I'm Paul Cordero, founder of Attune Financial Planning. I live in the Terra Linda neighborhood of San Rafael, California, with my wife, Diane, and our cat, Bella. We have one son, Ryan, who recently graduated from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles.
Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with family and friends, gardening, traveling, watching movies, reading, hiking, and running.
Giving back to my community is also important to me. I served for four years on the Board of Directors of the Financial Planning Association of San Francisco, including serving as Treasurer.
I also believe in supporting charitable organizations that make a meaningful difference in people's lives. Each year, I donate a percentage of our total annual gross revenue to charitable causes that are especially important to me.
Why Am I a Financial Planner?
I became a financial planner for a simple reason: I wanted to help people make good financial decisions without the pressure of being sold financial products.
Before starting my firm, I spent more than 20 years working in corporate finance. My interest in personal financial planning began after our son was born. Like many young families, Diane and I wanted to make sure we were making the right financial decisions—protecting our family, saving for college, investing wisely, and preparing for retirement.
We looked for a financial planner who could help us put together a plan. Unfortunately, many of the people we met seemed more interested in selling financial products than providing objective advice. Frustrated by the experience, I decided to learn about financial planning myself. I began taking classes at Golden Gate University, eventually earning a Graduate Certificate in Financial Planning. Along the way, I discovered something unexpected: a new career that combined my financial background with something I found personally rewarding—helping people work through important financial decisions.
In 2012, after earning my CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification and passing the Series 65 examination, I established Attune Financial Planning as an independent, Fee-Only financial planning firm.
My goal was to create the kind of firm my wife and I had been looking for—one where clients could receive thoughtful, personalized financial advice without the pressure to purchase financial products.
That philosophy continues to guide my practice today.
After many years of working with clients through different stages of their financial lives, I've come to appreciate that good financial advice doesn't always require an ongoing relationship. Sometimes people simply need an experienced professional to help them work through an important financial decision. That's why we now offer flexible, project-based financial planning services designed around the advice you need.
I believe good financial planning should be practical, understandable, and tailored to your circumstances. Whether you need help with a specific financial question or want a comprehensive look at your financial life, my role is to help you understand your options and make informed decisions with greater confidence.
My Education and Professional Qualifications
I earned a Master of Science degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Accounting and a Bachelor's degree in Psychology, both from San Francisco State University. I also received a Graduate Certificate in Financial Planning from Golden Gate University.
I hold the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®) certification and am an Enrolled Agent (EA), a credential issued by the Internal Revenue Service.
As an Enrolled Agent, I am authorized to represent taxpayers before the IRS. My tax background also allows me to incorporate tax considerations into the financial planning advice I provide.