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Origin Financial Group
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About
Origin Financial Group
Work with a partner who will provide an investment experience tailored to you.
Money is personal. We believe investor deserve professional guidance that provides them with a customized financial strategy focused in their individual needs and objectives.
Our approach is built on holistic planning, where investment and insurance strategies are designed to complement one another to help you meet your financial goals.
Our mission is to help investors build confidence through a focused, personalized approach to their financial strategy. We provide strategic guidance designed to assist our clients in making informed decisions for their financial future.
Empowering Your Retirement
Meet The Team
Gene I. Watanabe ChFC, CLU
Founder / CEO
For Gene, financial planning is far more than a profession it is a lifelong passion for helping people navigate their most important milestones with confidence. He understands that the financial world can often feel overwhelming, which is why he specializes in taking complex strategies and simplifying them into clear, actionable paths. By cutting through the noise and conflicting advice often found in the industry, Gene serves as a dedicated fiduciary, providing a single, trusted voice focused entirely on his clients’ best interests.
This commitment to the future is a true family endeavor. As a generational business, Gene works alongside his son Ian, offering the families he serves a unique blend of veteran experience and long-term continuity. While he works with clients navigating sophisticated wealth strategies, Gene remains deeply rooted in his community. He takes immense pride in helping his neighbors and local families master their retirement planning, ensuring their financial future is secure for a lifetime and beyond.
Gene’s mission is to help his clients find the “proper blend” of growth-oriented investments and principal-protected solutions. He builds resilient portfolios designed to protect your standard of living, ensuring income remains steady even when markets fluctuate or taxes and inflation rise.
Outside of the office, Gene’s life is defined by the same values of connection and balance that he brings to his practice. He is at his happiest when spending quality time with his family or staying active in the great outdoors. Whether he is traveling to discover new places, hitting the links for a round of golf, or simply enjoying the community he calls home, Gene believes in making the most of every moment.
Ian Watanabe
Client Support Manager Assistant
Ian Watanabe brings meticulous attention to detail and a passion for relationship-building to Origin Financial, where he proudly follows in the footsteps of his father, Gene, the firm’s principal. Championing a holistic, plan-first mentality, Ian has a deep interest in estate and comprehensive financial planning. He draws on a 20-year career managing elite guest experiences at premier Hawaiian properties to actively listen and help clients articulate their true wants and wishes.
Ian plays a vital hands-on role in executing the client experience. He works directly with individuals and families through every step of their financial journey, guiding them through seamless onboarding, participating in strategy meetings, and delivering exceptional ongoing service. By partnering closely with Gene, Ian provides the dedicated support needed to bring personalized strategies to life, ensuring that every client feels genuinely heard, valued, and confident in their legacy.
Outside the office, Ian’s world revolves around his own family. He shares his life with his soon-to-be wife and their two teenagers, a joyful, active phase of parenting that keeps him learning every day. When he has downtime, Ian embraces island living by bodyboarding and unwinding through therapeutic home cooking.
Miriam Nakaura
Client Support Manager
Miriam Nakaura brings over 20 years of experience in high-touch client relations, team leadership, and luxury retail management with renowned brands including Louis Vuitton, Neiman Marcus, and DFS. As Client Support Manager, she channels this concierge mindset into delivering holistic financial planning support. Miriam believes that deep listening, mutual trust, and attentive service are the foundations of lasting partnerships. She focuses on elevating the overall client experience—taking the time to truly connect with families so they feel comfortable, informed, and genuinely cared for at every stage of their financial journey. Miriam holds a Bachelor of Science in Fashion Merchandising from the University of Hawaii at Mānoa.
Senior Wealth Advisors
Erin McCann
President
Mr. McCann manages the Wealth division at Simplicity Group. Prior to Simplicity, Mr. McCann was the Director of Investments for a multi-billion-dollar family office, for which he was responsible for building and managing a diversified investment portfolio. Mr. McCann previously worked at Goldman Sachs and the NFL. Mr. McCann earned an M.B.A. from the University of North Carolina and a B.A. from Hamilton College.
Thomas Rozman, CFA®, CAIA®
Chief Investment Officer
Mr. Rozman is responsible for leading the Investment team for Simplicity Wealth. Prior to Simplicity, Mr. Rozman was President and Chief Investment Officer of Sawtooth Solutions. He also worked in Institutional Sales and Trading at Merrill Lynch. Mr. Rozman is a Chartered Financial Analyst®, Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst®, and is Series 65 registered. He has previously held Series 7 and 24 securities licenses. Mr. Rozman earned an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and a B.A from St. Olaf College.
Christina Parker
General Counsel
Ms. Parker serves as Simplicity Wealth‘s General Counsel. Ms. Parker is responsible for managing the organization’s legal matters, including contracting, litigation, compliance, and corporate governance. Prior to Simplicity, Ms. Parker was the general counsel of a U.S. subsidiary of an international reinsurance holding company, for which she was responsible for legal, regulatory, and compliance matters. Previously, Ms. Parker specialized in corporate law as an attorney at an international law firm. Ms. Parker earned a J.D. from The University of Michigan Law School and a B.A. from Duke University.
Scott Raider
Chief Compliance Officer
Mr. Raider serves as Chief Compliance Officer for Simplicity Wealth. Prior to joining Simplicity, Mr. Raider served as Chief Compliance Officer for a rapidly expanding independent financial advisory firm and as a Designated Principal and Compliance Supervision Analyst at the largest independent broker-dealer in the nation. With over a decade of experience in compliance supervision and regional management, Mr. Raider directs the development and optimization of compliance policies, procedures, and systems across the Wealth channel. Mr. Raider earned a B.S. in Political Science from the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Rosie Riley
Head of Onboarding and Operations
Ms. Riley is responsible for leading the Onboarding and Operations team for Simplicity Wealth. She has spent more than 20 years in the financial services space. Prior to Simplicity, Ms. Riley was the President and CEO of HighImpact Consulting LLC, a consulting firm dedicated to optimizing efficiencies for financial services firms. Ms. Riley earned her B.A. from University of Northwestern, St. Paul, with a degree in Business Administration and Management.
Michael Mortellaro
Head of Planning
Mr. Mortellaro is responsible for leading the Planning team for Simplicity Wealth. Prior to Simplicity, Mr. Mortellaro led the Practice & Planning teams at Global Financial Private Capital. In his 25 years of experience in the financial services industry, he also held executive leadership positions at Charles Schwab, Fidelity Investments, and New York Life. Mr. Mortellaro is Series 7, 9, 10, 63 and 65 securities licensed, and is a Life and Health insurance licensed agent. Mr. Mortellaro earned a B.B.A. from American Intercontinental University.
Jared Hillman
Head of Trading
Mr. Hillman is responsible for leading the Trading team for Simplicity Wealth. Prior to Simplicity, Mr. Hillman was Head of Trading at Sawtooth Solutions where he led the development and build out of the firm’s sleeve-level rebalancing software and helped grow its assets under management from $20 million to over $15 billion. Prior to Sawtooth, Mr. Hillman was an investment analyst, specializing in hedge funds and private equity at Mount Yale Capital Group. Mr. Hillman is Series 65 securities licensed and earned a B.A. from Macalester College.
Paul Tinnirello
Director of Operations
Mr. Tinnirello is responsible for overseeing Operations for Simplicity Wealth. He has more than 25 years of experience in the financial services industry and was most recently Chief Operating Officer at Bleakley Financial Group. He began his career as a Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch before transitioning into leadership, management, and compliance roles at wirehouses and RIAs. Mr. Tinnirello holds dual Master's degrees from Fordham University, with concentrations in Management and Finance.
Learn More About
Our Financial Solutions
Our three-step planning process works to help identify and implement suitable financial strategies for helping our clients meet their needs and achieve their goals and objectives for retirement.
Click on a step below to learn more.
01
Start Smart
02
Apply Discipline
03
Communicate Progress
Our Financial Services
Key steps include fully utilizing tax-advantaged accounts, diversifying investments to help manage risk, and strategically evaluating the timing of Social Security benefits.
Ease the financial and emotional toll of long-term care with early planning so you can retire with peace of mind and dignity.
If you have a pension, we will guide you through the options available and help you make an informed decision. Our process also addresses other considerations, such as potential impacts from inflation, taxation, or the loss of a spouse.
Develop strategies to protect assets against the effects of inflation.
Our clients enjoy a comprehensive review of their tax return, tax projections combined with proactive planning, tax reduction strategies, etc.
Safeguard your loved ones and your home with mortgage protection so they can afford to keep your family’s home.
The decision of when to claim Social Security is complex and can significantly impact your retirement income. We provide a comprehensive analysis to help you understand how different timing choices may affect your long-term financial health.
Register For
Our Educational Events
At Origin Financial Group we believe in the value of financial education and accessibility. We provide resources through digital education platforms designed to help you make informed decisions. We believe an informed client is better positioned to pursue their financial goals. Click here to subscribe to the Origin Financial Group newsletter.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Events in October 2026
- To stay up to date with upcoming events, follow our newsletter HERE.
Our Guides and Blog
Financial Educational Literature
Ultimate 401(k) Guide
How to Take Control of Your 401(k) Before and After Retirement
The 401(k) is one of the most important retirement planning tools we have. You pay into it for decades and will likely rely on it, among other income sources, for many more decades in retirement. The potential tax benefits and power of compound returns can make it a great savings and investment tool for retirement.
START READING TODAY!
Browse Our Blog
What to Know About Medicare Open Enrollment
Every year, the Medicare Open Enrollment period, also known as the Annual Election Period (AEP), takes place from October 15th to December 7th. This period allows current Medicare beneficiaries to assess their healthcare needs and revise their coverage accordingly. These dates remain consistent every year. […]
What to Know About Medicare Open Enrollment
Fresh Finance Blogs2026-10-12T04:22:01+00:00October 12th, 2026|
Every year, the Medicare Open Enrollment period, also known as the Annual Election Period (AEP), takes place from October 15th [...]
Financial Planning Month: An Overview
Fresh Finance Blogs2026-10-05T04:55:42+00:00October 5th, 2026|
Financial Planning Month is celebrated every year in October. It is designed to raise awareness about the importance of creating [...]
What Is Liquidity, and Why Is It So Important in Retirement?
Fresh Finance Blogs2026-09-28T03:46:50+00:00September 28th, 2026|
Liquidity, in financial terms, refers to the ease with which an asset can be converted into cash without affecting its [...]
What’s a Risk Score?
Risk tolerance is an investor’s ability to remain invested during downward market cycles in exchange for a potential return.
It’s important that investors understand their risk tolerance so that they can help guide the design of their investment strategy. This approach looks to balance the investor’s desire for returns goals with their ability to stay confident and invested throughout market cycles.
To help investors understand their risk threshold we deploy a proprietary algorithm rooted in the well-known Value at Risk (VaR) measurement that helps us quantify their sentiment toward financial uncertainty, specifically their emotional tolerance with respect to the magnitude and speed of potential investment loss. This Analysis provides them with a VaR Score that can help determine if their existing portfolio aligns with their risk tolerance.
Intelligent, Disciplined Investing
with AssetLock®
AssetLock® is Simplicity Wealth’s proprietary, investment portfolio monitoring service that delivers personalized communications to advisors and investors in a secure environment.
This technology keeps investors informed about the progression of their portfolio in accordance with their risk tolerance determined by the investor’s household portfolio VaR Score.
Contact Origin Financial Group
At Origin Financial Group, we believe strong financial planning is built on relationships. We take the time to understand your goals, concerns, and family dynamics—because financial planning isn’t just about numbers, it’s about life. Our team is committed to providing consistent, personalized guidance, ensuring you have a dedicated advisor who understands your long-term financial journey.
