Wealth Planning

Estate Planning 101: Back to Basics

October 1, 2021


Lisa Colletti
Lisa Colletti

Managing Director in Exclusive Family Office, Partner

Lisa Colletti, J.D., CFP®, serves some of Aspiriant’s largest and most complex client families. She has also played an important role in advancing and modernizing the client service experience across the firm. In 2021, she was named Managing Director of Aspiriant’s Exclusive Family Office.

Lisa joined Aspiriant’s New York office in 2011 and has worked in various leadership roles at Aspiriant while also advising clients. Lisa currently heads the strategy, growth and execution of our Exclusive Family Office group, which is a pioneer in the multifamily office space, providing clients with a multi-disciplinary, 360-degree view of their financial lives. With one of the largest and longest-tenured in-house teams, the group brings together strategic wealth planning which includes investment strategy, estate and philanthropic planning, income tax planning, family governance, and financial administration services to help clients make the best financial decisions for their families.

Ultimately, she works to help clients see the big picture, while mastering the details necessary to help clients with their estate planning. Her goal is to provide every client a comprehensive perspective, independent and objective advice, and solid support to help them achieve their financial goals and live life well.

Lisa has developed her expertise in comprehensive wealth management for affluent families since the mid-1990s. Prior to joining Aspiriant, Lisa worked as a director in the Private Client Advisor practice at Deloitte and Touche, where she began her wealth management career.

She completed her professional education at Fordham University, earning a bachelor’s degree in Accounting and a juris doctor (J.D.) degree from the School of Law. She is licensed to practice law in the state of New York, is a member of the Financial Planning Association, and earned the Certified Financial Planner designation in 2002.

Lisa has received numerous industry accolades and is frequently quoted in news publications such as The Wall Street Journal, Newsday, MarketWatch and USA Today.

Lisa lives in the suburbs of New York City with her husband and three children.

Dawn Baca
Dawn Baca

Director in Strategic Planning, Partner

Dawn joined Aspiriant in 2016 as a senior associate in strategic planning. For over 10 years her legal career has been focused on transfer tax planning including multi-generational wealth transfers, planning for business owners, and charitable planning for high and ultra-high-net worth individuals and families. In addition to reducing client estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer tax exposure and assisting clients in designing their estate and philanthropic legacies, Dawn is a member of Aspiriant’s Planning Strategy & Research group, serving as the firm’s subject matter expert in estate planning as well as charitable giving. She helps monitor changes in estate and gift tax law as well as related topics, like California property tax, and contributes to internal and external announcements and articles. Dawn is also Aspiriant’s Strategic Planning department internal liaison, helping wealth managers in providing Strategic Planning services and resources to our clients.

Prior to joining the firm, she spent three years focusing on foundational estate planning and probate education and training, followed by an additional three years in the Wealth Strategies department at Bank of America Private Bank (then known as U.S. Trust) in Newport Beach where she assisted with comprehensive wealth management strategies for high and ultra-high-net clients.

Dawn earned her Executive LL.M. in taxation from New York University School of Law and her Juris Doctor degree from California Western School of Law, graduating magna cum laude. She served as an executive law review editor and, as a published author, Dawn earned the S. Houston Lay Award for Excellence in Writing, Analysis, and Contribution to International Law. Dawn was an Academic Merit Scholarship recipient and earned the Dean’s Scholarship for Ethnic and Cultural Diversity.

A Reno/Tahoe native, Dawn prefers to spend her time in the great outdoors with friends and family and is a former sponsored snowboarder and slope style competitor. She supported herself through college as a blackjack dealer followed by three years learning the culinary art of sushi as a sushi chef in Lake Tahoe.


Get Aspirant Fathom Articles Direct to your Inbox

Want the latest wealth management tips, investment insights and Aspiriant news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for regular Fathom updates so we can send you the most relevant content you selected below.


Phil-Kastenholz-square

Phil J. Kastenholz CFA®, CPA

Director in Investment Strategy & Research, Partner

Talk to us

Reach out to an expert that is ready to help.

Next up

Blog detail footer callout img

Meet the Team

In the end, a firm boils down to the people.

Learn more
Blog detail footer callout img