Karen Telleen-Lawton is an eco-writer, sharing information and insights about economics and ecology, finances, and the environment. Having recently retired from financial planning and advising, she spends more time exploring the outdoors — and reading and writing about it.

A variety of experiences over many decades have influenced her. Telleen-Lawton holds an undergraduate engineering degree from Stanford University as well as graduate degrees and certificates in environmental policy, economics, business administration and financial planning.

Until her retirement in 2022, Telleen-Lawton was the principal of Decisive Path Fee-only Financial Advisory. She has written articles and essays on environmental, economic, and financial planning in local, regional, and national publications such as Santa Barbara’s Noozhawk, Stanford Magazine, and a national senior writing syndicate. Her book, Canyon Voices – the Nature of Rattlesnake Canyon, was published by Mission Creek Publishing in 2007.

Inspirational writers for her work include John Muir, Edward Abbey, Wallace Stegner, Janet Lewis, John McPhee, Diane Ackerman, Charles Wilkinson, Herman Daly and John Cobb, Woody Tasch, E.F. Schumacher, Barbara Kingsolver, and Robin Wall Kimmerer.

Telleen-Lawton’s volunteer activities include various board and committee functions at All Saints-by-the-Sea Episcopal Church, Santa Barbara Channelkeeper, Channel Islands Naturalist Corps, and PSC Partners Seeking a Cure. She was a proud saxophonist with Prime Time Band for seven years before passing her horn to her granddaughter.

Telleen-Lawton’s work has been inspired through the years by her parents’ love and appreciation for nature, her children and grandchildren’s delight in being outdoors, and hikes and bike rides with many friends. Her most important influence and best friend for nearly fifty years is her husband David.