Mike serves as the Chief Investment Strategist for Ashton Thomas Private Wealth. He joined the firm in 2021 after serving as Regional Chief Investment Officer (CIO) at Wells Fargo Private Bank for more than seven years. Mike’s primary focus is ensuring consistent delivery of high-quality portfolio solutions to our advisors and their clients. Day-to-day, he oversees the firm’s third-party institutional investment research relationships, provides market and economic commentary, and performs investment due diligence functions. Mike also helps represent the firm in the media and professional associations, such as the CFA Society.
Mike is originally from Chicagoland, having grown up in Park Ridge, IL. His father was a physician in an Army MASH unit who, after returning from serving abroad, settled into life as an OBGYN in Chicago. As a hockey player through his formative years, Mike took the discipline he learned at home and applied it to his academics, as well as his athletics. Upon graduating from the University of Illinois and spending a year in the business, he decided to pursue an MBA at DePaul University. His first post-MBA role was working for The First National Bank of Chicago under Gary Brinson. “I wanted to be that guy,” says Mike, referring to Brinson. And he never looked back from that moment.
In 2004 Mike moved his family to Denver where he was a Managing Director with Citigroup, serving ultra-high-net-worth clients and overseeing investments for five offices. In 2012, Mike became a founding partner of Wolf Creek Energy Partners, which financed non-operating working interests in the energy business. In 2013, Mike joined Wells Fargo Private Bank as Regional CIO covering the Mountain Northwest region. In that position he served as the thought leader and face of Wells Fargo for dozens of teams managing over $49 billion in assets under management. He held this role until joining Ashton Thomas.
Throughout his career, Mike has been quoted in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Bloomberg, and The Washington Post. In 1991 he earned Chartered Financial Analyst® designation and received his Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst® (CAIA®) designation in 2003. He has served as an adjunct professor at The University of Denver and DePaul University, and has taught CFA Review courses for prospective Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA®) exam candidates.
An avid skier and golfer who currently resides in the Denver metro area, Mike has three grown children, all of whom have attended the Miami of Ohio University. “I am proud of each of them,” says Mike, recalling how they all ended up going to the same college somewhat unintentionally.
Mike is a valuable member of the Ashton Thomas team. The firm values his insight, experience, and broad capabilities. “Our advisors and their clients have the unique opportunity to tap into a consummate professional with a decorated career, yet who is accessible and approachable,” states firm CEO, Aaron Brodt.
