MEET OUR TEAM
THE AFO TEAM HAS OVER 100 YEARS OF COMBINED EXPERIENCE.
Irene Apergis
Cassandra Barry
Daniel Casey
Sydney Craig
Rory Henry, BFA
Ramtin Khah
Mike Knittel
AnnaMaria Mathe
Mark McCarron
Matt McEwen
Kristeen Parisi
Ben Porras
Robert Santos
Michael Villarica
Nornia Xu
Diane Young, AIF®
Rob Santos
Chief Executive Officer
I founded Arrowroot Family Office in 2013, and since then, I have led the investment committees of Arrowroot Family Office and its affiliated investment partnerships. I am also proud to serve as the founder of Arrowroot Partners, a division focused on mergers and acquisitions. As CEO, I specialize in the overall management of the firm. I also work with affluent families on providing bespoke family office services, which include tax-efficient advisory and financial planning, M&A advisory, family governance and process advisory, and philanthropic initiatives. I love to work with families and organizations to help set them up for success, however they define it.
I have served in the financial services industry for over 20 years. Prior to founding Arrowroot Family Office, LLC, I was a director for Salem Partners Wealth Management, a multi-family office and investment bank in Los Angeles. I was also a part of the seven-member investment committee that managed the financial affairs for a broad spectrum of domestic and international clients. I joined Salem Partners after working at JP Morgan Securities, where I serviced public bodies, money management firms, and both public and private companies. I also worked as a senior analyst at Bear Stearns.
I currently hold the NASD Series 7, 24, 63, 66, and 79 licenses, and I am a graduate of the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA). During my senior year at UCLA, I was given the opportunity to intern at Bear Stearns on an institutional fixed income desk. At that internship, I fell in love with the financial services industry, the work, and the clients that came with it. I have never even dreamed of looking back.
I currently reside in Venice Beach, California, with my wife, Caroline, and our two small children, Toby and Theo. Caroline is from the United Kingdom, so we all go over to visit her family once a year. When I am not valuing the time I spend serving my clients and our employees, you can find me camping, swimming, or skiing.
Irene Apergis
Chief Operating Officer & Compliance Officer
As Chief Operating Officer and Compliance Officer at Arrowroot Family Office, I specialize in overseeing operations and compliance to keep the firm running soundly. I am motivated by the ever-changing and constantly growing financial services industry, and I believe that there is always something to learn when it comes to what we do. I am proud to provide our clients with analysis and education about the markets and help them to create a plan for their future.
I have served in the financial services industry for over 22 years. I began my career due to my lifelong interest in financial markets – particularly how stocks and bonds worked – and I realized early on that it could enhance financial stability and create opportunities for people. As a seasoned financial professional, I bring expertise to Arrowroot in many key aspects of the financial services industry, including investments, capital markets, operations, management, and sales. Prior to joining Arrowroot, I was an investment management professional in wealth management at UBS, JPMorgan, Bear Stearns, and Merrill Lynch. I also worked in business development with KLS Professional Advisors and clerked for the SEC. I currently hold the Series 24, 27, 63, 65, and 79 securities licenses, and I am also a member of the State Bar of California.
I received my J.D. from Loyola Law School Los Angeles, and I graduated from the University of Colorado at Boulder with a Bachelor of Arts in Humanities, magna cum laude. When I am not being attentive and responsive to my clients, I spend my free time with my husband, Pete, and our daughter, Theoni. I enjoy watching my daughter play outdoor sports and host tea parties, and we do a lot of hiking together as well.
Mark McCarron
Partner, Managing Director
As a Managing Director & Partner at Arrowroot Family Office, my role is both in the management of junior employees and servicing my own financial advisory book of business. I specialize in financial planning, portfolio management, tax and cash flow projections, and business development. I am motivated by continuing to build our firm and creating a platform that our clients love – something special that they can refer to their friends and family. I get excited about mentoring the next generation of financial advisors and building a path for them to follow as well.
I have served in the financial services industry for over 16 years. Prior to working at Arrowroot Family Office, I ran my own firm, known as Bond Wealth Management, a comprehensive advice and investment management company. I also worked in credit default swap and corporate bond credit trading in New York City. I received my CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP) designation in 2017, and I also became an IRS Enrolled Agent in 2022. I attended the University of Virginia in 2005, where I obtained my Bachelor of Science in Systems Engineering. My insights on financial planning have been featured in the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and WalletHub.
While I am a Chantilly, Virginia native, I currently live in Charlottesville with my wife, Ashley, and our labrador retrievers. When I am not working with people on problems that are high-impact, you can find me playing tennis, hiking, snowboarding, and taking my dogs to any establishment that will welcome them. I am also very involved in the Charlottesville Chamber of Commerce.
Ben Porras
Managing Director
As Managing Director at Arrowroot Family Office, I am responsible for the ongoing building, development, and implementation of my clients’ investment and liability management programs. I provide comprehensive advice across all financial affairs in a CFO/Trusted Advisor capacity, including in the areas of investment management, taxes, estate planning, insurance, and lending. The implementation of my clients’ financial plans include investment research and the trading of client accounts. I find that I am motivated by an incredible desire to build the highest quality financial services firm that will be revered not only for its growth, but also for its unparalleled interdisciplinary advice, adherence to values, unwavering client advocacy, and one-of-a-kind client experience.
With over 20 years of experience in the financial services industry, I strive to be a respected thought leader within the community. Prior to joining Arrowroot Family Office, I served as Vice President at EP Wealth Advisors, where I advised affluent individuals, businesses, and nonprofit organizations. I was also Vice President Financial Consultant at Charles Schwab in Century City, California. While at Charles Schwab, I consulted and advised clients on assets totaling more than $500 million while working as a dual employee of both Charles Schwab Bank and Charles Schwab & Co. I am a designated Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Charterholder, and I also hold the Series 66 securities license.
I am currently an active member of CFA Society Los Angeles and their invitation-only wealth management group. I am also an advisory board member for the University of California Riverside Design Thinking Executive Program and an active member of Vistage Group Worldwide.
I currently live in Marina Del Rey, California, and in my free time, I enjoy playing, writing music, and singing. I am also incredibly passionate about food and wine, and I passed the Level 1 Sommelier Exam issued by the Court of Master Sommeliers in 2007.
Diane Young
Partner, Managing Director
I am proud to serve as the Managing Director of Arrowroot Family Office, where I specifically head the Michigan branch of the firm. As Managing Director, I love to assist our clients with solving their financial problems and creating confidence that they will achieve all of their financial goals. I was primarily attracted to this industry because it seemed like a fantastic opportunity to really be able to help people. I have a broad understanding of complex financial problems and comprehensive financial planning, and I work hard to develop solutions that can get clients to where they want to be.
I have worked in finance for over 32 years. I began my career in the financial services industry when I moved to New York, where I quickly became one of the first female sales managers at the firm I worked for. Over the span of my career, I have led a successful financial planning practice and a broker/dealer insurance agency. I finally left my office overlooking Times Square in the year 2000 and moved back to my home state of Michigan.
I consider myself a natural teacher, and my passion for education is tireless. In the past, I have taught Certified Financial Planning credentialing courses at New York University. I have also given several educational workshops for corporations such as the Marriott Corp., Kraft Foods, and Western Michigan University. My book, entitled Owning Your Financial Success: A Savvy Woman’s Guide to Financial Empowerment, has taught many on how to set themselves up for financial success and pursue their dreams.
I currently reside in Warren, Michigan, with my husband, Randy, who is the Dean of Science at Macomb College. Together, we have two grown children, Ethan and Rachel. When I am not servicing clients, you can find me writing a monthly column for Community Lifestyles, boating, gardening, and playing classical piano.
Michael Knittel
Portfolio Manager
As a Portfolio Manager at Arrowroot Family Office, I specialize in portfolio management, financial analysis, and developing lifetime roadmaps for my clients. I have a deep desire to be of service to others, and I believe that this translates well into my position at the firm. Over the course of my career, I have built deep relationships across the financial industry, which gives me the unique ability to help individuals and businesses of all sizes solve complex financial matters.
I have served in the financial industry for over 23 years. Prior to joining Arrowroot Family Office, I worked at Lagunitas Asset Management, where I spent the past 12 years personally investing in and advising clients with startup companies and venture capital funds. I am motivated by solving financial puzzles in order to help my clients achieve each of their financial goals. My love for numbers began as a child, where I religiously memorized the statistics on baseball cards in my collection, and it developed into a passion for math that carried over into graduating from the University of California at Davis and entering a career in finance.
I currently reside in El Dorado Hills, California with my fiance, Cassie. Together, we have a blended family of five adult children: Brady, Makenna, Madison, Gabe, and Jacob, as well as our grandchildren, Walker and Memphis. In my free time, I enjoy walking our four crazy dogs, swimming in our pool when it’s hot, reading and growing my mind, and being of service to others in the recovery community. I serve on the board of a nonprofit high school, Cristo Rey High School, which only admits children that come from families that fall below the poverty line. I am also involved with Celebrate Recovery, an organization that allows me to help others in need through a sense of community and improve my own heart and mind along the way.
Cassandra Barry
Managing Director
As Managing Director at Arrowroot Family Office, I specialize in retirement planning and Medicare planning. I believe that one mishap in medicare planning can cost people valuable retirement assets, and that calculating and planning healthcare and all other costs in retirement prior to making any decisions is absolutely imperative. I am a strong contender of moving slowly and respecting where my clients are while assisting them with their financial goals, but I am not afraid to push them out of their comfort zone when it is necessary.
I have served in the financial industry for over 12 years. I began my career because I was motivated by the desire to help individuals and families have a better understanding of their financial futures so that they can protect themselves and their loved ones. My prior experience has granted me with a tremendous knowledge in financial compliance, and I have been in the lead role for record keeping, best practices, and account security for the past decade. I am also a licensed insurance agent with an emphasis on Medicare, and I have been a featured speaker on the subject at industry conferences, businesses, and seminars all throughout my local area.
I currently live in Cameron Park, California, and I have three adult children and two amazing grandsons, Walker and Memphis. When I am not developing relationships with my clients, I am passionately speaking about elder financial abuse, and I have been deeply involved in supporting change to help those that are easily forgotten about and taken advantage of.
Dan Casey
Vice President
I am proud to serve as a Vice President, Financial Planner, and Portfolio Manager at Arrowroot Family Office. My position uniquely allows me to provide comprehensive financial plans to clients, as well as manage their portfolios, consult with them on cryptocurrencies, and educate them on furthering their financial needs. In addition, I also help clients with legacy and estate planning for their greater family. I strive to deliver the idea that our plans can help families accomplish life goals that they never thought possible in the past.
I began my financial career in Chicago and worked at Edward Jones, where I built a successful practice. Afterwards, I joined Arrowroot Family Office – then Athena Financial Group – because I wanted to work with a full-service, fee-only fiduciary firm that tailors to families, small businesses, and professionals. I currently hold the Series 66 securities license, and I also obtained the Digital Asset Certificate for Financial Professionals. I received my master’s degree in entrepreneurship & exercise physiology from the University of Miami, and prior to that, I received my bachelor’s degree in applied exercise science from the University of New England.
In addition to my passion for finance, I am also an exercise physiologist with over a decade’s worth of experience. My main passion points include working with athletes to improve performance and helping the general population with their health and weight loss goals. Just like my career in the financial services industry, I work hard to help people better themselves to their fullest potential.
I currently reside in Clawson with my wife, Bre, and our dog, Cosmo. I am regularly involved with the Irish Network of Detroit, Birmingham Business Connectors, and the Rochester Regional Chamber of Commerce. In my spare time, I enjoy watching the Boston Celtics and developing my own athletic performance.
Rory Henry
Director
Rory Henry, Behavioral Financial Advisor (BFA), is the Director at Arrowroot Family Office and Co-Founder of AFO Wealth Management Forward. He has been in the tax and financial advisory profession for 15+ years and has created a program to help accounting professionals incorporate holistic wealth management and proactive planning services into their practice. He also hosts the AFO Wealth Management Forward podcast, featuring interviews with guests from The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Fortune Magazine, Accounting Today, CPA Trendlines, and nationally recognized accounting and wealth management thought leaders. Rory is an accredited Behavioral Financial Advisor, a methodology that combines traditional finance, psychology, and neuroscience.
Outside work, Rory is an avid sports fan, plays golf, and enjoys performing Improv at comedy theatres throughout Los Angeles.
Nornia Xu
Analyst
I am an Operations Associate at Arrowroot Family Office, and I focus on operations and client service specifically. I am a graduate of the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), where I obtained my Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Sociology with a minor in Asian American Studies.
I have proudly served in the financial industry for over a year. Prior to working at Arrowroot Family Office, I worked at a law firm as a legal assistant and spent time at Morgan Stanley as a wealth management assistant.
Sydney Craig
Operations Associate
Sydney Craig joined Arrowroot Family Office after working several years in the dental field in operations. She will be working out of the Rochester Hills office as an operations associate, serving the needs of the advisors and clients from the Michigan office. Sydney is working on her Bachelors from Southern New Hampshire University and in her free time enjoys spending time with her friends and family, being outdoors, and eating at nice restaurants.
Michael Villarica
Associate
Michael Villarica is an Analyst in Arrowroot Family Office, assisting in managing investments for clients and specializes in the information technology software of the company. Michael is a graduate of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, where he studied psychology and data science. Prior to Arrowroot, he worked in technology consulting in Culver City. He has additionally taken accounting courses in UCLA and has passed the Series 65 exam. In his spare time, Michael enjoys bouldering, snowboarding, and drumming with local bands.
Matt McEwen
Vice President
Prior to joining Arrowroot Family Office as Vice President, I recently worked for Edward Jones, where I ran the office at Berkley, Michigan. Before that, I served in the information technology industry for more than 21 years. I entered the field as a programmer and ended my I.T. journey in project management. At Arrowroot Family Office, I specialize in business development and assisting with investment strategies for the firm. I am motivated by the fact that we work only for our clients as a fiduciary-focused firm, and I am proud that Arrowroot displays a much broader scope of services than what I was experienced with before I joined the firm.
I currently hold Series 7 and 66 securities licenses, and I am also a certified project manager. I believe that I have a strong ability to break down complex financial strategies and explain them in terms that clients can understand – without jargon or any other unnecessary complications. Before beginning my career, I received a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Ferris State University.
When I am not helping clients find clarity in their financial futures, you can find me kayaking, motorcycling, performing and enjoying music, fishing, reading, or attending Detroit sporting events. I am also proud to be involved with the Friends of the Berkley Library.