Los Angeles Wealth Management Firm

Industry Start Date: 2000 KAR Start Date: 2013 Education: MBA., Finance & Strategy, the University of California, Los Angeles, UCLA Anderson School of Management. B.S., Marketing, Arizona State University Credentials: Series 7, Series 63, Series 65, Series 86, Series 87, Chartered Mutual Fund Counselor (CMFC) license Recognition: Darnel was recognized as a 2022 Banking & Finance Visionary by the L.A. Times B2B Publishing, named a 2022 Leaders of Influence for Wealth Management by the Los Angeles Business Journal, and was named a Five Star Wealth Manager by Los Angeles Magazine last year, a designation awarded to wealth managers who scored highest in overall satisfaction. Prior to Joining KAR: Darnel worked in equity research for KeyBanc Capital Markets covering the gaming and lodging industries. Before working at KeyBanc Capital Markets, Darnel was a Vice President-Financial Consultant for Charles Schwab & Co. During his seven years at Charles Schwab, Darnel provided private-client investment-management services to high-net-worth families. What Do You Enjoy Most About Your Job? I really enjoy the collegial, collaborative environment that we have at Kayne Anderson Rudnick. People of all different backgrounds come together and really work hard to help our clients meet their goals. What Do You Enjoy Most About Working at KARWA? I love what I do at KAR because I get to see people achieve their retirement goals and dreams, save for their children’s education, support their families, and contribute to charitable organizations. It’s really satisfying to be able to give clients peace of mind and confidence in what they’re doing. How Does KARWA Approach Wealth Management Differently? With a 30-year history, we’ve seen the ups and downs of the market and we have great experience managing volatility by investing in only the highest-quality companies, along with fixed income and select alternative strategies. We also have a strong track record of playing great defense during the inevitable difficult market environments. This gives our clients a much smoother return along the way. What Do You Hope to Achieve For Your Clients? I want my clients to experience the highest-quality service. I also want clients to gain valuable peace of mind and to have trust and confidence that we are doing all the right things to help them achieve the goals that they have for their wealth. I hope to allow them to retire confidently and not worry about their investments or any market volatility. A comprehensive financial plan paired with a customized investment plan keeps my clients on the path to long term success. When Not in the Office: I love spending time with my family. My wife Tamany and I have two children, Blaise and Nora, and we currently reside in Manhattan Beach. We support the American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association and the Manhattan Beach Education Foundation, among other organizations. I also enjoy traveling, reading, skiing, golf and basketball.

Industry Start Date: 1986 KAR Start Date: 1999 Education: M.B.A., The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania M.A., Public Policy, George Washington University B.A., Philosophy, University of California, San Diego Credentials: Certified Private Wealth Advisor® Recognition: Curt is a member of the Investment Management Consultants Association. He was named a Five Star Wealth Manager by Los Angeles magazine for the last ten years, a designation awarded to wealth managers who scored highest in overall satisfaction. This resulting list represents less than 2 percent of the wealth managers in the Los Angeles area. Prior to Joining KAR: Curt worked as a Financial Adviser at Sanford C. Bernstein & Company. What Do You Enjoy Most About Your Job? My primary concern is earning the trust of my clients. Our clients look to us to help them with their investments, their wealth and their financial well-being now and over time. Obviously, trust doesn’t happen overnight, but with the kind of assistance and advice that we give them and the high level of investment management we provide, we earn their trust over time and that’s what I find most gratifying. What Do You Enjoy Most About Working at KARWA? My favorite part about Kayne Anderson Rudnick is the culture. When John Anderson co-founded the firm over 30 years ago, he set the tone. John had enormous success in business, but he came from very humble origins in the Mid-West. He provided an ethic to our culture and our organization that was fantastic. John used to say “Doing the right thing is the right thing to do” and that has permeated our organization since. How Does KARWA Approach Wealth Management Differently? In this day and age, there’s a lot of concern and confusion about what’s going on in the investment world. Obviously, the economy and the markets go through ups and downs and with all the distraction and noise out there, it’s pretty easy for one to lose one’s way. We take a lot of pride in helping our clients stay on track, in the sophistication of our investment solutions and in keeping our clients really focused on what’s most important. What Do You Hope to Achieve For Your Clients? When assisting my clients with their wealth, I don’t focus solely on their investment portfolio. I also try to assist them with their entire financial well-being. To that end, one of the most important aspects of wealth management is listening to our clients. Each client is different. It’s crucial that we understand a client’s situation, goals and objectives. We take our fiduciary responsibility very seriously and we want to make sure that we understand what our clients’ needs are and what they hope to accomplish over time. When Not in the Office: I enjoy spending time with my family. My wife, Carolyn, and I have two daughters, Chloe and Lana. We are involved in several charitable organizations. I am also an avid golfer, having spent my junior year in college at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. I enjoy reading good books about history, politics and religion.

Industry Start Date: 1993 KAR Start Date: 2004 Education: B.S., Industrial and Labor Relations, Cornell University (awarded the Cornell Tradition Fellowship for leadership and academic achievement and played varsity football) Credentials: Certified Private Wealth Advisor® Recognition: Spuds is ranked #1 on Barron’s Top 100 Independent Financial Advisors list and was inducted into the Barron's Hall of Fame in 2022. This is the fifth year that Spuds has been ranked #1 (2017-2020, 2022) and the tenth year that Spuds has been ranked in the top 10 (2013-2022). He is also ranked on Forbes’ list of the Top 250 Wealth Advisors for the third straight year, and he has been named a Five Star Wealth Manager by Los Angeles Magazine, a designation awarded to wealth managers who scored highest in overall satisfaction, for the last eleven years since 2012. Spuds was recognized as a 2022 Banking & Finance Visionary by the L.A. Times B2B Publishing and a 2022 Leader of Influence for Wealth Management by the Los Angeles Business Journal.  Spuds is a Certified Private Wealth Advisor® professional and he formerly served on the Fidelity Wealth Advisor Solutions® Client Advisory Council. In addition, Spuds is a frequent public speaker and has been quoted in the Wall St. Journal, Barron’s, Investment News, Investors’ Business Daily, Wealthmanagement.com, Forbes, and ThinkAdvisor. Prior to Joining KAR: Spuds worked as the National Mid-Plan Sales Manager for Financial Engines, a firm founded by Nobel Laureate, Dr. William Sharpe, to provide institutional-quality investment advice to millions of investors. Before working at Financial Engines, Spuds was a Retirement Plan Consultant for Retirement Plan Strategies, after spending the first four years of his career in a variety of roles at Franklin Templeton Funds. What Do You Enjoy Most About Your Job? I feel very lucky to do what I do and there’s a lot about it that I enjoy. The most rewarding aspect of my job is developing very close, personal and trusting relationships with my clients. I love putting in the time and effort necessary to truly understand what they’re trying to accomplish with their wealth and developing a customized investment strategy to help them achieve that financial peace of mind that they’re looking for. What Do You Enjoy Most About Working at KARWA? I love working with so many amazing people! Our firm prides itself on having a corporate culture built on integrity, honesty and trustworthiness and the people here walk that walk. They’re very smart, experienced, friendly, warm and willing to help each other and our clients. I feel grateful to be able to work with them. How Does KARWA Approach Wealth Management Differently? We have a proven ability to play great defense and protect our clients’ wealth during difficult markets. One of the ways we have had success in this area is through the utilization of asset classes that perform differently from equities and fixed income, what we refer to as alternative investments. One of the few guarantees in our industry is that there will be periods when the stock market does poorly. By allocating a portion of our clients’ wealth to assets that perform well during those periods when equities struggle, we can generate better performance with less risk than many of the firms in our industry. Another thing that I appreciate about KAR is that we manage the wealth of our senior investment professionals and principals. I’m always very proud to tell prospective clients and existing clients that we are a classic example of a firm that “eats its own cooking” by investing alongside clients in the same portfolios. What Do You Hope to Achieve For Your Clients? I strive to provide my clients with financial peace of mind, the notion that with the investment strategy that we’ve implemented for them, they’ll never have to worry about money again. When Not in the Office: I strive to have a balanced life and spend as much time as possible with my family. I married my high school sweetheart, Ann, and we have four children: Emmet, Mary Clare, Finn and Margot. We support TrinityKids Care, The Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, Westcoast Sports Associates, the Manhattan Beach Education Foundation and Loyola High School, among other organizations. I enjoy playing sports and cooking and am a loyal fan of the San Francisco Giants, San Francisco 49ers and Notre Dame Football.

Research Experience Start Date: 1986 KAR Start Date: 2011 Doug Manages: Large Cap Sustainable Growth, Mid Cap Sustainable Growth, All Cap Sustainable Growth Education: MBA, Harvard University B.S., Marine Engineering, U.S. Naval Academy Prior Work Experience: Director of Equities – HighMark Capital Management Group Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer of U.S. Equities – Trust Company of the West Portfolio Manager and Research Analyst - Putnam Investments What Do You Enjoy Most About Your Job: When I was in the Navy, investing became a hobby for me. I used to read a lot of books on investing. And I figured out that if I could make a living at a hobby that I enjoyed then it was a good profession to pursue. What Do You Enjoy Most About Working at KAR: The most enjoyable part of working at Kayne Anderson Rudnick is the people. It is really a family type of environment. Everyone is truly interested in doing what is best for our clients and, as a firm, we are focused on doing the right thing. The investment group is always interested in learning and becoming better investors. They are always striving to find the best ways to invest our clients’ money and I am truly proud of this as this is how our business should be oriented. What Are You Involved in Outside of Work: When I am not in the office I enjoy spending time with my wife and kids. I also love golfing. I spend a fair amount of time trying to improve my game (not that it has worked out that well so far!). I also enjoy boating. I spent a number of years in the Navy and I still enjoy being out in the water to this day.   Read more of the latest insights from our Investment Management experts Learn more about our investment strategies For additional information about quality investing, contact our investment team today

Industry Start Date: 1979 KAR Start Date: 1991 Education: B.S., Business and Economics, Loyola Marymount University Prior Work Experience: Vice President – Shearson Lehman Brothers What Do You Enjoy Most About Your Job: There are two aspects of my role that are very rewarding. The first aspect is working with our clients. We have the pleasure of working with a wonderful group of institutional and individual clients and, over the years, we have become very close to our clients. It’s been very rewarding to see the positive impact we have been fortunate to have on our clients and their financial well-being. The second aspect of my job that I find rewarding is strategic planning for the firm. It has been exciting and rewarding to see the firm evolve over the years as we execute on our business plans. I also enjoy getting the opportunity to watch our employees advance in their careers and the organization as the firm has continued to grow. What Do You Enjoy Most About Working at KAR: What I enjoy most about working at KAR are my colleagues. We are a close knit group. We have a number of employees that have been with the firm for 10 to 20 years and that is pretty unusual in most organizations. I think many of us have stayed with the firm for so long because we have shared common values and we work very closely together within those shared values for the benefit of our clients. What Are You Involved in Outside of Work: Outside of KAR, I enjoy cycling. I have been cycling, specifically road cycling, for over 10 years. Cycling is great for clearing the mind. I enjoy the close knit group and I tend to find that cyclists generally are people that are motivated, social and have a positive outlook on their lives. Cycling has taken me all over the world and I think the best way to travel is on a bike.

Industry Start Date: 1987 KAR Start Date: 1998 Education: University of Southern California Credentials: Member of the California Society of Municipal Analysts Prior to joining KAR: Kim was responsible for management of fixed-income trading, fundamental research and portfolio management, specializing in municipal-credit analysis for a specialty-management firm in Beverly Hills. What Do You Enjoy Most About Your Job: I love the multiple aspects of my job—analyzing taxable and municipal credits, trading in a negotiated market and helping clients understand the bond market and using it to meet their financial goals. What Do You Enjoy Most About Working at KAR: What I enjoy most about working at KAR is the varied perspectives everyone brings to the table when looking at the capital markets. I also enjoy the friendly manner in which we all share those opinions. When Not in the Office: I am currently transitioning from an involved parent to an empty nester. This means I am currently looking for the next charitable organization that could use my help.

Industry Start Date: 2008 KAR Start Date: 2015 Recognition: Bridget was recognized as a Leader of Influence, Wealth Manager by the Los Angeles Business Journal (2023). Education: B.S. in Business Administration from Emmanuel College Certificate in Financial Planning from Boston University Licenses: Series 7, Series 63, Series 65 Prior to Joining KAR: Bridget was a Portfolio Administrator, Assistant Vice President for One West Bank. Before that position, she was an Account Manager with Adviser Investments, where she spend the first five years of her career. When Not in the Office: I enjoy riding my horse, Cambridge, and walking my dog, Teddy, around my Santa Monica neighborhood. Being originally from Boston, I appreciate the sunny Southern California weather.

Industry Start Date: 2013 KAR Start Date: 2022 Education: B.A. in Political Science from Rollins College, Winter Park, FL Licenses: CFP® (Certified Financial Planner), Series 65 Prior to Joining KAR: Carina worked at Capital Group for the past eight years, most recently as a Client Relationship Specialist What Do You Enjoy Most About Your Job? I enjoy helping clients make some of the biggest decisions of their lives! Whether it’s purchasing their dream home or retiring a few years early, I have shown clients projected outcomes that have given them a level of comfort as they embark on something new.  I consider it my job to raise both benefits and concerns of any given decision to ensure that they are making a sound financial decision or investment. What Do You Enjoy Most About Working at KARWA? There is a tremendous level of collaboration and respect between colleagues at Kayne Anderson Rudnick. Each client has a dedicated team, but behind the scenes, we are constantly sharing ideas and best practices. Our clients truly benefit from the knowledge and expertise of the entire firm. How Does KARWA Approach Wealth Management Differently? Investing in quality is one of the tenets of the investment philosophy at Kayne Anderson Rudnick. Our analysts do in-depth research on each company in which we invest, ensuring that each company has top-notch management, competitive protections, strong fundamentals, and profitable growth. Not only is quality our investing philosophy but it’s also our people philosophy and plays an important part in how how we approach culture. What Do You Hope to Achieve For Your Clients? I want all the clients I work with to have an investment strategy, solid portfolio, and financial plan in place that they understand and feel good about. I want them to know that they are being smart with money and have a trusted advisor who leading the way in terms of their portfolio and other financial decisions. When Not in the Office: I enjoy hiking in the Santa Monica Mountains and staying active. I recently joined the Pickleball craze that is sweeping the nation! I am also very passionate about animal rescue and have been volunteering consistently with Best Friends Animal Society here in LA for the past six years. I assist in providing regular care and exercise to animals in their adoption facility, but have also done a great deal of transport, adoption support, and fostering.

Industry Start Date: 2012 KAR Start Date: November 2022 Education: M.B.A., UCLA Anderson School of Management, 2020 B.A., Economics, UCLA, 2012 Credentials: CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst designation), Series 7, Series 63 Prior to Joining KAR: Prior to joining KAR, Oren was an Associate Portfolio Manager at City National Rochdale where he was responsible for managing $1 billion in assets under management for high-net-worth individuals and their families, foundations, and trusts. Oren specialized in portfolio construction designed to fit clients' personalized risk-return profiles. He managed trading, asset allocation decisions, and portfolio re-balancing of diversified equities, fixed income, and alternatives investments. What Do You Enjoy Most About Your Job: Oren enjoys developing close and personal relationships with his clients. He believes that he is contributing positively to clients' lives by managing and advising on their wealth. He spends a tremendous amount of time and effort to understand what clients are trying to accomplish, and then ensures he and his team are managing and monitoring those goals. What Do You Enjoy Most About Working at KARWA: Oren loves working with so many talented individuals. He feels the team is thoughtful, collaborative, and extremely intelligent. KAR prides itself on always doing what is right for the client! What Are You Involved in Outside of Work: Outside of work, Oren enjoys spending time outdoors hiking and camping. He is an avid soccer fan and supports Real Madrid FC. He stays active playing soccer on a weekly basis and loves traveling with his wife Shantelle and their son Liran. How Does KARWA Approach Wealth Management Differently? KARWA truly takes a holistic approach when managing wealth for our clients by taking the time to understand clients' specific goals and objective. What Do You Hope to Achieve For Your Clients? I hope to provide my clients with peace of mind, knowing that someone is advocating for their best interest and is caring for their financial health.

Industry Start Date: 2016 KAR Start Date: 2021 Education: UCLA Anderson School of Management MBA, Finance Concentration Temple University, Fox School of Business - B.B.A. Accounting, Finance Minor Credentials: Series 65, CFP^® (Certified Financial Planner) Prior to Joining KAR: Thomas worked as a Wealth Planner for Wells Fargo Private Bank, providing Tax and Estate planning advice to high net worth and ultra-high net worth clients. Prior to Wells Fargo, Thomas worked as a Tax accountant for EY and Anderson in their Private Client Services groups providing tax compliance, and consulting for individuals, trust, partnerships, S-corporations, and estates. What Do You Enjoy Most About Your Job? I really enjoy hearing our about our clients' lives, what's important to them, and values that drive their decisions. Being still early in my career, their insights provide a lot perspective into what is important to different people. I feel that I learn just as much from our clients as our clients learn from me. What Do You Enjoy Most About Working at KARWA? To work with a great group of highly motivated individuals. There is a strong sense of community and pride within the organization and that makes it very easy to come to work everyday. The collaborative nature of the group also supports that sense of community and helps better the work and advice we provide to clients. How Does KARWA Approach Wealth Management Differently? The advisor team at KAR has some of the best relationships I have seen between clients and their advisors. The attentiveness and care the advisor team approaches their clients with is second to none. I believe the clients at KAR feel very close with their advisors and appreciate that relationship. What Do You Hope to Achieve For Your Clients? At a high level, I hope to provide them financial peace of mind and be a professional they can trust to help them make complicated financial decisions. I also hope to provide the advice that allows our clients to go forward and achieve their financial goals. Many of our clients are at a point in their lives where they have achieved their career goals. Now its time to understand what their other goals are and what it takes financially to achieve them. When Not in the Office: I enjoy checking out everything Los Angeles has to offer. Whether it’s the beach, mountains, or desert, I enjoy them all. I also enjoy going to shows and concerts to see historic venues and theaters in the city. To stay active, I play squash, golf, ride my bike and I’m attempting to take up tennis.

Industry Experience Start Date: 2007 KAR Start Date: 2015 Education: B.S., Financial Services, California State University, Northridge Prior to Joining KAR: Evans was a Client Service Associate at OneWest Bank and a Relationship Service Manager at Bank of America. What Do You Enjoy Most About Your Job: What I enjoy most about my job is my interactions with our clients and the relationships that we build over the years. What Do You Enjoy Most About Working at KAR: What I enjoy the most about working at KAR is that I get to work with a diverse group of individuals on a daily basis. How Does KARWA Approach Wealth Management Differently? No matter how much we grow as a firm, at our core, we remain a family office at heart. This sets us apart from our competitors. What Do You Hope to Achieve For Your Clients? A sense of comfort and trust that they are in good hands and that their financial goals are on track. When Not in the Office: I enjoy playing table tennis, snowboarding, hiking and traveling. My favorite sports team is the Miami Dolphins. Originally raised in Germany, I currently reside in Northridge, California with my wife, daughter and son.

Industry Start Date: 2007 KAR Start Date: 2020 Education: Baking and Pastry Arts Certificate, Long Beach City College - 2019 Prior to Joining KAR: Lorrie worked at Wells Fargo Advisors for 9 years and Smith Barney both as a Senior Client Associate. What Do You Enjoy Most About Your Job? The most enjoyable aspect of the job is getting to know various individuals. We interact with many different individuals on a daily basis that our days are never the same. What Do You Enjoy Most About Working at KARWA? I enjoy working with the amazing people at KAR. I have found that colleagues assist in creating your work environment, and this environment is amazing and caring. When Not in the Office: I spend time with my husband Chi, a fire captain with a local fire department, and with my son Russell, and traveling on cruises.

Industry Start Date: 2020 KAR Start Date: 2022 Education: B.S. in Business Administration with a concentration in Financial Planning, Liberty University Prior to Joining KAR: Alex worked as a Client Service Associate at Beacon Pointe Advisors in their Newport Beach office What Do You Enjoy Most About Your Job? I enjoy the collaborative environment that we have at Kayne Anderson Rudnick. Each person at KAR brings a different perspective to the Wealth Management team, allowing us to serve our clients excellently. What Do You Enjoy Most About Working at KARWA? I love the company culture and the friendly employees within each department. The food is also excellent. When Not in the Office: I am on the Free Wheelchair Mission Associate Board, which designs and manufactures cost-efficient, durable wheelchairs for developing countries worldwide. I also enjoy playing golf and spending time by the ocean.    

Industry Start Date: 2019 KAR Start Date: 2019 Education: B.S., Business Administration and Management, University of California, Riverside Prior to Joining KAR: Hannah worked part-time in UCR’s Undergraduate Admissions Office while studying for her Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management. When Not in the Office:  I love to play soccer and I am a youth soccer coach for AYSO. I enjoy going on family outings, such as archery tag, foot golf and bubble soccer.

Industry Experience Start Date: 2007 KAR Start Date: 2017 Education: B.A., Sociology from Northern Illinois University and Personal Financial Planning Certification from University of California, Los Angeles. Licenses: Series 6 and 63 Prior to Joining KAR: Erin was a Client Service Associate II for Edelman Financial. Before that position, she was an Office Manager with PlanWealth, Inc. What Do You Enjoy Most About Your Job? I enjoy building relationships and interacting with clients. I feel most fulfilled when a client is comfortable reaching out to me knowing I will find solutions to their client service needs. What Do You Enjoy Most About Working at KARWA? I love working with my team and colleagues. They are a great group and I'm fortunate to have developed strong friendships during my time at KAR and for that I am very grateful. When Not in the Office: I enjoy yoga, pilates, hiking, spending time at the beach and reading.