Mike joined Ashton Thomas in 2021 as Managing Senior Wealth Advisor in the firm’s Casper, Wyoming office. Prior to joining the firm, he was a Senior Vice President and Wealth Advisor with Wells Fargo Private Bank for 25 years.
Mike is part of four generations of family who call the Casper area home. He is a graduate of Casper College and the University of Wyoming, where he majored in finance. Mike’s father, who led an established Casper-based CPA firm for 40 years, is also a University of Wyoming alumnus. Eleven of Mike’s immediate and extended family members have graduated from the University of Wyoming over the years and his son is currently a student, establishing it as a true family tradition.
Mike began his career as a personal banker with First Interstate Bank. In short order, Norwest Bank recruited him to be a trust officer. Over the course of three years, Mike pursued and obtained a Certified Trust and Fiduciary Advisor (CTFA) designation through the Cannon Financial Institute. He also began to take on investment management responsibilities for some of the bank’s larger trust clients.
Following the Wells Fargo acquisition, Mike was offered a hybrid role as a financial advisor and trust officer, participating in a pilot program within the bank. After successfully completing that program, Mike maintained the dual role while rising in seniority and earning the bank’s prestigious Concord Elite recognition award eight times before leaving in 2021.
Mike chose Ashton Thomas as his next and final career destination after more than two and a half decades in a large corporate environment. Today, he is focused on helping high-net-worth clients who have “worked hard to create their wealth.” Mike continues, “I want to provide the best service and advice, be the advisor they deserve, and help them enjoy and preserve their life’s work.”
Mike feels privileged to lead the Casper Private Wealth Team that includes Kate Johnson and Goda Stevens. “Our clients trust us,” says Mike, “so it is incumbent on us to stay on top of our profession and provide the focused solutions our clients need. I believe Ashton Thomas gives us that edge which, ultimately, benefits our clients. The firm is also deeply committed to Wyoming through community involvement and charitable giving. “Together, we are investing in our local communities.”
Mike and his wife, Stacie, have been married for over twenty years. Together, they have three adult children. They are also proud owners of a local RV park, which has become a staple for travelers visiting scenic regional destinations like Yellowstone and Mount Rushmore. Owning a small business has helped Mike “look through the eyes” of his clients and better understand what it takes to make tough business decisions.
