Brian R. Littlejohn, MBA, CFP®, CFA
Founder, Sherwood Wealth Management · Basalt & Aspen, Colorado
Brian served in the U.S. Air Force from 1999 to 2007, as a pilot and civil engineer. He calls himself methodical, and a checklist person.
After the Air Force he started advising families in 2007, at a wealth management firm in Boulder, then earned a master’s in financial analysis at the University of San Francisco. He formed Sherwood in 2014, on a professor’s advice, and moved the practice to Basalt in 2018.
He holds the CFA charter for the investing and the CFP® certification for the planning. Brian uses both on the same families’ money. “I read the books, I’ve gotten the degrees, the designations,” he says, so his clients don’t have to.
He describes the work as part art and part science. The science is the plan, the numbers and the discipline. The art is knowing a family well enough to tell what it can actually live with, and which plan fits its goals.
Sherwood is one person, on purpose. When a client calls, Brian picks up, and he keeps the list short enough to know every situation without looking it up. Integrity, for him, is doing right by people when no one’s looking.
Credentials and service
- CFA charterholder
- CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional
- MBA, University of Arizona · M.S. Financial Analysis, University of San Francisco · B.S. Civil Engineering, Clemson University
- U.S. Air Force, 1999–2007
- Member of NAPFA, the fee-only advisors’ association, since 2017
- Pitkin County Retirement Board, appointed 2025
- Columnist, the Aspen Times and the Aspen Daily News, since 2022
Brian lives in Aspen with his family.
In his own words
“Estate planning is ultimately an act of care. By pairing thoughtful legal preparation with intentional, compassionate communication, you give your family more than instructions—you give them clarity, stability and a foundation for staying connected during a difficult time.”
Don’t ignore the emotional side of estate planning · Aspen Times, 2026
“At the end of the day, true financial peace of mind comes down to balance. It is great to see your net worth grow as a result of long-term investments, but it does not help much if you are trapped when an emergency hits or an amazing opportunity pops up.”
How to prevent the liquidity crunch · Aspen Daily News, 2026
“One possible solution is to work with an adviser who is well-versed in both financial planning and investment management to oversee your entire financial picture. He or she can then coordinate with your other advisers—for example, your tax professional or estate-planning attorney.”
The pitfalls of working with multiple investment advisers · Aspen Times, 2023
Check Brian’s registration at adviserinfo.sec.gov (CRD 5895687).