Matthew Washington grew up in Atlanta, Georgia, in a single-family home where his mother raised four kids by herself. At 17, he had to drop out of high school to help his mother take care of their family.
After dropping out, he entered the automotive sales industry where he developed advanced negotiation skills, the ability to relate to all types of people, long-term relationship retention strategies, learned to be comfortable operating in high-pressure transactional environments, and the discipline required to close significant financial transactions.
Since 2009, he has operated in specialty finance and spent 10 years as Chief Revenue Officer at PIRS Capital LLC. He has been directly involved in more than $700 million in funded transactions and over $1 billion in aggregate volume.
Matthew sponsors several children through World Vision, helping provide proper nutrition, education, shelter, and long-term stability.
He supports Mercy Ships, an organization providing life-changing surgeries for children with physical deformities.
He also contributes to communities, churches, and charitable organizations throughout the United States supporting children and families in need.
For Matthew Finance is more than just transactions. Its About People helping people – working together to help one another grow, build stronger, futures, and create lasting opportunity.
Responsibility builds discipline.
Relationships build empires.
Execution builds reputation
Brad McMillan, CFA®, CAIA, MAI, is the chief investment officer and a managing principal at Commonwealth. With the firm since 2006, he oversees the firm’s investment and asset management groups and acts as spokesperson for the firm’s investment divisions. Brad comments frequently on the markets and economy for a range of media outlets and writes daily for his blog, the Independent Market Observer. He’s a designated member of the Appraisal Institute, the CFA Institute, and the CAIA Association.
Kim Tillinghast began her career in the banking industry in 1985. She graduated with a degree in Finance from West Texas State University in 1990 and has continued her education by earning her Series 24 General Securities Principal Exam and Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA™). Shortly thereafter she started her brokerage career at a traditional wirehouse in downtown Los Angeles, California in 1991. After relocating to Orange County, Kim became an independent financial advisor in May of 1993. She brings over 37 years in the banking and finance industry with experience ranging from designing, developing, employing and maintaining complex investment strategies, Pension Plans, Employee Stock Option Plans, Corporate Finance, Estate Planning and Transition. Outside of her career, she served as Co-Chair of the Dallas County Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure 2013 and 2014 and currently serves on the Board of the Tillinghast Society, Inc. With a deep love for animals, she continues to volunteer for multiple emergency animal response teams including Red Rover, HSUS, UAN, ASPCA and volunteers weekly at the Irving Animal Shelter. Kim also loves worldwide adventure travel and has many amazing experiences visiting almost half of the world’s countries and all seven continents, twice.
Karthik Muraliraj was raised in Fort Worth, Texas, and developed an interest in investing and economics at a young age. After graduating from the University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and a minor in Business, he started his career as a financial professional in 2008. Throughout his career, Karthik has continued to educate himself by gaining multiple designations. Since moving to Dallas, he has been an active member in the community—volunteering with organizations such as the network of Indian Professionals, Dallas Autumn Ball and Reading Partners. Karthik is an avid sports fan and enjoys supporting his alma mater as a proud member of the Texas Exes Dallas Chapter. In his free time, Karthik enjoys cooking, travel, fitness and spending time with this wife, son, dog, and cat.
Crystal Arredondo was born and raised in Germany. She moved to Texas following her parents’ decision to retire after serving an overseas career in the Armed Forces. Seeing firsthand the difficult transition to civilian life after retirement, Crystal obtained her MBA in Finance at the University of North Texas and began her career as a financial advisor. In 2009, she completed the Retirement Planning Specialist Program at the Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania. In 2018, she earned her designation of Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® (CDFA®). In 2022, she earned the additional designation as a Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA™). As the daughter of an immigrant mother, she especially enjoys helping women and business owners make decisions that affect their financial independence. She served as the 2015-16 Chair for the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) and 2016-17 Chair for the NAWBO Institute of Entrepreneurial Development.
Philip Strunk is a native of Houston, TX. Philip earned his Bachelor of Business Administration and Masters in Professional Accounting from the University of Texas at Austin’s McCombs School of Business. He earned his designation as Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in 2004 and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (TM) certification in 2010. Having started his career with Deloitte & Touche, LLP in 2005, Philip spent a year and a half in Deloitte’s Audit and Assurance Services group and provided a variety of financial services for a number of Fortune 500 companies. He decided in late 2006 that his talent and passion for investments were best suited for working with smaller groups and individuals. After obtaining the required securities registrations and insurance licenses, Philip became a financial advisor. The impact was plainly visible and more fulfilling. Philip serves as the Investment Director for MPACT.
