February 2025 – GAO on Crypto in 401(k)s: Risks and Oversight Challenges

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.

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.   

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.   

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.

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.

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.  

Ivan worked as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Denver, where he taught a graduate level course, Ethics in Finance. As the Advocacy Chair for CFA Society Colorado (CFACO), Ivan engaged U.S. Congressman Ed Perlmutter to be the first speaker in the District Dialog series and introduced Governor Hickenlooper to Investors First Month of May.    

Ivan is the past president of CFACO, the largest financial society in Colorado with over 1,400 members, where he arranged the annual forecast dinner with 400 industry professionals. Also, he organized the CFA Institute Research Challenge for Colorado and Wyoming universities for four years. He has partnered with top executives to engage them as the subject companies of the research challenge: Ball Corp, Molson Coors, Charles Schwab, DaVita, and Arrow Electronics. 

In recognition for his contribution to enhancing the standing of the CFACO and raising the stature of the CFA Charter, Ivan was awarded the annual Jonathan Holtzinger Award of Excellence by CFACO.  
Ivan is the past Director of Global Association of Risk Professionals in Denver. Ivan organized chapter meetings, including lectures at the Fed.  

Ivan earned M.A. in Economics degree from University of Denver, B.A. in Economics from Idaho State University, and B.S. in International Economics and Business from Kiev National Economics University in Ukraine. He holds three professional designations: Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA), Financial Risk Manager® (FRM), and Certified Financial Planner (CFP).

Ivan loves exploring the world and has visited 25 countries, and his favorite vacation was his honeymoon trip to Hawaii. He married the love of his life, Tanya, and has a son, Dennis. In his spare time, Ivan writes about economics, finance, risk management, behavioral finance, and retirement. This research is published on his personal website: ecnfin.com. 

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.

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.

Josh was born and raised in Colorado Springs, graduating from St. Mary’s High School in 1997. From there, collegiate baseball led his journey to Kansas and Missouri, where he graduated cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in English Literature from Park University (Kansas City, MO) and was an Academic All-American. With a two-year stop in Orem, UT, where he coached high school baseball, Josh returned to Colorado in 2004 to begin his career in financial services; he has been serving clients’ financial interests since 2005.

He and his wife, Katie, also a Colorado native, now live in Westminster with their two sons and young daughter. When not helping his clients reach their financial milestones, Josh enjoys coaching his boys’ athletic teams, strength training, and closely following the Colorado Rockies. 

Noah graduated from Colorado State University in May 2023, holding a dual bachelor’s degree in Economics and Finance. After completing his studies, he joined the Epiqwest Culver team as a Client Relationship Representative, the first step towards becoming an Advisor for the firm. Over the next few years Noah is looking forward to starting the Paraplanning role, where he aims to gain practical experience in financial planning and successfully pass the necessary licensing exams, with the long-term goal of progressing to the position of licensed advisor at Epiqwest Culver. He feels grateful for the opportunity and is thankful to learn by working side by side with the team of knowledgeable and experienced advisors at Epiqwest Culver.

Originally from California, Noah spent some of his early years in Santa Cruz before moving to Durango, Colorado, in 2007, where he resided until he started college in Fort Collins. Currently settled in Boulder, Colorado, he enjoys the wide range of hobbies the Front Range offers. During the winter, Noah can often be found skiing the different mountains nearby, while in the summer, he enjoys getting on the river and fly fishing. Additionally, he likes traveling to explore new destinations and experience his favorite pastimes across the country.