Meet our founders.
Stephen Stanton
Stephen has significant sales, insurance and real estate experience, and has worked with many individuals and several start-ups and small businesses in designing financial plans and achieving financial goals. Stephen has been serving his clients since 2003, with a special focus in Financial Services. In 2011, Stephen led the initiative of what eventually became a full service financial services and investment advisory, Veraz Advisors. He is a certified college funding specialist and is an expert on designing retirement income plans.
Stephen lived and worked in the Tampa Bay Area before first moving to the San Francisco Bay Area in 2009, when he and Jay became business partners. He enjoys skiing all over the world with his family and enjoys watching the Carolina Panthers.
Jay Mehta
Jay is a registered investment advisor representative with 20 years of professional work experience. Mr. Mehta holds 2 MBAs – one from the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley and a second from Columbia Business School, where he also taught MBA and Engineering students. He is a certified college planning specialist and specializes in designing retirement investment plans.
Jay was born and raised in the bay area and is married with 2 children. When he’s not volunteering his time to teach courses at local colleges and community centers, he enjoys spending time with his family and friends watching the 49ers, Golden State Warriors, Sharks and both the San Francisco Giants and Oakland Athletics.
Our Team
History and Background
Stephen and Jay met in 2008 while they were advising investors on advanced real estate strategies and business strategies. They have been close friends and professional colleagues ever since. In 2011, Stephen and Jay began serving clients in the San Francisco Bay Area by initially providing financial education in the workplace on critical issues of cash flow management that were most pervasive as a result of the 2008 Financial Crisis.
Since their launch of these educational workshops, they have continually served individuals and small businesses seeking to secure their retirement, increase their savings, reduce debt, lower taxes and become more efficient with investable assets. More recently, they have been helping families with college and retirement planning and advanced estate and tax planning issues.
Veraz Advisors has helped hundreds of families with issues ranging from navigating the college admissions and financial aid planning process to securing their retirement by implementing retirement income plans, investment plans and legacy and advanced tax planning strategies.
Jay and Stephen have established 2 private foundations dedicated to providing free education on essential topics to help families grow and preserve their wealth. In 2018 alone, they have funded over $30k to both the College Planning Foundation and the Retirement Planning Foundation.
Stephen and Jay are passionate about helping individuals and businesses achieve their goals, personally and financially. When they are not working, they have been known to travel together to fun places like the Bahamas, Costa Rica, Las Vegas, San Diego, and Miami.
Some remarks from our clients.
“Jay and Steve, the A-team of financial advisors. Love these guys and their advice. Already implemented a few of their suggestions and some new ones are in the works.”
“A great overall approach of all essential financial elements of retirement.”
“They understand tax considerations.”
“Great overview of options for families concerned about paying for college.”
“Helped me understand the contrast between the total cost of attendance for private and public universities.”
“They helped me understand Social Security benefits.”
“I finally understand the retirement planning path.”
“I liked learning about moving parent assets into protected buckets.”
“Very detailed and honest.”
“Jay is knowledgeable.”
“Great overall plan on a complex process with the various lenses to look thru as part of strategy and position for success.”
“They really dissect how funding for college works. Explaining the breakdown of average families & explaining funding options.”
“I like their style.”
“They helped me with understanding long-term care – social security – and that I need to concentrate on my monthly income in retirement rather than overall savings only.”
“Any family can benefit.”
“Renewed hope that college may be achievable.”
“Jay explains things in a way that is understandable.”
“Helped me understand that there are options to limit financial burden.”
“Well planned, good information, fact-based.”
“Helped me understand net costs and how those costs can vary from school to school, both private and public.”
“Covered all aspects of retirement.”
“They gave me clarity.”
“Jay is knowledgeable, engaging and professional. I’m impressed by their presentation and ‘no-sales’ approach.”
“Covers all the bases, no hard sell.”
“They are comprehensive and talk frankly.”
“Explained things not many parents would know about college prep and expenses.”
“They are detailed, but not too technical.”
“They are informative & unbiased.”