Dawn Ornelas, RICP®

Dawn Ornelas was born in Germany and has lived in four countries, including Spain, Greece, and the United States. She has traveled to more than 25 countries and, within the U.S., has called eight states home, with Austin and Brooklyn being her longest residences. In 2004, she spent several months backpacking solo through Spain, Italy, and Croatia. Growing up in a multicultural family, Dawn has a strong appreciation for diverse backgrounds and enjoys connecting with people from all cultures.

Dawn brings over 26 years of experience in the finance industry. She joined Equitable Advisors in 2005 as Director of the Client Relations Program for Central Texas. By 2007, she was managing 32,000 unassigned clients and working with more than 100 advisors in the New York City office. In 2009, she became the inaugural recipient of the AXA Appreciation Award for Outstanding Performance, Innovation, and Dedication to the CRM Program. Dawn returned to Texas in 2020 and transitioned into the Financial Consultant role. She is passionate about helping clients achieve their financial goals and believes that maintaining financial health is just as important as maintaining physical health.

Dawn lives in San Marcos with her husband, Gilbert—a local physician—their two sons, ages 10 and 17, and multiple rescue animals. In her free time, she enjoys design, architecture, and art, along with swimming, camping, traveling, reading, high school robotics competitions, and spending time with family and friends while exploring international cuisines.

Professional Designations

• RICP® Retirement Income Certified Professional

Licenses

• Series 7
• Series 6
• Series 66
• Texas Life & Health Insurance

Education

• BA in Political Science with a concentration in National Security/International Relations from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro
• University of Madrid (Universidad Complutense de Madrid) – Spanish Language and History
• University of Maryland at Torrejon, Spain Global Campus – History, Language, and Culture of Spain
• The American College of Financial Services

Areas of Focus

• Retirement Income Planning
• Sustainable Withdrawal Strategies
• Investment Risk Alignment
• Estate & Legacy Planning

Professional Affiliations

• Estate Planning Council of Central Texas