Panelist Bios
Kirsten Howe, Esq.
Absolute Trust Counsel
Kirsten focuses on estate planning, elder law, and closely related practice areas. She began her career as a business planning attorney. Many of her business clients were so impressed with her work that they asked her to handle all of their planning needs, including their estate plans. Over time, she realized that she enjoyed the personal nature of estate planning and elder law, and decided to focus on these areas.
She is dedicated to designing and implementing customized plans, and establishing close, long-lasting relationships with her clients.
Kirsten was admitted to the California bar in 1987 and has had her own practice in Walnut Creek since 1997. She earned her J.D. cum laude at the University of California, Hastings College of the Law, where she was a member of the Thurston Society and Managing Editor of The Hastings Law Journal. She earned her B.S. in Biology from the University of Michigan.
Kirsten is a member of the Business Law section and Trusts and Estates section of the California State Bar; the Business Law and Corporate Counsel section of the Contra Costa County Bar Association; and the Conservatorship/Guardianship, Probate and Trust section of the Contra Costa County Bar Association. She is also on the Board of Directors of the Estate Planning Council of Diablo Valley.
Kirsten currently serves as chairperson of the Planned Giving Sub-Committee to Board of Directors of the Regional Parks Foundation.
Connor Merrigan, CFP®
Summit Financial Group, LLC
Connor Merrigan joined Summit Financial Group as a financial planner in 2018. With him, he brought a broad background in equity research from his previous work as a financial analyst. Since then, his motivation and passion has shifted from helping investment boards to helping individuals plan their financial independence.
A numbers guy at heart, Connor has a knack for sifting through financial data to create polished financial plans for his clients. Connor is dedicated to creating transparency and financial literacy for all his clients through education and having a detailed understanding of each client’s plan. Connor prides himself on providing the utmost care and diligence to his clients.
Connor is also a member of Summit Financial Group’s Investment Committee and is heavily involved with crafting and designing client portfolios. In doing so, he keeps his clients’ unique needs and individual risk tolerances in mind to create and implement custom investment decisions.
Connor currently serves on the Planned Giving Sub-Committee to Board of Directors of the Regional Parks Foundation.
Born and raised in the East Bay, Connor attended San Jose State University where he received a Bachelor of Science in Finance. He was heavily involved in the creation and management of the student-run Silicon Valley Aggressive Growth Fund. Connor is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional and holds the Series 7 and 66 securities registrations.
Connor and his wife Danielle currently reside in San Ramon. In his free time, when he is not mountain biking the many local trails that the Bay Area has to offer, he and Danielle spend their time staying active, trying the newest local restaurant, and honing their skiing skills on the slopes in Tahoe.
For more information about how to leave the Regional Parks Foundation a bequest or charitable remainder trust in your estate plan, please contact Regional Parks Foundation, P.O Box 2527, Castro Valley, CA 94546, or (510) 544-2202, or help@regionalparksfoundation.org.