Our Values
Bravery
Showing Strength in the Face of Fear or Difficulty (“Faith in the Future”)
Patience
Staying the Course Regardless of Delays and Roadblocks. Making Slow Progress in the Right Direction Is Better Than No Progress at All
Dicipline
Making Small Sacrifices Now to Benefit the Future - Creating Habits That Become Routines - “Hard Now Easy Later”
Kindness
Default Kindness in All Interactions - “Leave People Better Than You Found Them”
Gratitude
Taking Time to Recognize What Is Most Meaningful in Our Lives
Authenticity
What You See Is What You Get - Staying True to Values - Being Honest and Accountable
Our Story
Optimism – an inclination to put the most favorable construction upon actions and events. Hopefulness and confidence about the future or the successful outcome of something. As it relates to individuals, optimism can show itself as someone who can see the “Brightside” of a situation.
Ralph Wasiakowski, Founder of Brightside Wealth Planning, is an optimist at his core. At Brightside Wealth Planning we believe in holistic financial planning delivered from our Core Values. We like to say that we “invest like an optimist but save like a pessimist.”
At Brightside Wealth Planning, we are your guides that aim to help you plan for and traverse the sometimes rocky path to your desired destination. We follow a personalized process: defining your goals, mapping out a path forward, and working with you to navigate course corrections needed throughout your family’s lifetime. With a bit of bravery, a sprinkle of patience & some discipline we believe everyone can set themselves up for lasting success. We are here to serve our clients, guide you on your journey, and hold you accountable when you need it.
Step by Step
We guide you through a clear, collaborative step-by-step approach that helps define your goals, map out your strategy, track your progress, and build a long-term plan that supports your future.
Discussing and clearly defining your goals and values can position you to ensure your financial strategy aligns with what matters most to you—today and in the future. It creates a personalized roadmap that can guide every decision with purpose, clarity, and confidence.
Beginning your journey starts with understanding where you are today and identifying the opportunities ahead. Together, we take the first steps toward building a clear, confident plan for your financial future.
Creating a roadmap can turn your goals into a clear, actionable plan tailored to your life and priorities. Its goal is to provide direction, structure, and confidence as you move toward long-term financial success.
Evaluating your progress allows your plan to stay aligned with your goals as your life and priorities evolve. Regular reviews allow us to make thoughtful adjustments, keeping you on track with confidence and clarity.
Legacy planning helps ensure your values and intentions live on through the people and causes you care about most. It aims to bring clarity and peace of mind by thoughtfully preparing how your wealth supports future generations.
Who We Are
Ralph Wasiakowski
Founder, Financial Advisor
Ralph is an Optimist; Loyal, and Intentional. Ralph gets energy from being around people – meeting, talking, sharing stories. Ralph values family, effort, fitness, humility, bravery, focus, independence, authenticity, passion, and intensity.
Ralph has been advising clients since 2003, having spent the first 9 years of his career with Ameriprise Financial. Ralph embarked on a new journey to provide clients personalized advice with a collaborative relationship.
Ralph’s goal is to help make the complexities of personal finance less daunting and allow clients to focus on what matters most in life: your family, your work, your life’s passions.
Ralph graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from DeSales University (formerly Allentown College of St. Francis de Sales – go Centaurs!) in Center Valley, PA.
When not working with clients, Ralph enjoys reading and following current events, fitness, and finding ways to get outdoors. Ralph is happiest when taking adventurous trips with his wife, Nicole and children, Jack & Hannah. Whether in the office or at home, chances are the 5th member of the Wasiakowski family, Golden Retriever, Bolt, is close by, begging for some snacks!
Ralph is also passionate about helping military veterans; his father served during the Korean War, earning the Purple Heart during combat.
Ralph volunteers with: •The Travis Manion Foundation •Hire Heros USA
Nicole Wasiakowski
Chief Operating Officer, Financial Advisor
Nicole is perceptive, dependable, and conscientious – anchored by empathy. She finds her purpose in helping others solve problems and creating harmony. She values family, health, love, gratitude, resilience, harmony, simplicity, kindness, authenticity, and movement.
Prior to joining Brightside Wealth Planning, Nicole spent the past 15 years at SEI Investments Company, a financial services company headquartered in Oaks, Pennsylvania, where she held many roles directly supporting Financial Advisors.
Most recently, she was the Director of Communities helping build and manage several advisor communities designed to create connections between members & share best practices. Nicole has consulted with Registered Investment Advisors on technology, marketing, business planning, workflows, and improving client service models.
Before joining SEI, Nicole was a Financial Advisor with Ameriprise Financial. She was responsible for providing financial planning solutions to high net worth individuals.
Nicole graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics & Business from Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania and currently holds the Series 7 and 66 licenses.
When not working, Nicole enjoys spending time outside with her family: her husband Ralph, children, Jack & Hannah, and golden retriever, Bolt. Nicole also enjoys traveling, hiking, fitness, and coaching her daughter’s soccer team.
Bolt
Chief Good Boy
Bolt joined the Wasiakowski family (and Brightside Wealth Planning) in 2020, right in the middle of COVID. At five years old, he takes his role as Chief Good Boy seriously—especially when it comes to neighborhood security and snack quality control.
His daily responsibilities include walks in the field, woofing at neighbors just enough to say “I see you,” and running a very tight perimeter to keep squirrels out of the backyard and an eye (and nose) out for deer.
Bolt is most passionate about food and the people who might share it with him. His known favorites include chicken, steak, cheese, apples, watermelon, and any and all “good boy treats.” Around the house, he can usually be found napping on the couch, listening for the telltale sounds of Jack and Hannah coming home from school, or positioning himself for optimal popcorn-begging during family movie time.
Like the rest of the Brightside team, Bolt is highly relationship-focused. He loves humans very much—partly because he’s convinced they might feed him, but mostly because they are “his people.” Whether it’s greeting visitors, keeping Ralph company between client meetings, or quietly reminding everyone to pause for a walk and a scratch behind the ears, Bolt brings warmth, joy, and a little bit of fur to everything we do.
Sharing some favorite moments from September 2025.
Ralph Wasiakowski serves as the local race director for the Travis Manion Foundation’s 9/11 Heroes 5K Run, and he and his wife, Nicole, coach two girls’ soccer teams. Several of the players and their families came out to support the event, which meant a lot to them and is something they’re very proud of.
