Financial Planners
in Denver, Colorado
Based in the Denver area, our team at Beacon Pointe Advisors provides comprehensive wealth planning and customized investment strategies to assist clients with making well-informed, important life decisions related to their wealth.
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Connect with One of Our Trusted Financial Planners in Denver, CO
We are committed to guiding individuals, families, and professionals through the intricacies of their financial journey.
Incredibly smart, steady and honest advice!
I feel like a family member. I am fortunate & appreciative to have found such a trustworthy team.
Financially astute, client focused, kind and always responsive to my questions and concerns.
They have helped our portfolio grow over the years with the utmost concern and care to our accounts.
The entire team has always been responsive, hardworking, competent… they have done a very good job for us.
I highly recommend this firm to anyone serious about substantially growing their income and diversifying their portfolio.
Incredibly smart, steady and honest advice!
I feel like a family member. I am fortunate & appreciative to have found such a trustworthy team.
Financially astute, client focused, kind and always responsive to my questions and concerns.
They have helped our portfolio grow over the years with the utmost concern and care to our accounts.
The entire team has always been responsive, hardworking, competent… they have done a very good job for us.
I highly recommend this firm to anyone serious about substantially growing their income and diversifying their portfolio.
Financial Advisory Services Tailored to Your Needs
Our process and attention to detail ensure your wealth plan allows you to make smart choices about your financial future through informed decisions.
Financial Planning
Our holistic allWEALTH® approach addresses all aspects of your financial well-being.
Retirement Planning
We help clients achieve their best retirement by making smart, informed choices now.
Estate Planning
We’ll help ensure you have the necessary documents in place to protect your family and legacy.
Strategic Tax Planning
Our team is well-versed at integrating tax strategies across your portfolio and financial plan.
Investment Management
We offer customized investment solutions with diverse strategies on an open platform.
Healthcare Planning
Our team can guide you in confidently planning for your future healthcare needs.
Asset Protection
Our team uses their expertise to design a protection plan for your family and assets.
Family Office Services
Our role is to help ensure that your wealth will last you and your family for generations to come.
Meet Our Denver Financial Planners & Advisors
Charlie Farrell, JD, LLM
Partner, Managing Director
Charlie Farrell, JD, LLM is the Managing Director of the Beacon Pointe Advisors Denver office and is responsible for working with clients to meet their investment and income objectives. Charlie focuses on managing wealth for individuals, families, and business owners, providing the full continuum of personal and family wealth management, through all the phases of his clients’ financial lives. Charlie began his career as a tax attorney helping business owners establish and fund corporate retirement plans. While working with owners who eventually retired, Charlie often received questions from clients about how to live off their money during retirement. These conversations ultimately sparked Charlie’s desire to work in investment management, prompting him to leave the legal and tax field. Charlie is the author of the book, Your Money Ratios: 8 Simple Tools for Financial Security. He is also the author of a monthly column known as the “Road to Retirement” for the Denver Post and has contributed to numerous industry publications such as The Wall Street Journal, Money Magazine, Consumer Reports Money Advisor and Barron’s. Charlie has a bachelor’s degree from the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA, and a law degree from The American University Washington College of Law in Washington, D.C., where he graduated summa cum laude. He also holds a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in taxation from the Case Western Reserve University School of Law. Charlie is a former board member of the Mountain Area Land Trust and the Denver Public Library Friends Foundation. Charlie currently resides in Golden, Colorado with his wife, and in his spare time enjoys fly fishing and riding horses.
Cheryl McDonald
Senior Office Management Associate
Cheryl is a Senior Office Management Associate and is responsible for a variety of tasks that ensure the smooth operation of the Denver office. Her responsibilities include client service, database organization, and general office management duties. Cheryl brings her stellar management and customer service skills to Beacon Pointe through many years of nonprofit work, having spent 12 years serving in the Programs Department at Rose Community Foundation and the Urban League of Metropolitan Denver. Prior to joining Beacon Pointe, Cheryl was a Business Manager and Compliance Administrator for Northstar Investment Advisors. Cheryl studied Elementary Education/Education at Hastings College in Hastings, Nebraska where she was a member of the Women’s Basketball Team. She is also a past national member of the Association of Black Foundation Executives and regional member of the Rocky Mountain Region – Grants Managers Network. Outside of the office, Cheryl enjoys spending time with her husband, children and grandchildren and is an avid sports fan.
Dan Brascetta, CFP®
Wealth Advisor
Dan Brascetta is a Wealth Advisor for the Beacon Pointe Denver office and is responsible for providing personalized investment management and financial planning guidance. As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® (CFP®) with 10 years of investment management experience, Dan specializes in developing well-rounded financial plans that include specialized investment management strategies. Dan started his career in financial sales, working with Oppenheimer Funds and Charles Schwab as a Regional Investment Consultant, assisting advisors with investment management research, solutions and portfolio construction. Following the completion of his CFP® designation in 2019, Dan transitioned to comprehensive financial planning roles, advising clients on Investment Management, Retirement and Estate Planning, Taxes, and more. Dan attended Oregon State University on a wrestling scholarship, graduating with a degree in Economics and a minor in Business and Entrepreneurship. Outside of the office, Dan enjoys working with his wife, Gina, on their personal training business and coaching their three boys’ baseball and wrestling teams.
Dan McGilvray, CFA®
Senior Wealth Advisor
Dan McGilvray is a Wealth Advisor for the Beacon Pointe Denver office and is responsible for partnering with Beacon Pointe’s investment and financial planning teams to provide customized solutions that help clients meet their financial goals. Dan began his career in wealth management working as an Equity Analyst at Kirr, Marbach, and Co., LLC, and had also previously served as a Financial Manager and Team Lead for the Air Force Space and Missile Center where his work earned him the Financial Management Civilian of the Year Award and an Air Force Commendation Award. Dan later served at the Director of Investment Management for Highland Private Wealth Management in Bellevue, WA, where he focused on asset allocation, fund manager due diligence, individual stock and bond research, and overall portfolio management. Prior to joining Beacon Pointe, Dan was the Director of Portfolio Management at Northstar Investment Advisors. Dan attended the University of Colorado at Boulder, graduating with a degree in business administration and a minor in economics and earned a Master of Business Administration with minors in Strategic Accounting Analysis and Economic Consulting from Indiana University. Dan holds the Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA®) designation and is a graduate of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce Impact Denver Program which provides up-and-coming professionals with the knowledge, network and skills needed to enhance their impact on the community. Dan also recently graduated from Schwab’s Executive Leadership Program, which helps RIA executives develop leadership skills in key business functions. Dan serves on the finance committee for Cross Purpose, a Denver-based non-profit that provides job training and personal development programs and is an avid volunteer at his children’s schools. Outside of the office, Dan enjoys spending time with his wife and four sons, playing tennis, golf, or other outdoor activities, and traveling.
Fred Taylor
Partner, Managing Director
Fred Taylor is the Managing Director of the Beacon Pointe Advisors Denver office and is responsible for working with clients to meet their investment and income objectives. Fred has four decades of experience in the financial services industry and began his career in 1984. He has worked at numerous financial institutions analyzing, trading, and selling equities and fixed-income investments to institutional and retail clients. Prior to joining Beacon Pointe, Fred served as co-founder and president of Northstar Investment Advisor for 26 years. Fred is the past Chairman of the board of CollegeInvest, Colorado’s 529 college savings plan, and is a past Chairman of the Children’s Hospital Colorado Foundation board. He is also a past board member and Chairman of the investment committees of Children’s Hospital Colorado, The Denver Foundation, the Colorado Zoological Trust, the Women’s Foundation of Colorado, and Kent Denver School. In recognition of his work with Denver’s non-profits, Fred received the Denver Foundation’s 2017 Philanthropic Leadership Award. He was also a finalist for the 2019 Invest in Others Lifetime Achievement Award, for his two decades of service to the Children’s Hospital Colorado Foundation. From 2008 to 2010, Fred served as an economic advisor to Colorado Governor Bill Ritter, and he is also a member of the Colorado Forum, a collection of business leaders focused on critical policy issues facing the state. A Colorado native, Fred graduated cum laude from Middlebury College with honors in American History. He currently lives in Denver with his wife Claudia and enjoys skiing, tennis, golf and spending time with his children and three granddaughters.
James Franklin
Associate Wealth Advisor
James is an Associate Wealth Advisor and is responsible for partnering with Beacon Pointe’s investment and financial planning teams to provide the firm’s clients with a personalized wealth management experience. His duties include investment strategy implementation, asset allocation modeling, portfolio performance reporting, and client services. Prior to entering the financial services industry, James began his career in sales and customer service. He holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing from the University of Colorado Denver Business School. Born and raised in Minnesota, James moved to Colorado to further his education. After gaining a strong passion for the Colorado lifestyle of hiking and snowboarding, he decided to make Denver his home. Aside from his outdoor endeavors, James’s free time is spent hanging out with his rescue dog, Jake and trying new recipes in the kitchen!
John Riecke
Operations Manager, Head Trader
John is the Operations Manager and Head Trader for Beacon Pointe’s Denver office. He is responsible for overseeing day-to-day firm operations, implementing policy and procedures, executing trades for retail and institutional accounts, and working closely with the client service team to provide an exceptional client experience. Prior to joining Beacon Pointe, John worked at Envestnet and WealthTouch, Inc. before joining Northstar Investment Advisors. John holds a degree in Political Science from Southern Methodist University and is an avid volunteer in his neighborhood of Capitol Hill located in Denver, working with Inter-Neighborhood Cooperation & Capitol Hill United Neighborhood. He also enjoys engaging in city planning efforts to improve neighborhoods and transportation, and spending time with his wife.
Kiara Budd
Senior Client Service Associate
Kiara is a member of the Beacon Pointe Client Service Department and is responsible for partnering with the firm’s investment and wealth management teams to provide an elevated service experience for clients. Her duties include account administration, processing new and existing account paperwork, money transfers, communicating with clients, and assisting with day-to-day service requests. Prior to joining Beacon Pointe, Kiara worked as a Financial Professional with Equitable Advisors. Kiara graduated from Washburn University with a bachelor’s degree in Sports Management. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her dog Ghost, traveling, watching the Denver Nuggets and Kansas City Chiefs, hiking, and spending time with family and friends.
Lexi Schmidt, CDFA®
Wealth Advisor
Lexi is a Wealth Advisor within the Beacon Pointe Denver office and is responsible for partnering with firm’s investment and financial planning teams to provide customized solutions that help clients meet their financial goals. She is dedicated to providing her clients with individually tailored solutions and strives to achieve the optimal alignment between their wealth, values and goals. Lexi began her career in product marketing before entering the financial services industry. Prior to joining Beacon Pointe, she was a Client Service Associate for Northstar Investment Advisors. Lexi holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Florida State University and holds the Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® (CDFA®) designation from the Institute for Divorce Financial Analyst. In her spare time, she enjoys skiing, hiking with her dog, traveling with family, and creating art and culinary masterpieces.
Luke Jackson
Client Service Associate
Luke is a member of the Beacon Pointe Client Service Department and is responsible for partnering with the firm’s investment and wealth management teams to provide an elevated service experience for clients. His duties include account administration, processing new and existing account paperwork, money transfers, communicating with clients, and assisting with day-to-day service requests. Luke earned his bachelor’s degree in Personal Financial Planning from the University of Colorado Boulder, and he is currently earning experience for his CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® (CFP®) designation. Luke is a Colorado native and enjoys spending time with friends and family, photography, skiing, and is an avid sports fan.
Seth Guenther, CIMA®, ChFC®, CLU®, CEBS®, CRPS®
Senior Wealth Advisor
Seth is a Senior Wealth Advisor at Beacon Pointe responsible for client service and new client development. He brings over 15 years of investment experience. As a Certified Investment Management Analyst, and a Chartered Financial Consultant, Seth specializes in portfolio construction, portfolio management and all phases of a financial plan to provide customized solutions for client goals. Prior to joining Beacon Pointe, Seth was with Oppenheimer Funds where he worked as a consultant to Registered Investment Advisors (RIA). His previous role included portfolio analysis, business coaching, and finding ways to make RIA’s more efficient. Prior to Oppenheimer Funds, he worked with Mutual of America where he focused on non-profit organizations and foundations assisting with investment solutions and employee benefits. Seth graduated from Metropolitan State University of Denver with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Finance. Seth holds five industry designations CIMA®, ChFC®, CLU®, CEBS®, CRPS®. Seth enjoys anything sports related, coaching and traveling with his wife and five children.
Truett Davis
Associate Wealth Advisor
As an Associate Wealth Advisor in Beacon Pointe’s downtown Denver office, Truett is responsible for partnering with the firm’s investment and financial planning teams to provide customized solutions for clients with a personalized wealth management experience. His duties include investment strategy implementation, portfolio performance reporting, asset allocation modeling, and client services Prior to joining Beacon Pointe, Truett worked as a medical device sales consultant in Vail, CO where he worked with orthopedic trauma surgeons. He decided to make a career pivot after finding a passion for investing, financial planning, and helping people make sense of their complex financial journeys. Born and raised in Denver, CO, Truett graduated with distinction from Colorado College with a bachelor’s degree in History and was a member of the lacrosse team. He currently holds his Series 65 license and is actively pursuing his CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® (CFP®) designation. Outside of the office, Truett loves spending time in the mountains with his family and friends and is an avid fly fisherman and skier.
Meet Our Denver Financial Planners & Advisors
Charlie Farrell, JD, LLM
Partner, Managing Director
Charlie Farrell, JD, LLM is the Managing Director of the Beacon Pointe Advisors Denver office and is responsible for working with clients to meet their investment and income objectives. Charlie focuses on managing wealth for individuals, families, and business owners, providing the full continuum of personal and family wealth management, through all the phases of his clients’ financial lives. Charlie began his career as a tax attorney helping business owners establish and fund corporate retirement plans. While working with owners who eventually retired, Charlie often received questions from clients about how to live off their money during retirement. These conversations ultimately sparked Charlie’s desire to work in investment management, prompting him to leave the legal and tax field. Charlie is the author of the book, Your Money Ratios: 8 Simple Tools for Financial Security. He is also the author of a monthly column known as the “Road to Retirement” for the Denver Post and has contributed to numerous industry publications such as The Wall Street Journal, Money Magazine, Consumer Reports Money Advisor and Barron’s. Charlie has a bachelor’s degree from the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA, and a law degree from The American University Washington College of Law in Washington, D.C., where he graduated summa cum laude. He also holds a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in taxation from the Case Western Reserve University School of Law. Charlie is a former board member of the Mountain Area Land Trust and the Denver Public Library Friends Foundation. Charlie currently resides in Golden, Colorado with his wife, and in his spare time enjoys fly fishing and riding horses.
Cheryl McDonald
Senior Office Management Associate
Cheryl is a Senior Office Management Associate and is responsible for a variety of tasks that ensure the smooth operation of the Denver office. Her responsibilities include client service, database organization, and general office management duties. Cheryl brings her stellar management and customer service skills to Beacon Pointe through many years of nonprofit work, having spent 12 years serving in the Programs Department at Rose Community Foundation and the Urban League of Metropolitan Denver. Prior to joining Beacon Pointe, Cheryl was a Business Manager and Compliance Administrator for Northstar Investment Advisors. Cheryl studied Elementary Education/Education at Hastings College in Hastings, Nebraska where she was a member of the Women’s Basketball Team. She is also a past national member of the Association of Black Foundation Executives and regional member of the Rocky Mountain Region – Grants Managers Network. Outside of the office, Cheryl enjoys spending time with her husband, children and grandchildren and is an avid sports fan.
Dan Brascetta, CFP®
Wealth Advisor
Dan Brascetta is a Wealth Advisor for the Beacon Pointe Denver office and is responsible for providing personalized investment management and financial planning guidance. As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® (CFP®) with 10 years of investment management experience, Dan specializes in developing well-rounded financial plans that include specialized investment management strategies. Dan started his career in financial sales, working with Oppenheimer Funds and Charles Schwab as a Regional Investment Consultant, assisting advisors with investment management research, solutions and portfolio construction. Following the completion of his CFP® designation in 2019, Dan transitioned to comprehensive financial planning roles, advising clients on Investment Management, Retirement and Estate Planning, Taxes, and more. Dan attended Oregon State University on a wrestling scholarship, graduating with a degree in Economics and a minor in Business and Entrepreneurship. Outside of the office, Dan enjoys working with his wife, Gina, on their personal training business and coaching their three boys’ baseball and wrestling teams.
Dan McGilvray, CFA®
Senior Wealth Advisor
Dan McGilvray is a Wealth Advisor for the Beacon Pointe Denver office and is responsible for partnering with Beacon Pointe’s investment and financial planning teams to provide customized solutions that help clients meet their financial goals. Dan began his career in wealth management working as an Equity Analyst at Kirr, Marbach, and Co., LLC, and had also previously served as a Financial Manager and Team Lead for the Air Force Space and Missile Center where his work earned him the Financial Management Civilian of the Year Award and an Air Force Commendation Award. Dan later served at the Director of Investment Management for Highland Private Wealth Management in Bellevue, WA, where he focused on asset allocation, fund manager due diligence, individual stock and bond research, and overall portfolio management. Prior to joining Beacon Pointe, Dan was the Director of Portfolio Management at Northstar Investment Advisors. Dan attended the University of Colorado at Boulder, graduating with a degree in business administration and a minor in economics and earned a Master of Business Administration with minors in Strategic Accounting Analysis and Economic Consulting from Indiana University. Dan holds the Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA®) designation and is a graduate of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce Impact Denver Program which provides up-and-coming professionals with the knowledge, network and skills needed to enhance their impact on the community. Dan also recently graduated from Schwab’s Executive Leadership Program, which helps RIA executives develop leadership skills in key business functions. Dan serves on the finance committee for Cross Purpose, a Denver-based non-profit that provides job training and personal development programs and is an avid volunteer at his children’s schools. Outside of the office, Dan enjoys spending time with his wife and four sons, playing tennis, golf, or other outdoor activities, and traveling.
Fred Taylor
Partner, Managing Director
Fred Taylor is the Managing Director of the Beacon Pointe Advisors Denver office and is responsible for working with clients to meet their investment and income objectives. Fred has four decades of experience in the financial services industry and began his career in 1984. He has worked at numerous financial institutions analyzing, trading, and selling equities and fixed-income investments to institutional and retail clients. Prior to joining Beacon Pointe, Fred served as co-founder and president of Northstar Investment Advisor for 26 years. Fred is the past Chairman of the board of CollegeInvest, Colorado’s 529 college savings plan, and is a past Chairman of the Children’s Hospital Colorado Foundation board. He is also a past board member and Chairman of the investment committees of Children’s Hospital Colorado, The Denver Foundation, the Colorado Zoological Trust, the Women’s Foundation of Colorado, and Kent Denver School. In recognition of his work with Denver’s non-profits, Fred received the Denver Foundation’s 2017 Philanthropic Leadership Award. He was also a finalist for the 2019 Invest in Others Lifetime Achievement Award, for his two decades of service to the Children’s Hospital Colorado Foundation. From 2008 to 2010, Fred served as an economic advisor to Colorado Governor Bill Ritter, and he is also a member of the Colorado Forum, a collection of business leaders focused on critical policy issues facing the state. A Colorado native, Fred graduated cum laude from Middlebury College with honors in American History. He currently lives in Denver with his wife Claudia and enjoys skiing, tennis, golf and spending time with his children and three granddaughters.
James Franklin
Associate Wealth Advisor
James is an Associate Wealth Advisor and is responsible for partnering with Beacon Pointe’s investment and financial planning teams to provide the firm’s clients with a personalized wealth management experience. His duties include investment strategy implementation, asset allocation modeling, portfolio performance reporting, and client services. Prior to entering the financial services industry, James began his career in sales and customer service. He holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing from the University of Colorado Denver Business School. Born and raised in Minnesota, James moved to Colorado to further his education. After gaining a strong passion for the Colorado lifestyle of hiking and snowboarding, he decided to make Denver his home. Aside from his outdoor endeavors, James’s free time is spent hanging out with his rescue dog, Jake and trying new recipes in the kitchen!
John Riecke
Operations Manager, Head Trader
John is the Operations Manager and Head Trader for Beacon Pointe’s Denver office. He is responsible for overseeing day-to-day firm operations, implementing policy and procedures, executing trades for retail and institutional accounts, and working closely with the client service team to provide an exceptional client experience. Prior to joining Beacon Pointe, John worked at Envestnet and WealthTouch, Inc. before joining Northstar Investment Advisors. John holds a degree in Political Science from Southern Methodist University and is an avid volunteer in his neighborhood of Capitol Hill located in Denver, working with Inter-Neighborhood Cooperation & Capitol Hill United Neighborhood. He also enjoys engaging in city planning efforts to improve neighborhoods and transportation, and spending time with his wife.
Kiara Budd
Senior Client Service Associate
Kiara is a member of the Beacon Pointe Client Service Department and is responsible for partnering with the firm’s investment and wealth management teams to provide an elevated service experience for clients. Her duties include account administration, processing new and existing account paperwork, money transfers, communicating with clients, and assisting with day-to-day service requests. Prior to joining Beacon Pointe, Kiara worked as a Financial Professional with Equitable Advisors. Kiara graduated from Washburn University with a bachelor’s degree in Sports Management. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her dog Ghost, traveling, watching the Denver Nuggets and Kansas City Chiefs, hiking, and spending time with family and friends.
Lexi Schmidt, CDFA®
Wealth Advisor
Lexi is a Wealth Advisor within the Beacon Pointe Denver office and is responsible for partnering with firm’s investment and financial planning teams to provide customized solutions that help clients meet their financial goals. She is dedicated to providing her clients with individually tailored solutions and strives to achieve the optimal alignment between their wealth, values and goals. Lexi began her career in product marketing before entering the financial services industry. Prior to joining Beacon Pointe, she was a Client Service Associate for Northstar Investment Advisors. Lexi holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Florida State University and holds the Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® (CDFA®) designation from the Institute for Divorce Financial Analyst. In her spare time, she enjoys skiing, hiking with her dog, traveling with family, and creating art and culinary masterpieces.
Luke Jackson
Client Service Associate
Luke is a member of the Beacon Pointe Client Service Department and is responsible for partnering with the firm’s investment and wealth management teams to provide an elevated service experience for clients. His duties include account administration, processing new and existing account paperwork, money transfers, communicating with clients, and assisting with day-to-day service requests. Luke earned his bachelor’s degree in Personal Financial Planning from the University of Colorado Boulder, and he is currently earning experience for his CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® (CFP®) designation. Luke is a Colorado native and enjoys spending time with friends and family, photography, skiing, and is an avid sports fan.
Seth Guenther, CIMA®, ChFC®, CLU®, CEBS®, CRPS®
Senior Wealth Advisor
Seth is a Senior Wealth Advisor at Beacon Pointe responsible for client service and new client development. He brings over 15 years of investment experience. As a Certified Investment Management Analyst, and a Chartered Financial Consultant, Seth specializes in portfolio construction, portfolio management and all phases of a financial plan to provide customized solutions for client goals. Prior to joining Beacon Pointe, Seth was with Oppenheimer Funds where he worked as a consultant to Registered Investment Advisors (RIA). His previous role included portfolio analysis, business coaching, and finding ways to make RIA’s more efficient. Prior to Oppenheimer Funds, he worked with Mutual of America where he focused on non-profit organizations and foundations assisting with investment solutions and employee benefits. Seth graduated from Metropolitan State University of Denver with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Finance. Seth holds five industry designations CIMA®, ChFC®, CLU®, CEBS®, CRPS®. Seth enjoys anything sports related, coaching and traveling with his wife and five children.
Truett Davis
Associate Wealth Advisor
As an Associate Wealth Advisor in Beacon Pointe’s downtown Denver office, Truett is responsible for partnering with the firm’s investment and financial planning teams to provide customized solutions for clients with a personalized wealth management experience. His duties include investment strategy implementation, portfolio performance reporting, asset allocation modeling, and client services Prior to joining Beacon Pointe, Truett worked as a medical device sales consultant in Vail, CO where he worked with orthopedic trauma surgeons. He decided to make a career pivot after finding a passion for investing, financial planning, and helping people make sense of their complex financial journeys. Born and raised in Denver, CO, Truett graduated with distinction from Colorado College with a bachelor’s degree in History and was a member of the lacrosse team. He currently holds his Series 65 license and is actively pursuing his CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® (CFP®) designation. Outside of the office, Truett loves spending time in the mountains with his family and friends and is an avid fly fisherman and skier.
Meet Our Denver Financial Planners & Advisors
Charlie Farrell, JD, LLM
Partner, Managing Director
Charlie Farrell, JD, LLM is the Managing Director of the Beacon Pointe Advisors Denver office and is responsible for working with clients to meet their investment and income objectives. Charlie focuses on managing wealth for individuals, families, and business owners, providing the full continuum of personal and family wealth management, through all the phases of his clients’ financial lives. Charlie began his career as a tax attorney helping business owners establish and fund corporate retirement plans. While working with owners who eventually retired, Charlie often received questions from clients about how to live off their money during retirement. These conversations ultimately sparked Charlie’s desire to work in investment management, prompting him to leave the legal and tax field. Charlie is the author of the book, Your Money Ratios: 8 Simple Tools for Financial Security. He is also the author of a monthly column known as the “Road to Retirement” for the Denver Post and has contributed to numerous industry publications such as The Wall Street Journal, Money Magazine, Consumer Reports Money Advisor and Barron’s. Charlie has a bachelor’s degree from the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA, and a law degree from The American University Washington College of Law in Washington, D.C., where he graduated summa cum laude. He also holds a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in taxation from the Case Western Reserve University School of Law. Charlie is a former board member of the Mountain Area Land Trust and the Denver Public Library Friends Foundation. Charlie currently resides in Golden, Colorado with his wife, and in his spare time enjoys fly fishing and riding horses.
Cheryl McDonald
Senior Office Management Associate
Cheryl is a Senior Office Management Associate and is responsible for a variety of tasks that ensure the smooth operation of the Denver office. Her responsibilities include client service, database organization, and general office management duties. Cheryl brings her stellar management and customer service skills to Beacon Pointe through many years of nonprofit work, having spent 12 years serving in the Programs Department at Rose Community Foundation and the Urban League of Metropolitan Denver. Prior to joining Beacon Pointe, Cheryl was a Business Manager and Compliance Administrator for Northstar Investment Advisors. Cheryl studied Elementary Education/Education at Hastings College in Hastings, Nebraska where she was a member of the Women’s Basketball Team. She is also a past national member of the Association of Black Foundation Executives and regional member of the Rocky Mountain Region – Grants Managers Network. Outside of the office, Cheryl enjoys spending time with her husband, children and grandchildren and is an avid sports fan.
Dan Brascetta, CFP®
Wealth Advisor
Dan Brascetta is a Wealth Advisor for the Beacon Pointe Denver office and is responsible for providing personalized investment management and financial planning guidance. As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® (CFP®) with 10 years of investment management experience, Dan specializes in developing well-rounded financial plans that include specialized investment management strategies. Dan started his career in financial sales, working with Oppenheimer Funds and Charles Schwab as a Regional Investment Consultant, assisting advisors with investment management research, solutions and portfolio construction. Following the completion of his CFP® designation in 2019, Dan transitioned to comprehensive financial planning roles, advising clients on Investment Management, Retirement and Estate Planning, Taxes, and more. Dan attended Oregon State University on a wrestling scholarship, graduating with a degree in Economics and a minor in Business and Entrepreneurship. Outside of the office, Dan enjoys working with his wife, Gina, on their personal training business and coaching their three boys’ baseball and wrestling teams.
Dan McGilvray, CFA®
Senior Wealth Advisor
Dan McGilvray is a Wealth Advisor for the Beacon Pointe Denver office and is responsible for partnering with Beacon Pointe’s investment and financial planning teams to provide customized solutions that help clients meet their financial goals. Dan began his career in wealth management working as an Equity Analyst at Kirr, Marbach, and Co., LLC, and had also previously served as a Financial Manager and Team Lead for the Air Force Space and Missile Center where his work earned him the Financial Management Civilian of the Year Award and an Air Force Commendation Award. Dan later served at the Director of Investment Management for Highland Private Wealth Management in Bellevue, WA, where he focused on asset allocation, fund manager due diligence, individual stock and bond research, and overall portfolio management. Prior to joining Beacon Pointe, Dan was the Director of Portfolio Management at Northstar Investment Advisors. Dan attended the University of Colorado at Boulder, graduating with a degree in business administration and a minor in economics and earned a Master of Business Administration with minors in Strategic Accounting Analysis and Economic Consulting from Indiana University. Dan holds the Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA®) designation and is a graduate of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce Impact Denver Program which provides up-and-coming professionals with the knowledge, network and skills needed to enhance their impact on the community. Dan also recently graduated from Schwab’s Executive Leadership Program, which helps RIA executives develop leadership skills in key business functions. Dan serves on the finance committee for Cross Purpose, a Denver-based non-profit that provides job training and personal development programs and is an avid volunteer at his children’s schools. Outside of the office, Dan enjoys spending time with his wife and four sons, playing tennis, golf, or other outdoor activities, and traveling.
Fred Taylor
Partner, Managing Director
Fred Taylor is the Managing Director of the Beacon Pointe Advisors Denver office and is responsible for working with clients to meet their investment and income objectives. Fred has four decades of experience in the financial services industry and began his career in 1984. He has worked at numerous financial institutions analyzing, trading, and selling equities and fixed-income investments to institutional and retail clients. Prior to joining Beacon Pointe, Fred served as co-founder and president of Northstar Investment Advisor for 26 years. Fred is the past Chairman of the board of CollegeInvest, Colorado’s 529 college savings plan, and is a past Chairman of the Children’s Hospital Colorado Foundation board. He is also a past board member and Chairman of the investment committees of Children’s Hospital Colorado, The Denver Foundation, the Colorado Zoological Trust, the Women’s Foundation of Colorado, and Kent Denver School. In recognition of his work with Denver’s non-profits, Fred received the Denver Foundation’s 2017 Philanthropic Leadership Award. He was also a finalist for the 2019 Invest in Others Lifetime Achievement Award, for his two decades of service to the Children’s Hospital Colorado Foundation. From 2008 to 2010, Fred served as an economic advisor to Colorado Governor Bill Ritter, and he is also a member of the Colorado Forum, a collection of business leaders focused on critical policy issues facing the state. A Colorado native, Fred graduated cum laude from Middlebury College with honors in American History. He currently lives in Denver with his wife Claudia and enjoys skiing, tennis, golf and spending time with his children and three granddaughters.
James Franklin
Associate Wealth Advisor
James is an Associate Wealth Advisor and is responsible for partnering with Beacon Pointe’s investment and financial planning teams to provide the firm’s clients with a personalized wealth management experience. His duties include investment strategy implementation, asset allocation modeling, portfolio performance reporting, and client services. Prior to entering the financial services industry, James began his career in sales and customer service. He holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing from the University of Colorado Denver Business School. Born and raised in Minnesota, James moved to Colorado to further his education. After gaining a strong passion for the Colorado lifestyle of hiking and snowboarding, he decided to make Denver his home. Aside from his outdoor endeavors, James’s free time is spent hanging out with his rescue dog, Jake and trying new recipes in the kitchen!
John Riecke
Operations Manager, Head Trader
John is the Operations Manager and Head Trader for Beacon Pointe’s Denver office. He is responsible for overseeing day-to-day firm operations, implementing policy and procedures, executing trades for retail and institutional accounts, and working closely with the client service team to provide an exceptional client experience. Prior to joining Beacon Pointe, John worked at Envestnet and WealthTouch, Inc. before joining Northstar Investment Advisors. John holds a degree in Political Science from Southern Methodist University and is an avid volunteer in his neighborhood of Capitol Hill located in Denver, working with Inter-Neighborhood Cooperation & Capitol Hill United Neighborhood. He also enjoys engaging in city planning efforts to improve neighborhoods and transportation, and spending time with his wife.
Kiara Budd
Senior Client Service Associate
Kiara is a member of the Beacon Pointe Client Service Department and is responsible for partnering with the firm’s investment and wealth management teams to provide an elevated service experience for clients. Her duties include account administration, processing new and existing account paperwork, money transfers, communicating with clients, and assisting with day-to-day service requests. Prior to joining Beacon Pointe, Kiara worked as a Financial Professional with Equitable Advisors. Kiara graduated from Washburn University with a bachelor’s degree in Sports Management. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her dog Ghost, traveling, watching the Denver Nuggets and Kansas City Chiefs, hiking, and spending time with family and friends.
Lexi Schmidt, CDFA®
Wealth Advisor
Lexi is a Wealth Advisor within the Beacon Pointe Denver office and is responsible for partnering with firm’s investment and financial planning teams to provide customized solutions that help clients meet their financial goals. She is dedicated to providing her clients with individually tailored solutions and strives to achieve the optimal alignment between their wealth, values and goals. Lexi began her career in product marketing before entering the financial services industry. Prior to joining Beacon Pointe, she was a Client Service Associate for Northstar Investment Advisors. Lexi holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Florida State University and holds the Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® (CDFA®) designation from the Institute for Divorce Financial Analyst. In her spare time, she enjoys skiing, hiking with her dog, traveling with family, and creating art and culinary masterpieces.
Luke Jackson
Client Service Associate
Luke is a member of the Beacon Pointe Client Service Department and is responsible for partnering with the firm’s investment and wealth management teams to provide an elevated service experience for clients. His duties include account administration, processing new and existing account paperwork, money transfers, communicating with clients, and assisting with day-to-day service requests. Luke earned his bachelor’s degree in Personal Financial Planning from the University of Colorado Boulder, and he is currently earning experience for his CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® (CFP®) designation. Luke is a Colorado native and enjoys spending time with friends and family, photography, skiing, and is an avid sports fan.
Seth Guenther, CIMA®, ChFC®, CLU®, CEBS®, CRPS®
Senior Wealth Advisor
Seth is a Senior Wealth Advisor at Beacon Pointe responsible for client service and new client development. He brings over 15 years of investment experience. As a Certified Investment Management Analyst, and a Chartered Financial Consultant, Seth specializes in portfolio construction, portfolio management and all phases of a financial plan to provide customized solutions for client goals. Prior to joining Beacon Pointe, Seth was with Oppenheimer Funds where he worked as a consultant to Registered Investment Advisors (RIA). His previous role included portfolio analysis, business coaching, and finding ways to make RIA’s more efficient. Prior to Oppenheimer Funds, he worked with Mutual of America where he focused on non-profit organizations and foundations assisting with investment solutions and employee benefits. Seth graduated from Metropolitan State University of Denver with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Finance. Seth holds five industry designations CIMA®, ChFC®, CLU®, CEBS®, CRPS®. Seth enjoys anything sports related, coaching and traveling with his wife and five children.
Truett Davis
Associate Wealth Advisor
As an Associate Wealth Advisor in Beacon Pointe’s downtown Denver office, Truett is responsible for partnering with the firm’s investment and financial planning teams to provide customized solutions for clients with a personalized wealth management experience. His duties include investment strategy implementation, portfolio performance reporting, asset allocation modeling, and client services Prior to joining Beacon Pointe, Truett worked as a medical device sales consultant in Vail, CO where he worked with orthopedic trauma surgeons. He decided to make a career pivot after finding a passion for investing, financial planning, and helping people make sense of their complex financial journeys. Born and raised in Denver, CO, Truett graduated with distinction from Colorado College with a bachelor’s degree in History and was a member of the lacrosse team. He currently holds his Series 65 license and is actively pursuing his CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® (CFP®) designation. Outside of the office, Truett loves spending time in the mountains with his family and friends and is an avid fly fisherman and skier.
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