John Charles O'connor

Jason is the founder of Front Street Wealth Management, serving individuals and families as a fee-only wealth manager in the Traverse City area for over two decades, and is also the founder of the Money Series, a nonprofit committed to providing open access to financial education, for all. Before becoming a fee-only investment adviser and financial planner, Jason practiced as an actuary specializing in investment and liability risk management for Allianz Life Insurance Company and ReliaStar Investment Research, both located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He later applied his actuarial background to serve clients as a wealth manager in Northern Michigan. Jason graduated from Michigan State University in 1994 with a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics. In 1999, Jason became an Associate of the Society of Actuaries (ASA, ’99-’04). Currently, he is both a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charterholder and a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) certificant. Jason is a member of the CFA Institute, CFP Board and NAPFA.

Mark Folgmann is a financial advisor at ARK Advisors, LLC with 15 years of industry experience. He holds the ChFC® designation and Series 63 license and has been with ARK Advisors since 2005. ARK Advisors, LLC is a fee-only, holistic financial planning firm serving individuals, families, and pension plan sponsors. The firm emphasizes a passive, long-term investment approach using low-cost, tax-efficient index funds and ETFs, and offers a range of financial planning and portfolio management services on both non-discretionary and discretionary bases.

Warren Schaub is a financial advisor with Laurentine Investments LLC in Traverse City, MI, holding a Series 65 credential and three years of industry experience. Prior to his advisory role, he founded and operated Success Landscaping LLC, a landscaping and vineyard management business, which is scheduled to cease operations in October. Laurentine Investments LLC provides discretionary portfolio management to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and trusts, focusing on fundamental analysis and long-term, value-oriented equity positions. The firm emphasizes customized asset allocation and offers performance-based compensation for qualified clients.

Neil Witkowski is a financial advisor with Isadore Retirement Group, LLC in Traverse City, Michigan. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has 15 years of industry experience. He is also the managing member and owner of Isadore Private Wealth, LLC and serves as an investment adviser representative with another advisory firm. Isadore Retirement Group, LLC is an independent, fee-only advisory practice offering discretionary portfolio management and project-based or hourly financial planning. The firm serves individuals, families, trusts, charitable organizations, small businesses, and pension or profit-sharing plans, using a value-oriented investment approach combined with global intermarket analysis and tactical portfolio design.

Erickson Braund is a CFP® with 30 years of experience in the financial services industry. He is the principal advisor at Black Walnut Wealth Management in Traverse City, MI, where he has worked since 2018, including through the firm's prior iteration as Dynamic Wealth Advisors. Outside of his advisory role, he owns Red Birch Holdings, LLC, a non-investment business that manages the office space used by Black Walnut Wealth Management. Black Walnut Wealth Management provides discretionary wealth management and financial planning services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a long-term, buy-and-hold investment strategy with diversified portfolios and emphasizes tax-aware rebalancing and individualized trade decisions.

William Stone is a CFP®-certified financial advisor with 16 years of industry experience. He is the sole advisor at 46 and 2 Investment Advisors, LLC, an independent firm based in Traverse City, MI. Stone also operates Enigmatic Tax, LLC, a tax-preparation business. 46 and 2 Investment Advisors provides portfolio management and financial planning to individual and high-net-worth clients, managing approximately $42.9 million across about 35 accounts. The firm follows a long-term, modern portfolio theory–based approach with a focus on customized investment policy statements and regular portfolio reviews.