Mission Wealth Celebrates Amanda Thomas’ Retirement: A Legacy of Empowerment

With heartfelt gratitude and bittersweet emotion, we announce the retirement of Amanda Thomas, a Partner and our Director of Philanthropic Strategy and one of Mission Wealth’s most tenured and impactful team members. Amanda has dedicated her career to helping clients achieve financial security. After devoting over 18 years of service, she will retire at the end of 2024, leaving a lasting impact on the Mission Wealth team, clients, and community.

Amanda at her retirement party in November, 2024.

“We are thrilled for Amanda as she begins her retirement journey. Her bright smile, funny stories, and unique way of connecting with each team member will be deeply missed. She’s worked tirelessly, and we’re certain she and Jay will enjoy an incredibly fulfilling and well-deserved retirement. Mission Wealth simply won’t be the same without her!” commented Dannell Stuart, President and Partner at Mission Wealth.

Amanda exemplified her commitment to guiding clients through complex and deeply personal financial journeys throughout her advisory career. Her clients’ stories of resilience — spouses facing cognitive decline, families navigating unexpected losses, and individuals preparing for unexpected wealth from inheritances or business sales — fueled her passion for ensuring each client felt confident in their financial plans. Amanda cherished the opportunity to provide reassurance and expert guidance, helping clients to realize their dreams.

Leading by Example

In preparing for her own retirement, Amanda applied the same principles and thorough planning that she advocated for her clients. Like many who have faced this transition, she began years in advance by creating detailed retirement projections, factoring in her and her husband’s savings rate, spending goals, family support, and long-term care needs. Amanda also considered “what if” scenarios, such as increased travel, the option to “work by choice,” and even a potential move to a retirement community. These considerations were complemented by her careful investment risk evaluation, shaped by her deep understanding of market cycles over the years.

Amanda’s final step in planning her retirement was an emotional one: the shift from earning a paycheck to living off the wealth they had accumulated over the last four decades. She grappled with the changes involved in moving from the “contribution” to the “distribution” phase, knowing that her time would be her own and eager to fill it with family, travel, and community contributions.

Mission Wealth celebrated Amanda in Santa Barbara, CA.

“I’ve watched my clients go through these same questions and transitions and have seen so many wonderful outcomes to retirement – more time with the grandchildren, finding a new passion or hobby, time to focus on working out and achieving a goal, or having time to give back to the community through volunteering,” says Thomas. “There will be those first months after retirement where you want to check off all the projects and activities you have been waiting years to work on, but what about after that? That is the exciting part! We can take a trip without advance plans, drive up to visit the grandkids, and find that special charitable cause that tugs at our hearts.”

A New Journey Ahead

As she embarks on this new journey, Amanda remains connected to Mission Wealth, trusting the firm to provide her family with the same level of support and expertise she offered her clients. Her commitment, empathy, and exceptional knowledge have shaped Mission Wealth, and her legacy will continue to inspire both colleagues and client families.

As Amanda retires, we want to assure our clients that the charitable giving and philanthropic strategy planning she championed will continue with the same dedication and expertise. Our Wealth Strategy Team, specifically Andrew Kulha, Director of Estate Strategy, will carry forward Amanda’s impactful work, ensuring clients receive the thoughtful guidance and support that Amanda established. Andrew and the team remain committed to helping clients fulfill their philanthropic goals with the same passion and precision Amanda brought to every interaction.

Amanda’s retirement is not the end of a chapter, but a celebration of a career dedicated to empowering others. Mission Wealth proudly thanks Amanda for her years of dedicated service and wishes her all the best in her next adventure.