Susan M. Spyker, CPA, CVA

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Financial Advisor, Financial Planner, Financial Professional

Focus Rachel works with individuals and families to help them make the most of their time today and determine what their assets look like tomorrow. This allows them to spend their most precious resource, time, living their ideal life. Background and Experience Rachel has always had a passion for learning and adventure leading her to Alaska in 2006 to study Marine Biology at Alaska Pacific University where she studied the giant pacific octopus and shrimp in Prince William Sound and obtained a Bachelors of Science in Marine Biology. Rachel joined the Planning Group of the Northwest in 2007. She has earned her Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) designation and Masters in Personal Financial Planning (MPAS®) from the College for Financial Planning. In 2019, she earned the designation Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA®), allowing her to assist individuals and separated couples as they navigate the financial aspects of divorce; she wishes to help them make the best financial decisions possible in an already difficult circumstance. Personal Life Rachel has fallen in love with Alaska and has made it her home. She enjoys spending time with her husband, Luke, her son, Ryker, and their two dogs, Corbie and Trigger. Whenever possible, she and her family love to spend time in McCarthy, AK where her husband was raised. Rachel’s passion for helping others extends outside of the office. She is a member of the Anchorage Estate Planning Council, is the Vice Chair of the Board for the Alaska Sea Life Center and volunteers her time with Jack and Jill of America, Inc.

J. Stefan Otterson

Lawyer, Mediator

I am glad you are considering Collaborative Law. The beauty of collaborative work is that all the time, expense, and energy is focused on stabilizing the situation and then developing a forward looking plan for the parties. I have practiced law in Anchorage for 33 years, and throughout that period, I have worked to develop skills to resolve conflict without litigation. My experience includes commercial, employment, administrative, mental health, medicaid, family law, probate and guardianships, adoptions, child protection, child advocacy and juvenile delinquency. I mediate in these and other areas, and offer collaborative legal representation in all areas of family law. After many years as a litigator, I have recently restricted my practice to mediation and Collaborative Law only. (I’ll still provide out-of-court legal advice, and I will litigate compelling cases involving child welfare, but only one at a time.) I have made this change because I want my time to be productive and I’ve seen too much waste in family law litigation. Second, litigation tends to elbow out all other priorities. I want to be able to focus on helping people solve their own problems, and that requires a different mindset. It’s possible to switch back and forth between fighting and calming troubled waters, but it’s not easy. I don’t want to bring the tension from someone else’s fight into the room with your mediation or collaborative case. I strongly recommend that separating or divorcing couples consider the collaborative approach as the most dependable way to achieve a fair resolution and a working plan for the future. It is sometimes less expensive, and it is ALWAYS less damaging and more efficient and productive than litigation. My training relating to collaborative law: 2022 IACP Educational Forum, remotely presented International faculty 5+ hrs. 2020 IACP Educational Forum, remotely presented International Faculty 5+ hrs 2018 IACP Institute & Educational Forum, Seattle WA, International Faculty, 19hrs / 2017 Advanced Collaborative Team Training, Liz Ferris 12hrs / 2016 Your Biases: How it Affects Your Clients & Judicial Decision Making, Jeff Rachlinski 3hrs / 2015 Managing & Mediating High Conflict Disputes, Bill Eddy, 12hrs / 2014 Advanced Collaborative Team Training, Linda Solomon, Melinda Eitzen & Scott Clarke, 14hrs / 2014 Divorce Skills & Advanced Divorce Skills, Larry Rice, 13hrs / 2014 IACP Educational Forum, Vancouver BC International Faculty 19hrs / 2013 Advanced Collaborative Team Training, AACP, 5 / 2012 Working with Allied Collaborative Professionals, AACP, 7hrs / 2011 Advanced Collaborative Training, AACP, 5 / 2010 Advanced Collaborative Law Training, AACP, 5hrs / 2010 Appellate Mediation in Federal and State Courts, Alaska Bar Assoc., 2.5hrs / 2009 Advanced Collaborative Law Training, Mariette Geldenhuys, 7hrs / 2008 Basic Collaborative Law Training, Sue Brunsting, Mariette Geldenhuys, 14hrs / 2008 Divorce Mediation Training, Zena Zumeta, 24hrs / 2005 Child Protection Mediation Training, Bernie Mayer, 28hrs / 2002 Conflict Resolution Training, Bernie Mayer, CDR Assoc. 21hrs / 2001 Initial Mediation Training Mary Margaret Golten, CDR Assoc. 40hrs www.aklaw.pro

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