John Estes, Principal & Branch Manager
CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ & Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor
John Estes, principal and owner of Estes Wealth Strategies, has worked in the financial services industry for more than two decades, providing high-quality, customized financial planning and wealth management services to individuals and institutions in the greater D.C. Metropolitan area and nationally.
John left his investment management position at a nationally known brokerage firm to found Estes Wealth Strategies in 1998. Starting his own business was a means of fulfilling his passion for helping families and organizations pursue their financial goals through a combination of comprehensive financial planning services and investment management expertise. He associated his practice with Raymond James Financial Services based on the firm’s sterling reputation within the financial services industry for quality, integrity, and service.
John is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER ™ professional, a Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor, and a licensed life insurance and variable annuity agent. He received a BA in Economics from University of Maryland, College Park. He is active in the National Capital Area Chapter of the Financial Planning Association (FPA).
John lives with his wife, Susan, and three children in Oakton, Virginia. He enjoys spending time with his family and loves to travel. He is also an avid sailor and holds a black belt in Traditional Karate Uechi Ryu.
Alisa Schultz, Financial Advisor
Alisa has 12 years’ experience in the financial services and wealth management services industry. Prior to joining Estes Wealth Strategies in 2021, she worked as a Financial Advisor for a regional bank serving clients in Maryland, DC and Virginia. She holds her General Securities Representative license (Series 7) and is a licensed life insurance and annuity producer. She received a BS in Business Administration from Old Dominion University in Virginia.
As a native of Northern Virginia, Alisa enjoys working with local clients, as well as clients all over the US, to help them reach their goals. She cultivates client relationships with thoughtful listening to provide honest and knowledgeable solutions. Alisa advises individuals, families and business owners on retirement planning, financial planning, estate planning, and investment portfolio management.
Alisa lives with her husband, Alan, two teenagers, and one dog in McLean. She loves playing tennis in her spare time, as well as traveling, reading, and yoga.
Kathleen Lazor, Client Relationship Manager
Kathleen Lazor is the smiling face of client services at Estes Wealth Strategies, building strong client relationships and providing day-to-day account administration support to ensure client needs are met and expectations exceeded.
Prior to joining Estes Wealth Strategies in 2016, Kathleen was a systems engineer, as well as a procurement manager, with Electronic Data Systems (EDS). She holds a degree in mathematics and criminology from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
Kathleen and her husband, Ron, live in Centreville, Virginia. She enjoys gardening and is an avid walker. However, her favorite thing to do is visit her Hokies on the East coast, West coast and in-between, as all five of her children graduated from Virginia Tech. Go Hokies!
Susan Estes, Client Services & Operations Director
Susan Estes is Client Services & Operations Director for Estes Wealth Strategies. In this role, she manages the operational side of client service delivery, coordinating the practice communications and processes that help ensure a smooth and positive client experience.
Susan has supported the practice’s marketing and communications since 2004 through her marketing strategy firm, Incweaver, and joined Estes Wealth Strategies in 2011 as Client Services Director. She has since expanded her role to encompass broader practice and client service delivery operations. Susan is a licensed General Securities Representative (Series 7).
Susan holds an MBA in Strategy from Yale School of Management and a BA in International Relations and Slavic Languages from Stanford University. She was previously an Associate with Booz Allen Hamilton, where she helped federal government agencies implement e-government solutions, and a Senior Product Manager for The Motley Fool, a financial education company.
Susan lives with her husband, John, three children, and two dogs in Oakton, Virginia. She plays soccer in an adult women’s league and coaches youth soccer. In the summer, she volunteers as a parent dive representative for the Oakton Otters dive team. She enjoys swimming, cooking, traveling, gardening, and literature.
Raymond James is not affiliated with any of the organizations mentioned above.