Christopher Scance, President
Chris has been involved in issues related to estate planning for Persons with Disabilities for more than thirty years and portfolio management for over 39 years. He has both depth and breadth of experience in the practical application of trust administration on Special Needs Trusts, asset protection, financial planning, estate planning, risk management, investments, and taxation. Chris is also well schooled in various types of public benefits as well as insurance. He is a graduate of George Washington University as a finance major with a degree in business administration. In 1992, he received his Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation from the College for Financial Planning. He continues to maintain his CFP status.
Greg Suarez, CEO
Greg joined GFS in 2016 as an Executive Assistant where he focused on record keeping and compliance issues for the company. Now CEO, he uses his years of experience in everyday operations, ensuring that all departments have the support they need to efficiently and effectively provide necessary services to our clients. Before joining the GFS team, he worked for ten years at UPS managing a variety of employees. Greg earned his bachelor’s degree in finance in 2021 from Metropolitan State University of Denver.
Derek Stone, Vice President & Portfolio Manager
Derek fills the vital role of Portfolio Manager for the GFS family. He has worked for GFS since 2005, assisting in the management of our beneficiaries’ trust assets. Over the last several years, he has helped families with their overall financial, life, estate, tax, insurance and investment planning. More importantly, he has been a guide to families with Special Needs children to help make sure they are organized and prepared for the future—especially for the time when GFS steps in as trustee for the Special Needs individual.
Derek brings his many years of demonstrated expertise in analysis, research, and problem solving to GFS, where he applies these skills in working with our clients’ investment portfolios. His technical expertise, combined with a warm and engaging personality, have translated into consistent results and satisfied clients. Working hand in hand with Chris Scance, Derek makes sure that clients reach or exceed their desired goals.
Derek has bachelor’s degrees in aviation science and mathematics from Metropolitan State University of Denver. Early in his career, he worked in the aviation industry as a pilot as well as a consultant to individuals and businesses to ensure their aircraft requirements were being met.
Nicholas Jones, Vice President
Nick joined Golden Fiduciary Services in 2022. Located in the Seattle area, Nick provides a local presence to our clients in Washington State. He brings with him 15 years of experience as a trust officer managing special needs trusts and as a civil litigator. Using a holistic approach, he also participates in planning conversations with individuals and families who are concerned about meeting the needs of their loved ones in the future. In addition, Nick engages in conversations around pre-settlement planning and the options available to an individual receiving a personal injury award. As an attorney, he encountered hundreds of people impacted by serious accident related injuries, many of whom had specials needs. Nick brings with him an understanding of the litigation process that often precedes the creation of Special Needs Trusts and a passion for working with people.
In order to provide advice and guidance to his clients, he routinely participates in educational seminars that focus on rules, regulations, changes, and best practices regarding the administration of trusts for individuals with diverse abilities.
A native of the Seattle area, Nick received a B.A. in economics from the University of Washington and a J.D. from the University of San Diego School of Law. For the past 6 years, Nick has served on the Board of Trustees for Kindering, a non-profit that provides therapies, education and support to children with special needs and their families. He is also past-president of the Rotary Club of Kirkland Downtown.
Timea Rakoczi Hanratty, Trust Officer
Timea joined Golden Fiduciary Services in 2023, and works closely with Nick in our Seattle office. Prior to joining Golden Fiduciary Services, Timea was a family law litigator for almost a decade, first in Arizona, then in Washington. Before family law, she practiced in the areas of guardianships and conservatorships, and estate planning with an emphasis in special needs trusts. She always found helping families plan for their futures to ensure their loved ones would be cared for, especially for their family members with special needs, to be so rewarding that she decided to change careers and return to special needs trust-related work.
Timea graduated summa cum laude from Arizona State University (ASU) in 2007 with a B.S. in Justice Studies and received her J.D. from the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at ASU in 2011.
Born in Hungary and fluent in Hungarian, Timea also lived in Germany before emigrating to Seattle in 1988. She then moved to Arizona with her mother and two of her brothers after her parents’ divorce in 1993 (the precipitating factor for her passion for family law). She always planned to return to Seattle, and finally made her way back in 2021 with her husband, an epidemiologist and cancer researcher, and their three cats.
Amanda Conner, Trust Officer
Amanda joined GFS in 2021 after seven years as an educator primarily working with students with disabilities. Her background provides GFS with a very unique and incredibly valuable set of skills that allow her to assist in fostering meaningful relationships with our clients and their families. Her goal as trust officer is to help clients gain clarity around their financial decision making and to help them build confidence for their futures.
Amna Hasan, Client Account Specialist
Amna joined GFS in 2022 as the Client Account Specialist, bringing with her a strong background in the banking industry. She completed her bachelor’s degree in Business Management and Marketing. Her previous experience in account management, relationship building, and finance play a vital role in her success at GFS. Amna strives to earn the trust of our clients by listening to their needs, focusing on attention to detail, and providing excellent service.