Feel better about your money. Invest in what matters most to you.

Financial planning for career changers, downshifters, and people living on their own terms.

LGBTQIA+ and neurodivergent affirming | FIRE friendly | CalPERS and CalSTRS

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Who I Serve

You're building a life that doesn't fit the mold. Your financial plan shouldn’t either.

Maybe you're doing well but still feel like you're winging your financial strategy. You've read the articles and listened to the podcasts, but you still don't know what to do with your money.

Perhaps you're navigating a major life change, like changing careers, planning an unconventional retirement, or rebuilding after a divorce.

Or the questions that keep you up at night require specialized technical and community knowledge, like navigating your CalPERS or CalSTRS benefits, building chosen family, or handling workplace challenges as your authentic self.

If this resonates, you're in the right place. I specialize in communities that traditional advisors often overlook, including:

  • California public employees and teachers (I'm a former legislative analyst who specialized in state pensions)

  • Queer individuals and their families, no matter what form family takes

  • Neurodivergent individuals who want to unmask and build money systems that work

But no matter how you identify, we'll build a plan that actually works for you, because everyone wants their money to feel more aligned and less overwhelming.

Client Stories

  • Three partners standing and chatting about buying a home together in front of a chain-link fence, wearing casual denim and leather jackets.

    Three Partners, One Future Home

    A polycule of three (one with a steady paycheck, one self-employed, and one finishing grad school) wanted to buy a home together. We talked through how they’d share responsibilities and ownership, got them mortgage-ready, and discussed options to make sure the financial side felt just as intentional as their relationship.

  • A young Black teacher in a patterned yellow blouse confidently faces the camera with a smile.

    New Teacher, New Money Mindset

    She didn’t see teachers who looked like her growing up, so she became one. We built a financial plan for her new career, creating a budget for her first apartment and love of trying new foods, while also clarifying her benefits, like student loan forgiveness and her pension. With this foundation, she stepped into her classroom with confidence and a clear vision for her financial future. Even better, her new knowledge became a way to empower her family and community too.

  • Two gay fathers teaching their young son to ride a bike

    Burned Out, Not Washed Up

    After nearly 20 years in state service, he felt like he was on autopilot and missing the chance to be fully present with their newly adopted son. His husband supported him stepping away, and worried becoming a single-income household would derail their future goals. We mapped out a plan for a sabbatical that gave him the time he craved, without compromising their family’s future.

  • Woman smilign and feeling more confident after a divorce

    Rebuilding After Divorce

    After a late-life divorce, a nurse feared she’d never be able to afford to retire. We walked through her pension, Social Security, and the kind of lifestyle she pictured for herself. She left our last meeting with a smile, knowing her retirement wasn’t lost after all; in fact, it was only a few years away.

  • Neurodivergent person thinking while wearing headphones and a striped turtleneck in front of an orange background.

    Investing Without the Overwhelm

    They wanted to start D.I.Y. investing without the jargon. All the options felt overwhelming, and researching them just led to more tabs, confusion, and shame for not knowing more. We kept things calm and easy-going, with lots of check in breaks. Together, we built a plan that felt doable (and even kind of fun).

  • Two queer women at a kitchen table smiling and talking about their money.

    Explore more client journeys.

    In-depth examples of how, in partnership with clients, we’ve built clarity and confidence in their money.

    Longer stories can be found here.

What I Do:

Turn Uncertainty Into Action

On Questions Like…

  • Two lesbian women with glasses and short hair touching noses affectionately, wearing colorful shirts.

    Retirement

    Will I have enough to retire comfortably and do the things that bring me joy?

    → We'll model your complete retirement picture - pension, savings, and dreams - so you know exactly what's possible.

    How can I become work optional before I’m in my sixties?

    → We'll map out realistic paths to financial independence that fit your income and goals.

  • Woman with curly hair and glasses in a floral top, standing against a wooden door, looking thoughtful.

    Money Mindset

    No one taught me how to handle money - am I doing the right things?

    → We'll create a judgment-free plan that meets you where you are and builds from there.

    I can’t spend without feeling guilty - how do I have a better relationship with my money?

    → We'll explore where those feelings come from and build spending guidelines that feel good.

  • A LatinX couple cuddling on the beach and smiling at each other.

    Life and Career Transitions

    I’m burned out and thinking of a sabbatical - how can I do this responsibly?

    → We'll run the numbers so you can take that break with confidence, not anxiety.

    What if I decide I won’t work in the public sector my entire career?

    → I'll show you exactly how leaving affects your pension and what alternatives look like.

  • A man in a plaid shirt and beanie, squatting and planting a seedling with a child wearing a blue hat and yellow rain boots in a wooded area. Gloves are on the ground nearby.

    Living Your Values

    What does it look like to align my spending and investing with my values?

    → We'll explore how values show up in your complete financial life - from daily spending to banking and investment choices.

    How can I give generously to my community and stay financially grounded myself?

    → We'll find the sweet spot between generosity and security that lets you sustain both.

  • A graduate in cap and gown holding a diploma stands outdoors next to his proud mother under a tree, kissing her forehead. The diploma cover says "Kennesaw State University."

    Investments and Savings

    Am I missing any opportunities to save on taxes?

    → We'll optimize your complete tax strategy, from retirement contributions to investment accounts.

    Did I make the right investment choices for my retirement account?

    → We'll review your current approach and adjust anything that's not quite right-sized, or more expensive than it should be.

  • A single dad smiling with his two young children, one sitting on his shoulders and the other in his arms, against a background of trees and a white fence.

    Family Responsibilities

    What's sustainable when multiple people in my life need financial support?

    → We'll create boundaries and systems that let you help others without jeopardizing your security.

    Am I protecting myself and my family if the worst should happen?

    → We'll review your insurance and talk through worst case scenarios to make sure your loved ones are covered.

s Choose Your Path

Choose Your Path

Ongoing Planning

Comprehensive partnership and unlimited access as your life evolves

Monthly subscription model with unlimited support. Investment management optional.

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Leaving the Public Sector

Focused guidance for public employees considering a career change

Two sessions to help you make this specific decision.

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Two lesbians smiling as they talk and look over papers
Korinne Sugasawara, CFP® professional, founder of Kite and Compass Financial Planning. She's an Asian American woman, smiling and wearing a blue blazer, glasses, and pearl necklace.

From Civil Service to Financial Guide

Hi, I’m Korinne - a fiduciary CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® and an Accredited Financial Counselor®. I believe money should support your version of a good life…not just someday, but starting now.

If you have a CalPERS or CalSTRS pension, I know those systems from the inside as a former legislative analyst specializing in state pensions. I can help you make the most of your benefits, even if your life path leads you out of the public sector.

I work especially well with the queer and neurodiverse communities because I'm a part of them, and I understand the journey of building chosen family and creating a life on your own terms.

Learn more

Ready to Start?

Let’s talk about where you are today and where you want to go. In this brief introductory call, we’ll get to know each other and explore whether we’re the right fit.

let's chat
Two Black women sitting on a couch, sharing a laugh while looking at a tablet. One woman has curly hair tied back, wearing a yellow top, and the other has short hair, glasses, and is wearing a green jacket.
A smiling tattooed Asian American man wearing glasses and a baseball cap, sitting at a table under a yellow canopy, holding a smartphone, with a brick building in the background.