Meet Your EViE Team
Melissa B Reaktenwalt
Founder | Advisor
MBA | CSRIC™ | AIF®
Melissa is a biracial black woman who found her calling as a financial services professional and wealth manager who is passionate about educating individuals on the power of smart and efficient money management. She grew up with minimal means, but in the company of a family that never quit despite challenging financial circumstances. That upbringing, along with her formal education and extensive experience with clients from varied paths, prompted her to start EViE Financial Group in the fall of 2018 to turn that passion into accessible financial services for all. In Melissa’s words, money management and financial wellness are her jam!
As the Founder and lead advisor of EViE Financial, she strives to provide actionable and goal-based financial planning alongside personalized, values-based wealth management to early and mid-career-level professionals, executive women in both the private and public sectors, and small and mid-sized business owner clients across the country. In addition, Melissa strives to ensure that each person she works with feels valid in their financial goals and concerns, and that they have easy access to expert advice and guidance when needed.
During her more than 15 years in the financial services industry, Melissa has focused on helping others create and sustain financial freedom and wellness through a better understanding of what their money has the potential to do for them. In addition to working with clients and small businesses directly, Melissa presents at regional and national conferences and teaches in-depth educational courses focused on financial empowerment and realistic planning strategies.
Melissa currently holds her FINRA Series 7 and Series 66 licenses, her life and health license, and the Chartered Socially Responsible Investing Counselor and Accredited Investment Fiduciary designations. Additionally, she earned her BA in Finance, her MBA in Finance and Marketing, and touts herself as a lifelong learner. Her personal money mantra is simple: earn all you can; save and invest all you can; give all you can.
When she’s not number-crunching or catching up with clients, you can find her spending time with her partner, David, and their pup, Jack, doing the things they love: taking in the sites of DC and surrounding areas (it never gets old), enjoying live music in all its forms, and taking as many road trips as life allows. Individually, Melissa reads memoirs and non-fiction books at a steady clip, and she drinks too much caffeine most days of the week. If you want to know more about Melissa, ask her about her tattoos; she is happy to share their stories.
Erin MacPherson
Client Service Associate | Marketing Manager
Erin is a fun-loving mother of one with a profound interest in history, anthropology, and sociology. These pursuits led her to discover her natural love for coaching, teaching, and helping others find their own paths based on what is most important to them.
Her professional background is in marketing, communications, and professional coaching, and her passion for helping people and her love of the finance industry are what inspired her to join the EViE Financial team. She is absolutely thrilled to be in a place where her skills can positively impact people on a daily basis.
Erin is currently studying for her Series 7 licensing, and will likely pursue additional licensing in months to come, all in an effort to better assist EViE clients!
Erin and her son love superhero movies, Thai food, camping, trivia, and going to the zoo or the museum. They often spend their free moments playing chess or cards with each other — Erin’s son usually wins, much to her chagrin! The pair have two very mischievous cats, an axolotl, an excessively obstinate but good-natured horse, and approximately 75 houseplants, though that number seems to grow by the day.
Erin’s spare time is spent designing and making all kinds of things from her ongoing list of ideas. Her favorite hobbies are clothing and costume making, cooking, painting, and, as you might expect, gardening!
