James M. Olson, CFP ®

Wealth Manager, Principal

Jim began his career in 1983 at Merrill Lynch. Many of his current clients have been there from the beginning and have become close personal friends. His experience as a Financial Advisor for over 39 years allows him to help people at all ranges of wealth navigate the most turbulent of financial waters. Throughout his career he has provided guidance to young, affluent individuals as well as ultra-wealthy families. Jim’s focus has always been to help his clients understand their investments, allowing them to stay centered in turbulent times and avoid negative surprises. He’s helped them learn how their portfolios can be enhanced with basic, time-tested principals of investing such as proper asset allocation and financial planning. Jim has managed a Rising Dividend portfolio since 2012.

Jim received his undergraduate degree in Engineering in 1979 from the University of Colorado in Boulder. After earning a Professional Engineer license, Jim left the field for the challenge of the financial markets. In 1996, Jim was awarded the Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA®) designation through the Wharton School and the Investment Management Consultants Association (now Investments and Wealth Institute). At the time there were less than 25 in the state of Colorado who had achieved that designation. He is also a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) and holds the Series 65, Series 63, Series 31, Series 7, and SIE (Security Industry Essentials) licenses. Additionally, planning for his disabled son has given him experience in the complex field of Special Needs Planning.

While Jim struggles to get to a single digit handicap on the golf course, he has mastered the ski slopes over the last 50 years and has volunteered on the Winter Park Ski Patrol for the past 17. He has donated over 20 gallons of blood through the Bonfils Blood Center (now Vitalant). Speaking of blood, he’s fallen off a mountain bike more times than he can count. He most enjoys skiing, river rafting, biking and golfing with his grown twin boys, daughter, and wife of 40 years. He also seems to enjoy giving advice to the younger people in the office…

jim.olson@dwadvise.com

Gregory Beal, CFP

Wealth Advisor

Gregory started his financial career in 2005 with AXA Advisors. He spent time with Charles Schwab and achieved his Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) designation while working as a Senior Investment Advisor for Empower Retirement in 2017. Greg was working with Jim at Morgan Stanley when they decided to start Dividend Wealth Advisors in 2021. Greg’s securities licenses include the Series 66, Series 7, Series 24 and SIE (Securities Industry Essentials). He is a current member of the Supervisory Board for the Credit Union of the Rockies. Gregory has a BA in Economics from Binghamton University, New York.

While we all endeavor to meet our clients’ financial needs, Greg has an all-encompassing job of ensuring that nothing slips through the cracks. He acts as the main liaison with our Charles Schwab client service team. Greg’s Financial Planning expertise along with our forecasting software allow us to provide complimentary financial planning projections for our clients.

Greg is a native Coloradan having grown up in Arvada and Westminster. He is an avid hunter and outdoorsman, but his happiest moments are spent with his wife Kendra, his 5-year-old son Luca and newborn Cali. Luca is showing the same athletic talents that Greg once had as team captain, All-Conference outfielder with a .350 batting average while in college – Greg that is, not Luca. Their family loves spending time outside in the Colorado mountains and look forward to snowboarding as a family. Greg’s stories of adventure in the wild have been widely recounted…though mostly by Greg.

gregory.beal@dwadvise.com

Christopher J. Eaton

Investment Manager

Chris is the most worldly of the group. While born just outside of Denver, he has lived in San Francisco, New York, and Zurich. Much of his school years were spent in the United Kingdom. Chris’ financial work history started at Berenberg Bank in London continuing to EQ Investors and Woozle Research. All were focused on detailed securities analysis and financial modeling. At Dividend Wealth Advisors, Chris spends his time doing in-depth securities research for the Rising Dividend Portfolio along with developing “Special Situation” stock investments for our clients. He also assists with portfolio management.

Chris came to DWA via Chicago where he finished up an advanced designation in Investment Banking, Structured Fixed Income Portfolios and Financial Modeling at the Illinois Institute of Technology. Prior to that he achieved his undergraduate degree at Oxford Brookes University in the UK followed by a Master of Science in Investment Management (Merit) through the Cass Business School in London. In the portfolio management business, the pinnacle of success is achieving the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA®) designation. Chris is currently a candidate for level 2 of that 3-level accomplishment. We’ve all learned not to question the depth of Chris’ technical and financial knowledge.

Outside of work Chris is an accomplished skier. He enjoys reading and exploring the markets. While he’s very easy with a laugh, his bad moods usually come from another disappointing performance from his highly rated England Rugby team.

christopher.eaton@dwadvise.com

G.E. BUENNING, CLU®

Branch Manager

Our Founder and the inspiration of the Western Wealth culture, G.E. encourages everyone around him to do their best, always be improving and to never give up. He is passionate about making a meaningful impact in the lives of our Advisors by allowing them to do what is important: focus on their clients. His vision when creating this firm was, and still is, to offer whatever support is needed to enable our Advisors to thrive. Over the years G.E. has made sure that we are pointed in the right direction and have the right team in place. He sets high standards for us and has created a culture of autonomy, purpose and caring. You can’t help but be your best around G.E.

After a long meaningful career, G.E. is finally easing into a little less work / more recreation here and there. Don’t get us wrong, he hasn’t slowed down one bit. With homes in Arizona and Colorado, he is surrounded by tons of loving family and friends who enjoy having a good time.

Series 6, 7, 24, 31, 51, 63,65, 24, SIE

ge@wwa-wwm.com

LISA ESSLINGER

Director of Branch Development

Slinger is our squad maker. Long-time supporter of Western Wealth, Lisa (dubbed “Slinger” by G.E.) radiates passion and charisma everywhere she goes. She is well-known and loved in the industry and guides the growth of our firm with her ability to build deep and meaningful relationships. Lisa helps Advisors navigate through the complexities of the independent business model and the many platforms and resources available. She lights up a room with her bright and sunny personality and her laugh is contagious. Slinger makes any meeting fun to be a part of.

Slinger always enjoys a great single malt scotch with family and friends when she is not spending her time hiking, skiing and golfing in the beautiful Rocky Mountains. She lives in Castle Rock, Colorado with her beloved German Shorthaired pup, Alley.

Series 6, 7, 9, 10, 63, 65, 66, SIE

slinger@wwa-wwm.com

JIMMY HASSON, CFP®

Advisor Advocacy

As a friend to everyone he meets, Jimmy is a wonderful representation of our Advisors. Jimmy provides feedback to management regarding what hot topics need addressed, current industry trends and what the needs and wants are regarding our services. Jimmy is passionate about getting to know the people he works with and establishing long-term relationships.

Outside of the office, Jimmy enjoys playing hockey, golf, and skiing. If it weren’t for his career in the financial services industry, Jimmy would have pursued his dream of becoming a firefighter or professional hockey player. As a husband and father, Jimmy looks forward to weekends at home with his family, and spending summer vacations in Cape Cod. Positive, caring, and motivated, Jimmy volunteers his time coaching youth sports, participating in charity golf outings, and supporting Dawg Nation and RMCCF.

Series 7, 66, SIE

jimmy@wwa-wwm.com

MIKE AKINS, MBA

Chief Investment Officer/ Chief Technical Officer

Mike thinks we love him for his wacky-wired brain that can solve a problem from a million directions, but it’s really because he comes up with the best Halloween costumes. Armed with 22 years of financial experience, a mechanical engineering degree and an MBA, Mike can see the full spectrum of how our team needs to operate to best support our Advisor’s needs. His ability to dig into the data is no joke, and he thrives on tackling the tough stuff. Mike is a huge asset when it comes to systems, both creating new ones and enhancing the flow of existing ones.

For nearly two decades Mike has been a Toastmaster and last year served as District Director. He also plays a mean game of corn-hole.

CADEN RUSSELL

Chief Operating Officer

Previously, Caden worked as a middle school science teacher and since she remarkably survived doing that (just kidding… kind of), she now guides us in our quest to improve our support services. Her goal is to have all of the right people in the boat, all paddling in the same direction. A true collaborator, Caden knows how to rally a group and bring ideas together. When it comes to our Advisors, chances are she is thinking about their business even when she doesn’t need to be.

If she’s not dreaming about new ways to support Advisors, you might find Caden skiing, camping or rafting with her family or reading a good book. Unless it’s Sunday afternoon. In which case you will find her on the couch, napping.

PAM MAYORGA

Operations Support Specialist

In her support role, Pam gives our team the encouragement and direction we need to play well with each other. She has found her love of process and workflow fits perfectly within the Western Wealth framework. She understands what it takes to get things done and enjoys working to make the way it gets done go more smoothly – good processes benefit everyone around. With over 10 years of experience in financial services and a degree in crime scene investigation, she is uniquely talented to tackle the challenges she encounters.

Pam loves to camp, hunt and bake, and she wants to try skiing or snowboarding for her first time very soon!

pam@wwa-wwm.com

MICHAEL HOPE, MBA

Director of Business Development

Mike’s career began in the financial services industry in 1993 as a Financial Consultant. In 1999 Mike joined LPL Financial as a Vice President of Business Development. In 2004 he helped recruit G.E. Buenning to LPL and has been closely associated with Western Wealth ever since. In March 2016, Mike joined Western Wealth as Director of Business Development.

Mike has a business degree in finance from the University of Southern California and an MBA from Golden Gate University in San Francisco. He lives in Littleton with his wife Paulette and their 17-year-old son Dillon. Their oldest son Turner attends CSU. Outside of work Mike's passions include skiing, working out, traveling, listening to live music and volunteering.

Series 7, 63, 65, SIE

mike@wwa-wwm.com

MICHAEL GAFFNEY

Institutional Business Development

Gaff joined us to lead our efforts in the institution-based strategies and planning disciplines. With over 29 years of experience in trading from the Chicago Board of Trade, he also started an equity trading desk in the Mile High city. His favorite part of the job is interacting with the people he works with, using his wit and creative thinking and love of metaphors to his work. If you want to engage Gaff in polarizing conversation, just bring up Chicago-style pizza. We warned you.

Mike enjoys all the advantages Colorado has to offer, including hunting, fishing, camping and even motorcycle riding. He is the youngest of seven children and happens to be the only one who left the Chicago area, but no need to fear, he is not in witness protection.

Series 7, 9, 24, 55, 63

mikeg@wwa-wwm.com

DAWN SKRAMSTAD

Transitions Specialist

Although her title may be Transitions Specialist, we like to think of Dawn as our professional problem solver with a fierce “get things done” attitude. Her specialty is assisting Advisors with RIA and Schwab transitions. She is adept at seeking out solutions and maintaining momentum from start to finish. Dawn brings a positive “can do” approach to onboarding while staying exceptionally organized, highly professional and attentive to every detail. Prior to working for us, she managed multiple companies and that experience has provided her with the diligence and patience it takes to skillfully handle what can be a stressful time in an Advisor’s career.

When Dawn isn’t killing it at work, she spends time hiking, golfing and adoring her two small fur babies. She also has two beautiful grandchildren.

dawn@wwa-wwm.com

STACEY HOLT

Transitions Specialist

We think Stacey’s superpower is her unwavering ability to remain calm and composed under pressure. Her prior industry experience includes working with both Advisors and clients, providing the highest levels of service and care. For Western Wealth, Stacey skillfully handles the transfers of client accounts so our onboarding Advisors can focus on their client relationships. She is warm and supportive as well as reliable and dependable – all characteristics that we believe are essential to an Advisor in transition.

As a family-oriented mother of 4, Stacey enjoys camping, fishing, waterskiing and has two chickens named Lui and Pepa. She loves creating mixed media art and dreams of designing an art studio someday.

stacey@wwa-wwm.com

AMY GUNTER

Administrative Specialist

A huge team player, Amy wins the prize when it comes to helping others. She is always striving to learn more, know more and be more, not only in her work but in life too. She supports a staggering number of our Advisors as a knowledgeable Virtual Administrative Assistant and provides training to newly hired assistants. The feedback we hear is that with Amy’s help, Advisors are able to focus more on what matters to them: their clients. She has been in the financial industry since 2010 and we are thankful she is on the team.

Although Amy was born and raised in Colorado, she is often asked where she is from because of her “accent”. She doesn’t hear it! For fun Amy loves to bake peanut butter cookies, read mystery novels and enjoys being a mom.

agunter@wwa-wwm.com

APREL GERMAN

Administrative Specialist

Aprel has been in the financial industry since 2003, most recently serving as a Registered Administrative Assistant. Western Wealth scooped her up in 2016 and her easy to work with personality has brought great value to numerous Advisors as a Virtual Administrative Assistant. Aprel is knowledgeable in a wide variety of administrative tasks such as opening new accounts, servicing existing clients, assisting Advisors with compliance requirements and training new administrative assistants. She is very organized and wows us all with her exceptional multitasking abilities.

Aprel is a native Texan and an avid Dallas Stars hockey fan. (#GOSTARS). Aprel also serves as Children’s Pastor and has been in ministry for over 15 years. Aprel and her family raise chickens and have a garden with over 25 varieties of fruits and vegetables. They hope to add in beehives soon.

Series 6, 63, SIE

aprel@wwa-wwm.com

LAURA MANGELSDORF

Administrative Specialist

Laura is not only the friendly face that greets our clients in Golden, but she is also always willing to raise her hand to help out, no matter what the task might be. With a bachelor’s degree in interpersonal communication paired with her outgoing personality, it makes sense that she has built such strong relationships with our Advisors. She keeps our office on track, stays organized and radiates friendliness.

Outside of working hours, you might find Laura either racing down the ski slopes or at a brewery enjoying time with her fiancé and two delightful pups.

laura@wwa-wwm.com

HOPE HOOVER

Director of Marketing / Graphic Designer

Hope Hoover is the Marketing Director and Graphic Designer for Western Wealth Advisors.

She designs logos, ads, and any other type of marketing material in addition to being a marketing consultant for Advisors. Hope has been a professional graphic designer since 2000 and joined the WWA Team in 2022. Her passion is designing brand identity because it allows her to get to know the Advisors on a more personal level, learn about their practice, and create a clean design that conveys their mission and values. Hope enjoys being a resource for marketing support and the opportunity to offer sincere and personalized assistance to the Advisors.

Hope is a Colorado native, graduated from Denver East Highschool. She obtained a degree in Illustration from Rocky Mountain College of Art & Design. She now resides in Littleton with her kids Landon, Deklynn and Kellan, and Papillon Fennekin. When she’s not busy designing something she loves spending time attending local events, hiking and socializing with friends.

hope@wwa-wwm.com

BRITTNEY DINGS

Marketing Specialist / Associate Graphic Designer

For over 5 years, Brittney has been providing marketing assistance and graphic design for Advisors. Her specialties include creating forms and designing flyers and brochures. In addition to her creative skills, she is instrumental in tracking, maintaining and executing projects to support the Branch in many ways. Brittney’s focus on customer service and support coupled with her warm smile make her a valuable resource to our Advisors. She is also a proud Colorado native, incidentally born and raised only a few blocks away from our main Branch office in Golden.

In her spare time, Halloween-enthusiast Brittney is pursuing a degree in graphic design and enjoys gaming and spending time as a newlywed with her husband.

brittney@wwa-wwm.com

SHELLEY REEVES

Director of Corporate Compliance

Shelley is a Compliance executive and OSJ Delegate who brings the humor to work and makes the job fun. In the financial service industry for over 25 years, Shelley is reliable and comfortable to work with. She brings true collaboration and support to the Branch with a welcome dose of humor and/or sarcasm. Shelley is sincere and focused on keeping our Advisors compliant, but you actually won’t dread getting her call – we promise! We are lucky to have her.

Shelley spent 20 years in Minnesota, earning a B.S. in Sociology. She and loves a good meme battle, her perfect Pomeranian Rusty, Cherry Coke Zero and is a fierce pickleball player.

Series 66, 63, SIE, 7, 6, 10, 9, 24

shelley@wwa-wwm.com

WENDY HALINGSTAD

Compliance Analyst

A Colorado native, Wendy began in the investment services industry right out of high school working in the mailroom. She quickly moved up the ranks and as it turned out, her career has remained in finance for over 30 years. Reliable and reliably fun to work with, Wendy embodies the Western Wealth culture with her dedication to providing excellent customer service to our Advisors. Wendy’s motto is to, “Grow where you are planted.”

Outside of work, Wendy enjoys camping, hiking, and gardening with ambitions of becoming Martha Stewart. She is also interested in obtaining her motorcycle license, but then again, she may just remain the pillion rider so she can relax, enjoy the scenery and a few beers along the way.

Series 7, SIE, 63 and 24

wendy@wwa-wwm.com

HEATHER PALUMBO, CFS®

Paraplanner / Director of Portfolio & Investment Research

Prior to entering the financial industry in the year 2000, Heather began honing her analytical skills as a Credit Analyst for a major bank. She leads the research department, creating stock and mutual fund hotlists, sector forecasting and preparing Morningstar analysis and reports for Advisors. She offers insight and analytics to existing portfolios as well as guidance regarding incorporating securities in portfolios. Heather is a lover of all things active and outdoors and loves to road bike, mountain bike, ski, hike and backpack with her family. She LOVES to dance, but often hears she is not very good. She claims it is SELF-EXPRESSION: there is no good or bad. Heather loves to bake and enjoys spending time with her pets: a schnoodle named Nero and lousy cat, Kitty-Cat.

Chris Heiliger

Administrative Specialist

Along with patience, flexibility, and a good sense of humor, Chris brings to us 25 years of expertise in administrative and office management. She began working in the investment and securities industry in 2002 as an assistant to several Advisors where she discovered how ever-changing the environment is, and how it is necessary for us to change with it. Chris provides our Advisors with portfolio research, analysis and account maintenance reports for clients and prospects. She gets along well with everybody and her longevity in our industry speaks for itself.

Chris is a Colorado native and grew up hunting, fishing and playing softball with her dad and brothers. She has been known to jump out of a perfectly good airplane, just once, but would like to try it again… maybe at age 70.

chris@wwa-wwm.com

Sybil Praski

Practice Development & Coaching

Sybil Praski joins the Branch after a 31 career as a successful financial advisor and founder of her own wealth management firm. She was one of the leading Advisors with LPL in the state of Colorado. Sybil was an early adopter of generational wealth transfer planning that included helping families prepare their heirs for inheritance. Her focus on the family proved to be a major differentiator in her practice growth and value. More recently, Sybil has distinguished herself as a speaker at workshops and conferences on the “Preparing Heirs” topic, sharing from her advisory experience working with client families as well as offering decades of insight into the role of family dynamics in successful wealth transition. Sybil focuses on the Branch's development efforts, with the help of her enthusiasm, insight and keen understanding of the industry.

sybil@wwa-wwm.com

ANDREA COLBURN

Marketing/Orion Specialist

Andrea is one of the friendly faces that greets our Advisors and clients, as well as an Administrative Assistant for general administrative duties at Western Wealth. With over 12 years of administrative experience, Andrea is the queen of follow-up and wears multiple hats throughout the Branch by helping out in different departments when needed.

As a native of Colorado, Andrea is a single parent who tries to use every situation life throws at her as a learning opportunity. She loves to garden, hang out with her dog, Buddy, at the dog park, and collect anything frog-related. Andrea is a master pool player as she was on an APA League for 7 years.

andrea@wwa-wwm.com

CAROLINE RAINES

Executive Administrative Assistant

Caroline desires to bring the highest level of customer service to our clients, advisors and staff. Her experience as an Administrative Assistant at Oppenheimer & Co has afforded her with industry knowledge, yet she still has an insatiable desire to learn more. Caroline graduated from Western Caroline University with a BFA in graphic design. She enjoys working closely with staff members assisting on anything that is needed.

Caroline has moved around quite a bit, having lived in five different states. In her 20’s, she moved across the country alone without knowing a soul! She loves Denver and plans to never leave. She enjoys spending time outdoors with both of her dogs and exploring everything Colorado has to offer.

caroline@wwa-wwm.com

Dane Steigerwald

Western Select Operations

Kind-hearted Dane joined our team in the branch portfolio program, Western Select. She has been in the financial industry for 6 years. She is a graduate of CU-Denver, holds a Series 7 and CO Life & Health Insurance license. Before working in the financial industry, she worked in both banking and mortgage lending. Dane is very knowledgeable based on her many years of industry experience and is an expert when it comes to organizing.

Dane was born and raised in the Midwest but has lived in Lakewood, CO for the past thirty years with her husband and two grown sons. She enjoys traveling and exploring new places. She loves taking long rides with her husband on his Harley. Dane has recently taken up watercolor painting and golf.

Series 7, SIE

dane@wwa-wwm.com

ALEX ORTIZ

Technology Specialist

The foodie of the group, Alex has been involved with technology his whole life. He has a great sense of patience and is a delightful teacher for those who might struggle with technology from time to time. He enjoys working with our Advisors to make sure they are compliant and has a lot of experience in training and instructing our Advisors with all things technology. Alex graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Information Systems, which makes him a valuable asset to the Branch.

Alex is proud to say he has married his best friend and together they have a beautiful daughter. They all enjoy taking hikes together with their dog. You can find Alex shredding the slopes in the mountains and he is always looking for the next hot restaurant in the metro area. He is fluent in Spanish and loves to learn new languages, he hopes to be fluent in French in the future.

James M. Olson, CFP ®

Wealth Manager, Principal

Gregory Beal, CFP

Wealth Advisor

Christopher J. Eaton

Investment Manager

G.E. BUENNING, CLU®

Branch Manager

LISA ESSLINGER

Director of Branch Development

JIMMY HASSON, CFP®

Advisor Advocacy

MIKE AKINS, MBA

Chief Investment Officer/ Chief Technical Officer

CADEN RUSSELL

Chief Operating Officer

PAM MAYORGA

Operations Support Specialist

MICHAEL HOPE, MBA

Director of Business Development

MICHAEL GAFFNEY

Institutional Business Development

DAWN SKRAMSTAD

Transitions Specialist

STACEY HOLT

Transitions Specialist

AMY GUNTER

Administrative Specialist

APREL GERMAN

Administrative Specialist

LAURA MANGELSDORF

Administrative Specialist

HOPE HOOVER

Director of Marketing / Graphic Designer

BRITTNEY DINGS

Marketing Specialist / Associate Graphic Designer

SHELLEY REEVES

Director of Corporate Compliance

WENDY HALINGSTAD

Compliance Analyst

HEATHER PALUMBO, CFS®

Paraplanner / Director of Portfolio & Investment Research

Chris Heiliger

Administrative Specialist

Sybil Praski

Practice Development & Coaching

ANDREA COLBURN

Marketing/Orion Specialist

CAROLINE RAINES

Executive Administrative Assistant

Dane Steigerwald

Western Select Operations

ALEX ORTIZ

Technology Specialist

Our Team

James M. Olson, CFP ®

Wealth Manager, Principal

Gregory Beal, CFP ®

Wealth Advisor

Christopher J. Eaton

Investment Manager

Support Staff

Mike Akins, MBA

Chief Investment Officer/ Chief Technical Officer

Caden Russell

Chief Operating Officer

Hope Hoover

Director of Marketing / Graphic Designer

Andrea Colburn

Marketing/Orion Specialist

Caroline Raines

Executive Administrative Assistant

Dane Steigerwald

Western Select Operations

Alex Ortiz

Technology Specialist

Heather Palumbo, CFS®

Paraplanner / Director of Portfolio & Investment Research