FROM OUR FOUNDER
Why This Work Matters
I'm Elizabeth Payne, founder of Payne & Associates. This company was born from my own experience watching my father slowly lose the capacity to protect himself.
I was a Senior Vice President of Finance at the time, leading financial strategy for a high-growth startup. I was competent. Credible.
But I was also the daughter—and that changed everything.
Siblings questioned my decisions. My father resisted oversight. Even though I had the expertise, I was too close to be truly objective. The family dynamics made everything harder.
While winding down his estate, I kept thinking: "I wish there were someone else to handle this."
A financial expert who could protect him from questionable requests, coordinate his professionals, and remove the family drama from financial decisions.
That person didn't exist. So I built Payne & Associates to become that person for others.
“Families need someone who can say what they can't and do what they shouldn't have to.”
OUR PRINCIPLES
What Drives Our Work
You shouldn't have to carry everything alone
The mental load, the coordination, the caregiving—while siblings show up once a year. It's unsustainable and unjust.
The power of the third-party intermediary
When you're not the child, not the spouse, you can say what needs to be said without the emotional baggage.
Protection over exploitation
We believe elderly people deserve protection, not exploitation. We'll say no when you're too tired to fight.
Expertise matters
Investment advisors maximize returns. CPAs minimize taxes. Estate attorneys protect assets. We conduct the orchestra—making sure your best interests are at the center.