Utilizing asset allocations for each client by first determining the client’s true risk tolerance and return objectives is paramount, as it greatly impacts investment outcomes. Multiple studies have shown that roughly 90% of portfolio performance can be explained by asset allocation and a disciplined adherence to that plan. Conversely, only 10% of portfolio returns is explained by security selection.
With properly assigned risk targets, we strive to optimize portfolio diversification to reduce individual security and manager risk and create more efficient portfolios.
While we don’t believe that tax should be the only factor in asset allocation decisions, taxes can create a significant drag on the performance of a portfolio. Therefore, we are very mindful in our investment allocation decisions.
Identifying disciplined active managers with superior long-term performance and low costs can add significant value long term. While we believe that effective active managers will provide the most value long term, we believe that both passive and active managers can provide value to a client’s allocation. We have a disciplined methodology to evaluate and select both active and passive strategies.
Cohesion Wealth Management has the knowledge and experience that most boutique investment firms lack.
Pascal Roduit serves as the Chief Investment Officer for Cohesion Wealth Management, providing expertise in portfolio construction, risk management, and macroeconomic strategy. He partners with SMArtX Advisory Solutions and has held senior roles at Mercer Park LP, Cedar Ridge Partners, Rock Maple Funds, JP Morgan Securities, Deutsche Bank, and Lloyds Bank. Pascal holds a BA and MBA in Finance from The American University in Washington, D.C.
Bryan Sullivan, CFP was head of asset allocation and correlation research at Epiqwest Financial. Bryan brings extensive knowledge and experience in the areas of separately managed account research and has coordinated research from CFA investment teams at Envestnet and more recently SMArtX.
With access to thousands of Mutual Funds, ETFs, Separately Managed Accounts, and Hedge Funds we have the scope to provide any client with access to nearly every investment asset class; however, our industry experience and systematic process enable us to narrow and identify best in class managers and strategies.
Mutual Fund Research Scorecard system by Retirement Planning Advisory Group (RPAG) is a proprietary scorecard system that delivers quantitative and qualitative metrics on the entire universe of 25,000+ funds.
SMA and Hedge Fund Research
While mutual funds may be utilized in our portfolios for access to certain asset classes or for smaller portfolios, we have found that many mutual funds tend to grow so large that they become closet indexers with higher fees. One solution to avoid this issue is to utilize smaller managers through separately managed account platforms. We have developed our own Scorecard system for selecting or removing separately managed account and hedge fund managers from our client portfolios. The scorecard analyzes both quantitative and qualitative factors that research has shown to deliver long-term outperformance.
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Alex serves as Cohesion Wealth Management’s Medicare specialist, working directly with our clients as they navigate Medicare and the coverage decisions that come with it.
Alex is also co-owner of Four Arrows Insurance, a family-owned insurance agency specializing in Medicare. He helps individuals understand their Medicare options and make informed decisions based on their individual healthcare and coverage needs.
Alex proudly served our country in the military. Following his military service, he continued his career in the private sector, working extensively with the federal government. This background gives him a unique familiarity with government programs and processes that complements his work helping clients navigate Medicare.
Through our relationship with Alex and Four Arrows Insurance, Cohesion clients have a dedicated Medicare specialist available to help them understand their options as they approach Medicare eligibility and as their coverage needs change over time.
CHIEF INVESTMENT STRATEGIST
Pascal serves as the Chief Investment Officer at Cohesion Wealth Management, bringing a level of investment understanding and sophistication to our clients, which few other firms can provide. He is an expert in investment portfolio construction, investment risk management and macro-economic research.
Pascal works with SMArtX Advisory Solutions and previously was a Senior Financial Analyst at Mercer Park LP, Director of Risk Management at Cedar Ridge Partners and Chief Risk Officer and the Director of Quantitative Research for the Rock Maple Funds. His experience also includes working at JP Morgan Securities, Deutsche Bank and Lloyds Bank.
Pascal is a frequent speaker at hedge fund conferences, seminars, and round table events, both domestic and abroad. Pascal received a BA and an MBA in Finance from The American University, Washington, DC.
MANAGING PARTNER
Eric started his financial services career in 2006, where he worked successfully with high-net-worth individuals in the life insurance industry. Over the years, he has gained experience in estate and income tax mitigation, investment management, and business planning, which he uses often with clients to find unique solutions to their financial goals and objectives.
In addition to his role at Cohesion Wealth Management (formerly Epiqwest), Eric serves as a board member for Forward Steps, a Colorado-based charitable organization. Forward Steps focuses solely on foster youth by providing them with the financial and emotional tools to complete their college and or secondary education.
Eric attended college at Metropolitan State University of Denver while proudly serving in the US Army National Guard. He holds his AAMS® (Accredited Asset Manager Specialist), BPC® (Bucket Plan Certified), and AIF® (Accredited Investment Fiduciary) designations.
Eric is currently taking clients with investable assets over $1 million.
Eric was born and raised in Boulder, CO, and now lives in Erie, CO. He married his high school sweetheart in 1999, and they have three beautiful children, Madyson, Mariah, and Mason. When away from the office, Eric enjoys travel, exercise, and most of all, spending time with his family and friends.
MANAGING PARTNER
In 2005, Bryan received a BA from the University of Colorado at Boulder. Before starting his financial advising career, he spent one year living in Madrid, Spain, working with a Christian student organization. In 2012, Bryan furthered his education by completing the Certified Financial Planner designation (CFP®).
Bryan grew up in the Pittsburgh area and is an avid Steelers fan. After moving to Colorado Springs in his high school years, he decided to stay in Colorado for college and ended up meeting his wife, Stephanie, at the University of Colorado. Bryan lives in Broomfield, CO with his wife and his three daughters and dog (also female). Bryan and his wife love to travel and have been able to visit amazing places such as Europe, Russia, China, and Bali. In his free time, you will likely find Bryan spending time with his family, on his mountain bike in the summer, or on skis in the winter.
CLIENT SERVICES ASSOCIATE | TAX COORDINATOR
Liz joined Cohesion Wealth Management in 2024 as a Client Services Associate, bringing her expertise to client support and contributing to the firm’s newly formed tax division.
A graduate of Metropolitan State University of Denver, Liz earned her bachelor’s degree in Computer Information Systems. Before transitioning to wealth management, she enjoyed a successful career in the culinary arts, where she combined creativity and precision to deliver exceptional dining experiences. Liz’s diverse background blends analytical skills, problem-solving, and a strong commitment to hospitality, making her a valuable asset to the CWM team.
Originally from Northern Colorado, Liz now resides in the Broomfield area. In her free time, she enjoys exploring the mountains, reading, cooking, traveling, and spending quality time with her family. Liz is eager to continue learning and growing alongside the CWM team.
Senior Director of Advanced Planning at CBS Brokerage
Jack F. Elder, J.D., LL.M. (Taxation) is the Senior Director of Advanced Planning for CBS Brokerage. He has nearly 20 years of experience advising high-net-worth and privately held business clients. Jack is a frequent presenter to attorneys, CPAs, trust advisors, and insurance professionals.
Jack utilizes his legal expertise and deep industry experience to assist CBS’s top producers and accounts with wealth transfer planning, business succession, executive compensation, and charitable giving. He excels at breaking down complex advanced planning strategies into easily understandable, practical, actionable components.
Before joining CBS, Jack thrived in a variety of advanced planning roles in the life insurance industry. Prior to his career in life insurance, he was an estate planning attorney in suburban Maryland. Jack graduated from George Mason University School of Law in Virginia, and he earned his Master of Laws in Taxation from Georgetown University Law Center in the District of Columbia.
In his free time, you can find Jack playing with his two daughters, Maggie and Dottie, and spending time with his wife, Jenny, in the suburbs of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
CLIENT SERVICES ASSOCIATE, MARKETING SPECIALIST
Sarah brings over 20 years of dynamic administrative experience, marked by a proven ability to develop and implement impactful organizational systems. Her career has taken her across a variety of industries, including tax advisory, business management, legal services, and healthcare. In each of these roles, she has consistently delivered results through innovation, adaptability, and a forward-thinking mindset.
She is known for thriving in uncertain or evolving situations and is at her best when solving complex challenges or working on unique, non-traditional projects. Sarah naturally looks for opportunities to improve systems, support team growth, and create meaningful progress, always bringing a creative approach to her work.
A proud native of the North Denver Metro area, Sarah still calls it home and lives there with her husband and children. Outside of work, she enjoys expressing her creativity through art, design, music, and travel. She also loves taking on home improvement projects. Sarah shares good humor and a big smile with everyone she meets.
Sarah is deeply committed to giving back to her community. She has a strong passion for helping others and finds fulfillment in using her talents to make a difference. One of the most meaningful roles she has taken on is serving as a court-appointed advocate for abused and neglected children, a calling that reflects her deep compassion and dedication to service.
PARTNER, DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
Niki earned her Bachelor of Science as well as her Master’s in Accounting. She has worked in the financial services industry since early 2010 and is well-versed in the pressures and rewards of our clients’ financial journeys.
Niki is delighted to manage all aspects of the client relationship and prides herself on efficient communication, attention to details, and delivering results. While striving to exceed expectations in service and client care, she continually prioritizes clients’ needs with professionalism and compassion.
Niki is extremely passionate about her family; she enjoys sharing beautiful and invigorating experiences with her husband and their two charismatic children, Maci and Jet. In her free time, Niki enjoys kickboxing, exercising, traveling, camping, and spending quality time with her family and friends.
LEAD ADVISOR
Ron has been a financial advisor and investment analyst since 1998 and has been with Cohesion Wealth Management (formerly Epiqwest) since 2007. His unique skill set for analyzing prospective investments draws from his decades of experience as an investment advisor, his work with operating companies, and guidance from his personal advisory board.
Before joining Cohesion Wealth Management, Ron served as CFO of an environmental construction company that experienced an average of 300% annual revenue growth during his tenure. He also held roles supporting executives at several non-profits and worked at FedEx Corporation, where he contributed in the areas of strategy, forecasting, marketing, and product management.
Ron holds a BS with a double major in Economics and Finance from St. Cloud State University (summa cum laude), and an MBA in Finance from Vanderbilt University.
A native of rural Minnesota, Ron spent years living across the U.S. before returning to his home state. He now lives in Minneapolis with his wife, Laurie, and their son, John. Together, Ron and Laurie have traveled extensively, visiting dozens of countries around the world. One of his most impactful experiences was traveling throughout China while adopting his Chinese son. During that journey, he connected deeply with the people, culture, and history of the country—an experience that left a lasting impression.
PARTNER, CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT
Mark Steichen is a seasoned Certified Public Accountant based in Colorado, with over two decades of experience in tax, finance, and accounting. Mark holds an MBA from the University of Iowa and a Bachelor of Arts in Finance from Loras College. He earned his Colorado CPA license in 1996.
Throughout his career, Mark has provided expert tax preparation and consulting services for individuals, businesses, and corporations. He specializes in federal, state, and local income tax returns, R&D tax credit studies, risk assessments, and compliance activities. Mark has managed complex tax resolution cases and led research and development tax credit projects, demonstrating a keen ability to navigate intricate financial regulations.
Mark’s professional journey includes roles as an adjunct professor at Front Range Community College, where he taught undergraduate accounting courses, and as a tax accountant for organizations such as Global Water Technologies and Novartis. He has directed finance departments for non-profit and technology organizations, overseeing budgeting, financial reporting, and audit activities.
Earlier in his career, Mark served as a Revenue Agent for the Internal Revenue Service, auditing personal and corporate tax returns and ensuring compliance with federal tax law.
Mark is committed to delivering accurate, insightful financial guidance and is recognized for his integrity, attention to detail, and dedication to client success.
