A practice built on partnership
A combination of community and capability helps Natalie Berning keep people at the center of her practice.
For Natalie Berning, being a financial advisor isn’t all about the numbers. It’s about people, partnership and possibility. And her employer supports that philosophy. Natalie serves her clients as a member of the OnPoint Community Credit Union Investment Services team with the support of the Raymond James Financial Institutions Division – a combination of community connection and major firm support that, to her, feels like the best of both worlds.
OnPoint, which was established in 1932, has deep community roots and values building long-term relationships in Oregon and Southwest Washington. To that, Raymond James brings access to world-class resources, technology and a network of experts.
“The philosophies of OnPoint and Raymond James are so similar, and I think that’s why it’s a great relationship,” Natalie says. “One of the founding principles of OnPoint is ‘members first’ and Raymond James’ is ‘clients first.’ We are all making sure our constituents are first in our minds before we make decisions.”
And that’s what resonates most with her.
People come first
Trust and competence are at the heart of what Natalie does. Nothing is better than clients saying, “I feel so much better” or “I can breathe easier” after meeting with her. It’s meaningful when clients tell her she’s taken a burden off their shoulders, something they’ve been stressed or worried about.
“I help my clients map out their goals and then identify ways their money can help them reach those goals. It’s very rewarding guiding clients through the financial decisions that shape their futures,” she says.
Natalie feels like the most important aspect of her job is to listen and to help clients figure out how they want their money to work for them. She acknowledges that people don't always know the answer to that and the emotions around finances can further complicate the conversation.
“So, I create a safe space where my clients can feel heard and understood at a fundamental level about their goals around money. Then, we can use all the different investment tools available to us through Raymond James to help reach those goals,” she explains.
And, in the end, account statements and spreadsheets are important, but not what excites her. She loves helping clients reach major milestones like retiring, buying a vacation home or taking the trip they have dreamed of because of the planning she did with them.
Natalie also values her relationship with colleagues at OnPoint. She has taken it upon herself to informally mentor many of the other advisors on her team, offering in-office shadowing, sharing her best practices and brainstorming about client proposals and celebrating their wins.
“The relationships I’ve built with clients and colleagues over the last decade are the most fulfilling part of my job,” she adds.
True belonging
In the same way people are the driving force in her practice, she’s felt it important to create a community of colleagues to support her career. Having a strong circle of mentors, most notably her manager Melisa Lindsay-Lipkins, has been integral to her growth and success.
“Whether it’s OnPoint or Raymond James, I find that the other advisors and leadership are collaborative and celebrate each other’s wins. We are sounding boards for each other. It’s been such a positive professional experience,” she says.
Natalie intentionally surrounds herself with other driven female advisors by being part of the Women Financial Advisors Network (WFAN). She attends the Women’s Symposium almost every year and cherishes the connections she’s made through the years.
“Even though Raymond James is a large national organization, I’ve been able to develop close personal relationships with advisors across the country, which is amazing.”
The commitment Raymond James and OnPoint show to inclusivity and collaboration aligns with Natalie’s personal values.
“Bias does still exist in this industry and there’s a lack of representation of women that can make women feel like they don’t belong,” she exclaims. “But, spoiler alert, we do!”
Now Natalie is leading the way for other women. She is an involved member of the Women’s Leadership Alliance (WLA), which focuses explicitly on attracting and retaining women as financial advisors. She co-leads the Portland, Oregon, circle, and is an active mentor in the program.
“I think we should shout from the rooftops that women belong in and deserve these types of roles as much as any of our male counterparts,” Natalie says.
An example for others
Natalie’s work has not gone unnoticed. She was recently recognized as a 2026 Raymond James Woman of Distinction.
“I am honored to be part of a very extraordinary group of women,” she says. “Receiving this honor was a very powerful reminder to me of the care and effort that I put into work and that it does make a different to my clients, my community and my colleagues. It’s been really reinvigorating and inspiring to feel recognized for the work.”
For her, it starts with showing up every day and trying to do her best.
“My guiding motto is work hard, play hard and love hard. I’m very dedicated to my family, my clients and my community.. I try to find the joy in life, whatever setting I’m in,” she says.
Natalie is a frequent guest on the local morning show Hello Rose City, previously served on the Raymond James Sustainable Investing Advisory Council, is currently serving her second term on the Randall Children’s Hospital Foundation Board. Natalie has also taken a lead on the Investment Services Impact plan at her branch working with non-profit and community organizations across Oregon and Southwest Washington to provide guidance and investment services to those who need it. She generously gives of her time and is making a concrete difference in her community.
But sometimes doing her best means lounging on the couch with her 5-year-old and 8-year-old daughters, reading together or doing logic puzzles. Or taking a break from work to enjoy Oregon wine country with friends.
Recently celebrating her 10-year anniversary with OnPoint and Raymond James, she’s looking forward to what the next decade brings.
“I’m really enjoying fine-tuning my skill set at this point in my career. I’m going through the Private Wealth Foundations program right now and deepening my knowledge base for my high-net-worth clients in areas like tax planning, charitable giving and more nuanced investment management.”
What achievements Natalie accomplishes in her future remains to be seen, but what’s certain is that her purpose will center around people and she will continue to inspire those around her to live up to their possibilities.
Raymond James is not affiliated with and does not endorse the above organizations.
The Woman of Distinction Award is designed to recognize a woman advisor that has served as a role-model to other advisors or service associates in her branch or the industry. Through mentoring and coaching, she’s supported the professional growth of women by sharing her experiences, knowledge, ideas and feedback. In addition to these qualities, nominations should also include a woman who is actively involved in her community through volunteer hours, and board participation. The ranking may not be representative of any one client's experience, is not an endorsement, and is not indicative of an advisor's future performance. No fee is paid in exchange for this award/rating.