SUMMIT FINANCIAL GROUP - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Marketing Manager, SFG, Marketing Consultant, RJFS
- Marketing Team Member
Angela leads the marketing efforts for Summit. She is responsible for event planning and execution, the creation and organization of marketing and promotional materials for the company and our advisors, managing our social media sites, and creating content for our website.
With a degree in Journalism from San Francisco State University, Angela has a strong background in writing and editing. She has worked as a reporter for print and online media outlets and has managed content and marketing campaigns for several companies. She has also worked as a freelance writer and editor for more than 10 years. Her portfolio comprises sales blogs, lifestyle pieces, and real estate articles.
A self-proclaimed word nerd, she enjoys working crossword puzzles and reading on weekends as well as spending time with her family. A perfect Saturday afternoon for Angela includes exploring the wilderness of the Pleasanton Ridge near her home, trying a new restaurant or recipe, or taking a day trip somewhere along the California coast.
Job Titles:
- Business Systems Manager for Summit
- Business Systems Manager, SFG, Branch Operations, RJFS
Breanne is the Business Systems Manager for Summit. Her attention to detail and caring nature makes her perfect to be a part of the Summit Team. She currently lives in San Ramon with her husband and two sons. She loves raising her kids in the same neighborhood where she grew up. Connor and Dylan are typical non-stop, high energy, sport loving boys that keep her plenty busy away from the office. In her brief moments of free time, Breanne enjoys shopping, cooking, watching sports and the guilty pleasure of reality TV.
Job Titles:
- Client Services Coordinator
Cindy Loeffler joined Summit Financial Group in the fall of 2018 and has over 12 years of experience in the financial services industry. She is excited to be collaborating with Don Ledoux‘s and Aaron Peabody's busy practice.
Born and raised in California, Cindy resides in Pleasanton with her husband, Kurt, their daughter, Libby, and rescue dog, Ziggy. Cindy is a graduate from California State University, Chico where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Health and Community Services. When Cindy is not at the office, she enjoys spending time with her family, playing in a co-ed soccer league, traveling, and staying active.
Job Titles:
- Advisor
- Financial Advisor
- Member of the Firm 's Investment Committee
Cody joined Summit Financial Group in 2006 - the year of the firm's inception. For the first 5 years of his career, he served as Summit's Director of Planning and designed all the comprehensive financial plans for the firm's clients. The technical knowledge gained from working on those plans is invaluable for his work today. Eventually Cody's gift for problem solving and creative thinking led him to join in an advisory practice working alongside Nathan Bennett as a Financial Advisor. Together they have been helping business owners, professionals, and families pursue and maintain financial independence. Cody's analytical skills make him naturally adept at working on exit and succession planning for private business owners.
Job Titles:
- Advisor
- Financial Advisor
- Member of Summit Financial Group 's Investment Committee
- Summit As a Financial Planner
Connor Merrigan joined Summit as a financial planner in 2018. With him, he brought a broad background in equity research from his previous work as a financial analyst. Since then, his motivation and passion has shifted from helping investment boards to helping individuals plan their financial independence.
Connor is also a member of Summit Financial Group's Investment Committee and is heavily involved with crafting and designing client portfolios. In doing so, he keeps his clients' unique needs and individual risk tolerances in mind to create and implement custom investment decisions.
Job Titles:
- Client Services Coordinator
Cristina Holloway joins Summit with over 25 years of experience and vast knowledge of the wealth management, sales, marketing, and client services environments. She takes great pride in her analytical and organizational skills, which comes through with each client interaction.
Cristina and her husband were born and raised in Marin County. They have never left the Bay Area and will always call it home! Being a mom of three boys, she has finally been promoted to GiGi and loves spending time spoiling her granddaughter. When it's time to breathe, she loves to travel, explore new restaurants and wineries, celebrate her Italian heritage, volunteer in the community, sing and dance at concerts, go to car shows and wander the outdoors.
Job Titles:
- Client Services Coordinator
David Moe is one of our Client Services Coordinators at Summit. He joined our team in the fall of 2021 and has 5 years of industry experience under his belt. David works with several of our advisors and their clients. He holds a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of California, Davis, and continued his education in finance and economics.
In his free time, David loves to travel (he spent his last trip in Egypt!). He is interested in sports and is a huge 49ers and Warriors fan. He also enjoys exploring new restaurants.
Job Titles:
- Advisor
- Financial Advisor
- Founding Board Member
- Member of Multiple Exit Planning Associations
In addition to his client work, Don is a founding board member of the non-profit PulsePoint - a mobile application that assists cardiac arrest victims. The application is making a difference by saving lives across the United States.
Job Titles:
- Director of Operations at Summit
- Director of Operations, SFG, Branch Operations, RJFS
Erin Haubner, Director of Operations at Summit, brings over 20 years of experience in Human Resources and Financial Services. Erin supports the overall organizational health and productivity of the Summit team with the goal of keeping everyone productive and happy to create the best client experience possible.
Erin is a proud Bay Area native and graduated from St. Mary's College with a Bachelor of Science in Industrial/Organizational Psychology. She also holds her California State Life & Health Insurance License.
Erin enjoys life in Pleasanton with her husband Greg and two daughters. Outside of work she spends her time cheering on her husband's football team (Go Foothill Falcons!), reading, traveling, cooking and staying active.
Job Titles:
- Financial Planning Associate
Prior to joining Summit in 2021, Evan Zeller worked as a Financial Planning Analyst in the Bay Area where he gained valuable financial planning experience. Evan has a passion for supporting the creation of comprehensive financial plans for families, new and old, that will enable them to plan for their financial independence.
Evan was born and raised in Orange County, CA. He attended California State University, Monterey Bay, and received his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting while playing four years of NCAA basketball. When away from the office, Evan can be spotted on the court coaching high school junior varsity basketball at Granada High School. He also enjoys playing basketball, hiking, weight training, golfing, watching sports and preparing new recipes in the kitchen. When he's not being active, Evan spends time with his family, friends, girlfriend, and his pug, Frank.
Job Titles:
- Client Services Coordinator
Heather Curtis is the Client Services Coordinator for several of our advisors. She joined Summit in 2021 with eight years of experience in the financial services industry, and more than 20 years in various industries. Her financial experience includes client services, new business, accounting, retirement plan administration, and operational support.
Born and raised in San Clemente, California, she has been in the Bay Area since 2006. She currently resides in Martinez with her son, Bryan, and two cats: Charlotte and Wilbur.
When Heather is not in the office, she enjoys spending time with her son, visiting family and friends, exploring new areas, hiking and staying active, performing arts, landscape photography, cooking, golfing, tennis, listening to music, and reading.
Job Titles:
- Advisor
- Financial Advisor
- Senior Director
- Financial Advisor, RJFS
Job Titles:
- Client Services Coordinator
Jeffrey has been working alongside advisor Robert Avey as a Client Services Coordinator since 2016 and plays an integral part of his business operations. Since graduating from University of California, Irvine in 2013, he has worked for a variety of wealth management firms in the Financial Services industry. He holds his Series 7 and 66 securities registrations as well as his CA insurance License 0K19350.
Jeffrey was born and raised in the Bay Area and currently resides in Alameda. He remains a loyal 49ers and Warriors fan and enjoys playing football and basketball in his free time. Hawaii is like a second home to him after many years of traveling there with his family. He once called Italy his home while studying abroad in Rome during his time in college. His other passions include playing drums and snowboarding in Lake Tahoe with his friends and family.
Job Titles:
- Client Services Coordinator
Jennifer is the Client Services Coordinator for several of our advisors. She joined Summit in 2021 with over four years of experience in the financial services industry, and more than seven years of experience in educational finance. Her financial experience includes client services, new business, accounting, retirement plan administration, and cashiering requests.
Born and raised in the Bay Area, Jennifer currently resides in Castro Valley with her son, Ian.
When Jennifer is not in the office, she enjoys spending time with her son, hiking, running, curling up with a good book, or having an evening of fun with friends.
Job Titles:
- Retirement Plan Consultant
Julie Pelletier joined Summit in 2021 with 15 years of retirement plan experience. Although she has worn every hat possible in her tenure career, she has maintained the same goal to successfully support business owners and their employees to create a clear path of reaching retirement age with enough money.
Julie is a graduate of St. Mary's College of California. She holds a Series 6, 63, and California State Life Insurance License.
She was born in Detroit, Michigan and raised in Walnut Creek where she continues to live today with her family. If you do not see her around town, she is probably headed to her happy place Lake Almanor to boat, fish, hike and relax.
Justin Ward has joined Don Ledoux and Aaron Peabody's practice team as an Associate Advisor. He is a driven professional with a diverse background in the world of finance and entrepreneurship. Having earned his bachelor's degree in finance from San Jose State University, Justin honed his financial acumen and analytical skills during his academic years. He didn't just stop at academics; Justin was also a proactive student who ran a successful financial newsletter business while in college. He also expanded on his knowledge and gained valuable experience by joining a top Commercial Real Estate firm in the East Bay. As a real estate agent, Justin gained respected industry insights, demonstrating his ability to navigate complex markets and provide expert advice to clients.
Beyond the world of finance and business, Justin is a family-oriented individual who cherishes quality time with his loved ones. His passion for the outdoors is evident through his love for hiking and surfing. Justin's commitment to health and fitness is a central part of his life, frequently dedicating time at the gym to maintain a healthy lifestyle. His multifaceted interests and dedication to personal well-being highlight his well-rounded and holistic approach to both his professional and personal life.
Justin holds CA Insurance Lic. #4353635.
Job Titles:
- Client Services Coordinator
Kari helps support the practice of several advisors at Summit. She brings with her over 20 years of experience in various roles highlighting her management and operational skills.
Kari is in the running for most traveled member of Team Summit. Born and raised on the East Coast, she grew up sailing to places like the Virgin Islands and Florida Keys, as well as spending many summers in Cape Cod. And those didn't even make the list of her favorite places traveled (but France, Italy, Maui, and the Grand Tetons/Yellowstone did)!
A graduate of both San Jose State University and the Art Center College of Design, Kari enjoys painting, photography, hiking, and spending time with her husband, kids, and yellow lab, Lucy.
Job Titles:
- Manager of Compliance, SFG, Investment Strategist, RJFS
Keith plays an important role in Summit's ability to operate as a successful financial firm. As Manager of Compliance, he's responsible for the rules and regulations governing our activities and ensuring our processes are meeting regulatory requirements. In addition, Keith oversees the data reporting our advisors receive to help them run efficient and proactive practices.
Keith has over 30 years of financial services industry experience and holds the Series 4, 7, 24, 53, 63, and 65 licenses. His goal is to continually evaluate and help improve business processes and client service at Summit to ensure our clients, our advisors, and our employees have the best experience possible.
Born and raised in Texas, Keith moved to California at the onset of his financial services career while serving in the Marine Corps Reserves. He lives in Concord with his wife, Lisa, who is decidedly his better half. Keith enjoys golf, camping, hiking … pretty much all outdoor activities. He and Lisa especially like taking tropical vacations to spend time at the beach, play in the waves, and enjoy some snorkeling.
Job Titles:
- Client Services Coordinator
Kimberly Horikoshi, formerly Root, is the Client Services Coordinator for Nathan Bennett and Cody Smith. She finds joy in helping those who help others and brings a diverse set of skills to the team after previously working in various industries.
Kimberly hails from a city that defines grit: Youngstown, Ohio, which is smack dab in the middle of the Rust Belt of our country. She graduated with Honors from Youngstown State University and holds a bachelor's degree in Exercise Science. Kimberly strives to break stereotypes through being involved with a wide range of activities. She is an accomplished martial artist and has held several beauty pageant titles. She has even worked on films as a stunt performer.
Las Vegas, Nevada, and Phuket, Thailand, are two of the places that she's called home. Her personal goals involve seeing as much of the world as possible (She's visited 13 countries and counting). She loves traveling, learning, and inspiring others. Kimberly has gathered a variety of skills that she has been able to take with her wherever she goes and is excited about starting a new chapter of her life in San Ramon, California, where she plans to set down roots.
In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her husband, Kevin, and supporting organizations such as Wrestle Like a Girl, that advocates for equality for women in the sport of wrestling.
Job Titles:
- Client Services Coordinator
- Client Services Coordinator for Vanessa Savage
Monika Orrey is the Client Services Coordinator for Vanessa Savage's thriving practice. She joined the team in 2019 with two decades of experience in the Financial Services industry under her belt. During those years she wore many hats, which allowed her the opportunity to grow and define the perfect role within her field. Whether she was working in the vault with physical stock/bond certificates at a large brokerage firm or helping clients navigate estate processing questions at a local RIA, her focus has consistently been on seamless client service and making lasting connections with colleagues and clients alike. Monika is passionate about the work we do and strives to deliver the highest standard of service while building meaningful relationships.
Monika was born and raised in Danville, California, and raised her daughter there as well. Although she recently moved to Oakley to be closer to her extended family, she will always consider Danville "home." Outside of work, you may find Monika on the trails of Mount Diablo or at the many natural treasures the Bay Area has to offer. Live music, camping, baking, and photography are all featured on Monika's priority list, but making memories with her family will always be number one.
Job Titles:
- Executive Assistant for Nathan Bennett
- Executive Assistant, SFG, Administrative Assistant, RJFS
Nancy McMillin serves as the Executive Assistant for Nathan Bennett. She joined the Summit team in 2023, bringing with her 20 years of experience in operations roles across a variety of industries and at companies large and small. Nancy loves supporting Nathan and the team allowing them to focus their time on serving clients at the highest possible level.
Nancy grew up in a small rural town in Iowa but fell in love with the Bay Area on vacation and relocated as soon as she could. She graduated from Northwestern University where she earned a degree in Industrial Engineering.
Nancy and her husband, Jim, reside in Livermore and have two adult sons. They love pursuing active outdoor adventures, so you'll often find them skiing/snowboarding, hiking, backpacking and mountain biking.
Job Titles:
- Advisor
- Coach
- Financial Advisor
- Partner
- Financial Advisor, RJFS
Job Titles:
- Advisors
- Investment Strategist
Nik joined Summit in 2019, bringing with him a decade of experience through various roles at BlackRock and Franklin Templeton.
In his current role as an Investment Strategist, Nik assists advisors with portfolio management, design, and execution.
An active member on the Investment Committee, he performs in-depth analysis on investment offerings to help ensure client portfolios remain efficient and reflect our best ideas in modern finance.
He earned his bachelor's degree in business economics from Wheaton College in Illinois, where he competed nationally on the men's rowing team. A lifelong student of the markets, Nik earned the Chartered Financial Analyst designation in 2016.
Outside of the office, he enjoys the outdoors with his wife, Audrey, and their daughter, Calista. Classically trained on the piano growing up, Nik has recently become a guitar enthusiast, evident in his increasing collection of vintage guitars. Nik and Audrey are actively involved with their church and enjoy helping those in need. They are proud sponsors of children through World Vision, a non-profit that has provided food and education to over 3 million children globally.
Job Titles:
- Director of Advisor Services, SFG, Branch Manager, RJFS
Drawing from more than 15 years of industry experience, Rachael oversees all areas of operation that directly support the financial advisors at Summit. In addition to being a member of the planning department and compliance team, she manages both the Advisor Resource Center and our Client Service team. Her department provides the assistance and resources Summit advisors require to best help their clients achieve their financial goals.
She is invested in education and carries the Series 7, 66, and 24 securities registrations, along with holding the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER ™ certification, the ChFC® designation, and the California Life and Health License #0G26920.
Born and raised in Pleasanton, Rachael attended San Diego State University where she earned her bachelor's degree in Financial Services. She is an avid Sharks fan, and when not in the office, Rachael is off exploring the world. She has been to 21 countries and counting, and one of her next goals is to return to Europe to run a half marathon.
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Robert L. Avey is a seasoned financial advisor with more than 30 years of experience under his belt, 25 of which he served with Securian Financial Services. He strongly believes in creating a simplified, streamlined service. His professional motto is, "Do the right thing for the client, always." Helping his clients understand what they need and how to best use what they have is a satisfying pursuit for Robert. When he hears "No one has ever explained it that way," or "No one has ever brought that up," he knows he is giving his clients the results they desire.
Job Titles:
- Advisor
- Partner
- Financial Advisor, RJFS
- Founding Partners
Job Titles:
- Front Desk Coordinator, SFG, Client Services Associate, RJFS
Susan Bonde joined the Summit team in 2022 as the Front Desk Coordinator. In her role, she aims to provide a positive experience for our clients whether in person or on the phone. She also provides support to our team and oversees the general operations for our busy office.
Susan possesses over 35 years of experience in strategic and business planning, performance analytics, and technology development. She has worked in numerous business segments, including marketing, logistics, shipping, finance, compliance, human resources, corporate real estate, environmental management, and information technology.
Born and raised in Northern California, Susan currently resides in San Ramon. She enjoys spending time with friends and family, as well as visiting her daughter and son-in-law in Austin, Texas.
Job Titles:
- Director of Development, SFG, Branch Operations, RJFS
- Director of Development, SFG, Branch Operations, RJFS / Marketing
Tiffany Taylor joined Summit Financial Group in 2022 with over 20 years of experience in leading business growth and development at various successful broker-dealers and registered investment advisors (RIAs).
As Director of Development, she aids in the growth strategy of the firm as a dedicated resource for the existing Summit Financial Advisors and through the recruitment and onboarding of new advisors to Summit.
Tiffany is passionate about working with financial advisors at various levels of success, helping them create strategies and approaches to meet their practice and business goals.
Tiffany currently lives in Walnut Creek with her rescue terrier, Milo, and is the proud mother of her (handsome and smart) son, Michael, currently serving in the U.S. Army.
Job Titles:
- Advisor
- Associate
- Member of the Financial Planning Team Working With Summit
Tyler Bailey joined Summit Financial Group in 2022 as a member of the Financial Planning team working with Summit's financial advisors in developing comprehensive financial plans for clients. In 2024, he joined Steve Wilcox's practice as an Associate Advisor. Prior to joining Summit, he held various advisor and advisor support roles with leading wealth management teams in the Bay Area and Roseville.
Tyler enjoys helping families and individuals achieve their financial goals by constructing customized, comprehensive financial plans tailored to their needs and building a financial roadmap for success in the areas of retirement planning, investment management, risk management and legacy planning.
He attended the University of California, Santa Barbara where he attained a bachelor's degree in Economics and Accounting. Born and raised in Northern California, Tyler currently resides in San Ramon. Outside of the office, he enjoys playing golf, fly fishing, skiing, and spending quality time with family and friends.
Job Titles:
- Advisor
- Director
- Financial Advisor, RJFS
Veronica Sandoval joined the Summit team in 2018. Alongside her fellow marketing team member, Angela Bessiere, Veronica helps with planning and executing company events, creating and designing marketing collateral, and managing Summit's digital marketing.
Veronica has a B.S. degree in Business Administration with a focus in Marketing and Corporate Management from Cal State East Bay - College of Business & Economics.
On the personal front, Veronica is proud to call the Bay Area her home and loves to spend time with her husband and daughter. She also enjoys helping those in need and regularly donates to Children International - a nonprofit whose mission is to end child poverty by investing in the lives of children and building healthy environments they need to thrive. She is a proud sponsor of a child in the Philippines through this organization.