MEET OUR TEAM

Lea Cruz

FINANCIAL PLANNER
CA License #0G17530

Lea graduated from California State University of Long Beach in 2005 with a degree in Business Finance.  For almost two decades, she has been servicing clients in the financial field assisting families in making some of the biggest financial decisions in their lives.

​Having children of her own, she was forced to investigate how to best prepare for the rising college cost for her three children.  Upon a great amount of research, she decided to specialize in the college financial planning and retirement planning field to assist underserved families from all walks of life that needs help and guidance in figuring out how to send their children to college without jeopardizing their retirement.

​With her strong belief that every hardworking student deserves to get higher education, she works very closely with families in putting together a solid financial plan to pay for college the most cost-efficient way possible.  She also focuses on providing her clients a safe way to grow their retirement savings as well as create tax-free income through the retirement years.

Theresa Palmer

STUDENT POSITIONER l CAREER & COLLEGE COUNSELOR

As an educator for 20 years, Theresa has worked with many students and their families and is passionate about college planning. She received her bachelor’s degree in History with a minor in Psychology from University of San Diego, then later received her master’s degree in Counseling.  As a first-generation college student, she understands the struggle students and their families undergo in the college admissions process. She has multiple teaching credentials, a counseling credential and multiple college admissions counseling certificates.

As a parent to two daughters one in high school and the other in college, Theresa understands what the college process means in a variety of contexts. Theresa is on the team to help navigate the journey finding a college that fits academically and socially ensuring students have the best opportunities for success in the future.

Dalilah Evans

SERVICE CENTER CONSULTANT – FORMS PROCESSING

As a first-generation student, Dalilah Evans graduated from the University of Oregon with a degree in Sociology with a goal to help underserved students like her make the most of their futures. She is uniquely aware of the difficulties some have when completing the financial aid process and has dedicated her career to helping everyone navigate the complexities of the college process.

Adhering to the College Funding Service Center’s goal of assisting students find the college that fits them the best – academically, socially, and financially – Dalilah is the primary contact for clients who have questions regarding financial aid forms, financial aid awards, appeals, plus ongoing ENGUS communications and questions. She helps families stay on schedule throughout the year and clients are encouraged to contact her with questions or concerns.

Chris Cruz

Planner Associate/Client Servicing
CA License # 4369046

Bachelor of Science-Business
California State University of Long Beach

Claire Hise

Workshop/Webinar Coordinator
Client Servicing

Bachelor of Arts-Psychology
California State University of Long Beach

A comprehensive well thought out plan could be just one phone call away…

Our team is dedicated to making your college planning process go as smoothly as possible.  Each service will be handled by a team member with the expertise, experience, and training in their respective fields.

Throughout the process, continuous communication with each team members, parents, and students is crucial to have a successful outcome.