Your Advisory Team

After graduating from the University of Illinois with a B.S. in Finance in 1985, I worked in myriad roles before founding Opus Financial Solutions, including securities compliance, investment analysis, institutional portfolio management, and teaching investments and financial planning topics at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Those roles and hard-earned education and financial designations converged to ultimately building a fee-only financial planning and investment advisory firm. 

My objective as an advisor is to help my clients improve and/or be aware of the implications of the financial choices they make. That requires me to listen and truly understand my client's past, present, and anticipated journey before offering strategies and solutions. For some of my clients, that means helping them attain the financial freedom and peace of mind to live as they choose.  For others who have accumulated significant wealth, it is helping them with portfolio optimization and management, taxes, distribution planning, and estate matters.

In addition to my Finance degree from Illinois, I obtained my MBA in International Business from DePaul’s Graduate School of Business. I later attained my Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designations in order to provide the highest level of financial and investment counsel. Along the way, I also developed an expertise in divorce financial planning in order to help people make more informed financial decisions in divorce matters and make the process of divorce less painful and less expensive. I've served as a divorce advisor, financial neutral and mediator for individuals and/or divorcing couples (Refer to “Pre-Divorce Planning” for more detail).

I grew up in the Chicago area, now live in Denver, and serve clients across the United States. In my spare time, I enjoy spending time in natural settings hiking, camping, mountain-biking, skiing, playing with my pups, or whatever the weather dictates. I have served in many volunteer roles over the course of my life, mostly relating to educating and mentoring the underprivileged. Thus far, one of my greatest joys has been watching my children—now both young independent adults--evolve into kind, smart, empathetic human beings who I believe will change the world for the better.

Lisa can be reached at lisa@opusfinsolutions.com.

Matthew is currently a Wealth Manager at Opus Financial Solutions. He began his career in accounting and finance more than 25 years ago when he graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor’s of science degree in accountancy from the University of Illinois (Champaign/Urbana). Over the years Matthew has held various roles as an accountant, auditor, investment banker, business valuation expert, and litigation consultant. He also previously provided financial planning advice, investment management, and other concierge financial services through his own independent wealth management firm.

Matthew believes strongly in the application of proven academic principles to financial planning and investment management. His quest for knowledge has driven Matthew to many accomplishments. Notably, Matthew has been awarded several prominent financial designations, including Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) certificant, Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA®) charter holder, and Certified Public Accountant (CPA). Matthew also earned his Masters of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business with concentrations in finance and economics.

In working with clients, Matthew draws upon his diverse background and extensive financial education and training. He provides clients with unique and highly informed perspectives on realizing both their life and financial aspirations, goals, and dreams. From short-term budgeting to retirement and estate planning, Matthew utilizes his people-focused style to assist clients in developing an appropriate balance between the trees and the forest. Where others may see conflicts in allocating limited financial resources, Matthew seeks creative resolutions through holistic wealth management solutions.

Outside of work, Matthew enjoys spending time with his two young-adult sons, competing at fantasy baseball, and reveling in most Chicago sports teams. Matthew is a long-time resident of the southwest suburbs of Chicago.

Matthew can be reached at matthew@opusfinsolutions.com

After graduating from the University of Texas at Austin, I started my career in financial services in 1996 selling mutual fund portfolios by cold-calling prospects. The interactions were impersonal and intrusive. I did not enjoy it, and it likely created my first bias against "selling" products in financial services.

Since that initial experience, I have built a career in financial services by building my knowledge in different areas of the industry with an eye towards always serving the best interests of clients through a consultative approach. I have held positions spanning from customer service and operations to technical financial planning support of financial advisors. As a private banking representative, I have worked directly with high net worth clients to develop custom financial plans to pursue their retirement, estate and distribution goals, and I have worked as a portfolio manager to implement the investments needed to pursue those goals. For approximately 10 years, I served as the Chief Investment Strategist and Senior Portfolio Manager of a national financial services firm. In my capacity as Senior Portfolio Manager, I built and ultimately was directly responsible for the portfolio construction and investment selection of an investment program with over $2 billion in assets. As Chief Investment Strategist, I was responsible for communicating the firm's investment philosophy by writing economic and investment updates. In my role as Chief Investment Strategist, I made multiple appearances including on Bloomberg Radio, CNBC, Closing Bell, Fox Business, and The Street.

Despite a successful career working for banks and financial services firms, it had long been my desire to apply what I have learned by working directly with clients and families and to help them pursue their financial goals. So, after two decades of experience, in 2017 I left the corporate world and founded SanitasWealth Management, a fee-only financial planning and investment advisory firm serving Boulder and the surrounding communities.

As a small business owner--always on the lookout for strategic opportunities to improve my ability to serve clients--I joined Opus Financial Solutions as a Wealth Manager. The affiliation provided me with access to improved resources and technology to better serve my clients along with an improved Business Continuation Plan and "Brain Trust" of highly competent colleagues.

On a personal note, I was born in South Africa and moved to the United States with my family at the age of 11. We moved to a town on the outskirts of Dallas, Texas. In 2001, I proudly was granted U.S. citizenship. Along with my wife Samantha, we moved to Boulder because we love the outdoors and the active lifestyle afforded by Colorado, and Boulder seems to be the epicenter of outdoor living. On weekends you can generally find us hiking somewhere in the foothills. In 2014, I completed my first full IronMan race in Whistler, Canada, and as Boulder seems to be home to many professional endurance athletes I hope some of that skill will rub off and that I will compete again in the future. Today, my wife and I live in Superior with our two young kids, just outside of Boulder.

Jaco can be reached at jaco@opusfinsolutions.com.