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A Life Aligned with Giving

When we’re not designing intentional financial plans for the clients we serve, we give back to our community, raising awareness and supporting causes meaningful to us and our families.

A Life Aligned with Giving

When we’re not designing intentional financial plans for the clients we serve, we give back to our community, raising awareness and supporting causes meaningful to us and our families.

A Life Aligned with Giving

When we’re not designing intentional financial plans for the clients we serve, we give back to our community, raising awareness and supporting causes meaningful to us and our families.

Orienting Values and Finance

Enjoying adventure and family time outside, giving to communities in need, raising awareness for meaningful causes and initiatives, we combine our passions towards charitable efforts that involve fundraising, competing in events and supporting efforts that elevate and enrich lives and communities in need.

Personal Aims and Passions

We live a meaningful life intentionally designed to our core values. Below are some of the rewarding and enriching experiences we’ve shared, giving back to the community and supporting those in need. If you’re a client, we welcome you to share your meaningful cause and let us know how we can support your aims.

Charities We Support

My husband, Chris, and I have competed in the Tough Mudder challenge in Snowmass, CO, two times to raise funds and awareness for the Wounded Warriors Foundation We ran a crazy 13-mile obstacle course on Snowmass mountain that included challenges such as jumping into ice water and crawling through mud under barbed wire. Each event is extremely physically demanding, but not nearly as challenging as what our wounded veterans face. The Wounded Warrior Foundation means a lot to the Raines family as Chris is a 19-year active duty Air Force officer. We know several wounded warriors personally and about the difficulties they face in everyday life after making such an incredible sacrifice for our country.
Chris and I have completed Ride the Rockies, a six- to seven-day, 450- to 550-mile bike ride through the many mountain passes of Colorado, two times. It is a challenging course, but the rewards are beautiful views and raising funds for a fantastic cause. Ride The Rockies is an event of The Denver Post Community Foundation, which serves to improve and enrich the lives of those in our community by raising and distributing funds to metro-area and Colorado nonprofit agencies serving the areas of arts, youth, education and human services. One $5,000 grant is awarded in each host community of Ride the Rockies to a deserving nonprofit. The Grant Program funds nonprofit organizations that provide services for low-income children and youth through recreation, education, or the arts and/or agencies that offer direct-service literacy programs. Since the program began in 2001, more than $585,000 has been granted to towns throughout the state.
In the summer of 2014, Colorado Springs was in a state of emergency as the Waldo Canyon Fire destroyed 346 homes in its path. As a former board member of the Junior League of Colorado Springs, I worked with the Red Cross to help set up a toy drive to deliver new toys to children and families living at Red Cross Shelters throughout Colorado Springs. These families and children lost all their belongings in the fire and were forced to make residence in gymnasiums and makeshift shelters. A few new toys, games, puzzles, or coloring books helped to bring some smiles and distraction for the kids while their parents sorted through their new lives.
My family committed to fundraise for Invest In Kids and compete in their annual Jane-A-Thon, which happened to be held in our on our favorite spots—the Mary Jane Resort in Winter Park, CO. The challenge was to ski 16 black diamond mogul runs in six hours (which meant the kids had to sit it out). While we couldn't walk properly for a few days afterwards, Chris and I did successfully complete the challenge and the fundraising. The mission of Invest in Kids means a lot to the Raines family because it improves the health and well-being of vulnerable children and families throughout Colorado by providing much needed resources to low-income moms during time of very high need. Healthy pregnancies and healthy childhoods set up both moms and kids for success in life. Invest In Kids works with the Nurse Family Partnership and Incredible Years® to connect vulnerable families to much needed resources during a high risk phase of life.
We have raised thousands of dollars for the American Lung Association by fundraising and competing in the Fight for Air Climb in Denver, CO. The Fight for Air Climb is aptly named and involves racing up 56 flights to the top of the tallest building in Denver. The event brings awareness and funds to all those who struggle with breathing or have lost their battles to lung disease. Both of my paternal grandparents died of lung cancer and Chris and I have lost several close friends to the disease as well. We honor their memories every year by climbing those stairs and using our lungs—because we are fortunate that we can. The American Lung Association hosts the Fight for Air Climb at the Republic Plaza in February of each year. The Fight for Air Climb has raised millions of dollars for lung disease research.
Chris and I raised funds and awareness by competing in the MS175 bike ride from Denver to Fort Collins. It is a two-day ride, the first day being 75 miles and the second day being a century ride of 100 miles. It was inspiring and emotional to see so many suffering with MS competing in the ride and supporting riders along the way. We have clients, family of our clients, and friends and colleagues who suffer from this disease and we are proud to support the research to find a cure. The MS Society of Colorado and Wyoming's vision is a world free of MS. Their mission is that people affected by MS can live their best lives as we stop MS in its tracks, restore what has been lost, and end MS forever.
I had the opportunity to teach a full-day personal finance course to a high school class in Colorado Springs. It was rewarding to educate these young people on topics such as budgeting, saving, credit cards, paychecks, and how much one should spend on rent for a first apartment. Personally, I felt nostalgic for my high school years as I spent time as a volunteer teacher. I took advantage of the opportunity to have some fun with the kids in addition to trying to spark their interest in personal finance. Junior Achievement’s volunteer-delivered, kindergarten-12th grade programs foster work-readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy skills, and use experiential learning to inspire students to dream big and reach their potential.
Since 2009, I have been an active member of the Junior League, serving in Denver, Rhode Island, and Colorado Springs. As a former board member of the Junior League of Colorado Springs, I have been able to participate in a number of great giving back initiatives and make lifetime friendships. The Junior League is an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women and improving communities through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable.
I had the opportunity to participate in a Habitat for Humanity build while attending a financial planning conference in Arizona. After a full day of hard work and camaraderie, it very rewarding to know I had contributed to a structure that would serve as the home for a family in need. More inspiring was being able to meet the family who would occupy the home, which left all of the volunteers in need of tissues. Habitat for Humanity is seeking to put God’s love into action and brings people together to build homes, communities and hope. Their vision is a world where everyone has a decent place to live.
Our family donates every year to support No Greater Sacrifice, which honors the sacrifices of our service members by investing in their children's capacity for greatness through education. NGS is dedicated to the children of our nation’s fallen and wounded service members, delivering scholarships and resources to improve their quality of life through the pursuit of higher education. NGS has committed more than $7 million in post-high school education benefits. No Greater Sacrifice is a cause very close to our hearts with Chris having served 19 years in the Air Force and having seen first hand the results of children losing a parent to service. With two young children ourselves, our hearts go out to the kids who don’t get to have their parent because of the sacrifices made for our freedom.
When disaster strikes or conflict arises and families unexpectedly find themselves without a home, their needs are simple: shelter, dignity and warmth. ShelterBox provides emergency shelter and vital supplies to support communities around the world overwhelmed by disaster and humanitarian crisis. ShelterBox aid is tailored to each specific disaster, but typically includes a disaster relief tent for a family, thermal blankets and groundsheets, water storage and purification equipment, solar lamps, cooking utensils, a basic tool kit, mosquito nets, and children’s activity pack. Our family supports ShelterBox during the holidays to provide for those families without a home at Christmas.
My husband, Chris, and I attended a fundraiser for Greenhouse Scholars in Denver and heard the incredibly inspirational stories of underprivileged, gifted children achieving wonderful things. Children who were born into poverty, drugs, and addiction are being paired with mentors and earning full scholarships to college. The stories shared were moving, motivational ,and simply uplifting. Greenhouse Scholars is catalyzing change in low-income communities by cultivating leaders and role models from those communities. Greenhouse Scholars’ vision is to create a community of leaders who will evolve the communities of the world. They work with the next generation of leaders and change agents, and together change the trajectory of their families, their communities, and broader global communities.
Christy was interviewed by InvestmentNews in 2017 to discuss her work helping military widows plan for their financial futures in the wake of the unimaginable. This is something Christy helps with, whether the individual is a client or not, given her connection to the military community (as the wife of an Air Force officer).

Excerpt: "In building my practice, I've found that the military benefits are just fascinating from a financial planning perspective," she said.
Living with Alzheimer’s or being a caregiver for a loved one with this disease is devastating. To know that this organization is dedicated to finding a cure, researching prevention, and connecting those impacted with available resources, provides small glimmers of hope on the darkest of days. For all those that we know and don’t know living with Alzheimer’s and dementia and for the caregivers and loved ones of those battling these diseases, our hearts go out to you.
Their mission is to create life changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. Wishes are far more than gifts, or singular events in time. Wishes impact everyone involved—kids, parents, siblings, volunteers, donors, sponsors, medical professionals, and communities.
The Brammer Family Fund is not a global nonprofit serving millions of people with a large executive team. It is a small local fund in our business’s community which exists to provide financial assistance to individuals and families battling cancer. Be it transportation, hotel stays, bucket list items, or childcare while a parent receives treatment, this fund exists to provide relief for families who are in a very challenging chapter of their lives.
Our office is located in beautiful Grand County and our backyard and neighbors suffered immeasurable loss in the wildfires that tore through so much of the Western US this fall. 366 families lost their homes, and it will take decades for the land to heal. As they piece their lives back together, The Wildfire Emergency Fund is an available resource to help them rebuild.
While most people might be familiar with the American Cancer Society for research, they do so much more. They work tirelessly to provide emotional support and information to those fighting a cancer battle. They promote healthy lifestyles to help prevent cancer and they fight for lifesaving policy changes
The American Red Cross prevents and alleviates human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors. Since Clara Barton founded the Red Cross in 1881, they have helped millions of people in need from donating blood to providing shelter to a hot meal and clean water.
Since 1948, Direct Relief has made a measurable impact on the medical needs of those impacted, specifically this year by Hurricane Harvey, Irma, Maria and the California Wildfires.
My husband, Chris, and I have competed in the Tough Mudder challenge in Snowmass, CO, two times to raise funds and awareness for the Wounded Warriors Foundation We ran a crazy 13-mile obstacle course on Snowmass mountain that included challenges such as jumping into ice water and crawling through mud under barbed wire. Each event is extremely physically demanding, but not nearly as challenging as what our wounded veterans face. The Wounded Warrior Foundation means a lot to the Raines family as Chris is a 19-year active duty Air Force officer. We know several wounded warriors personally and about the difficulties they face in everyday life after making such an incredible sacrifice for our country.
Chris and I have completed Ride the Rockies, a six- to seven-day, 450- to 550-mile bike ride through the many mountain passes of Colorado, two times. It is a challenging course, but the rewards are beautiful views and raising funds for a fantastic cause. Ride The Rockies is an event of The Denver Post Community Foundation, which serves to improve and enrich the lives of those in our community by raising and distributing funds to metro-area and Colorado nonprofit agencies serving the areas of arts, youth, education and human services. One $5,000 grant is awarded in each host community of Ride the Rockies to a deserving nonprofit. The Grant Program funds nonprofit organizations that provide services for low-income children and youth through recreation, education, or the arts and/or agencies that offer direct-service literacy programs. Since the program began in 2001, more than $585,000 has been granted to towns throughout the state.
In the summer of 2014, Colorado Springs was in a state of emergency as the Waldo Canyon Fire destroyed 346 homes in its path. As a former board member of the Junior League of Colorado Springs, I worked with the Red Cross to help set up a toy drive to deliver new toys to children and families living at Red Cross Shelters throughout Colorado Springs. These families and children lost all their belongings in the fire and were forced to make residence in gymnasiums and makeshift shelters. A few new toys, games, puzzles, or coloring books helped to bring some smiles and distraction for the kids while their parents sorted through their new lives.
My family committed to fundraise for Invest In Kids and compete in their annual Jane-A-Thon, which happened to be held in our on our favorite spots—the Mary Jane Resort in Winter Park, CO. The challenge was to ski 16 black diamond mogul runs in six hours (which meant the kids had to sit it out). While we couldn't walk properly for a few days afterwards, Chris and I did successfully complete the challenge and the fundraising. The mission of Invest in Kids means a lot to the Raines family because it improves the health and well-being of vulnerable children and families throughout Colorado by providing much needed resources to low-income moms during time of very high need. Healthy pregnancies and healthy childhoods set up both moms and kids for success in life. Invest In Kids works with the Nurse Family Partnership and Incredible Years® to connect vulnerable families to much needed resources during a high risk phase of life.
We have raised thousands of dollars for the American Lung Association by fundraising and competing in the Fight for Air Climb in Denver, CO. The Fight for Air Climb is aptly named and involves racing up 56 flights to the top of the tallest building in Denver. The event brings awareness and funds to all those who struggle with breathing or have lost their battles to lung disease. Both of my paternal grandparents died of lung cancer and Chris and I have lost several close friends to the disease as well. We honor their memories every year by climbing those stairs and using our lungs—because we are fortunate that we can. The American Lung Association hosts the Fight for Air Climb at the Republic Plaza in February of each year. The Fight for Air Climb has raised millions of dollars for lung disease research.
Chris and I raised funds and awareness by competing in the MS175 bike ride from Denver to Fort Collins. It is a two-day ride, the first day being 75 miles and the second day being a century ride of 100 miles. It was inspiring and emotional to see so many suffering with MS competing in the ride and supporting riders along the way. We have clients, family of our clients, and friends and colleagues who suffer from this disease and we are proud to support the research to find a cure. The MS Society of Colorado and Wyoming's vision is a world free of MS. Their mission is that people affected by MS can live their best lives as we stop MS in its tracks, restore what has been lost, and end MS forever.
I had the opportunity to teach a full-day personal finance course to a high school class in Colorado Springs. It was rewarding to educate these young people on topics such as budgeting, saving, credit cards, paychecks, and how much one should spend on rent for a first apartment. Personally, I felt nostalgic for my high school years as I spent time as a volunteer teacher. I took advantage of the opportunity to have some fun with the kids in addition to trying to spark their interest in personal finance. Junior Achievement’s volunteer-delivered, kindergarten-12th grade programs foster work-readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy skills, and use experiential learning to inspire students to dream big and reach their potential.
Since 2009, I have been an active member of the Junior League, serving in Denver, Rhode Island, and Colorado Springs. As a former board member of the Junior League of Colorado Springs, I have been able to participate in a number of great giving back initiatives and make lifetime friendships. The Junior League is an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women and improving communities through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable.
I had the opportunity to participate in a Habitat for Humanity build while attending a financial planning conference in Arizona. After a full day of hard work and camaraderie, it very rewarding to know I had contributed to a structure that would serve as the home for a family in need. More inspiring was being able to meet the family who would occupy the home, which left all of the volunteers in need of tissues. Habitat for Humanity is seeking to put God’s love into action and brings people together to build homes, communities and hope. Their vision is a world where everyone has a decent place to live.
Our family donates every year to support No Greater Sacrifice, which honors the sacrifices of our service members by investing in their children's capacity for greatness through education. NGS is dedicated to the children of our nation’s fallen and wounded service members, delivering scholarships and resources to improve their quality of life through the pursuit of higher education. NGS has committed more than $7 million in post-high school education benefits. No Greater Sacrifice is a cause very close to our hearts with Chris having served 19 years in the Air Force and having seen first hand the results of children losing a parent to service. With two young children ourselves, our hearts go out to the kids who don’t get to have their parent because of the sacrifices made for our freedom.
When disaster strikes or conflict arises and families unexpectedly find themselves without a home, their needs are simple: shelter, dignity and warmth. ShelterBox provides emergency shelter and vital supplies to support communities around the world overwhelmed by disaster and humanitarian crisis. ShelterBox aid is tailored to each specific disaster, but typically includes a disaster relief tent for a family, thermal blankets and groundsheets, water storage and purification equipment, solar lamps, cooking utensils, a basic tool kit, mosquito nets, and children’s activity pack. Our family supports ShelterBox during the holidays to provide for those families without a home at Christmas.
My husband, Chris, and I attended a fundraiser for Greenhouse Scholars in Denver and heard the incredibly inspirational stories of underprivileged, gifted children achieving wonderful things. Children who were born into poverty, drugs, and addiction are being paired with mentors and earning full scholarships to college. The stories shared were moving, motivational ,and simply uplifting. Greenhouse Scholars is catalyzing change in low-income communities by cultivating leaders and role models from those communities. Greenhouse Scholars’ vision is to create a community of leaders who will evolve the communities of the world. They work with the next generation of leaders and change agents, and together change the trajectory of their families, their communities, and broader global communities.
Christy was interviewed by InvestmentNews in 2017 to discuss her work helping military widows plan for their financial futures in the wake of the unimaginable. This is something Christy helps with, whether the individual is a client or not, given her connection to the military community (as the wife of an Air Force officer).

Excerpt: "In building my practice, I've found that the military benefits are just fascinating from a financial planning perspective," she said. Ms. Raines' client, Christie Badstibner, received a $400,000 death benefit in early 2016 after her husband, Brian, died of cancer while serving his seventeenth year in the Air Force. "I'm so grateful for the advice I received, because I don't know anything about this stuff," Ms. Badstibner said. "Even Vanguard didn't know you could do this."
Living with Alzheimer’s or being a caregiver for a loved one with this disease is devastating. To know that this organization is dedicated to finding a cure, researching prevention, and connecting those impacted with available resources, provides small glimmers of hope on the darkest of days. For all those that we know and don’t know living with Alzheimer’s and dementia and for the caregivers and loved ones of those battling these diseases, our hearts go out to you.
Their mission is to create life changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. Wishes are far more than gifts, or singular events in time. Wishes impact everyone involved—kids, parents, siblings, volunteers, donors, sponsors, medical professionals, and communities.
The Brammer Family Fund is not a global nonprofit serving millions of people with a large executive team. It is a small local fund in our business’s community which exists to provide financial assistance to individuals and families battling cancer. Be it transportation, hotel stays, bucket list items, or childcare while a parent receives treatment, this fund exists to provide relief for families who are in a very challenging chapter of their lives.
Our office is located in beautiful Grand County and our backyard and neighbors suffered immeasurable loss in the wildfires that tore through so much of the Western US this fall. 366 families lost their homes, and it will take decades for the land to heal. As they piece their lives back together, The Wildfire Emergency Fund is an available resource to help them rebuild.
While most people might be familiar with the American Cancer Society for research, they do so much more. They work tirelessly to provide emotional support and information to those fighting a cancer battle. They promote healthy lifestyles to help prevent cancer and they fight for lifesaving policy changes
The American Red Cross prevents and alleviates human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors. Since Clara Barton founded the Red Cross in 1881, they have helped millions of people in need from donating blood to providing shelter to a hot meal and clean water.
Since 1948, Direct Relief has made a measurable impact on the medical needs of those impacted, specifically this year by Hurricane Harvey, Irma, Maria and the California Wildfires.

Serving Families of Those Who Serve

Led by the wife of a retired career US Air Force officer, our team has first-hand understanding of the particular circumstances surrounding US military benefits and an intimate awareness of the needs of military wives and families. 

When possible, we provide financial planning services to the widows of service members navigating the complexities of a constantly evolving financial situation associated with the unimaginable loss of a military spouse.

Serving Families of Those Who Serve

Led by the wife of a retired career US Air Force officer, our team has first-hand understanding of the particular circumstances surrounding US military benefits and an intimate awareness of the needs of military wives and families. 

When possible, we provide financial planning services to the widows of service members navigating the complexities of a constantly evolving financial situation associated with the unimaginable loss of a military spouse.