Our Team

As a Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC), Certified Financial Planner (CFP), Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU), Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM), and an Accredited Investment Fiduciary (AIF), John has extensive experience and practical education in all aspects of financial planning and financial services.

John has been awarded outstanding achievement awards from the Cascade Association of Life Underwriters and as Broker of the Year at a previous firm. John enjoys sharing his knowledge at industry conferences on topics ranging from client relations to 401(k) and 403(b) planning techniques. He has been quoted in several national publications, including Investment News and the Wall Street Journal.

John graduated with a BS from Boston College where he earned both academic and athletic scholarships, and completed postgraduate work in Baltimore, Maryland.

John volunteers with several local organizations, and he and his family have helped build schools, health care centers, and homes for the poor in Nicaragua since 1989.

John is an accomplished classical violinist and active in jiu jitsu. But his true passions are alligator wrestling, singing off key, and laughing with his three children, and creating a future with his wife, Shannon.

Shannon manages business operations and assists with regulatory compliance for Aspire Capital Advisors. She works closely with the Aspire team to help ensure that every client receives personalized service.

Shannon began her career with Deloitte in Denver and recently was a manager of internal audit for a Fortune 50 telecommunications company. She holds a BS in accounting from Boston College and an MBA with a concentration in finance from Seattle University, and is a certified public accountant.

Shannon enjoys cheering for her children at their various sporting events, taking her rescue dog for long walks, and delighting her family and friends with her baking talents.

Jennifer Evans is Aspire Capital Advisor’s Client Relationship Manager. Jennifer is committed to building strong client relationships and delivering the highest level of customer satisfaction. Her keen attention to detail and ability to multitask keeps everything running smoothly behind the scenes.

Jennifer has a degree in Interior Design from Highline College and comes to Aspire from the design industry. In addition to having top-notch computer and administrative skills, Jennifer utilizes her artistic talents in creating presentations and marketing content for the firm.

Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, Jennifer is passionate about hiking and exploring the mountains. When not working, she enjoys spending time with friends and her close-knit family. Jennifer is fluent in both English and Spanish.

Grace Lopez is one of those people you feel like you’ve known your whole life when you first meet her. She has spent over two decades making clients smile thanks to an obsessive commitment to customer satisfaction and her natural ability to make people feel comfortable. As a member of the Client Relationship team, Grace ensures that everyone who walks in the door (or joins on a video call) receives the highest level of service.

Grace is completely fluent in both Spanish and English, and has attended both Renton Technical College and Everest College. Grace comes to Aspire from the health care industry.

Away from the office, Grace is a mother to three busy children, while also serving as the head coach of her older daughter’s cheerleading squad. Grace is fanatical about her fitness routine and enjoys spending quality time with her husband and extended family.

Emir Kljucanin works from Portland, Oregon as a research and planning associate and assists with managing and rebalancing client portfolios, creating financial plans, and conducting industry and fund-specific research. With more than six years of experience working in the banking and financial industry, Emir enjoys helping clients with a multitude of financial needs.

Emir earned an associate degree from Mt. Hood Community College and has worked as a licensed banker at KeyBank and JPMorgan Chase Bank, where he was a top performer in the Portland area during his time at both banks.

Outside of the office, Emir enjoys spending time with his family and friends in the great outdoors of the Pacific Northwest and is an avid sports fan. Emir is fluent in English as well as Bosnian.

Pumpkin can be found at our office most days sleeping in her bed under Shannon’s desk or giving “puppy eyes” to the UPS/FedEx delivery drivers in hopes of scoring a tasty treat. She hails from the great state of Texas, where her litter was abandoned and subsequently rescued by a wonderful animal rescue organization. Her favorite pass times are receiving belly rubs from clients who visit the office and hanging around Johnny at lunchtime for any morsels that might hit the floor.