Kristen Vernace, CFP®, CDFA®

CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™

CERTIFIED DIVORCE FINANCIAL ANALYST®

As a dedicated financial planner, Kristen is passionate about empowering her clients to align their spending with their values and achieve their financial aspirations. With extensive expertise in budgeting, educational funding, retirement planning, and crafting tailored lifestyle goals through strategic planning, she has honed her skills over many years to provide exceptional guidance. Two of her favorite specialties are creating innovative financial strategies for individuals pursuing early retirement and offering compassionate, tailored guidance for clients navigating the complexities of divorce.

Kristen’s journey into personal finance began in 2012 when she and her husband prioritized paying off their student loans. Through this experience, she discovered the transformative power of budgeting and cash flow management. After successfully reaching her own financial goals, Kristen transitioned to coaching others, initially helping clients create plans to eliminate credit card debt and save for retirement. Her passion for empowering others with financial knowledge led her to pursue financial planning full-time, earning her CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification and expanding her expertise across a wide range of financial topics. In 2024, Kristen became a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® after recognizing the critical need for guidance during such a pivotal life transition.

Before founding Pathways Financial Planning, Kristen gained valuable experience working at a Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) in New Hampshire, where she honed her skills in personalized financial planning and client relationship management. Her decade of experience teaching middle school English in San Francisco and Maine fostered her passion for education, which she now brings to her role as a financial planner. Kristen is committed to empowering her clients through thoughtful guidance and education, ensuring they feel confident and informed as they navigate their financial journeys.

Originally from Philadelphia, Kristen has lived in Kittery, Maine with her husband for over a decade. She enjoys reading classic novels, playing beach volleyball, and (with varying success) learning to golf. She is committed to not only helping her clients achieve their short and long-term financial goals but also enjoying life’s journey along the way.