Shannon "Shãn" Sutherland, CPFA®, CRC®, AIF®, ADPASM, NQPCTM
Wealth Advisor, CEO & Founder
Shãn has many years of experience in retirement planning, investment management, executive compensation, and wealth transfers. She holds numerous credentials and designations, including Certified Retirement Counselor®, Accredited Investment Fiduciary®, and Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor® Nonqualified Plan Consultant (NQPCTM). Shãn has a strong educational background and holds the Series 7, Series 31, Series 63, and Series 65 securities registrations and a personal financial planning certificate from UCLA.
Driven by a strong sense of purpose, Shãn brings tacit knowledge and a holistic 360-degree view of financial strategies that empower individuals, organizations, and families to preserve well-being across generations.
As a trusted confidant, Shãn assists founders and executives by designing and structuring competitive employer benefits beyond standard qualified plans. Innovative problem-solving for property exchanges, concentrated stock positions, life insurance-based split dollar arrangements, and long-term performance incentives deferred compensation, and exit strategies.
Shãn educates on financial literacy in life stages, prioritizing savings for stability and flexibility. She facilitates communication among family members to ensure alignment of goals, tax-efficiency, best practices, and philanthropic journeys.
Shãn and her husband, Todd, are passionate about environmental stewardship, healthy outdoor lifestyle, arts and culture preservation, and advocating for equality, diversity, and inclusion. She combines expertise, empathy, and a genuine desire to make a difference for each unique family member she serves.
Shãn’s philanthropic service includes former Chairwoman of the RCA Endowment at the Ebell of Los Angeles, and current board positions at the Olivia Headley Foundation, and the Southern Oregon University Foundation Investment Committee.
In 2013, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021, Shãn was recognized by Los Angeles magazine as a Five Star Wealth Manager, and in Fortune Magazine.
2013, 2016-2021 Five Star Wealth Manager Award, created by Five Star Professional.
The 2021 award is presented December 2020 based on data gathered within 12 months preceding the issue date. 3,574 advisors were considered, 158 advisors were recognized. Advisors pay a fee to hold out marketing materials. Not indicative of advisor’s future performance. Your experience may vary. For more information, please visit www.fivestarprofessional.com.
I support modern families and advocate for my clients best interests. I have served the LGBTQ communities during a time of regulatory inconsistencies for many diverse groups. I assisted in obtaining an IRS private letter ruling to establish IRA spousal benefits from a deceased partner. Simple Impact LLC is a member of the LAGL Chamber of Commerce.
The Accredited Domestic Partnership Advisor designation helped train me to recognize advantages and disadvantages of couples who are not legally married but live and commingle finances as if they were.
Being responsible for the money of others, I obtained the Accredited Investment Fiduciary® (AIF®) designation, which increased my knowledge of fiduciary considerations when reviewing retirement plans.
The AIF® process is best applied to overseeing and recommending choices for large-scale 401(k) retirement plan assets and charitable trusts.
I also advise other fiduciaries (such as board members) on investment policies, asset allocation, and regulatory updates.
2013, 2016-2021, 2025-2026 Five Star Wealth Manager Award, created by Five Star Professional.
The 2026 award was presented in December 2025 based on data gathered within 12 months preceding the issue date. 4,648 advisors were considered, 151 advisors were recognized. Advisors pay a fee to hold out marketing materials. Not indicative of advisor’s future performance. Your experience may vary. For more information, please visit
