Live in the moment.

Plan for a lifetime.

Helping women build confidence through personal financial planning.

Take a deep breath.

Imagine feeling confident about your finances. When the bills come, you know you can pay them. When life changes happen, you have someone you can call. When you envision the future, it makes you smile. Perhaps most importantly, when you go to sleep at night, you do so with a sense of peace and calm.

If you’re not quite there yet, that’s okay. You’re HERE, taking that all-important first step. We’re grateful you found us. Let’s take a few more steps together on your journey to financial security and independence.

The biggest challenge for today’s woman isn’t finding a financial advisor who understands her money.

It’s finding an advisor who understands her.

If you’re a woman who has worked with a financial advisor, chances are your experience fell short of expectations.

It often goes something like this:

Lots of money talk, full of confusing statistics, graphs, and financial jargon. Little-to-no talk about you and what matters most to you.
You’re made to feel like you’re invisible as the advisor directs all of his attention toward your husband.
You’re treated like you’re inferior - lectured, talked down to, or made to feel stupid.
Something’s just not right. You can’t quite pinpoint it, but there’s no chemistry, no connection. Instead of feeling relief and confidence, you feel anxious and uneasy.

It doesn’t have to be this way.

We put YOU at the center of the conversation, not your money.

We take time to get to know you. We ask questions, listen, and learn about you and what you want out of life. We help you establish clear goals and a sense of purpose; they are the drivers of your financial plan, not your money.

We understand you want support in all areas of your financial life, not just your investments. In other words, you don’t want to be treated like a man when it comes to getting financial advice.

As financial advisors for women, we’ve built BRAG from the ground up to meet the unique financial needs of women and how you engage with money. Simply stated, we provide guidance and support on “all things financial.”

Here are a few of the questions we routinely answer for our clients:

And it’s not just about knowing what to do, it’s actually doing it. We’re built to make your financial life as easy as possible. We’ll take work off your plate wherever we can so you can focus on the things that bring you joy and fulfillment.

Bottom Line: We meet you where you are and can help bring a sense of peace and calm to your life knowing you have someone looking out for your best interests.

The Servant Money Method™

Our life-centered financial planning process puts your life and financial wellbeing at the center of the conversation. It’s designed to give you the confidence to live life on your own terms and take away the anxiety of not knowing what to do.

Step 1

The Introductory Meeting

The introductory meeting is our chance to learn more about each other and determine if we’re a good fit.

We’ll share who we work best with, what you can expect from the BRAG team, and how we foster long-term relationships that often lead to “clients for life.”

Step 2

Live With Intention, Not by Default

In this step, we explore what your money needs to do for you.

Retire early and travel the globe? Spoil your grandkids? Pay for college? Not be a burden on your children?

We ask insightful questions to clarify your goals and inspire you to live with intention, not by default.

Step 3

Financial Foundations Meeting

In this meeting, we provide a “strengths and weaknesses” analysis of your financial situation. We educate you on the financial tools used, important financial concepts, and how your financial plan “thinks.”

Perhaps most importantly, it’s an opportunity for us to learn about your experience with money and identify your “money scripts.” Money is emotional and understanding how you “feel” about money is just as important as your financial acumen.

Step 4

Strategy Meeting

In this meeting, we will present various financial strategies to maximize your financial resources. We’ll examine the pros and cons of each strategy and present our formal recommendations.

Based on the complexity of your situation, multiple strategy meetings may be required. We may also need to consult with other professionals (accountants, attorneys) to ensure we’re all rowing in the same direction.

We’ll leave no stone unturned as we build out a realistic, actionable financial roadmap.

Step 5

Implementation Meeting

Implementation is where the rubber meets the road. We don't just tell you what you need to do; we help you do it.

We take what seems to be an impossible, confusing quagmire of financial to-dos and make it simple and easy to work through. Clients love this.

Step 6

Ongoing Support and Accountability

Our commitment to you doesn't end with “Implementation.”

Ongoing support and accountability are vital to your long-term success. We monitor your progress, provide continuous guidance, and adjust your plan as your circumstances change.

This isn’t about a financial plan; it’s about financial planning.

Meet Ed

Ed Vargo learned at a young age about the importance of having financial independence. When Ed’s parents divorced, his mother, a South Korean immigrant, was forced to give up custody of her four children because she didn’t have the financial means to care for them. His mother’s experience had an unforgettable impact on Ed. It’s why he’s committed his professional life to working with women experiencing a significant life event. He’s seen first-hand what can happen when you don’t have financial independence or access to your own money, especially if you’re a women. It’s a lesson he’s carried through to his home life as he and his wife raise five daughters.

“I’m doing everything I can to ensure my girls grow up to be strong, independent, and formidable women. Being in control of their financial life is an absolute necessity for doing so.”

Meet Melana

As a single woman, Melana Carbary knows first-hand some of the challenges many of her clients go through. Fortunately, she had a strong role model when it came to women and finances: her own mother, who she lost in 2015. “She normalized talking about bills and budgets, how tight (or not!) money was, saving and planning for retirement.” Now, Melana uses her over 18 years of experience in the financial industry to help women take control of their lives and their finances through planning and education.

You can check out the background of firms and investment professionals on FINRA’s

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Take the first step toward financial empowerment and living a meaningful life.

Contact Burning River Advisory Group today and embark on your journey to financial freedom. Our dedicated professionals are ready to guide you in using your money to create a life that aligns with your values and aspirations. Whether you’re seeking clarity, peace of mind, or a trusted partner to support you on your financial path, we’re here for you.