PASADENA PRIVATE WEALTH - Key Persons
Ann joins Pasadena Private Wealth with over 25 years of experience in the financial services industry. She spent thirteen of those years as a Financial Advisor helping clients achieve investment goals, and seven years as a Senior Client Associate supporting their administrative needs. In her current position, she blends the two roles together, serving as one of the primary client service contacts, while assisting with portfolio reviews and insurance planning. Ann enjoys working with people and takes pride in providing exceptional service. When not at PPW, you will often find her at a local performing arts venue, enjoying a concert or musical production. Even though her two older sons have graduated, Ann still volunteers for their high school's instrumental music program. She served on the Band Boosters Board for three years and was recognized by the school for her dedication. Ann received her bachelor's degree from the University of Southern California.
Every year, she, her husband, and three sons try to discover new adventures in their backyard and across the globe.
Anthony joins Pasadena Private Wealth with over 20 years of management experience having worked for a high-profile executive both in the US and abroad. He managed delicate relationships with high level business executives, celebrities, dignitaries, and royalty with a laser focus on detail. His breath of knowledge spans the globe yet still maintains his local roots.
As a private client manager, Anthony brings the highest level of professionalism and his "can do" attitude to his work every day and really takes pride in helping others; he is no stranger to the 24/7 mindset.
When Anthony takes a break from work, he enjoys his other passion, cooking. He is a trained chef. He is also an avid golfer but most of all, he loves spending time with his family and friends. He recently had a son and is experiencing all the wonders that come with being a father.
Bryan A. Muth, CPFA®, CRPC®, CRPS®, C(k)P® Managing Partner - Director of Retirement Plans For more than two decades, Bryan has been passionately working with individuals and business owners to enhance and improve their financial lives. It is his personal mission to help clients create and implement strategies for cash and portfolio management, fiduciary oversight of corporate retirement plans, short and long-term financing, and ultimately, succession coordination between current family members and future generations. As a Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor, he provides strategic retirement plan consulting services for business owners to ensure their retirement plan is compliant. His team facilitates fee benchmarking, retirement plan design, investment selection, and employee communications focused on retirement readiness. Bryan served as a First Vice President in Merrill Lynch prior to founding Pasadena Private Wealth. Before joining Merrill Lynch in 2004, Bryan spent five years as a specialized pension consultant for a pension and actuarial firm. In that role, he led an actuarial team in the implementation of more than 500 complex defined contribution and defined benefit retirement plans for business owners in various professional industries. Bryan earned his bachelor's degree in finance at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, where he played water polo and baseball. In 2015, Bryan was recognized among 60 top advisors in Financial Times Magazine's FT Top 401 Retirement Plan Advisors. Originally from Sacramento, Bryan, along with his wife and two sons, now live in Exeter to be close to three generations of family. Bryan maintains an active lifestyle, coaching his boys sports and enjoying the outdoors. Phone: 626.993.9303 Email: bmuth@pasadenapw.com
Over the past decade Charlie has focused on building wealth management and investment management businesses on the local and national stage. He uses his experience in portfolio design, research and market technicals to help adjust the firm's clients away from unnecessary risk and towards the return that they need to fulfill their goals. Charlie serves on the firm's investment committee, works with clients and manages several of the systems and staff the firm uses to deliver its high levels of customer service. Before joining Pasadena Private Wealth, Charlie spent five years as a Portfolio Manager and Researcher with Nasdaq Dorsey Wright. He traveled the country speaking on investing to investors and clients, helping them to better understand different areas of the market. Charlie moved to Pasadena Private to get back to working with clients and making an impact in the community.
Charlie is finishing his MBA at the Drucker School of Business at Claremont Graduate University and did his undergraduate work at California State University Fullerton. Charlie loves to spend time with his wife, two boys and his animals at their home in La Verne when he is not riding, traveling, or working in the garage.
Craig R. Colbath, CRPC® Chief Operations & Compliance Officer Craig began his career in the financial services industry in 1994, as a Financial Consultant at Merrill Lynch in Manchester, New Hampshire. Three years later, while managing his own practice, he was promoted to Resident Manager of the Portsmouth office. Shortly after, he became Resident Director of the Portland, Maine office, where he oversaw 30+ advisors and led a four-person team with $250+ million under management. In 2007, Craig gave up his advisory practice to focus on full-time management and took on the role of Associate Director in Princeton, New Jersey and supported the Southern New Jersey Region. He moved to California in 2010, to become Market Executive in Pasadena, and supervised nine offices consisting of 130+ advisors and $130 million in annual revenues. In 2016, he left Bank of America/Merrill Lynch and joined the Singpoli Group as Managing Director to run their broker-dealer, oversee operations to raise capital for development projects. Craig joined Pasadena Private Wealth in January 2019, as our Chief Operating Officer and Chief Compliance Officer. He and his wife, Ann, reside in Pasadena, and together, they have three adult children. Craig graduated from the Isenberg School of Management at the University of Massachusetts with a BAA in Accounting. He completed the CIMA program at the Wharton School and holds the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor designation. Craig serves on the Board of Pasadena Symphony and enjoys traveling, hiking, cycling, and skiing. Phone: 626.993.9310 Email: ccolbath@pasadena-private.com
Debbi C. Fukawa, AIF®, CPFA®, C(k)P® Business Manager, Institutional Retirement Plans Debbi brings over 20 years of Merrill Lynch wealth management and institutional retirement plans experience to her role on the Pasadena Private Wealth team. She focuses on managing operational details for 401(k) plan sponsors and participants. She also assists company plan sponsors and fiduciaries with important plan-provider decisions through the delivery of detailed fee, service, and investment analysis. Within this role, Debbi transitions clients through the team's conversion process if, or when, they decide to change vendors. In addition, she prepares 401(k) plan reviews, which include fee and performance benchmarking and total cost analysis. She has a thorough knowledge of fiduciary responsibilities and best practices to help plan sponsors reduce business risks and increase efficiencies. Debbi graduated from the University of Southern California with a bachelor's degree in finance. She holds the Accredited Investment Fiduciary designation, Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor certification as well as the Certified 401(k) Professional designation that is administered by The Retirement Advisor University in collaboration with the UCLA Anderson School of Management. For many years, Debbi served on the PTA boards of her children's schools and continues to volunteer at various community events. She appreciates spending quality time with family, friends, and her two dogs. Debbi also enjoys Pilates and getting caught up in a good podcast. Phone: 626.993.9307 Email: dfukawa@pasadenapw.com
Job Titles:
- Director of Business Management
Heather brings a broad range of experience to PPW drawing on her more than 15 years in the accounting services industry. Prior to joining PPW, Heather spent 7 years working in business management where she managed the day-to-day financial lives for several celebrity and high net worth clients. Prior to that she spent several years with Live Nation managing the accounting for live entertainment venues up and down the west coast. She found her true passion in working with several small business owners to help create, organize & streamline the accounting function for their businesses.
She graduated from the University of Oregon twice with degrees in Biology & Chemistry and Accounting. She has a strong belief in supporting her local community and has volunteered with several organizations. She currently sits on the board for Generation Her, an organization which provides support to teen moms. Outside of her work and volunteer commitments, Heather enjoys reading, gardening and spending as much time as possible road tripping and camping with her husband and two young sons.
Iain A. Whyte, AIF®, C(k)P®, CIMA® Chairman, Managing Partner Iain draws on his 27 years of experience in credit analysis and portfolio management to create wealth management strategies tailored specifically to business owners. This includes strategies for debt financing and sourcing equity capital, for growing and transitioning out of the business, for business risk management (by hedging commodity, currency and interest rate risk) and for tax minimization. He also taps his network of middle-market companies to help clients find new markets and suppliers. Iain's core focus is on helping increase the valuation of a business, typically the single most important asset of his clients. Before founding Pasadena Private Wealth, Iain served as a Managing Director at Merrill Lynch for 16 years focusing on business owners and senior corporate executives. Prior to Merrill Lynch, he worked in corporate, commercial and international banking for 11 years, participating in more than $16 billion of M&A financing transactions. Iain graduated from the University of Nice Sophia-Antipolis with a master's degree in theoretical economics and he earned an MBA at The University of Texas at Austin McCombs School of Business. He created the networking group Los Angeles Middle Market Professionals (LAMMP) which has been helping CFOs of middle market companies for more than 10 years. Originally from France, Iain is an avid volleyball and soccer player, a card-playing fanatic and an occasional cook. He tries to impart his active lifestyle philosophy onto his children and encourages them to give back via participation in social causes. On the philanthropic side, Iain is the Chairman of the Board of LILA, the International School of Los Angeles, a college-prep school promoting bilingual and bicultural education. Phone: 626.993.9301 Email: iwhyte@pasadena-private.com
Ingrid Garay brings 20 years of operations experience in the private equity, real estate, and wealth management industries to her current role as Private Client Manager. She takes pride in handling the operational needs of the firm as well as seamlessly executing client strategies to help achieve their financial goals. Her top priority is ensuring a successful, stress-free client experience.
Growing up in a military household, Ingrid has had the opportunity to live in multiple countries. She studied International Business at San Francisco State University and holds insurance brokerage licenses in Maryland, Washington, D.C., Virginia, and California.
Jennifer Hendricks brings an extensive background in financial reporting and analysis to her role as Senior Analyst.
Prior to joining, Jennifer spent nearly a decade as a Financial Analyst at Deutsche Bank, a global banking and financial services company, where she specialized in mortgage backed securities.
Jennifer earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance from California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, and earned a Master's in Business Administration from Pepperdine University.
For over 20 years, Laura has dedicated herself to providing exemplary service when assisting clients with a wide range of administrative needs. Often the first point of contact, she not only meticulously handles the day-to-day needs of our clients but also implements new accounts and supports the portfolio review and financial planning process. With great dedication and attention to detail, Laura is instrumental in our clients' white glove experience and is a vital part of our team. At her previous firm, Merrill Lynch, she spent many years sharing her knowledge and experience by coaching other client associates in the Southern California region. In addition to the financial services industry, Laura also has experience in the insurance industry.
When not in the office, she enjoys hiking, mountain biking, trying new recipes, and spending time with her family and three dogs.
Job Titles:
- CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER
- Director of Operations, Financial Planner
Eight of Mike's 13-year experience in the financial services industry were spent at Merrill Lynch, where his primary roles were Administrative Manager Assistant and Financial Advisor. At Pasadena Private Wealth, he is an integral part of the management team and is responsible for growth and profitability via expense control, IT support, and staff management. Mike works diligently to ensure efficient workflows and develop long-term operational strategies. His wealth management knowledge and skills are key to supporting our clients' portfolio management process. Oftentimes, he works side by side with Simon, to prepare customized portfolio reviews, which include financial planning components and comprehensive performance analysis.
Mike received his bachelor's degree in Economics from the University of Texas at Austin. He is an avid video gamer and a fan of many sci-fi and fantasy novels. His all-time favorite games include World of Warcraft, Total War franchise, and Civilization franchise. He is also engrossed in the fictional worlds of Westeros, from A Song of Ice and Fire series, by George R.R. Martin, and of Safehold, from Off Armageddon Reef, by David Weber.
Ik (Mike) Jun Choi is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional.
Job Titles:
- Client Relationship Manager
Nicole focuses on building positive long-term relationships with our clients. She is tasked with a wide range of client engagement responsibilities as well as general support to the office management team. Exceptionally detail-oriented and creative, Nicole is also responsible for the development and planning for all Pasadena Private Wealth events and programs.
Nicole received her bachelor's degree in business from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. She is an active member of the community and has served on several PTA Boards for her children's school. In addition, she enjoys being an active volunteer at Pasadena's own Kidspace Children's Museum and recently chaired their large annual fundraiser, the Pumpkin Festival. Nicole is a life long equestrian, and loves spending time with her husband, two children and house full of pets.
Simon M. Holford, CPWA®, CRPC® CEO, Managing Partner Simon has over 20 years of experience in wealth management and takes a multidisciplinary approach to address the sophisticated financial needs of high net worth clients. He focuses on developing strategies for net worth preservation and growth, asset protection, and estate transfer. Simon also serves as the firm's Chief Investment Officer where he develops the firm's investment policies and oversees the management of the firm's proprietary investment strategies. Prior to founding Pasadena Private Wealth, Simon was a Senior Vice President and Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill Lynch since 2000. He spent the majority of his career in financial services at Merrill Lynch before he and the other founding partners formed Pasadena Private Wealth to serve the needs of their clients as an independent Registered Investment Advisory Firm. Simon earned his Master in Professional Accounting at the University of Texas at Austin and graduated from Occidental College with a bachelor's degree in economics. He is a Certified Private Wealth Advisor® (CPWA®) and a Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor® (CRPC®). Simon lives in La Canada, with his wife, Erin, and their son and daughter. In his spare time, Simon enjoys motorsports, travelling, and time with the family. Phone: 626.993.9302 Email: sholford@pasadenapw.com *Investments & Wealth Institute TM (The Institute) is the owner of the certification marks CPWA® and Certified Private Wealth Advisor®. Use of CPWA®, and/or Certified Private Wealth Advisor® signifies that the user has successfully completed the Institute's initial and ongoing credentialing requirements for wealth advisors. CRPC® and Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor SM are registered service marks of the College for Financial Planning
Simon brings 25 years of investment experience, specializing in advising high-net worth individuals and families to help them achieve their long-term investment goals, including estate and heritage planning.
As a former trader on the floor of the American Stock Exchange, Simon utilizes his unique investment insight to create globally diversified, tax-efficient portfolios based on solid academic research and an in-depth analysis of economic, political, and social developments around the world. His clients include current and former professionals at the top of their respective fields, including CEOs, entrepreneurs, hedge fund managers, accountants and attorneys.
Simon currently serves on the Board of the Economic Self-Sufficiency Policy Research Institute at the University of California, Irvine, and is a frequent speaker on topics related to global markets and investing at regional and national events. For several years, he served on the Board of Directors of Saddleback Memorial Foundation and, as a member of the Board's Investment Committee, helped one of Orange County's leading non-profit hospital systems to invest its substantial portfolio and further its mission.
Prior to becoming an independent wealth manager, Simon was the Founder and President of his own options trading company on the floor of the American Stock Exchange in New York City. There he generated significant profits utilizing risk-averse trading strategies, eventually expanding his company to include traders on the floors of the American Stock Exchange, Chicago Board of Trade and Philadelphia Stock Exchange. As a member of the American Stock Exchange from 1994 to 2002, Simon served as a market maker for some of the Exchange's most active listings, including Yahoo, Intel, Phillip Morris, and others.
In addition to his options trading career, Simon has enjoyed being a part-time entrepreneur, real estate and venture capital investor. He is a former nationally-ranked chess expert and competitive backgammon player, and believes this understanding of game theory allows him to better assess the risk/reward equation inherent in every investment.
Simon holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Michigan with an emphasis on Global Economics. He is also a licensed insurance broker in the state of California (CA Insurance License #0E09410).
Born and raised in New York City, he now enjoys living in Orange County, Calif. with his wife and three children.