About

Our Team

Margaret (Peggy) Stephan, CFP®

Margaret (Peggy) Stephan is a San Jose, CA fee-only financial advisor and a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional. Empowerment Financial Guidance LLC provides comprehensive financial planning and investment management, including sustainable and responsible investing. Our holistic approach can help working and retired professionals organize, grow and protect their assets through life’s transitions. As a fee-only, independent financial advisor and fiduciary, Peggy is never paid a commission of any kind, and has a legal obligation to provide unbiased and trustworthy financial advice.

Peggy began her financial planning career in 1992, serving as the Command Financial Specialist while on active duty with the United States Navy. Peggy has worked in the securities industry for Merrill Lynch, at Wales Investments in San Jose, and at Retirement Capital Strategies.

Peggy holds a Bachelor’s degree in Microbiology and Immunology from the University of California at Berkeley.

She has been a member of the Financial Planning Association since 2000. Through the FPA, Peggy coordinated a program to provide pro bono financial planning education to military families.

While on active duty, Peggy led carrier-based air logistics missions in the Western Pacific and Persian Gulf, flying the C-2 Grumman Greyhound. She also flew the LC-130 Hercules in support of the National Science Foundation’s United States Antarctic Program. She retired from the US Navy Reserves in 2017.

In her free time, she enjoys gardening, hiking, and traveling with her family.

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Bill Weihman, CFP®

Bill Weihman is a San Jose, CA fee-only financial advisor and a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional. Empowerment Financial Guidance LLC provides comprehensive financial planning and investment management, including sustainable and responsible investing. Our holistic approach can help working and retired professionals organize, grow and protect their assets through life’s transitions. As a fee-only, independent financial advisor and fiduciary, Bill is never paid a commission of any kind, and has a legal obligation to provide unbiased and trustworthy financial advice.

Bill is an enthusiastic adherent and teacher of the demeanor underlying sound investment and financial planning. Some of his favorite words include the following: appreciation (both intrinsic and financial); husband, stepfather, brother, son, uncle; friend; fulfillment; equality; perspective; professionalism; humility; respect; childlike enthusiasm; love; il faut profiter.

And yes: empowerment.

He is still occasionally spirited away at night by dreams of playing professional hockey. By day he is energized to be a financial advisor to wonderful people he is grateful to serve. He and his wife Peggy are very proud to have founded their business to share their gifts of wisdom and experience for the benefit of good people who appreciate help with the management of their wealth.

Bill has worked collaboratively with several distinguished financial planners in the Bay Area before dedicating thirteen years at Retirement Capital Strategies. His previous experience includes eleven years with Nike and numerous childhood summers on a Long Island potato farm. Following the example of his father’s career as an investment professional, Bill has been managing investment portfolios since 1987.

Bill grew up near New York City, applying himself energetically to his academics, a considerable variety of sports, and time with his family. His education includes The Hotchkiss School, Harrow School (London), Université de Strasbourg (France), and St. Lawrence University. In 2004 he completed the graduate program in Personal Financial Planning with honors from the University of California Extension.

Peggy & Bill are proud to lean in alongside various charitable organizations, including those supporting girls’ education, natural resources, women’s health, and most significantly, feeding the hungry.

Peggy & Bill live with their two daughters and two cats in San Jose. When not being entertained by the humor of his five family members, Bill can often be found cycling or discussing the topics of the world with Peggy on long walks.