The Shadden Group

John T. Shadden is a Managing Director and one of the founders of The Shadden Group.  Drawing on over 35 years of investment consulting experience, John focuses on providing tailored wealth management solutions for family offices, ultra high-net-worth individuals and charitable foundations. 

While pursuing his education at USC, John qualified for both the 1984 and 1988 Olympics in Sailing and captured a bronze medal in Korea in 1988.  Adding to his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from USC, John graduated from the Securities Industry Institute at The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.  He also received a Master’s Degree in Wealth Management at The Stern School of Business at NYU.

John has been named to the Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisors List as well as Barron’s “America’s Top 1,200 Advisors” and Financial Times’ “Top 400 Advisors” rankings over the past several years. He was recognized for his achievements in investment consulting with the John Ellis award and was also appointed to the Citi Family office for his distinguished services. John serves his community with active participation in the following organizations: Miller Children’s Hospital, The Long Beach Aquarium of The Pacific (Trustee), Pacific Coast Sailing Foundation (Director), and U.S. Olympic Sailing Committee (Board Member).

Disclosures

2019-2024 Forbes Best-In- State Wealth Advisors
Source: Forbes.com (Awarded 2019-2022). Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based 12-month time period concluding in June of year prior to the issuance of the award.

2019-2024 Barron's Top 1,200 Financial Advisors: State-by-State (formerly referred to as Barron's Top 1,000 Financial Advisors: State-by-State)
Source: Barrons.com (Awarded 2019-2022). Data compiled by Barron's based on 12-month period concluding in Sept of the year prior to the issuance of the award.

2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 Barron's Top 100 Private Wealth Management Teams (formerly referred to as Barron's Top 50 Private Wealth Management Teams, Barron's Top 50 Private Wealth Advisory Teams)
Source: Barrons.com (Awarded April 2021-2024). Data compiled by Barron's based on 12-month period concluding in Dec of the year prior to the issuance of the award.

2014-2016, 2018, 2020 Financial Times 400 Top Financial Advisors
Source: ft.com. Data compiled by the Financial Times based the following time periods:
Awarded 2020; data 6/30/16 - 6/30/19
Awarded 2018; data 6/30/15 - 6/30/17
Awarded 2016; data 9/30/13 - 9/30/15
Awarded 2015; data 9/30/13 - 9/30/14
Awarded 2014; data 9/30/12 - 9/30/13

Mike Van Dyke is an Institutional Consultant with the Graystone Consulting, Long Beach team, a division of Morgan Stanley. Also, as part of The Shadden Group, he is a Family Wealth Director with the Private Wealth Management arm of Morgan Stanley. In these roles, Mike administers the institutional business of The Shadden Group and provides consulting services to institutional clients ranging from family offices, foundations and endowments, community foundations, and private foundations. He also handles philanthropic planning, board education, family governance and estate planning, among other services.

Prior to joining Morgan Stanley and the Shadden team in 1997, Mike started his career in the transportation industry. He has attained his Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA) designation, having completed his coursework and examination at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Mike also has earned the Morgan Stanley designations of Senior Investment Management Consultant, Family Wealth Director and Senior Portfolio Management Director. Mike holds a Bachelor of Science degree in maritime administration from Texas A&M University and a Master of Science degree in shipping, trade and finance from the Cass Business School at City, University of London.

In his spare time, Mike is active in his community and serves in leadership roles at multiple organizations. He is currently the board president of TCC Family Health (formally The Children’s Clinic). Mike is also the board chair of the Heart and Vascular Institute at Memorial Long Beach and a board member of the hospital’s strategy committee. In recognition of his volunteerism, he has been awarded the Founders Award by The Children’s Clinic and the Community Service Award by the NAACP of Long Beach. Mike and his wife Liza reside in Long Beach with their two children, at whose schools they actively volunteer. They enjoy their free time together at the ocean and playing golf.

Gary R. Velek is a Senior Portfolio Manager with The Shadden Group.  He is responsible for portfolio management and implementation for high net worth and institutional clients.

Gary started honing his financial skills at the University of California, Los Angeles with a bachelor’s degree in Economics.  His passion for finance led to an MBA from Pepperdine University.  Gary started his investment career in 1995 and joined The Shadden Group in 1997.

Gary employs extensive research and analysis in portfolio construction with particular focus on value, diversification and risk mitigation to help clients meet their stated goals and objectives.

Gary and his team work very hard. The Shadden Group prides itself on client service—offering integrity, diligence and a depth of knowledge.

Gary holds numerous certifications and designations:  Certified Financial Planner™, Senior Investment Management Consultant and the Certified Investment Management Analyst^® license which focuses on asset allocation, manager search and selection, investment policy and performance measurement.

Gary consistently pushes his athletic spirit by competing in Ironman triathlons and half-marathons.  In his spare time, he enjoys being with his family.

Steve leads our team, focusing on investment consulting and financial planning for our clients. His approach is based on a foundation of solving problems and driving positive action.

Beginning with the training program at Dean Witter (which later became part of Morgan Stanley) in 1984, he has spent his entire career working with clients in financial service, helping them accumulate, protect and pass on family wealth. He is a passionate advocate of Behavioral Finance; Steve uses a rigorous process to help clients clarify their goals, then takes a variety of ongoing steps to help them stay on track through all market conditions.

Steve received a Bachelor of Science in Finance and Investments from California State University in Long Beach. He earned the Certified Investment Management AnalystSM (CIMA^®) designation from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. He also completed the Estate Planning for Financial Professionals program at American College.

Stephen resides in Long Beach, CA with his wife and two children. He enjoys backpacking, snow skiing, and spending time with his family. He is also the past Chairman of the Advisory Council at his children’s parochial school, where he focused on strategic planning and fundraising. Currently, he volunteers as a speaker on financial planning for a nonprofit organization’s plan-giving department.

As a financial advisor, John enjoys building long-term, meaningful relationships with his clients that focus on aligning their financial strategies with their objectives. He holds the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor^® designation, which attests to his understanding of the unique challenges and concerns of people entering or living in retirement, and he can help them develop a plan for pursuing their retirement vision. John has extensive experience working with these clients in the areas of investments, tax efficiencies, retirement accounts, Social Security, estate planning and family governance, as well as the practical and emotional aspects of transitioning to post-career life.

In addition, as a Chartered Retirement Plans Specialist^®, John can design, monitor and advise on corporate retirement plans and strategies for large and small businesses. He also holds the Qualified Plan Financial Consultant designation, a credential for financial professionals who sell, advise, market or support qualified retirement plans.

Prior to becoming a financial advisor, John had a successful career as a sound recordist and mixer in Hollywood, eventually becoming an executive and ultimately establishing his own production company. In 2012, he transitioned into financial services, where he has been able to blend his previous experience with his role today. He graduated from California State University, Long Beach and is active in the community.

John is a board member of Team 100, a nonprofit devoted to fighting hunger in elementary school-age children. He regularly speaks to nonprofit and neighborhood groups about the importance of financial planning and thoughtful, strategic preparation for the future. With his lifelong love of the ocean, John is very involved in the yachting community. He is also a working musician and enjoys spending quality time with his family.

Melissa A. Shadden, a Financial Advisor with The Shadden Group, focuses on financial planning, lending, and insurance services. She works closely with the team’s financial advisors as they create holistic plans for clients to achieve their financial and personal goals. She also reviews and monitors lending and insurance opportunities for the team’s clients.

Prior to joining the team in 2017, Melissa worked as a project management intern at MUFG Union Bank in the credit risk department. She graduated magna cum laude with a B.S. degree in finance and marketing from Santa Clara University, where she was on the dean’s list and inducted into the Beta Gamma Sigma business honor society.

Sharon helps oversee the team’s financial planning efforts for clients by developing strategies for managing the complexities of their wealth, as well as bringing forward the internal and external resources that align with their objectives. She consults with successful families and institutional clients that include family offices, foundations and endowments, community foundations and private foundations to help them advance their specific missions.

Sharon has worked at Morgan Stanley since 2019 and joined the Shadden Group in 2022. Previously, she worked at several nonprofit organizations, including seven years with Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans, where she managed the education program for immigrants and refugees. Her background has provided her with an in-depth understanding of the challenges of the nonprofit community. Sharon holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERTM designation, a credential that serves as the industry standard in financial planning knowledge. She is also a graduate from Loyola University New Orleans with a double major in finance and marketing. Sharon is a first-generation American and bilingual in English and Spanish.

Sharon lives in Georgia and loves attending events in her community, including fundraisers, concerts, and Falcons games. In her free time, she enjoys running marathons, trying new restaurants, and spending time her fiancé and their dog.

James graduated from Boston College in 2016, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree from the Carroll School of Management with an emphasis in Finance.

Before joining The Shadden Group, James was employed by SC Distributors, LLC, where he oversaw regional business development and capital raises for third-party alternative investment strategies. Through this position and other roles in the finance industry, James gained extensive analytical skills and market insights. He holds the Chartered Financial Analyst^® designation from CFA Institute and is a member of the CFA Society of Orange County.

In his spare time, James enjoys philosophy, exercise, and the company of friends and family.

Thomas Shadden is the primary Investment Consultant and leading officer of The Shadden Group Investment team. He along with the Investments team manages a broad menu of portfolios offered by The Shadden Group that range from capital preservation to growth focuses. In this pursuit of investment excellence, he leverages his 8 years of investment experience that cover a variety of industries and global markets.

Thomas performed his undergraduate studies at the University of California Berkeley, Haas Business School. Graduating magna cum laude with an M.S. in Business Management in 2015. During his school tenure, he worked as a research analyst for the Small-Mid Cap fund at Forward Management.

Following graduation, Thomas entered the FAA program at Morgan Stanley where his primary responsibilities included asset trading for The Shadden Group, research gathering, and risk assessment.

In 2018, Thomas departed to pursue an MBA program at the Waseda School of Business in Tokyo, Japan, during which time he also worked for Nomura Asset Management in the Japan Strategic Value fund as a research associate. His specialties while employed at Nomura included capital equipment, tech hardware, automation, and global supply chain infrastructure.

In 2021, Thomas returned to The Shadden Group to assume his current role on the Investments team.

Aside from investment experience, he has proficiencies in foreign languages concerning Japanese and has conducted analytical research for several historical programs concerning the “Great Power” Theory, as well as commercial and military history. He also enjoys competitive distance running races and regularly participates in half-marathons, and charity races connected to social causes of interest.

Garrett Dunlap is a Client Service Associate with The Shadden Group at Morgan Stanley. He joined the team in July of 2023. His primary responsibilities include client service and operational support. He is committed to bringing his passion for life and the industry, to give the best possible service to our clients.

Garrett graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Finance from California State University, Long Beach. During his college career, he had the opportunity to study abroad in Zurich, Switzerland and immersed himself in the European culture. He has a passion for the intricacies of financial markets and a dedication to helping people reach their financial goals.

Garrett’s hobbies include surfing, sailing, body surfing and any other activity that gets him near the ocean. In his spare time, Garrett enjoys spending quality time with family and friends, soaking in the small moments where he can host dinner get togethers, enjoying delicious food and great conversation.

Ashley Cruz is the relationship manager and her day-to-day consists of working on operations and client services for The Shadden Group. She grew up loving math and knew a career in finance was for her. She graduated from the University of Miami with her B.S.B.A. Utilizing her detailed orientation, knowledge, and dedicated abilities, she was able very quickly obtain an internship in the finance industry, obtain her Series 7, Series 66, and eventually joined The Shadden Group in January 2022.

Throughout her career in the finance industry, she found a passion for concepts in Finance, speaking with clients, and having the responsibility of helping/guiding clients with their finances and the detail minutiae required in Finance.

In her personal life, she enjoys Fashion, Formula 1, Fútbol, Snowboarding, Traveling, and Working Out. She prioritizes spending quality time with family and friends.

Sarah Webster is a Client Service Associate and joined The Shadden Group at Morgan Stanley in May of 2020. Her daily responsibilities include client service, operational support, and group administration. Sarah graduated with honors from The University of Alabama with a Bachelor of Science degree in Healthcare Administration with an emphasis in Business Management and a Minor in Psychology.

While in school she interned with a dermatology practice where she managed projects and fine-tuned her customer service skills. Before working with the Shadden Group, Sarah was employed at New York Life Insurance Company, gaining experience with life insurance, long-term care insurance, and annuities.

In her spare time, she enjoys horseback riding, taking road trips, and DIY home projects.

Bridgett England is a Client Service Associate for The Shadden Group. She obtained her degree at California State University in Business Finance. She is currently acting as Executive Vice President of the Investment Group at the University. As a result, the group competed with regional colleges through the CFA Institute and came in 1st place winning the school a $100,000 portfolio.

In her personal life, she enjoys volunteering for the Special Olympics, specifically the swimming events. She is a large advocate for mental health programs on her college campus and within her community.

She is very close with her family and do lots of trips up North during the summer and winter to spend quality time together and do activities like swimming, hiking & camping.