Our Team

Sam Blakeslee received Bachelor and Masters Degrees from UC Berkeley in Geophysics. He then attended UC Santa Barbara and graduated with his PhD in the Geosciences for his work on Earthquake Studies. After graduation he was hired by Exxon’s Research Lab in Texas where he worked as a Senior Geophysicist and later as a Strategic Planner. In 1995 he returned to San Luis Obispo to join Blakeslee & Blakeslee where he received his securities licenses and his Certified Financial Planner Certificate.

Sam has been active in the community for most of his life serving on various civic and elected boards. He served for two terms as an elected Trustee for Cuesta Community College, the institution where his father taught in 1965 when the college first opened. He was later elected to the California State Assembly where he represented San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties for three terms. Afterward he was elected to represent as State Senator representing five counties in the legislature from Santa Barbara County to Santa Clara County.

While in the legislature he was elected by his peers to the role of Assembly Minority Leader with responsibility to negotiate state budgets and major policy issues. Upon leaving the legislature he became the founding director of the Cal Poly Institute for Advanced Technology and Public Policy which raised almost $10M for policy innovation projects.

He authored an amendment to the State Constitution (Proposition 54) to bring greater openness and transparency to the state legislature. It was enacted by the voters in 2016. In 2018 he helped launch the San Luis Coastal Education Foundation and served as its founding President.

When I meet a potential client for the first time, I like to spend our time together learning about each other.  This approach helps me develop a greater understanding of why they decided to take time out of their day to see me.   Once I know what they are trying to accomplish, I put together recommendations that I believe are suitable for their specific situation.   During my time in the industry, I’ve come to learn there is no “one size fits all” approach to the financial planning process. 

Seeing the positive impact my advice has had on the lives of many of my clients provides me with a tremendous amount of enjoyment and is one of the primary reasons I love doing what I do so much.  It’s the same type of gratification that teachers, nurses, doctors, and social workers experience from their careers.   

I have lived in SLO County since July of 1992.  My parents moved our family to San Luis Obispo from Los Angeles (Granada Hills to be specific) immediately following my dad’s retirement from the Los Angeles Police Department.  My wife, Kristen, and I moved from San Luis Obispo to South Atascadero in the spring of 2014 to be more centrally located between our jobs as well as to start a family.  We welcomed our son, Caden to the world in October 2015.

My parents taught me the importance of volunteer work.  The three primary focuses of my volunteer activities are: helping children in need, advancing the arts (primarily music), and giving back to the community we live.  Over the years I have participated on the boards or committees of several non-profit organizations, including Rotary Club of SLO Daybreak, Family Care Network, ALPHA Pregnancy & Parenting Support, United Way of SLO, United Blood Services, San Luis Obispo Symphony, Friends of the Cuesta College Cultural and Performing Arts Center, Vocal Arts Ensemble, and the SLO Community Foundation. 

In my spare time, I most enjoy spending time with my wife, Kristen, and our son, Caden. I’ve been an avid golfer since the early 90’s and continue to enjoy playing a friendly round with friends any chance I can.  I also enjoy playing guitar, both acoustic and electric, whenever I have a few moments.  Some of my favorites being songs by AC/DC, Led Zeppelin, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Eric Clapton, and Santana to name a few.  

Degrees & Licenses:

• Associate’s in Science Degree from Cuesta Community College
• Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from California Polytechnic State University of San Luis Obispo with a Concentration in Global Strategy & Law
• CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Practitioner 

I started my career in the financial industry in 2013 while finishing my degree and quickly found inspiration helping clients achieve their financial goals and decided to complete my licensing and work as an independent representative. Since 2015 I’ve been working with clients to navigate their financial goals and implement strategies to attain those personal successes.  

I am a strong believer in reducing stress and focusing your attention on what you do best. I hope to assist clients in alleviating the stress that can sometimes come from assessing financial choices, so they can focus on what they really enjoy in life.  My goal is to ensure that my clients are well versed in financial matters, comfortable with their financial plan that we develop together, and invested appropriately given their long-term financial objectives.  

I was born and raised in Santa Maria and Orcutt have lived on the Central Coast my entire life, save a few years when I moved to Orange County for college. There I attended UC Irvine and ultimately earned my Bachelor’s in Business Administration with an emphasis in Finance from the Chapman University system. 

Growing up in the area, I spent my spare time playing baseball, from Little League on up to Division I in college; it has helped shape me as a person over the years. Growing up and maturing with a team always at my side, I learned how vital it is to make sure every voice and opinion are heard; this ensures success along the path towards your goals.

I am currently work out of our San Luis Obispo and Paso Robles Offices where there is a good chance, you’ll find me with my handy office assistant, Kano. In my spare time I volunteer for the San Luis Obispo Revenue Enhancement Oversight Committee and get out on the golf course as much as possible.  I plan to get back into coaching/playing baseball once my son arrives in July of 2020!

After graduating from Cal Poly in 2006 I acquired the various licenses needed to be a planner and in 2010 I began my own practice, Hiltscher Financial Services, within B&B. 

My favorite part of being a financial planner is working with people. I love the personal interactions and getting to know my clients and their families. Being able to help guide them to a better financial future is truly rewarding and keeps me going each and every day. 

Diane Blakeslee used to say, “if you take care of your clients first and foremost, you will have a long career and always be successful” an idea I strongly believe in. My aim is to develop a complete understanding of my clients personal and financial picture to build a plan that works to meet their goals based on risk tolerance, time horizon, and investment experience. I tailor each financial portfolio to reflect my client's specific objectives.

Licenses:

California Department of Insurance 
Variable Contracts
Life-Only 
Accident and Health 

I've have had had the honor and privilege of working with many wonderful clients over the last 20 years. I have worked with many clients from all walks of life somewhere in their journey of investment planning, retirement planning or estate planning.  Whether entering the work force in your mid 20’s and wish to be proactive in saving for your future, or in your mid-life dealing with managing finances, a divorce, death or loss/change of job and need solid financial guidance with your financial plan or nearing retirement to construct a well thought out retirement plan with income projections that suits your particular needs I am here to help facilitate your financial situation and changing needs.

I use a personal holistic approach with each individual client to address their specific needs and objectives to create and implement a solid well-planned investment /financial plan that includes tax advantages and strategies that are available to both individuals and businesses.    

Let my knowledge and experience of over two decades be your guide.  My personal guarantee is to take the time to give you my high level of attention, detail and ethical approach to discuss and help you make informed choices that will benefit your financial future for years to come and create an investment strategy and plan that is made just for you.  

It is my passion to see each person through all the stages of their financial journey, through economic/ market ups and downs with a positive attitude and smile.  

I have lived in Santa Barbara County my entire life and have a personal connection and passion to touch as many lives in my community as possible to help achieve your financial dreams and goals.  

Areas of expertise include but are not limited to:

401(k) or 403(b) – setting up plan or rolling over from previous employer to your own IRA

IRA’S – Setting up, transferring or managing Traditional, Roth, SIMPLE, SEP

Comprehensive investment, retirement, estate planning utilizing tax advantaged investments