the issue date. 3,629 advisors were considered, 155 advisors were recognized. Advisors pay a fee to hold out marketing materials. Not indicative of advisor’s future performance. Your experience may vary. For more information, please visit www.fivestarprofessional.com.Click here for more award information.

Family Office Specialist

Vision Private Wealth & Russ Alan Prince

Russ Alan Prince*

Family Office Specialist

We collaborate with Russ Alan Prince to bring his decades of expertise in family offices to our clients. Working with ultra-wealthy clients, Russ provides insights on how to deliver desired outcomes through a highly functioning family office. Russ is editor of Private Wealth magazine, and has authored more than 60 books on financial topics, including:

  • Maximizing Your Single-Family Office: Leveraging the Power of Outsourcing and Stress Testing

  • Your Optimal Financial World: How Driven Entrepreneurs Can Benefit from High-Performing Virtual Family Offices

  • Becoming Seriously Wealthy: How to harness the strategies of the super rich and ultra-wealthy business owners

*Russ Alan Prince does not offer securities or advisory services through, and is not affiliated with, Commonwealth Financial Network.

Meet the team

Melissa Guerrieo

Client Concierge

Melissa is here to support you. With over 15 years of expertise in the financial services sector, and prominent roles including Executive Director of Operations at Oppenheimer & Co. and Operations Manager at UBS Financial Services, Melissa is known for her exceptional leadership and organizational prowess. She is dedicated to serving Vision Private Wealth clients through her organizational genius, efficient management, and clear communication. Having held Series 7, 10, 9, and 66 licenses, Melissa’s deep financial understanding helps her ensure peace of mind through detailed, accurate financial records and support.

Our RIA Broker/Dealer

We’re proud to partner with Commonwealth Financial Network®, a Registered Investment Adviser (“RIA”). Commonwealth oversees total account assets of nearly $272.9 billion. (1) The firm is independently owned and managed, which means the firm can act in the best interests of its financial advisors and their clients—not shareholders. 

Commonwealth offers the scale, stability, and resources that help us deliver the solutions you need. It’s that infrastructure—and the always expanding wealth of resources it provides—that makes it easier for our firm to provide you with the best possible guidance and the prompt, personal service you expect and deserve.

  • Choice. Commonwealth delivers access to robust, independent market research, financial planning knowledge, and a wide universe of investment options—from individual stocks and bonds to mutual funds, exchange-traded funds, alternative investments, managed accounts, and retirement plans.

  • Service. The firm’s advisor-to-staff ratio means staff members act promptly, execute transactions quickly and accurately, and, in general, offer our firm the same bespoke treatment we provide you.

  • Technology. Commonwealth’s technology platform is a critical component, enabling us to keep you on track to meet your financial goals. Its integrated web-based systems allow us to more efficiently manage your portfolio and overall financial life.

  • Security and Privacy. Commonwealth excels in its commitment to safeguarding your privacy and ensuring that your investment data remains secure. Its encryption standards, redundant data centers, and disaster recovery plans make us confident that the information you entrust us with will remain secure.

J.D. Power ranks Commonwealth “#1 in Independent Advisor Satisfaction Among Financial Investment Firms, Nine Times in a Row.” (2)

Vision Private Wealth & Awards

 1. As of 12/31/21

2. Commonwealth received the highest score among independent advisors in the **J.D. Power 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2018-2022 U.S. Financial Advisor Satisfaction Studies.** Presented on 7.6.2022 for January to May 2022 and is based on responses from 3,039 advisors employed by or affiliated with the firms included in the study. Not indicative of the firm’s future performance. Your experience may vary. Use of study results in promotional materials is subject to a license fee. Visit jdpower.com/awards for more details.

Advanced Planning Team

Charitable planning, trusts, estates, and social security are just some of the areas we’re able to provide you with guidance through our partnership with Commonwealth Financial Network®, our Registered Investment Adviser–broker/dealer. This highly specialized team of Advanced Planning professionals is available to us as we serve your comprehensive financial planning needs.

  • Justin Duft

    JD, CFP®, CLU®, ChFC®, CLTC

    Director, Advanced Planning

  • Heather Zack

    JD, LLM, CAP®

    Team Lead, Advanced Planning

  • Martin Baker

    CFP®

    Advanced Planning Consultant

  • Maureen Baxter

    MBA, CLU®, ChFC®

    Advanced Planning Consultant

  • Keven DuComb

    JD, MBA

    Advanced Planning Consultant

  • David Haughton

    JD

    Advanced Planning Consultant

  • Aric Jacobson

    JD, CFP®, LLM

    Advanced Planning Consultant

  • Krista Teegarden

    CLU®, ChFC®

    Advanced Planning Consultant

Research Team

We partner with Commonwealth Financial Network®, our Registered Investment Adviser–broker/dealer, to deliver research specialists to care for your evolving needs.

  • Brad McMillan

    CFA®, CAIA, MAI

    Managing Principal and Chief Investment Officer

  • Brian Price

    CFA®

    Senior Vice President, Investment Management and Research

  • Chad LaFauci

    CFA®, CAIA

    Director, Real Assets

  • Jim McAllister

    CFA®

    Vice President, Equity Research

  • Peter Essele

    CFA®, CAIA, CFP®

    Senior Vice President, Investment Management and Research

  • Fred DeBaets

    Portfolio Manager, Fixed Income

  • Chris Fasciano

    Portfolio Manager, Investment Management and Research

  • Andrew Kitchings

    CAIA, ERP

    Portfolio Manager, Investment Management and Research

  • Brian McCormick

    CIMA®

    Manager, Investment Management and Research

  • Nathan Parker

    CFA®, CAIA

    Senior Research Analyst, Real Assets

  • Robert Kane

    CAIA

    Senior Research Analyst, Alternatives

  • Rob Swanke

    CFA®, CAIA

    Research Analyst, Fixed Income

  • Peter Roberto

    Research Associate, Equity

  • Sam Millette

    Research Analyst, Fixed Income

  • Tom Scarlata

    Research Associate, Investment Management and Research