Brian is a founding member of The Summa Group with more than 32 years of experience. He provides financial guidance to private business owners, founders, executives, athletes, and entertainment professionals. At the core of Brian and The Summa Group’s capabilities reside the resources to guide a company’s founder and the C-Suite executives through the pre and post liquidity challenges and the opportunities in front of them.  

Brian began his investment industry career in 1993 and joined Stifel in 2025. He frequently speaks at industry events and peer panels on client advocacy, best practices, and team leadership. Brian was recognized on the Forbes’ America’s Top Wealth Advisors and Forbes’ Best-in-State Wealth Advisors lists for 2025, and The Summa Group was named to Forbes’ Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams for 2025.

Beyond his professional work, Brian is deeply committed to supporting at-risk youth, with a particular focus on education. He has served on the Board of Governors for the Fulfillment Fund since 2003 and received its Luminary Award for 25 years of service at its annual Gala in May 2025. He is equally proud of his previous board and advisory board affiliations with The Summa Children’s Foundation, The Banyan Foundation, The Buckley School, and USC’s Greif Center for Entrepreneurial Studies.

Brian earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Southern California. He also attended the University of California, Santa Barbara and Richmond College in London, England.

Brian and his wife, Janelle, live in Studio City and have two children. He dedicates his free time to a number of activities, including fly fishing, golf, and travel.

Jeff is a founding member of The Summa Group. He is attentive to the complex needs and desires of individuals and families with substantial and complex balance sheets. Through education and client advocacy, he brings actionable and high impact guidance to help The Summa Group’s clients work toward their objectives. Jeff and the team serve affluent families in both the public and private company sectors. He oversees the team’s highly skilled administrative staff and service platform, which is critical to the success of the business. Additionally, Jeff oversees the wealth management services for charitable entities, divorcees, and widows, and works closely with the tax and legal professionals who serve the business, athletic, and entertainment community.

Jeff joined Stifel in 2025. He began his career with Shearson Lehman Brothers and had been a Managing Director within the Private Client Group at Oppenheimer since 1992. Jeff was recognized on the Forbes’ America’s Top Wealth Advisors and Forbes’ Best-in-State Wealth Advisors lists for 2025, and The Summa Group was named to Forbes’ Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams for 2025.

Jeff completed coursework through the Certified Investment Management Analyst® certification program at The Wharton School of Business in Pennsylvania and received the Certified Investment Management Analyst® designation from the Investment Management Consultants Association (IMCA). He earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with an emphasis in Accounting from San Diego State University.

Jeff and his wife, Kimberly, live in Calabasas and are the proud parents of four daughters. He enjoys spending quality time with his family, traveling, playing golf, mountain biking, and attending a variety of sporting events.

Robert specializes in comprehensive investment and wealth management planning. With a strong focus on wealth preservation and a deep understanding of analytical planning, Robert has an ability to simplify complex financial matters and provide tailored guidance to high-net-worth individuals and families.

With a passion for client advocacy, Robert establishes a profound understanding of his clients’ needs, uncovering their issues and concerns that keep them up at night. By adopting a holistic approach and collaborating with clients’ trusted advisors, including CPAs, estate and business planning attorneys, trustees, and banking professionals, he develops strategic wealth management strategies that align with their overall goals.

Robert’s expertise lies in guiding entrepreneurs, senior executives, fiduciaries, and founders who have recently experienced or are preparing for life-changing financial events. His specialized work with sudden wealth resulting from inheritance, divorce, stock sales, estate planning, and closely held business sales has earned him a reputation as a trusted advisor within the industry. As a central figure within the group since its inception in 2003, Robert has played a key role in its success, providing invaluable insights and expertise to clients.

Robert was recognized on the Forbes’ Best-in-State Wealth Advisors lists for 2025, and The Summa Group was named to Forbes’ Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams for 2025. Robert also earned the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® certification from the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc., which identifies those individuals who have met the experience requirements of the CFP Board, have successfully completed financial planning coursework, and have passed the CFP® Certification Examination.

Robert is an active member of the Los Angeles Financial Planning Association (FPA) and remains committed to staying at the forefront of industry trends and best practices. Robert earned a Bachelor of Arts in business administration and a Bachelor of Science in sports medicine from Pepperdine University. During his time at Pepperdine, he excelled both academically and athletically, participating in water polo. His commitment to excellence extends beyond his professional life, as evidenced by his achievement of Eagle Scout rank and his ongoing involvement in philanthropic endeavors.

Robert resides in La Canada with his wife, whom he met during his time at Pepperdine, and their four children. Outside the office, he enjoys traveling, cooking, sports, scouting, and actively giving back to the community.

Gary began his investment industry career in 1967 and joined Stifel in 2025. Prior to joining Stifel, he worked at Merrill Lynch and Oppenheimer & Co., Inc. He develops wealth management strategies for high-net-worth individuals, corporations, pension plans, and profit sharing plans. Before his entrance into the financial industry in 1967, Gary proudly served in the United States Army.

Gary earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Economics from the University of Arizona. He was the proud recipient of the 2018 UA Eller College of Management Professional Achievement Award.

Gary and his wife have been married for nearly 60 years. Together, they have four sons, all of whom are college graduates, and they have eight grandchildren. Gary and his wife are very active in many community and charitable organizations.

Stan joined Stifel in 2025 and has spent nearly 30 years in trading, analysis, and research for large financial firms. He brings this quantitative background, knowledge, and experience to The Summa Group. Stan oversees the The Summa Group’s portfolio analytics efforts, including due diligence and asset allocation policy.

Previously, Stan spent more than 20 years with Savos Investments of AssetMark. As Director of Trading, he oversaw all aspects of trading involving equities, fixed income, mutual funds, and futures. As Director of Research, he oversaw the firm’s manager due diligence process as well as assisting in the firm’s product development efforts.

Stan has earned several designations, including the CFA designation from the CFA Institute and the CAIA® designation from the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst Association. He is a member of both the CFA Institute and the CFA Society of Los Angeles (CFALA).

Stan earned a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics from the University of Colorado, Boulder, as well as an MBA in Finance from California State University at Northridge.

Stan is from South Korea, where he played varsity soccer. He moved to the Denver area for college and never left the United States. His wife, Michelle, is from Vietnam, and together they enjoy traveling the world.

Outside the office, Stan is interested in history, geopolitics, behavioral finance, and Denver/Los Angeles professional sports teams. Stan and his wife live in Santa Clarita.

Savannah began her investment industry career in 2016 and joined Stifel in 2025. Her roles with The Summa Group have provided a strong foundation of knowledge of capital markets, the ever-changing macroeconomic landscape, asset allocation, and portfolio construction.

Working with the team, Savannah specializes in plotting out comprehensive wealth management strategies for a wide range of clients with an array of financial goals – from young clients with an eye to the future, to clients entering retirement, to those prioritizing philanthropic endeavors. Her deep understanding of wealth management planning, portfolio construction, investment analysis, and risk management strategies can be brought to bear on behalf of the client.

Savannah also collaborates with clients’ other trusted advisors to help ensure that all pieces of the puzzle fit together seamlessly. When working with clients, Savannah emphasizes financial education in order to demystify the nuances of the financial world and help clients gain confidence in their decision-making ability.

Savannah earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Financial Services from San Diego State University and holds Series 7 and 66 securities licenses.

Savannah was born and raised in Thousand Oaks, California. Outside the office, she spends as much time as possible with family and friends. She loves traveling, lake trips, and all things related to music.

Valerie joined The Summa Group in 2012 and joined Stifel in 2025. She previously served in a portfolio analytics role, where she focused on risk modeling, quantitative research, and mutual fund research.

At The Summa Group, asset allocation and risk mitigation strategies are key components for the success of client investments. Valerie strives to come up with optimized portfolio strategies for clients by using Stifel resources and diversified investment vehicles, ranging from active to passive and public to private investments.

In addition, Valerie works with clients and the team on developing appropriate wealth management strategies before making investment recommendations. She works with executives with large stock options that need exit strategies as well as individuals that are planning for and approaching retirement. Valerie also collaborates with clients’ other professionals, such as CPAs, attorneys, and business managers, to help ensure investment recommendations, allocations, and planning strategies fit well with the overall circumstances and goals of clients.

Valerie is proficient in client service and education. Her background and experience in overseas markets make her a great resource and connection for Chinese-speaking and cross-border clients.*

Valerie is a member of the Los Angeles Financial Planning Association (FPA). She earned a Bachelor’s in Economics from Purdue University and a Master’s in Financial Engineering from UCLA. She holds Series 7 and 66 securities licenses. Valerie earned the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® certification from the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc., which identifies those individuals who have met the experience requirements of the CFP Board, have successfully completed financial planning coursework, and have passed the CFP® Certification Examination. Valerie is an advocate for female immigrants and entrepreneurs, and a builder of the community where bonds and rapport grow deep and organically to foster growth in business.

Valerie is from Tianjin, China. She moved to the United States to pursue her college degree when she was 18 and currently resides in Los Angeles. Outside the office, she enjoys playing the piano, surfing, hiking, and traveling to different parts of the world. She performs at concerts at times and has competed in an international piano competition in Paris. Valerie loves art and is a regular visitor to museums and galleries, and she enjoys exploring various cuisine with her friends.

*All written business communications will be in English.

Introduced to the financial services industry by a childhood coach who was a financial advisor, David remembers early on wanting to have a career in the financial services industry. In 1996, while still in college, David started as an intern with Jim Miles, co-founder of The Summa Group at Oppenheimer & Co., Inc. He found the industry to be as interesting and challenging as he imagined, and he has never looked back.

David is responsible for the team’s performance analytics and keeping historical data organized according to each client’s preference. He has an extensive background in asset allocation and is actively involved in team discussions about investments. David also heads the trading and model rebalancing activities for The Summa Group.

David earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business Economics from the University of Arizona.

David is a former semiprofessional soccer player. He and his wife have a son and daughter with strong roots in Los Angeles. Active in the community, one of the charitable organizations David supports is HOLA (Heart of Los Angeles).

Daniela is known for her proactive and organized approach and her distinct ability to make the client experience both friendly and efficient. She is a seasoned veteran who is appreciated by many at The Summa Group for her experience and leadership. She has been with The Summa Group since 1998 and joined Stifel in 2025.

Daniela is responsible for the coordination of all administrative activities, as well as her primary role in the client service process. She has a strong knowledge in compliance and operational matters and is responsible for all team procedures involved in account opening, wire and securities transfers, account reconciliation, and many of the other everyday needs that foster strong relationships with clients.

Daniela resides in Tarzana with her husband, their high school daughter, and three little pups. Her older daughter is studying nursing at the University of Utah. Outside the office, she enjoys gardening, snowboarding, and camping at the beach in her motorhome.

Engrid began her financial services industry career in 1997 with Morgan Stanley-Beverly Hills as a Senior Sales Assistant working with financial advisors. In 2002, she started at Oppenheimer & Co., Inc. and provided high-level administrative support to the Regional Manager. In 2018, she joined The Summa Group as a Senior Client Service Associate, and she joined Stifel in 2025.

Flexibility, patience, the ability to take in details, prioritize, and process them are attributes that Engrid lists when describing what it takes to run a financial services practice with a single-minded focus on client service. Engrid helps the team operate their practice seamlessly, so that clients think of her as an extension of their relationship with the advisors.

Lidiane began her investment industry career in 2020 with background experience spanning nine years across operations, client service, administration, and business development. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business from Florida Atlantic University and is known for her strategic insight, commitment to administrative excellence, and dedication to delivering an exceptional client experience. Lidiane emphasizes transparency, integrity, and proactive communication as the foundation of every successful client relationship.

Lidiane is married and the proud mother of three children - two daughters and one son. Outside of work, she enjoys spending quality time with her family, traveling to explore new cultures, hiking, and relaxing by the beach. She is an active member of the National Charity League (NCL), where she serves as vice president of communications and contributes to philanthropic initiatives benefiting organizations such as The Boys & Girls Club, Senior Centers, Children’s Hunger Fund, Operation Gratitude, and many others.