About Vail Capital

As CIO, Chris leads Vail Capital Management’s investment team and is responsible for all investment and asset allocation advice provided to the firm’s clients.

Over the past 26 years, Chris has held various senior positions in the institutional equity divisions and private wealth management divisions of several large global financial institutions, including Citigroup, J.P. Morgan and Morgan Stanley.

Prior to his investment career, Chris spent a decade in commercial real estate, where he specialized in tenant representation as a broker for Cushman & Wakefield before launching his own Atlanta-based firm, Shepard & Graham, Inc.

Chris was born and raised in Connecticut and currently resides in Dallas, Texas. He has two sons, Lucas and Nicholas, who attend The University of Arkansas. Chris enjoys spending time with family, flying, traveling, outdoor recreation and long walks with his goldendoodle, Teddy.

As Assistant Portfolio Manager, Luke plays a key role in supporting the delivery of thoughtful, disciplined investment strategies tailored to each client’s goals via supporting portfolio construction and ongoing rebalancing, monitoring performance and identifying opportunities for improvement and conducting market research and investment analysis. Working closely with senior portfolio managers, Luke helps ensure portfolios are actively monitored, well-positioned, and aligned with evolving market conditions.

Nick assists with financial analysis to help drive Vail Capital’s investment decisions with an emphasis on fundamental market research and data analysis.

Nick is currently working toward his Business Management degree at the University of Arkansas – Walton College of Business. He plans to graduate in 2025.

Away from the office, Nick enjoys travel, golf, working out and playing guitar.

Christopher leads the coaching and financial planning teams for Mariner Independent. His teams focus on creating complex financial plans, delivering advice and insight to independent advisors and assisting them as they serve their clients.

Prior to joining Mariner, Christopher was an advisor at a large wirehouse and then at an independent RIA. He left the advisory world to become a professor at Texas A&M University, where he developed and taught curriculum for their CFP^® Board Registered Program. Most recently, he was the director of training and development at a registered investment adviser.

Christopher holds a bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics from Texas A&M University and an MBA from East Texas A&M University-Commerce.

Away from the office, Christopher enjoys the outdoors, spending time with his three daughters and attending college sporting events. He also teaches part-time as an adjunct professor at the Texas A&M School of Law and serves as a supply corps officer in the US Navy Reserves.

Rachel is a senior wealth strategist at Mariner. She provides financial planning and business development support to Mariner advisors through her work on the financial planning team. Additionally, she is dedicated to advisor growth and development as a member of the advisor coaching team. She cohosts the monthly webinar series, the Advisor Development Program, which provides best practices and guidance for maintaining and growing advisors’ business. She also engages with advisors via advisor study groups and individual coaching calls.

Prior to joining Mariner, Rachel worked at Northern Trust as a senior investment associate. She serviced ultra-high-net-worth clients as part of the portfolio management team. In this role, she was responsible for presenting economic outlook and portfolio performance reports to clients while supporting three senior portfolio managers’ book of business.

Rachel has a bachelor’s degree from Cornell University. She is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER^® professional and earned a graduate certificate in financial planning from New York University.

Away from the office, Rachel loves to kayak and jet ski year-round in South Florida, where she resides.

Alfred Cantilina is a wealth strategist supporting the firm’s financial planning efforts. He works closely with advisors and their clients to deliver comprehensive, technology-driven planning that aligns financial strategies with long-term goals and life priorities.

With a background in tax planning, Alfred brings experience as a former tax firm owner and operations manager, along with prior work supporting Fortune 1000 executives on complex financial planning and tax matters.

Alfred holds a degree in financial planning from William Paterson University and is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER^® professional.

Outside of his professional role, Alfred enjoys fitness and nutrition, outdoor activities and spending time with his son, especially during the summer months at beaches and lakes.

Campbell is a wealth analyst on the practice management team at Mariner, where she supports advisors by analyzing client portfolios, conducting customized research and helping clients remain on track to achieve their long-term financial goals. She is deeply committed to empowering others on their path toward financial independence.

Prior to joining Mariner full-time, Campbell interned with the firm, gaining hands-on experience by shadowing team members, learning a variety of financial planning strategies and leveraging advanced technology tools. During her internship, she actively participated in client engagements and strengthened her ability to confidently navigate and discuss sensitive investment and planning topics.

Campbell holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration with an emphasis in finance and banking and real estate from the University of Missouri–Columbia. She earned her Series 65 license and holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER^® certification. She completed her CFP^® education requirements through Southern Methodist University. Her professional interests include finance and entrepreneurship.

Outside of work, Campbell enjoys taking walks with her dog, listening to podcasts and traveling.

Ruth is an associate wealth strategist on the practice management team at Mariner. She works closely with advisors to create financial plans for clients and investment proposals for prospective clients. She also assists advisors with inquiries pertaining to a wide array of financial planning matters. She is passionate about growing her knowledge in financial planning and creating a lasting impact at Mariner.

Prior to Mariner, Ruth was an advisor with McAdam Financial, where she evaluated clients’ assets in preparation for retirement. She helped analyze client portfolios to develop strategies designed to help improve tax efficiency, emphasizing employee benefit analyses and spend-down strategies.

Ruth graduated from Georgia State University with a bachelor of business administration degree in finance. She made the dean’s list during her junior year and is a lifetime learner. She is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER^® professional.

Ruth considers herself creative and adores all things pertaining to art. While she loves socializing with friends and meeting new people, she also enjoys time alone to bask in nature, create small rugs, cook new recipes and care for her 40 plants. She lives in Atlanta, Georgia.

Ryan is the director of tax planning and preparation at Mariner. He assists in the preparation and review of client tax returns. He also provides tax planning and projections based on clients’ specific needs. He coordinates training for new staff on tax processes and software. 

Prior to joining Mariner, Ryan was a senior tax accountant at Commerce Bank with a focus in income tax compliance. Prior to that, he was a senior tax associate with McGladrey, where he was responsible for working with a diverse client base on their tax-related needs with a focus on S-Corporation and individual tax preparation and planning services.  

Ryan holds a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in accounting from the University of Kansas. He is a Certified Public Accountant. 

Away from the office, Ryan is involved in his church through many leadership roles. 

Jeremy is a national managing director at Mariner and leads the firm’s independent portfolio management and consulting team.

Prior to joining Mariner, Jeremy established and managed a natural resource hedge fund, Stowe Partners LLC. Additionally, he has published two indices, launched two exchange-traded funds and developed the Quantitative Allocation Methodology™ for the design and management of investment portfolios.

Jeremy resides in Sacramento, California. Away from the office, he loves to spend time with family as well as hit the slopes.

Tim is a managing consultant of independent portfolio management and consulting at Mariner. His team centered approach to his role is aimed at boosting productivity and delivering the highest level of service to advisors and their clients. His goal is to consistently refine and improve the investing experience.

Tim has spent nearly three decades in the financial services industry, including serving as an investment officer with two public pension funds. His history with portfolio management and trading and project management across industrial channels further deepens his breadth of expertise.

Tim’s interests include playing basketball, fishing with his brothers and spending time with his family and Labrador retriever.

Chris is a senior consultant of independent portfolio management and consulting at Mariner. In this role, Chris offers trading and investment support to advisors. A key administrative resource, he is responsible for entering trades as well as general portfolio administration. Additionally, he specializes in providing trade reconciliation and research support to the team.

Prior to joining Mariner, Chris spent nine years at State Street Bank, where he worked on the money market and fixed income team. While there, he managed a group of analysts responsible for valuing more than 180 funds daily.

Chris lives in the Sacramento, California, area. He enjoys watching any Bay Area sporting event and is an avid San Francisco Giants, Golden State Warriors and San Francisco 49ers fan.

John is a senior consultant of independent portfolio management and consulting at Mariner. In this role, he leads a consulting team to support independent advisors in creating model portfolios and investment strategies.

Over the course of his career at Mariner, John has taken on key roles within the firm’s research and consulting teams, contributing to the growth and success of its advisory services. Before joining the firm, he worked at Charles Schwab as a financial consultant partner and was a product manager at Principal Financial Group.

John currently resides in Cameron Park, California. When he is not reading up on investments or foiling the mischievous plans of his two cats, he enjoys going to the beach, weightlifting and playing ice hockey.