Experience: Finance since 2018

Education: Bachelor of Business Administration from Northwood University

Brianna assists advisors with administrative client tasks, including form preparation, meeting preparation, and moving money between accounts. She runs various reports and assists teammates with software updates and maintenance. Brianna helps with onboarding new clients and assists clients as needed.

Based in the Saginaw, Michigan office, Brianna joined the Modern Wealth team in November 2024 via the acquisition of Gardey Financial Advisors. Before joining Gardey Financial Advisors in February 2018, Brianna worked in banking, auto financing, and spent six years in the food service/retail industry.

Brianna and her husband have three daughters. Her favorite hobbies include reading, spending time outside with her kids, watching her favorite shows, exploring new places and restaurants, camping, and watching Michigan Football. Go Blue!

Experience: Finance since 2016

Education: Bachelor of Business Administration

Mary’s daily responsibilities focus on client service and financial plan preparation, which includes new account opening, transferring of assets, trading, form preparation, attending client meetings, obtaining financial plan updates from clients, and preparing financial plans.

She joined the Modern Wealth team in November 2024 via the acquisition of Gardey Financial Advisors in Saginaw, Michigan. Prior to arriving at Gardey Financial Advisors, Mary was a stay-at-home mom for 14 years.

Mary and her husband, Jeff, have two sons, Jeffrey and Ethan, and a pet cat, Molly. She enjoys spending countless hours at the beach, boating, trail riding, playing volleyball, taking road trips anywhere in Michigan, listening to live music, and completing jigsaw puzzles with friends. She is also a proud supporter of Santa’s Cupboard, an organization that delivers presents to ill children during the holiday season.

Experience: Finance since 1993

Education: BBA in Finance, Investment Advisor Compliance Program Certificate Program

Ashley joined the Modern Wealth team in November 2024 following the acquisition of Gardey Financial Advisors in Saginaw, Michigan. The day-to-day operations of the Saginaw, Michigan office that Ashley oversees include account administration, transaction processing, client onboarding, employee management, and operational support.

Ashley started her career at Gardey Financial Advisors as a college intern in 1993. The roles she held during her 32 years there included Operations Manager, VP Operations, Chief Compliance Officer, and Chief Operating Officer.

Ashley lives in Freeland with her family. Besides spending time with her friends and family, Ashley enjoys traveling, reading, and golfing.

Experience: Finance since 1993

Education: Bachelor of Science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison; Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC); MBA from Columbia University in the City of New York

As a managing director and executive advisor of the Saginaw, Michigan office, Jon joined the Modern Wealth team via the acquisition of Gardey Financial Advisors in November 2024. Jon served as the CEO of Gardey Financial Advisors in addition to being a financial advisor and the director of research.

Jon learned a lot about leadership, discipline, and responsibility from the six years he served in the U.S. Navy. He served aboard USS Forrestal (CV-59) and USS Aries (PHM-5).

Jon and his wife have four children, one grandchild, and two cats. He enjoys sailing, backpacking, winter camping, cycling, going “up North,” and restoring his 1947 Wills-Overland Jeep. Jon is also charitably inclined, as he supports St. Mark Lutheran Church, Covenant HealthCare Foundation, Saginaw Valley State University Foundation, and Little Traverse Conservancy.

Jon is very active within his community. He’s a member of the CFA Society of Detroit and the Stevens Center for Family Business Executive Council (which is part of the Scott L. Carmona College of Business at Saginaw Valley State). Jon serves on the Covenant HealthCare System Board of Directors and is the investment committee chair. He is also the committee chair and treasurer for Boy Scout Troop 321. Additionally, Jon is a chain gang team leader for the Swan Vally high school varsity football team. On a national level, Jon is on the Central Equity Investments Board of Directors.

Experience: Client Services since 2021

Education: Pursuing an associate’s degree in the Legal Support Professional Program at Delta College (graduating in May 2025)

Some of Janel’s responsibilities include scheduling client meetings, processing deposits and withdrawals, preparing and managing account paperwork, preparing materials for client meetings, and processing qualified charitable distribution requests. Janel works out of the Saginaw, Michigan office.

Janel joined the Modern Wealth team in November 2024 when the firm acquired Gardey Financial Advisors. She was the receptionist for Gardey Financial Advisors before being promoted to serve as a client service associate. Prior to joining Gardey Financial Advisors, Janel held administrative roles in engineering and construction, following an early career in restaurant management.

Outside of work, Janel shares her home with her husband Todd, stepdaughter Peyton, and their beloved pets – including a dog in every size (small, medium, and large), plus a cat and hedgehog. Her family and friends are the most important thing to her. She enjoys cooking, traveling, attending concerts, and spending time at the beach.

Experience: Finance since 2001

Education: Bachelor of Business Administration from Saginaw Valley State University in 1999 and College of Financial Planning in 2006

Melissa came aboard the Modern Wealth team when the firm acquired Gardey Financial Advisors in November 2024. She has worked for Gardey Financial Advisors since 2001, first as a Client Service Associate and then as a Financial Advisor. She is a member of the Northeastern Michigan Estate Planning Council.

Melissa’s duties include rebalancing portfolios, creating financial plans, and corresponding with clients on all matters that affect them financially, present and future. Melissa also enjoys acknowledging events (happy or sad) in clients’ lives with phone calls and cards.

Melissa and her husband live with a recycled English Bulldog and two cats and prioritizes their lives around Christ, family, and country.

Melissa supports several charities that attend to feeding the homeless, supporting children in the foster care system, supporting children in impoverished nations, animal rescue, The United Way, defending Christian rights, and educating Americans on politics and history.

Reading is among Melissa’s favorite hobbies, as she strives to read at least 50 books every year, both fiction and non. She also enjoys long walks with a good friend, hiking, camping, baking, and the occasional jigsaw puzzle.