My journey to real estate began with a successful career as a Certified Financial Planner™ and Registered Investment Advisor, where I spent decades helping people build and protect their wealth so they could retire comfortably and live their dream lifestyle. With offices in Folsom, CA, and Carmel, CA, I guided high-net-worth clients through the complexities of financial planning, ensuring they had the security and freedom to enjoy retirement on their terms.

After selling my practice, my wife, Katie, and I moved to Hawaii to live our dream. While we loved island life, we felt the pull of family and longtime friends back in the Sacramento area. That’s when we discovered Sun City Lincoln Hills—a vibrant community that perfectly matched the active, fulfilling lifestyle we envisioned for retirement. We made the move, and now, as both a resident and a real estate expert, I’m passionate about helping others find their ideal home in this incredible community.

Sun City Lincoln Hills offers more than just beautiful homes—it’s a lifestyle. With world-class golf courses, resort-style pools, fitness centers, scenic walking and biking trails, and an abundance of social clubs and activities, it’s the perfect place for retirees looking to stay active, engaged, and connected. Because I live, work, and play here, I have a deep understanding of the community’s real estate trends, floor plans, and home values, giving my clients an unmatched advantage when buying or selling.

Melissa lives in El Dorado Hills with her husband Russ, son Sawyer, and dogs Buster and Murphy. Sawyer attended Valley View Charter Montessori through 8th grade, and now attends Oak Ridge High School (Go Trojans!).

Melissa was born and raised in Indiana, and is very grateful for the Midwestern work ethic with which she was raised, and which she brings to each and every client in the course of her business. She has lived or spent a significant amount of time in Chicago, Miami, the Caribbean, New York City, New Jersey, Los Angeles, Seattle, and El Dorado Hills. She became a California resident in 2001.

Immediately prior to entering the real estate world, Melissa worked in small business consulting honing her business, advisory, and project management skills. Prior to that she earned a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology and worked as a therapist. The listening, problem-solving, and conflict management skills she mastered with that work serve her and her clients immeasurably in real estate. Prior to that she worked in various support roles in large law firms in Los Angeles, gaining a keen understanding of contracts and legal language. Prior to that, a long, long time ago, in what feels like another lifetime, Melissa was a professional singer on cruise ships for Royal Caribbean.

Melissa has an undergraduate degree in Journalism from Rutgers University, and, in the family tradition, attended Indiana University right out of high school.

When Melissa isn’t working, she loves spending time with her husband and son. The whole family enjoys cooking together and playing in the pool in the summers. They also all love to scuba dive, and try to get to at least one dive destination a year. Melissa and her son also love to ski together, and the close proximity to major ski resorts – without having to live in the snow - is one of the main reasons they moved to El Dorado Hills.