Hi, I’m Spenser.
I’m a CFP® professional, former professional musician, husband, dad, and founder of Motif Planning.
Before financial planning, I spent 17 years making a living as a musician.
I performed with artists including Aretha Franklin, Frankie Valli, The Temptations, Korn, Father John Misty, and many others.
I loved the work. I also learned something that eventually changed my career:
Being good at your job does not automatically make you good at managing money.
That became personal for me.
Why I became a financial planner
During my music career, I started learning more about investing, taxes, retirement, and how money actually works. The more I learned, the more I realized how easy it is to have a successful career while still feeling unsure about what you should be doing financially.
That eventually led me to teach financial literacy, earn my CFP® certification, and start Motif Planning. Today I work with families who are in a similar position.
They are doing well. They have built strong careers and meaningful wealth. They also have limited time and a growing number of decisions involving taxes, investments, benefits, company stock, college, insurance, estate planning, and family life.
I help them make those decisions without turning personal finance into another job.
My background
I earned my CFP® certification through Southern Methodist University and hold a Master of Music from the University of North Texas.
Before financial planning, I spent 17 years working professionally in music. Performing at that level taught me to prepare carefully, listen closely, stay calm under pressure, and pay attention to details.
Those habits still shape how I work with clients today.
Motif Planning is an independent, flat-fee financial planning and investment management firm based in Dallas.
I do not earn commissions or charge a percentage of the investments I manage.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
“I came to Spenser for help with my finances. What I didn’t expect was a fundamental shift in how I think about money, my relationship with it, and how I see myself, financially and beyond. My approach to money today looks drastically different than it did before working with him.
Spenser takes a truly holistic approach. It’s not just theory. It’s like having a business manager in your corner without having to hire one. I was busy and my finances weren’t getting the attention they deserved, but Spenser set up manageable systems and, through our sessions, helped me prioritize the right moves to position myself for long-term success. While reshaping my money story, I was also taking real, strategic action, and together, the mindset and the execution created meaningful, lasting change in how I approach money.
There’s genuine excitement and new energy in how I now approach financial decisions. Spenser helped me build a clear vision of wealth and value and has been instrumental in helping me see my financial picture, and my potential, in a completely different light. Spenser is not just another financial planner. He’s part guide, part coach, part advisor, part teacher, all delivered with calm, grounded wisdom.
I highly recommend Spenser’s approach and strategy to understanding and managing your financial life.”
– Tracie V., client since 2025
Disclosure: Motif Planning has not provided any compensation for the testimonials shown. The testimonials shown have been selected from among all client feedback. To our knowledge, no other conflicts of interest exist regarding these testimonials. Testimonials may not be representative of other clients’ experiences and do not guarantee future performance or success. View all reviews at Wealthtender.
Why I focus on families
Having kids changes the way you think about money.
The decisions start carrying more weight. Insurance matters differently. Career flexibility matters differently. College enters the picture.
You start thinking more seriously about where you live, how you spend your time, how much is enough, and what happens if something goes wrong.
I live those decisions too.
That perspective is a big part of why I enjoy working with parents who are trying to make good financial decisions while also managing careers, kids, and everything else competing for their attention.
The goal is simple:
Make good decisions. Keep the important things from falling through the cracks. Spend less time managing the details yourself.
Outside of work
When I’m not working with clients, I’m usually spending time with my family, woodworking, listening to music, or finding something around the house to build or fix.
I still love music.
I just prefer helping families with financial decisions to spending months at a time on tour.
Financial education matters to me
I write and speak about the questions families actually run into:
Taxes. Equity compensation. Employee benefits. Investing. Insurance. College. Estate planning.
And the financial decisions that tend to show up as your income, career, and family grow.
I try to explain those decisions the same way I do with clients: clearly, without unnecessary jargon, and with the tradeoffs out in the open.
Want to see if we’d work well together?
Start with a 15-minute call.
No prep required. We’ll talk about why you’re reaching out, what you’d like help with, and if it makes sense to keep talking.