About Us
Your Retirement, Our Experience—aligned with what matters most
Getting to know your wealth advisor means having someone who truly understands your goals and priorities, so every decision reflects what matters most to you.
What’s in a Name: The Origins of Cavalot
Why ‘Cavalot’ Means More Than ‘Horse’
Damian’s great-grandfather (Ted’s grandfather) grew up in the far reaches of northern Italy in the Valle Vigezzo at the base of the Alps. In the immediate aftermath of World War I, he embarked on a ship set for the US at the age of 16 – alone, with no knowledge of English, or a plan. As a child, Damian would get to ride on his great grandpa’s knee as he sang a nursery rhyme about a horse that would traverse the Alps in winter to supply the small, isolated villages. Years later, that tale would stick with him both as a reminder of a man that refused to give up on his dreams and a seemingly insignificant horse that enabled so many to do the same. So the short answer is Cavalot means “horse” in the local dialect around Toceno, but it represents our mission to help you discover your dreams, identify the best routes to take and provide the expertise to navigate you there.
There Will Be Challenges, Failures and Wins Along the Way
Our role is to assess different courses of action, provide you with the pros and cons of each backed up with numbers. You’ll hear us say you can achieve anything you want with your money, but you can’t achieve everything. That’s where we come in.
Damian Palfini, CFP®, RLP®
Wealth Planner & Founder
Damian works out of Truckee, CA and has been in the investment management and financial planning industry since 2009 after graduating from California State University – Chico with a major in International Relations and minors in International Business and Italian. He launched Cavalot Capital in 2020 in order to help people create and manage their wealth on the way to financial freedom.
When he isn’t managing portfolios or running tax projections, you can find him around Lake Tahoe walking Rio, ski racing with Far West Masters or running up and down mountains.
Damian is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, Registered Life Planner®, and CTEC Registered Tax Preparer (CRTP).
- Top 2025 Trail Running Achievement: Finishing first 100k (CFC @ Lake Sonoma)
- Key to his heart: Most any candy
- Hidden Talent: Swallow an entire handful of vitamins at once
- Favorite Book: The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón
- Favorite Movie: Otto e Mezzo
Ted Palfini
Wealth Advisor
Ted manages the Redding, CA office and has over 30 years of investment and financial planning experience. After initially attending BYU, he graduated from UC Berkeley in 1974 before returning back to Northern California where he makes his home with his partner Jill.
Outside the office, Ted is an avid cyclist and you will surely see him on various roads and trails around Redding whenever he gets an opportunity.
Ted currently holds the Series 7, 66 and 24 registrations and is a CTEC Registered Tax Preparer (CRTP).
- Greatest Cycling Achievement: Finished a total of three Double Century (200 mile) bike rides
- Key to his heart: A good cinnamon roll (or any baked goods really)
- Favorite vacation spot: Cinque Terre, Italy
- Random fact: Has dual Italian-American citizenship
- Go-to movie: Groundhog Day
Rio
Official office greeter, financial planning guru, professional napper. Still working on his computer skills though.
Does your financial plan utilize every strategy for your long-term success?
We provide a comprehensive framework to identify and prioritize what you are hoping to achieve in life, then craft a plan to efficiently allocate your resources to make it a reality. We provide ongoing support and check-ins throughout the year so you don’t have to go it alone.
Everyone has a Why. Let’s find yours.
Reach out for a no-pressure conversation.
