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Meet Kristin J. Short, PhD, CFP®

FINANCIAL STRATEGIST, ADVISOR, & CONFIDANT

Kristin is the owner and founder of CONFIDE, a fee-only financial planning firm based in Thousand Oaks, CA. Kristin is passionate about helping individuals and families navigate the complexities of financial decision-making with confidence.

With a Ph.D. in Financial Planning from the University of Georgia, Kristin brings a unique body of knowledge to her work, which is rooted in rigorous academic research and a deep understanding of industry best practices. Her mentorship from esteemed faculty and exceptional practitioner colleagues has shaped her holistic approach to financial planning and has established a strong commitment to providing fiduciary care to the households she serves.

In addition to her work with portfolio management, retirement planning, and tax optimization, Kristin has specialized expertise in the area of student loan repayment and forgiveness strategies. Her work with student loans and financial stress research have garnered recognition from organizations including the Association of Financial Counselors and Education (AFCPE) and the University of Georgia's Department of Financial Planning, Housing, and Consumer Economics.

Kristin is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER®.

Headshot of Kristin J. Short, PhD

Why I do what I do.

I earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology with double minors in Chemistry and Spanish from a Top 100 university. I graduated Magna Cum Laude with Honors and was considered "well-educated". However, when it came to managing my finances, I felt clueless. I heard my peers speaking of Roth IRAs and mortgages, but felt inadequate and incapable of understanding the terminology, let alone implementing any strategies. When I got married in 2015, the financial picture started getting more complex and I realized I could no longer ignore it. After many discouraging hours reading financial articles, I stumbled upon a blog post explaining Roth IRAs in a remarkably accessible and approachable manner. Finally, I understood. That was truly empowering. I began devouring personal finance books, and before I knew it, I was fully immersed in a doctoral program in financial planning. The rest is history.

I am immensely grateful for the opportunities I've had to develop a profound and nuanced perspective of financial planning. Moreover, I am grateful that I can still recall the confusion, overwhelm, intimidation, and uncertainty I once felt about my finances. I have great empathy for competent, intelligent, kind individuals like you, who believe they should have a better grasp of personal finance. I don't want to be just another online finance article, bombarding you with jargon and overly complex strategies that only serve to overwhelm you further. Instead, I am committed to being your partner and confidant, shouldering the burden of numbers, analysis, tax laws and market conditions on your behalf, so you can focus on aligning the big picture with what truly matters to you. I do this incredibly meaningful work so you can enjoy the same sense of confidence, empowerment, and knowledge that I found, without needing a doctorate to find it.

Kristin with her son
Family Photo
Kristin with her son

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