Kristel grew up in the small town of Seneca, Missouri. She earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Kansas, and her law degree from the University of Arkansas – Fayetteville.

Kristel was a member of the National Network of Estate Planning Attorneys from 2008-2012, where she received extensive training and support in the the area of estate planning.  She joined WealthCounsel in 2012, an organization supporting estate planning, elder law, and business attorneys across the country.

Kristel and her husband, Carlos, have two children – a daughter and a son. They also share their home with their rescue Yorkie, Bella, and her archnemisis, “little” sister, Azteca – Carlos and Kristel’s third Weimaraner. Outside of the office, Kristel enjoys cheering on her kids, visiting family in Missouri, and baking bread and sweets!

Kristel is licensed to practice law in Arizona, Arkansas, and Missouri.

Deanna is the Founder and President of Organized Management Solutions, LLC and proud to call Empowered Legacy Planning one of her best clients! She currently serves as our Office Manager and a Paralegal here at ELP, where she manages probate, trust administration, guardianship/conservatorship and elder law matters. Detail-oriented and thorough, she works to ensure and promote our goals and to support our clients through her exceptional service. Deanna joined our team in April 2019 and as of July 2022 serves ELP part-time.

Deanna is a single mom to a sixteen-year-old daughter who is a varsity cheerleader at her high school in Scottsdale, AZ and highly interested in a career in architecture. In her free time, Deanna enjoys traveling the world, reading and any opportunity to spend time with family and friends.

Fun Fact: Deanna was selected as one of the 2009 Top 35 Under 35 Entrepreneurs by The Arizona Republic. 

Missy is a third generation native Arizonian and graduate from Arizona State University in Family and Human Development.  Missy’s early working years were spent in several different law firms in Arizona until taking a pause on the legal field to explore health care. She worked in long-term care management for over 6 years before returning to law, her true passion.

Missy and her husband Keith have two amazing sons, Daniel who is about to be the fourth generation Sun Devil graduate as a future book editor, and Hunter who plans to attend the University of Arizona to study cyber-security. Their boys are their greatest joy! They also have the best puppy, Gracie, that they call “Princess” because that is what she is.

When Missy is not working, she is spending time with her family, traveling, swimming or curled up watching movies.

Fun Fact: Missy is a trained recording artist, yes she will sing for you if you ask.

Ryan was born and raised in California, growing up in California’s Silicon Valley.  She has practiced real estate for 20 years, helping techies purchase and sell their bay area homes.  In 2016, Ryan relocated to the East Valley of Arizona to be near her sister.  She brought her business with her, turning her expertise in real estate into a virtual assistant business supporting agents with marketing, document management and transaction coordination. Ryan found herself needing to make a career pivot as the real estate market cooled after the pandemic and her skills have found a perfect fit with Empowered Legacy Planning; being a helpful and diligent support person is where she thrives.  

Ryan is a single mom who has raised three children to adulthood. Kaitlyn, Matthew & Brandon, and she is massively proud of each of them. Ryan also resides with her two cats, Captain Jack Sparrow and Junie B. Jones or Sparrow and Junie for short. The cats spend their day sleeping and defending themselves from playtime with their rambunctious frenemy, Golden Doodle Sadie.

When the stars align and Ryan has spare time, she enjoys spending time with her person and loves a good self-care routine, taking walks in nature, journaling, reading a good book, preparing healthy meals, and practicing yoga. 

Fun Fact: Ryan has an identical twin sister.