Megan Rynearson

I am a Columbus native and a Columbus East 2014 graduate. After receiving my Mechanical Engineering degree from Purdue University in 2018, I relocated to the Detroit area to work for Ford Motor Company in their college graduate engineering rotational program. 

Navigating post-grad life and managing my first salary is where my passion for personal finance began. Figuring out how to prioritize paying off student loan debt, saving up an emergency fund, starting retirement funds, along with saving to replace my 15-year-old car led me to tons of personal finance blogs, podcasts, and books that sparked my passion for personal finance and building wealth.  

I soon became the “financial expert and spreadsheet nerd” in my groups of friends and family, and always made sure my younger, post-grad family members knew how to open a Roth IRA and set up a monthly budget. 

My philosophy on money is that it is a tool to help you reach your financial goals while also living your best life. It is possible to live below your means, save and invest for the future, and spend intentionally on things that matter to you - you just need some self-awareness and a plan! 

My husband and I later decided to move back to Columbus in December of 2021 to be closer to family and I found a job as a Performance Engineer at Cummins. While I enjoyed parts of my work as an engineer, my passion for personal finance outgrew my interest in diesel engine calibration. I started looking more seriously into making a career change but wasn’t sure how or when to do it. 

After a Google search for “fee only fiduciary Columbus Indiana,” I found WWA and reached out to Jalene in 2022 to inquire about what a career in financial planning would look like. This initial conversation led to many more over the next couple of years, and I was offered the opportunity to join the firm in April of 2024 as an Associate Financial Planner. I am currently working on my CFP® designation in addition to my responsibilities at the firm. 

While I am a type-A planner, I also live outside the spreadsheet by volunteering as a Big Sister through the Big Brothers Big Sisters program. I am also involved in the Meridian Kiwanis club and the Purdue Alumni Club of Bartholomew County.

My husband and I thoroughly enjoy traveling, hiking, and exploring US National Parks and beyond. We aim for multiple hiking trips each year as we work toward our goal of visiting all 63 US National Parks. I also love playing Euchre, cheering on the Purdue basketball team, listening to country music, and doing DIY home projects with my husband.