John Culbertson Short IV

I started Watershed Wealth to build the kind of financial advisory firm I wished existed in my rural community —forward thinking, transparent, and built specifically for retirement in Northern Michigan. I’m a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ with a degree in Finance from Grand Valley State, and more than seven years of hands-on experience across the industry. In 2023, I made the leap and launched Watershed Wealth right here in my hometown of Alpena, Michigan. Since then, my mission’s been pretty simple: help people make smart decisions with their money. When I’m not meeting with clients, I stay involved in the community through several board positions focused on community betterment, economic growth, and quality of life in Northern Michigan. I’m also a big believer in collaboration and love working with other local leaders, business owners, and creatives who care about where our community is headed. After hours, you’ll usually find me outdoors, sneaking in nine holes, or spending time with my wife Abby, our son Stanley, and our two golden retrievers, Peach & Goose. This isn’t just a job for me. It’s personal. And my goal—always—is to help people feel less stressed, more confident, and more in control of their retirement.

Ryan Mccallum is a financial advisor at VALIC Financial Advisors, Inc. with eight years of industry experience. He holds Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and has previously worked at AGIA and Weber State University. Mccallum is also licensed to offer non-securities insurance products. VALIC Financial Advisors, Inc. serves primarily U.S. individuals, including high net worth clients and employer-sponsored retirement participants. The firm offers portfolio management, financial planning, and unified managed accounts through a large network of advisors and utilizes third-party UMA model managers and overlay services.

Jessica Howard is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Alpena, Michigan, holding a Series 66 designation and having one year of industry experience. Her prior work includes roles at Alpena Alcona Area Credit Union, mBank, and Alpena Community College. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and other institutions. The firm offers a range of advisory and brokerage services, including financial planning and access to third-party asset management, with a platform supporting both discretionary and non-discretionary investment strategies.

Cameron Bernicki is a financial advisor with LPL Enterprise LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and three years of industry experience. His prior roles include multiple positions at Thrivent Financial and Thrivent Investment Management. Outside of his advisory work, he coaches junior varsity hockey and other sports teams in Alpena, MI, and is involved with Joes Bar as outside employment. LPL Enterprise provides investment advisory and brokerage services to individual and high-net-worth clients, retirement plans, and various institutional entities. The firm’s investment approach is model-driven, utilizing portfolios developed by LPL’s Research Department and third-party strategists, and it offers financial planning, consulting, and access to third-party asset managers.

Gary Altman is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Alpena, MI, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and eight years of industry experience. His prior work includes positions at Mariner Wealth Advisors and Heber Fuger Wendin, Inc, as well as long-term roles at Calcite Credit Union and Alpena Alcona Area Credit Union. Outside of his advisory work, he is involved in a family farming operation in Rogers City, MI. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser that serves individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and other institutions. The firm provides a range of advisory and brokerage services, including financial planning, model portfolio programs, and institutional platforms, with advice delivered through a large network of investment adviser representatives.

Andrew Kowalski is a CFP® and Series 66 licensed advisor with Edward Jones, where he has worked since 2017. He has eight years of industry experience, including three years at MidMichigan Health prior to joining Edward Jones. Outside of his financial advisory role, Kowalski serves as a volunteer vice president on the board of Northern Lights Arena and is a Learn to Skate instructor with the Alpena Hockey Association. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients with over $1 trillion in assets under management. The firm offers a range of advisory programs and investment strategies supported by a nationwide network of more than 23,000 financial advisors.