Our team of dedicated professionals shares the common goal of providing you with the knowledge, sound judgment, and personalized service you need to confidently pursue your financial goals.
We look forward to helping you define your financial vision—and making it a reality.
Wealth Advisor
In 1991 Michael graduated Magna-Cum-Laude with a degree in Business Administration from the University of California, Riverside. Michael focused his education in the area of finance with the long term goal of starting his own brokerage firm. Today, Michael works as Financial Advisor and is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional.
During his professional career, Michael has served as the Vice President for Blackburne & Brown Mortgage Company where for a period of 6 years he helped individual clients invest money in commercial first trust deeds. After leaving Blackburne & Brown, Michael joined Edward Jones Investments as a Financial Advisor in January 2005. During his 5 plus years with Edward Jones, Michael assisted his clients with a broad range of investments and insurance products.
In November of 2010, Michael realized his life's goal by becoming an Independent Financial Advisor and joining forces with Woodbury Financial Services. In January of 2023, Michael and his team made the move to Commonwealth Financial Network®.
Michael is married to Robin and has a daughter named Samantha and they reside in Yuba City.
Wealth Advisor
Matthew grew up in the VERY small town of Taylorsville, CA. After high school, Matthew attended Feather River College for two years, and transferred to California State University, Chico to finish his degree. At CSU, Chico, Matthew worked on-campus in a computer lab to help finance his way through school, and received his Bachelor of Science in Business with an emphasis in Finance in 2001. Matthew had a long term goal of working as a professional in some area of personal finance, and today Matthew is furthering this goal as a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional and co-owner of Core Financial Group in Yuba City. He holds his Series 7, 66, 63, and CA Insurance licenses.
Before starting Core Financial Group with Michael Critchfield in 2011, Matthew spent nine years as a financial advisor with Edward Jones, where he gained industry experience working with clients from around the country and in the Yuba/Sutter area in particular. Today Matthew helps a wide range of clients with many different personal financial planning issues, he is particularly focused on helping clients generate predictable retirement income.
Matthew is married to Shanna and they have two daughters, Angelina and Isabella, who were born in 2013. Matthew enjoys travelling, tennis, hiking, and movies.
Para Planner
Matthew grew up and attended high school in the suburbs of Pittsburgh, PA. He went on to study economics at the University of Pittsburgh. After graduation, Matthew moved to Sacramento to live with his girlfriend and began looking for work in the field of personal finance. Today, Matthew works as a Paraplanner at Core Financial Group. He has been a member of our team since December 2020.
As a paraplanner, Matthew assists the firm's financial advisors to organize and assemble information they use to build a customized financial plan. This involves attentive listening and detailed research designed to help ensure every plan prepared by the advisors is constructed to accomplish each client’s financial goals.
Outside of the office, Matthew enjoys golf, movies, basketball, and travelling with his girlfriend, Natalie. He will continue his financial education with the intent of becoming a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional.
Credentials:
BA in Economics - University of Pittsburgh
Licenses: Series 7 & Series 66
Para Planner
As a Paraplanner, Evan is responsible for gathering client information and, under the direction of the financial planners, assists in the process of constructing a financial plan. While building relationships with our clients he uses careful consideration and attention to detail. While providing support to the team at CFG, Evan also helps clients with their day-to-day questions and needs. Evan joined our family at CFG in 2020.
Evan grew up in Rocklin, CA where he completed high school and became an accountable student-athlete. Growing up, Evan spent the majority of his time in the pool, playing water polo and swimming throughout high school and college, and has always enjoyed being part of a hard-working team. Leading teams have shown him what it takes to be successful both in and out of the water.
Throughout college, Evan worked as a coach giving back to the programs that helped develop him as a leader and effective communicator. Coaching helped Evan see the meaning of giving back and working to help others achieve the goals they set out for. Similarly, Evan enjoys working with the firm's leaders as they help set client goals and work towards their financial wellbeing. Evan entered this industry with aspirations to put himself in a position to create lasting relationships and give back to the community working towards an end goal of becoming a financial advisor.
Outside of work, Evan is pursuing an MBA at CSU Chico. He enjoys cooking for family and friends on the weekend and barbecuing at the lake. In his free time, Evan enjoys being outdoors and on the water. He prides himself on being a slalom water skier and takes every opportunity to go out on a boat.
Credentials:
BA in Business Finance, CSU Chico
Office Manager
Sutter County Native is back to stay! After a lot of moving around over the years, Jen is back to stay! Jen was born in Yuba City, and raised in Live Oak with the backdrop of the Sutter Buttes out her back window. Farm animals, mud pies, and all things outdoors were the setting of her childhood and she couldn’t be more grateful.
After dabbling in College and earning an Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education and an Associate Degree in Paralegal Studies, the stars aligned for Jen to start a family. She was blessed with two wonderful sons, Wade who is 11 and Wyatt who is 8. They are the lights of her life and she loves being their mom! As the boys grew older Jen decided it was time to go back to school, not only to achieve a goal of hers, but also to show her sons that hard work and perseverance pay off. In November of 2020 she received her Bachelor Degree from National University.
Although Jen has an extensive background in teaching preschool, she felt the desire to make a shift in career paths while maintaining a connection with the people in her community. Jen is a caretaker by nature and enriching lives is a passion she carries. She comes to Core Financial Group looking forward to learning a new industry and providing the best possible service to our Core Family.
In her free time, Jen enjoys exploring new places or old favorites with her boys, reading, watching movies, learning and trying new things and anything that involves her family. Jen also enjoys supporting her community by volunteering at different events and leagues when the opportunity arises.
Credentials:
BA in Early Childhood Education
AA in Early Childhood Education
AA in Paralegal Studies