- Invest with purpose and intention: Build a portfolio that reflects what matters most to you—whether that’s sustainability, fairness, or community impact.
- Support Businesses That Reflect Your Values: Invest in businesses that consider people, the planet, and ethical practices.
- Feel More Connected to Your Financial Life: When your investments reflect your beliefs, it adds meaning and clarity to your financial decisions.
- Stay Focused on Your Goals: Evidence shows a well-diversified, values-aligned portfolio can be designed to support your long-term objectives.
Read what our clients have to say about us! These reviews are sourced directly from Google.
CCM was established in 2000, and is located in Boulder, CO. We are a Certified B-Corporation and provide fee-only financial planning and portfolio management services for high-net worth individuals, families, and foundations.
our team
Steven Ellis
Managing Partner, Senior Advisor, CFA
Steve Ellis has spent his career making an impact, so it’s not surprising that Colorado Capital Management’s founder launched the firm’s entry into impact investing.
Steven Ellis is the founder, Managing Partner, and Senior Advisor at Colorado Capital Management, a Boulder-based fee-only wealth management firm and Certified B Corporation. With more than 30 years of experience in financial planning and investment management, Steve works with individuals and families on retirement planning, portfolio management, and long-term wealth strategies.
Steve is especially recognized for his leadership in impact investing and values-based wealth management. He launched Colorado Capital Management’s impact investing platform in 2012 and has spoken nationally on sustainable and mission-aligned investing strategies.
Before founding Colorado Capital Management in 2000, Steve taught college courses in accounting and finance, consulted for a major accounting firm, and served as chief due diligence officer for a national financial planning firm. He has advised individual and institutional investors since 1989.
Steve earned his business degree from the University of Colorado and a master’s degree from Cornell University. He also holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation. Outside of work, he is active in philanthropy and community leadership throughout Colorado.
Lee Strongwater
Managing Partner, Senior Advisor, WMSSM
As a serial entrepreneur and world traveler, Lee Strongwater, president of Colorado Capital Management, brings a global perspective to investments and life planning.
Lee Strongwater is President and Senior Financial Advisor at Colorado Capital Management, a Boulder-based, fee-only fiduciary wealth management firm. With more than 20 years of experience in financial planning and investment management, Lee helps individuals and families make thoughtful decisions about retirement, investing, tax-aware wealth strategies, and long-term financial planning.
Lee’s work combines comprehensive financial planning with values-based investing, helping clients connect their financial decisions with their goals, priorities, and what matters most to them. He often works with people navigating important life transitions, including retirement, inheritance, business transitions, legacy planning, and decisions involving family wealth.
As president, Lee helps guide Colorado Capital Management’s client experience, strategic direction, and commitment to thoughtful, transparent advice. He brings a broad perspective to this work, shaped by entrepreneurship, global travel, community leadership, and decades of leadership experience.
Before joining Colorado Capital Management, Lee served as managing partner of Strongwater-Schott, a Denver-based fee-only investment management and financial planning firm. He also founded two children’s product companies, one of which became publicly traded in 2007.
Lee holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Colorado and a master’s degree in International Affairs from Columbia University. He also earned the Wealth Management Specialist, WMS®, designation.
Beyond his advisory work, Lee has remained actively involved in community leadership and philanthropy, including work with nonprofits, boards, and investment committees. He formerly served as president and as a member of the Board of Directors of the Boulder Jewish Community Center. He also previously served on the Investment Committee of Girl Rising, Global Education, a venture philanthropy organization supporting educational opportunities and gender equality initiatives around the world.
Lee and his wife have two daughters, and he enjoys an active life outside the office, including hiking and skiing in Colorado, swimming, international travel, Mediterranean cooking, and reading.
Emily Lucero
Financial Advisor, CFP®, CSRIC®
Emily builds deeply meaningful relationships with her clients to help them thrive in good times and persevere through challenging times.
Emily is a financial advisor at Colorado Capital Management with over nine years of experience across brokerage and investment advisory firms. She creates meaningful financial and investment plans while championing socially responsible business practices. As a Chartered SRI Counselor™, she brings a strong background in sustainable investing and enjoys helping clients understand its long-term benefits.
Emily is a Certified Financial Planner™ and holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Colorado. Before joining CCM, she worked as an analyst at a leading Boulder-based investment advisory firm, where she deepened her expertise in portfolio construction and management. She also led business development initiatives, strengthened community relationships, and enhanced client experiences through events and firm-wide efforts.
A Colorado native, Emily lives in Boulder with her husband Brice, whom she met at CU Boulder, their daughter Charlotte (“Charlie”), son Bjorn, and their spirited Beagle, Deza. Outside of work, she’s a passionate home cook, a HIIT fitness enthusiast, and an avid DIYer who loves home improvement projects. Emily treasures time spent outdoors with her family under the Colorado sun.
Erica Loughrey
Financial Advisor, CFP®, MSFP
Erica is passionate about providing purposeful advice to help clients enjoy a meaningful life.
Erica is an advisor at CCM. She joined the firm in 2021, fulfilling her desire to work for a values-based company with a deep commitment to making an impact. She moved from her hometown of Anchorage, Alaska and quickly fell in love with the sunny and beautiful state of Colorado. She brought with her prior experience as a para-planner and is delighted to be engaged in a profession that empowers individuals to flourish financially. She believes strongly in exceptional client service and creating lifelong generational relationships.
In 2022, she accomplished two of her major career goals, finishing her master’s degree in financial planning (MSFP) and earning her Certified Financial Planner™ designation.
Erica enjoys spending time outdoors and traveling to exotic locales. In her free time, you can find her out skiing, hiking, scuba diving, practicing yoga or jetting off to new places to explore. She has a never-ending list of travel plans, having already visited over 20 countries, and feels lucky to have so many wonderful opportunities and adventures.
Jason Black,
Managing Partner, Senior Advisor CFP®, CSRIC®
As a managing partner and senior advisor at Colorado Capital Management, Jason brings 20 years of experience in the financial services industry. He is passionate about helping individuals and families live abundant and intentional lives and takes pride in being part of a Certified B Corporation. This allows him to provide meaningful financial and investment planning while focusing on socially responsible business practices that make a positive impact.
As a Chartered SRI CounselorSM, Jason has a strong background and keen interest in sustainable investing. He enjoys helping clients understand its benefits. He is also a Certified Financial Planner™ and holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Colorado.
Before joining CCM, Jason worked as a consultant for financial advisors at Jackson National. He helped create meaningful connections with families, developed creative asset allocation strategies, and provided tax-advantaged retirement income solutions. During his tenure there, Jason worked with over four thousand financial advisors nationwide, was recognized multiple times as Consultant of the Year, and managed a team of twenty-five individuals.
Jason has been married to Bridget for fifteen years, whom he met while in college at CU. Together, they have a son, daughter, and a Frenchie named Coco Disco. They live in the Whisper Creek neighborhood of Arvada. When Jason isn’t at work, he and his family enjoy skiing in Summit County, wake surfing in Glendo, WY, cooking, dancing, and traveling.
Vince Otterbein
Financial Advisor, CFP®
Vince joined the Colorado Capital Management team in 2020. A lifelong Colorado resident, he graduated from the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado Boulder in 2018. After finding a passion for personal finance and pursuing the financial planning degree track at CU, Vince went on to work at Charles Schwab & Co. as a registered representative where he provided investment guidance and trading services. He quickly realized that he wanted to work at an independent firm as a fee-only adviser where the client’s interests came before all else.
Vince is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional and helps clients with their financial, tax and estate planning and portfolio management needs. He truly enjoys de-mystifying the world of investment advice and takes a holistic approach.
In his spare time, Vince enjoys skiing, golfing, and many other activities the Rocky Mountains has to offer. He holds dual citizenship in the US and France and loves traveling abroad whenever he gets the chance. Vince always welcomes opportunities to learn and is an active member of the community.
Investment Values Alignment Quiz
Take the quiz to learn more about how your values can imprint your investment portfolio.