Abacus Financial Planning helps women, their families, and people historically underserved by the financial industry use money to live the life they want.
As a fee-only fiduciary, Abacus Financial Planning provides unbiased expertise. Fee-only means that we receive compensation only from clients, reducing potential conflicts of interest. A fiduciary puts the client’s interest first.
Katy Cook launched Abacus Financial Planning after creating her parents’ retirement plan. She saw firsthand the peace of mind that comes with having a roadmap to guide investing and spending decisions. In the years since, the firm has helped families navigate financial decisions around retirement, changes in family composition, and career moves.
Financial planning addresses the transition time around life events and may be tested by economic shifts, health concerns, and even a global pandemic. With our emphasis on flexibility and guardrails, clients can create a stronger foundation for making financial decisions.
Abacus Financial Planning is located in Kirkland, Washington, and primarily serves clients virtually.
Katy is a Principal at Abacus Financial Planning.
Prior to being a financial planner, Katy spent a decade in teaching and independent consulting focused on “data for do-gooders.” She completed a B.S. in Mathematics at the University of Texas at Austin and a financial planning certificate with Boston University. She holds a Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics from Princeton University, where she was a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow.
While teaching, Katy gravitated to the “guide on the side” model of teaching, rather than the “sage on the stage” model. This is a great fit in financial planning, where Katy provides gentle support on the side.
Katy volunteers with non-profit organizations that support children, family health, and education through board and committee work. She previously served in AmeriCorps offering financial support services for people with low income or developmental disabilities. She has also served as a volunteer tax preparer, though you can’t pay her enough money to do your taxes.
Katy loves living in the Pacific Northwest. On clear nights, you’ll find her in the backyard with a telescope and her dog by her side. Sometimes her multigenerational family joins her outside, too.
Mary joined the firm in fall 2023, after sitting for the Series 65 (Uniform Investment Adviser Law Exam), where (as she likes to recount) she was the oldest person in the testing center. That is her way of explaining that she comes to the field of financial planning after retiring from higher education multiple times.
Mary’s academic appointments have included Associate CIO and Chief Digital Strategy Officer at the University of Washington Bothell, Dean at American College of Education, and tenured professor at Texas Woman’s University. As a textbook and journal author, her work has spanned the disciplines of family studies, human services, and technology. Mary is also a Certified Family Life Educator (CFLE), a designation by the National Council on Family Relations.
In between academic appointments, Mary co-founded a tech start-up and learned the pleasures of both starting and selling a business. She has lived in 6 states and still likes to think about the houses she would happily return to. For now, she calls the PNW home, where she is within reach of grandchildren in Washington and California.
When she is not spending time at work or with family, you will find her enjoying solitude on a cruise.