Purposeful Solutions

David is certified as a Chartered Life Underwriter® and Chartered Financial Consultant® from the American College, Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. He also holds the designation of AEP®, which reflects advanced estate planning training and experience, and belongs to several professional organizations. David is also a Life and Qualifying member of the Million Dollar Round Table^** and is a lifetime member of Top of the Table. David is a graduate of California State Polytechnic University of Pomona, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Social Science.

David has spoken to many public and professional groups. Some of his engagements include the following:

• In March 2014 and 2016, he was asked by his peers to speak at the CEO Summit at the University of La Verne about Business Exit Strategy Planning. 
• He spoke at the Financial Planners “Summit” in August 2015 sharing his then 44-year financial planning career regarding his experiences - “Purpose & Passion” in Las Vegas, Nevada. 
• David has spoken to many agent/adviser offices throughout the country on the subject of “Life Lessons” and has also facilitated mentoring groups.

He has written and published several different articles on various aspects of financial, business, charitable, and estate planning.  David co-wrote an article with his son and business Partner, Nicholas D. Hjorth, CPA, CLTC® and Attorney, Jon Gallo, which was published in California Estates & Trusts Quarterly Magazine in the Summer 2011 issue titled “Pipe Dreams Can Come True: Gifting Opportunities. . . .” (This article has been updated and was published in Spring 2023).  He also co-wrote another article with Attorney, Jon Gallo, which was published in Estate Planning Magazine titled “Why Part of Your Estate Plan Ought to be Crummey and Defective.”

David has been a member of the San Antonio Community Hospital Foundation Board of Directors. He was previously the Chairman of the Planned Giving Committee and a member of the San Antonio Community Hospital Finance Committee. He and his family have established the David and Mary Hjorth Family Endowment Fund which supports several Upland charitable endeavors.

Dave met his wife, Mary, at college (both Cal Poly Pomona graduates) and were married in 1970. Dave & Mary raised their children, Nick and Joanna, in the city of Upland and they feel fortunate that both of their children are growing the DH Financial family business into a second generation. They love spending quality time with their entire family, especially their 5 grandchildren.

Sports Team I Cheer For:

I am definitely a long-term Dodger Fan…starting at age 10 when I sat through a double header and had the freckles burnt off my nose in the 8 ½ hour “extravaganza”.

Books that Most Impacted My Life:

1. Book of Joy by His Holiness the Dalai Lama; Archbishop Desmond Tutu; with Doug Abrams
2. The Ultimate Gift by Jim Stovall
3. Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom
4. That Used to be the US by Thomas L. Friedman and Michael Mandelbaum
5. Woke, Inc. by Vivek Ramaswamy
6. Where Nobody Knows Your Name by John Feinstein
7. 20 Things I Want My Kids to Know by Hal Urban

Favorite Quote:

“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” ~Winston Churchill

What I Wanted to Be When I Grew Up:

I definitely wanted to be the left or right fielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers, but knew that very few make it to the top of the pyramid. This was the reason why my college baseball coach, Coach John Scolinos, told all of us: “Very few of you will become Major League ballplayers, but you can all become Major League people.”

First Job:

I shined shoes in my dad’s barber shop from age 5 ½ to 13. Dad would say: “Put on a good shine, don’t get polish on their socks, and hopefully you’ll get paid.”

Nicholas is a graduate of Claremont McKenna College, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics/Accounting and additional studies in the Leadership Sequence. He has since become a Certified Public Accountant in the State of California, is a Certified Long Term Care Consultant, and holds the FINRA Series 7 and 66 Securities Licenses.

He has qualified for Million Dollar Round Table since 2004 and Top of the Table since 2019. Nick is a member of NAIFA & FINSECA. He has served on various boards within New York Life, including the Nautilus Under 40 Committee, Eagle Advisor Board, and most recently, the NYLARC Board.

Throughout his career, Nick has had the opportunity to be a guest speaker/panelist at various financial professional events. Some of those highlights are being a panelist at the Financial Advisor “Summit” Meeting discussing the subject of “Learning the Language of Sales”. He and his father, David, provided a joint presentation on creating a “Seamless Succession of Your Advisor Practice”. He has also shared his knowledge at the Coaching Series events helping financial advisors strengthen their planning operations.

Nick was named to the "Top 40 Financial Advisors under 40" in REP Magazine's January 2013 issue and listed as 2022 Forbes Shook “Top 250 Financial Security Professionals in the US”.

Nicholas, his wife, Anna, and children, Noah, Mia, and Cecelia, are active members of St. Philip’s The Apostle in Pasadena, California where they currently reside. He is an active traveler, avid bicyclist/hiker, and very involved with his children’s activities and local charities.

Bucket List Vacation:

Bike the United States from Washington D.C. to the state of Washington on the Great American Rail-Trail

Sports Teams I Cheer For:

Southern California through and through - Dodgers, Lakers, & UCLA.

Books that Most Impacted My Life:

The Ultimate Gift by Jim Stovall

Favorite Quote:

“The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” ~Mark Twain

Random Talent or Hobby:

I can wiggle my ears.

Favorite Movie:

Forrest Gump

Bucket List Vacation:

We would like to travel around the entire USA & World. Some of our top family dream destinations include: All 50 US States, Prince Edward Island in Canada (home of Anne of Green Gables), Scotland, England, Ireland, Greece, France, Italy, Spain, and the list goes on and on.

All-Time Favorite Food:

Ever since I was a little girl, Vince’s Spaghetti has topped my list of favorite local restaurants!

Something I Can’t Live Without:

Respect, Love, Kindness, Compassion, Empathy, Grace, Persistence, Determination, and High Attention to Detail.

Favorite Part of the Day:

The quiet lull of the early mornings or evenings when I have special moments to connect with my husband and kiddos.

What I Wanted to Be When I Grew Up:

I have always enjoyed working with children, which led to my desire of wanting to be an elementary school teacher. Although I was not able to fulfill the teaching role (due to my career path leading to our family business- which I wouldn’t change), the teaching void is filled by my joy of serving in our children’s classrooms and volunteering on the PTA.

Random Talent or Hobby:

My most random talent is clucking like a chicken. My favorite hobbies include the performing arts (musical theater), playing tennis, and taking care of others.

Favorite Type of Music:

Christmas music! My daughter, Abby, and I listen to it all year-long (probably stems from my love of singing holiday music).

Favorite TV Shows:

This is Us, Downton Abbey, Parenthood, Lost, Dancing with the Stars, America’s Got Talent, & American Idol

Favorite TV Show:

Star Trek: The Next Generation (TNG)

Favorite Star Trek Captain:

Jean-Luc Picard

Favorite Movie Star:

Benedict Cumberbatch

All-time Favorite Foods:

My sister’s salsa and my mom’s chicken and dumplings

Favorite Quote:

“Every saint has a past, and every sinner has a future.” — Oscar Wilde

Something I Can’t Live Without:

My Family

All-time Favorite Food:

Ice Cream

Favorite Part of the Day:

Early morning

Bucket List Vacation:

Driving the entire length of Route 66 from Chicago to the Santa Monica Pier, with every stop in between!

Favorite Quote:

“I’m in love with Montana. For other states I have admiration, respect, recognition, even some affection. But with Montana it is love. And it’s difficult to analyze love when you’re in it.” – John Steinbeck, Travels with Charley: In Search of America.

Something I Can’t Live Without:

Coffee. Ask the team – I’m not effective without it!

Bucket List Vacation:

Greece

Sports Teams I Cheer For:

49ers, Lakers, Angels

All-time Favorite Food:

Tacos

Something I Can't Live Without:

My family

What I Wanted to Be When I Grew Up:

NFL Player

Bucket List Vacation:

My dream vacation is to go to Spain, especially the Basque country to see where my great grandparents migrated from.

Superpower I would choose:

If I could have any superpower, it would be to speak any language so I could connect with anyone in the world.

Favorite Travel Spot:

My favorite place that I’ve traveled to is Cancun, Mexico, because I found the culture to be beautiful and the people so kind.

Favorite Drinks:

I love coffee, anytime of the day! But I also enjoy going to local breweries and trying out their craft brews.

Where You Will Find Me on the Weekend:

I have a really big family, so at least 1 or 2 weekends a month we are celebrating a birthday, wedding, or just spending time together!

Something I Can’t Live Without:

I could never move out of state from my family unless I could bring them with me. Can’t live without them.

Favorite Quote:

“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched-they must be felt with the heart.” — Helen Keller