Dan Michel
Dan Michel, CPA
CPA, PSF, Co-Chief Investment Strategist
Dan began his financial career as a CPA. During this chapter, he recognized an area of opportunity to help his clients even further: “I saw many instances of advisors not putting their clients first, and I knew, instinctively, that I had to do something.”
On his journey to find the best way to support his clients, Dan discovered the fiduciary advisory role and learned that a licensed fiduciary is responsible for acting entirely on behalf of the other party and their best interests. He became licensed as soon as possible to uphold this standard of highest care in the financial industry. He also obtained the Personal Financial Specialist (PFS) designation governed by the AICPA to add to his CPA credentials.
With the core purpose of bringing together a dedicated team of professionals who each had a particular area of expertise, Dan became one of the Founding Partners of Oakwell Private Wealth Management. At the end of 2021, he transitioned into the role of Investment Strategist to lend his expertise and knowledge to Oakwell’s Investment Committee.
While Oakwell clients typically interact with their primary advisor, their advisor works with the whole team to leverage the industry knowledge each person brings to the team. Dan and the Oakwell team are dedicated to growing strong relationships with clients to better understand what drives them both personally and financially.
Eric Stein
Eric Stein, CFA®
Co-Chief Investment Strategist | Partner, East Bay Investment Solutions
Prior to joining East Bay, Eric worked for a variety of firms, both large and small. This includes 7+ years with Goldman Sachs Asset Management where he held roles in areas such as performance measurement, client service, risk analysis, and portfolio construction. During his tenure there, Eric had the opportunity to cover many different types of asset classes, vehicles, and client types. Eric also worked at RSM U.S. Wealth Management for 10+ years, serving as the Chief Investment Officer while providing strategic leadership and solutions for their national investment platform.
As a Partner at East Bay, Eric serves a select group of financial advisory firms as their outsourced Chief Investment Strategist. Responsibilities of this role include continuous oversight of advisor clients’ investments, bespoke strategies for unique situations, client communications, and more.
Eric is a proud graduate of Indiana University where he earned a B.S. in Finance. Eric also earned the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation in 2001 and continues to stay involved in the local CFA society. Eric has been quoted several times in the Wall Street Journal and has written extensively on topics covering asset allocation, manager due diligence, financial markets, and economic events.
Eric enjoys traveling with his wife, Laura, and their two sons, Scott and Jack. In his spare time, Eric is an avid cyclist and includes finishing a Half-Ironman as one of his greatest athletic accomplishments.
Mario Nardone
Mario Nardone, CFA®
Co-Chief Investment Strategist | Partner, East Bay Investment Solutions
Mario began his investment career in 1999 with Vanguard mutual funds in Valley Forge, PA, where he consulted institutions and financial advisors on investment policy, portfolio construction, and Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs). He also held roles as a research analyst, a municipal bond fund specialist, among others during his tenure. In 2003 he earned the Chartered Financial Analyst designation, and he continues to mentor aspiring Charter candidates and young investment professionals.
Mario relocated to Charleston in 2010 to serve as Chief Investment Officer for a financial planning firm before establishing East Bay, the collaborative partner firm of (insert firm name), in 2014. As a Partner at East Bay, Mario serves a select group of Registered Investment Advisor firms as their outsourced Chief Investment Strategist. Responsibilities of this role include continuous oversight of advisor clients’ investments, bespoke strategies for unique situations, client communications, and more.
Mario is Past President of CFA Society South Carolina and Former Chairman of the College of Charleston Finance Department Advisory Board. His approach to investments and the industry has been featured in Investment News, NAPFA Advisor Magazine, South Carolina Public Radio, and other publications and media outlets.
Mario enjoys early morning basketball games, the Charleston beaches and restaurant scene, and spending summers in coastal Maine. He is an avid world traveler and SCUBA diver, but also enjoys the simpler joys of life with his wife Piper, their daughter Pepper, and son Santino.
