Professional Snapshot
Experience: Joined NPF in 2012; prior roles include Investment Analyst at RDV Corporation, Associate Financial Architect at KPMG (Equaterra), and Commercial Credit Analyst at Mercantile Bank
Credentials: Chartered Financial Analyst® charterholder and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional
Memberships: CFP Let’s make a plan, CFA Institute
Education: BBA with Honors in Finance and Accounting from Grand Valley State University
Community: Board Member and Development Committee Member, Catholic Charities West Michigan
Personal Insights
What do you enjoy most about being an Investment Advisor?
I’m driven by the intellectual challenge of long-term investing. I particularly enjoy identifying great businesses run by great leaders, then watching capital grow over time. I believe that smart saving and investing can help families build wealth, thrive and ultimately be able to give back to the community. My mission is to be able to help our clients accomplish that goal and live their best, most meaningful lives.
What was your journey to the investment world and NPF specifically?
My passion is music. After high school, I wanted to pursue a career as a jazz performer and recording artist – but I knew that might make it hard to keep food on the table and have a good family life. I decided to pursue business at GVSU with the hope of using those skills to open a recording studio, but thankfully I joined a student-run investment club my sophomore year and fell in love with picking stocks. Akin to jazz improv, it felt like a career that would require blending multiple disciplines and creative thinking to be successful. I was right. Long story short, after a few career steps and some important tests (CFA), I found my way to NPF, and the rest is history.
What are the values that drive you in your professional and personal life?
Every day I try to grow in virtue, whether that is being a better parent, spouse or professional. Focus and determination have always been key to making progress in my life – it is not always easy, but I am grateful for the opportunities where I have been pushed out of my comfort zone, as those situations have helped me develop as an individual.
Where do you call home?
I’ve lived in Rockford, MI since the third grade (except for my time away studying at GVSU and the first few years of my early career). We love our community and have recently learned to appreciate the easy access to multiple biking and hiking trails.