Our financial advisory team embodies over 50 years of combined education, experience and objectivity.

Our owners, fee-only, certified financial planners and investment advisers share an array of industry awards, gold-plated credentials, plus the benefits of more than 50 years of combined experience. Their objective, independent outlooks and diverse backgrounds are the driving force behind their penchant for your success.


Team Biographies

Charles D. Gibson - AAMS®, AWMA®, CFP®, ChFC®, CMT®, CRPS®, MBA

Chuck is the founder and President of Financial Perspectives in San Ramon, CA and proud to be both an independent and fee-only financial adviser. He has worked as an investment adviser and financial planner since 1997.

With more than two decades in the investment management/financial planning industry, Chuck combines a wealth of experience with an extensive emphasis on ongoing research and education.

Before transitioning to investments, Chuck worked for almost two decades at various electronics firms in Silicon Valley. His engineering background and passion for research has led him to develop unique, risk balanced investment solutions.

Chuck was granted the prestigious CMT® designation, the gold standard in Technical Analysis proficiency one of only 1900 individuals worldwide.

Education and Credentials -

BS Chemical Eng. –UCSB, MBA– Pepperdine University; Chartered Market Technician - (CMT®)- Market Technicians Association, Certified Financial Planner (CFP®)– CFP® Board of Standards, Inc.; Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC®)– American College; Accredited Asset Management Specialist (AAMS®)– College for Financial Planning; Chartered Retirement Plans Specialist (CRPS®)– College for Financial Planning; Accredited Wealth Management Advisor [AWMA®]–College for Financial Planning                        


Melanie A. Pelayo - CFP®, CDFA®, CRPC®

Melanie has worked as a financial adviser since 2003, having begun her career with Financial Perspectives. She is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) professional and a Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC®), which makes her uniquely qualified to spearheads the firm’s Financial Planning for Retirement division. She is passionate about using planning to help people achieve a secure retirement. As personal savings becomes more and more of the retirement income pie, she has made it her mission to address the growing need to save more, invest wiser and be better prepared for this new retirement reality.

Melanie is an integral member of Financial Perspectives’ Investment Committee, which makes all investment- and portfolio-related decisions on behalf of clients. Additionally, she has enhanced her expertise in the area of in taxes by previously passing the Enrolled Agent program. She is also a NAPFA-registered financial adviser, and supports fully their fee-only creed.

Melanie believes strongly in helping her fellow women raise their financial intelligence, and has formed the Women and Finances Advocacy Network (www.wafanet.org) to support this endeavor. She is a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA®), focusing particularly on helping women understand and face the impact a divorce will have on their financial lives.

Education and Credentials -

Bachelor of Science, Summa Cum Laude–Syracuse University; Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) – CFP® Board of Standards, Inc.;  Certified Divorced Financial Analyst (CDFA®) – Institute for Divorced Financial Analysts; Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC®) – College for Financial Planning      


Florence Gibson - Administration/Customer Care

A co-founder of Financial Perspectives, Florence has more than 30 years of experience in customer service and back office management. Before moving to the finance sector, Florence held of range of client-oriented positions in the semiconductor industry, including Business Planner, Customer Service Representative, Customer Service Manager and Business Analyst.

Education and Credentials -

B.S. - Business Admin - University of Phoenix