Joe Hollen, MD, CFP®, AIF®
Founder & Advisor

My journey to becoming an evidence-based wealth advisor has been atypical.  

I attended the University of Nevada School of Medicine, then graduated from the University of Alabama School of Medicine. I practiced Emergency Medicine for 23 years and was the president of Northern Nevada Emergency Physicians at Renown Health.

Like many physicians, I was never trained in financial matters. I made many mistakes managing my own money. I finally sought independent advice in 2001. I found those who sought my business were part of a sales culture. They were product and commission-driven. I didn’t feel they had my best interest in mind. I wasn’t comfortable relying on their advice.

After extensive discussions with my wife, Robin (a nurse practitioner with a doctorate in nursing practice), I decided to become the client-centered financial resource that was unavailable in Reno. I left my medical practice and passed the Certified Financial Planner professional examination in 2003. I opened an advisory firm (initially named “Hollen Financial Planning”) in 2004. I satisfied the experience requirement for using the CFP® designation on January 3, 2006. 

Joe, Eric, Robin, Jacob, and Adam at MS Nursing graduation from the University of Nevada, Reno

My conversion to “evidence-based” and “fee-only” was fairly easy. I started attending financial education conferences. I met Jack Bogle, the founder of Vanguard at one of them. Speaking with him made a lasting impression on me. I immersed myself in reading studies underlying a rigorous, academically-based approach to investing.   

By that time, I was convinced the way forward was to base my advice on sound, peer-reviewed data, which meant we couldn’t be influenced by commissions, or have an incentive to push expensive investment products. The bedrock of our offering was simple: to always place the interest of our clients above our own.

It took almost five years for us to get a solid footing, but it was well worth the effort. 

Along the way, I wrote the bi-monthly “Investor’s Corner” newsletter column for the Washoe County Medical Society and have presented to that organization, the Medical Group Management Association, and the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA).

I am also a former president of the UNR School of Medicine Alumni Association and a previous Community Faculty Member of the University of Nevada Reno School of Medicine. I still enjoy speaking with and presenting to students, graduating residents, and fellows on the financial challenges they face as physicians. 

As a volunteer, I continue to manage the investment accounts of the Washoe County Medical Society and the Nevada State Medical Association. 

I have been quoted in various national publications, including the Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and The Washington Post, about financial planning and investment issues.

My wife and I have four adult children, all living in the Reno area. We enjoy spending time with our family and traveling, especially to Hawaii.

Joe and Robin at Butchart Gardens in Vancouver

Eric A. Hollen, CFP®, AIF®
Owner & Advisor

I’m an Owner and a Lead Advisor at Open Window.

I enjoy sharing my financial knowledge and experiences with others, clients and friends alike.

I graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno in 2009 with a B.S. in both finance and economics. After graduation, I founded a company that simplified the monthly investment statement provided to investors at companies including Vanguard, Fidelity, and TD – making those required statements more transparent and easier to understand. 

Eric and Lindsey's wedding at Galena Creek Park (Lindsey's family left, Eric's family right)

In 2011, I joined Open Window. I earned the right to use the Certified Financial Planner^TM (CFP®) professional designation in 2015, and the Accredited Investment Fiduciary® (AIF®) designation in 2016. 

I am an advocate for financial health. Locally, I've helped write the “Investor’s Corner” newsletter column for the Washoe County Medical Society.

I am the former Treasurer for Opportunity Alliance Nevada, a member of the University of Nevada Planned Giving Advisory Council, and I am active within the Estate Planning Council of Northern Nevada.  

I live in Reno with my wife, Lindsey, and our Manx-breed cat. We love to cook together, as well as hike, and explore all Reno has to offer. 

I am well aware that for myself and my clients, our financial, physical, and mental health are all critical parts of a balanced and fulfilled life. 

Eric and Lindsey 

Stacy Barry
Operations Manager

I am the Operations Manager at Open Window.

My background and experience are in information technology. I graduated from the University of Nevada in 1994 with a degree in computer information systems. I worked for a mining company and within the federal courts doing systems and network administrative work. 

I was an early proponent of Open Window's advisory model, first as a client family client and before I joined the team in 2015. 

On a daily basis, I keep Open Window's internal operations humming. I take the lead in advancing our knowledge of and adherence to fiduciary best practices. You can find me troubleshooting technology and on alert for cybersecurity threats. I've been a Notary Public since 2017. Above all, I ensure we recognize and celebrate important milestones as a team.

My husband, Mike, and I have two sons. We enjoy everything outdoors that Nevada offers and cheering for our boys’ baseball teams and the University of Nevada Wolfpack.

Patrick, Stacy, John, & Mike Barry (2022, Fiji)

Mike, John, Patrick, & Stacy Barry (2019, Reno High School)

Gage Avera, CFP®, AIF®
Associate Advisor

I’m an Associate Advisor at Open Window.

I enjoy financial planning because it is the perfect mix of numbers and people.

My journey at Open Window began in November 2021. By August 2022, I had successfully passed my Series 65 licensing exam, marking my transition to an Investment Advisor. In October 2022, I earned the Accredited Investment Fiduciary (AIF®) designation, a testament to my commitment to fiduciary investment standards. In July 2024, I was proud to add the Certified Financial Planner^TM (CFP®) Professional designation to my list of accomplishments. 

Prior to joining Open Window, I served in the U.S. Army as a medic in the 82nd Airborne Division in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Although I was trained in military emergency medicine, I spent most of my time managing a team of soldiers and maintaining company communication equipment.

After leaving the military, I worked as a financial coach on the University of Nevada, Reno campus holding one-on-one meetings with students helping them understand their finances, then set, plan for, and achieve their financial goals. I graduated from UNR in the spring of 2021 with a bachelor’s degree in finance and a minor in economics. 

When I'm not serving clients, managing client portfolios, and reviewing tax returns, I'm furthering my education by pursuing a Master's Degree in Personal Financial Planning at Kansas State University.

Outside of the office, I can be found spending time with my wife, Hannah, and trying to keep up with our two sons, Henry and Oliver. We enjoy cooking and taking our two dogs to the dog park.

Henry, Gage, and Hannah

Lindsey Briare, FPQP™
Paraplanner & Client Services Lead

I am a Paraplanner at Open Window.

I love interacting with people, listening to them, and learning from their experiences.

I joined Open Window in April of 2018. In September 2020, after a year of studying the five disciplines of financial planning–retirement, investments, insurance, tax, and estate–I earned my certification as a Financial Paraplanner Qualified Professional (FPQP™) from the College for Financial Planning. I've been a Notary Public since January of 2022.

Prior to joining Open Window, I held positions as a field technician, lab technician, and manager of a production laboratory for various medical products. I also earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Wildlife Ecology and Environmental Science from the University of Nevada, Reno. 

In my free time, I enjoy painting, crocheting, hiking, spending time with my cat, and entertaining family and friends.

Lindsey and Eric at Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau, Alaska

Brendan Keely
Analyst

I am an Analyst at Open Window. 

I enjoy helping make data-driven decisions and solving problems with creative solutions.

Prior to joining Open Window, I worked as a ranch hand for the University of Nevada's Agricultural Experiment Station. Working with large animals taught me the value of patience and planning.

In the spring of 2023, after completing my Bachelor of Science degree in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation at the University of Nevada, Reno, I decided to pursue a master’s degree in business, with an emphasis in finance.

I joined Open Window as an Associate in April 2024. 

When I’m not crafting spreadsheets, preparing client materials, or analyzing data, I can be found taking night classes for my master's degree, working on my truck, or fly fishing in the mountains.

Brendan in the University of Nevada, Reno's Honor Court