The Team
Our People
Benefit from the collective expertise of our full team: credentialed wealth advisors, portfolio managers, and planning specialists, all working together around your goals.
Advisory & Leadership
Operations & Corporate
Mike Schmansky
Lauren Niziol
Juan Pablo Novoa
Jana Carroll
Nate Lewis
Sarah Spence Wallace
Steve Ponce
Where We Are
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Talk with an AdvisorThe Team
Andrew Mescon
Andrew Mescon is a co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Ballast Rock Private Wealth, which he helped establish in 2022. He leads the firm’s overall strategy, advisor development, and growth, while continuing to work directly with a select group of clients. His client focus today centers on business owners navigating liquidity events and qualified investors evaluating Private Placement Life Insurance structures.
Andrew’s path to founding Ballast Rock Private Wealth spans institutional markets, structured finance, and private wealth management. He began his career at UBS before pursuing a Master of Public Administration at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, where he developed a macro and policy-level perspective on capital markets that continues to inform his planning approach. Following Columbia, he joined Old Hill Partners, a Connecticut-based hedge fund, where, as the sole analyst supporting two portfolio managers, he gained direct experience in credit markets and structured finance, including collateralized loan obligations. In 2008 he joined Wells Fargo’s specialty lending group in San Francisco, where his team provided leveraged buyout financing to private equity firms acquiring high-growth technology companies. That direct experience with PE-backed transaction structuring and exit financing laid the groundwork for the business owner advisory work he leads today at Ballast Rock Private Wealth. After earning an MBA from Pepperdine University’s Graziadio School of Business and Management, Andrew spent more than a decade as a financial advisor at Integrity Financial Corporation, an independent registered investment advisor, before co-founding Ballast Rock Private Wealth.
Andrew holds the Certified Exit Planning Advisor designation, a rigorous credential focused on helping business owners build enterprise value and navigate exits with clarity across financial, tax, and personal dimensions. Combined with his transaction background at Wells Fargo, it positions him to advise business owners at every stage of the ownership cycle, from the structural decisions made years before a sale to the investment and estate planning strategies implemented at and after exit.
- Master of Business Administration
- Master of Public Administration
- Series 65 – Uniform Investment Adviser Law Exam
- Certified Exit Planning Advisor®
AI is reshaping wealth management hiring, but human advice remains safe
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What are advisors telling clients as Social Security becomes less secure?
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Trump Accounts Give Newborns $1,000. Financial Advisors Aren’t Impressed.
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Christian Salomone
Christian brings nearly 30 years of institutional markets experience to his role as co-founder and Chief Investment Officer. Before joining Ballast Rock Private Wealth, he served as a Managing Director and Global Head of FX Exotics Trading at Goldman Sachs, where he spent nearly two decades managing complex derivative strategies across foreign exchange, commodities, and interest rates. He joined Goldman Sachs in 2000 as an Associate in Fixed Income, Currency and Commodities, was named Managing Director in 2008, and began his career at UBS in 1996.
That institutional grounding shapes how Christian approaches portfolio construction and risk management at Ballast Rock Private Wealth. His focus is on bringing the analytical rigor of a top-tier trading desk to the investment decisions that matter most for clients.
Christian earned a BS in Applied Mathematics from Yale University. He is President of the Yale Club of Charleston and a former member of the Board of Directors of the Yale Club of New York City.
- Series 24 – General Securities Principal Exam
- Series 7 – General Securities Representative Exam
- Series 63 – Uniform Securities Agent State Law Exam
- Series 66 – Uniform Combined State Law Exam
Fidelity, State Street ETFs cost the same, but one pays you more
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Market Pulse – May 2026
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Fed Hold Keeps Markets Anchored as Rate-Cut Timeline Slips: Analysis
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With the U.S. Battling Iran, What Now for Investors?
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Christian Salomone on 'Just What the Market Needed'
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Bank Stocks and the S&P500 in 2025 and Beyond
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Advisors say financial stocks ready for another run in 2026
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The Rebirth of the 60/40 Portfolio Has Been Greatly Exaggerated
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Firms Keep Cranking Out Active ETFs
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The Rise of PE Secondaries
Read Article →The Team
Jason Thonssen
Jason joined Ballast Rock Private Wealth with experience built across client advisory work, alternative investments, and wealth management operations. He began his financial services career at a local RIA, developing foundational expertise in wealth management, before moving to a firm serving ultra-high-net-worth clients across the full range of investment, financial, and estate planning services. There he established himself as the firm’s liaison for alternative investments and earned the Financial Paraplanner Qualified Professional (FPQP) designation.
As a co-founder, Managing Director of Client Services, and Chief Compliance Officer at Ballast Rock Private Wealth, Jason works directly with clients while overseeing the firm’s compliance framework. His background across both functions gives him a grounded perspective on what rigorous, well-structured client service looks like in practice.
Jason is a graduate of Gonzaga University, where he studied sociology and psychology. Before entering finance, he served as a project leader with a volunteer organization in Nicaragua.
- Financial Paraplanner Qualified Professional (FPQP)
- Series 65 – Uniform Investment Adviser Law Exam
The Team
Jim Carroll
Jim Carroll brings a rare combination of investment banking depth and markets experience to his work as a Senior Wealth Advisor and Portfolio Manager at Ballast Rock Private Wealth. He specializes in tax-aware investment strategies, including private placement life insurance (PPLI) and systematic ETF approaches designed around specific client objectives.
Additionally, Jim is well known for his research on equity market volatility and its use as a gauge of investor sentiment. His research and commentary regarding these topics can be found on X (@vixologist) and Substack (Vixology).
Before joining Ballast Rock Private Wealth in 2023, Jim spent four years at Tidal Financial Group and founded LongRun Capital Management in 2003. His earlier career included sixteen years as an investment banker with Smith Barney, Kidder Peabody, and Bear Stearns, four years as Chief Financial Officer of a NASDAQ-listed company, and four years of active duty as an officer in the U.S. Army. Jim earned a BA in Psychology from Claremont McKenna College and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
- Series 65 – Uniform Investment Adviser Law Exam
The VIX Isn’t Broken, It’s Just Being Outplayed
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US financial advisors brace for growing array of risks in second quarter
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Instant View: Nasdaq confirms correction as U.S. stock retreat gathers steam
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Stagflation fears and volatility are up. But advisors are not raising their cash positions in response
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Energy crisis pulls stocks 5% below January high, but path to quick recovery remains
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Investors chase cheaper, smaller companies as risk aversion hits tech sector
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Volatility gauges jump as tariff threats spook investors
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BRPW a Finalist in the Wealth Management 2025 Industry Awards (the “Wealthies”)
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Investors Unnerved as Israel-Iran Conflict Escalates
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Federal Reserve interest rate path and investor portfolios.
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Investing: Why the 60/40 portfolio just isn't working right now
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Why investors shouldn't overlook international markets
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Markets shrug off US appeals court's decision to reinstate tariffs
Read Article →The Team
Scott McClatchey
Scott McClatchey works with individuals, families, professionals, business owners, and executives on integrated financial planning, tax mitigation strategies, and tailored public-private investment portfolios. At Ballast Rock Private Wealth, he leads a next-generation planning initiative designed to give clients a clearer view of how their investment options, tax strategy, and life decisions connect. Scott has been advising clients for more than 20 years and earned his CFP® designation in 2011.
Before entering financial services, Scott spent 22 years as a systems engineer and business development specialist in the satellite communications industry, with roles at Hughes Electronics, Ball Aerospace, DIRECTV, and XM Satellite Radio. That technical background shapes how he approaches planning: with a methodical, systems-level perspective that brings clarity to complex financial decisions.
Scott holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Electrical Engineering from the University of Illinois and an MBA from UCLA. He stays active by volunteering and giving back to his community.
- Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®)
- Certified Wealth Planner®
- Certified Private Wealth Advisor®
- Master of Business Administration
Average Social Security Benefit at Age 65: How Does Your Payment Compare to Others?
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Understanding Average Social Security Benefits at Age 65—How Your Amount Compares
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The Truth About Social Security Entitlement
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Jamie Carroll
With a varied background in the financial services industry, Jamie is a Wealth Advisor who works closely with clients to develop a comprehensive approach to managing wealth and devising tailored initiatives to help them pursue their goals, address their concerns, and act on their long-term aspirations.
Prior to joining BRPW, Jamie was a financial advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, where she worked with high-net-worth clients to create financial strategies to match their needs and goals.
Jamie began her career in accounting and later worked in marketing. She is a graduate of Texas A&M, College Station, where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in sport management. Jamie also holds a post-baccalaureate certificate in accounting from the University of Louisiana at Monroe. She resides in Louisiana with her husband and three children.
- Series 7 – General Securities Representative Exam
- Series 66 – Uniform Combined State Law Exam
How financial advisors can guide widowed clients through grief
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Wisdom From The Women Leading The Finance Industry, With Jamie Carroll
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Five Estate Planning Steps From a Wealth Adviser to Protect Your Family
Read Article →The Team
Troy Davidson
Troy is a highly experienced Wealth Advisor with a distinguished track record of providing tailored financial solutions to affluent individuals, families, business owners, and foundations. With over 19 years of experience at top financial institutions such as Merrill Lynch, Fidelity, and Charles Schwab, Troy delivers personalized solutions that align with a client’s unique goals and aspirations.
Troy specializes in helping High Net Worth and Ultra High Net Worth clients preserve and grow their wealth across generations leveraging his understanding of complex wealth structures, estate planning, tax optimization, and bespoke investment strategies. He offers a holistic approach to wealth management, integrating complex estate planning strategies, alternative investments, philanthropic planning, tax minimization, and risk mitigation. Troy serves as a fiduciary and trusted partner in navigating the evolving financial landscape, whether structuring family offices, facilitating legacy planning, or optimizing investment portfolios.
Troy has an MBA from San Diego State University, a Certified Wealth Strategist (CWS®), and a Certified Private Wealth Advisor (CPWA®) and resides in Orange County, California with his wife and children. He is a sports fanatic and loves surfing, snowboarding, traveling, and good times with family and friends.
- Certified Wealth Strategist®
- Certified Private Wealth Advisor®
- Master of Business Administration
- Series 7 – General Securities Representative Exam
- Series 66 – Uniform Combined State Law Exam
Positioning Portfolios for Volatility Amid Rising Oil Prices and Geopolitical Uncertainty
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Advisors explain why ‘timing is everything’ and especially when it comes to retirement
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A slew of negative news has anxious clients calling their advisors. Here is how they are responding
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No 401(k)? Build Your Own Retirement Savings
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Kyle Fitzgerald
Kyle has been working with Ballast Rock since 2018. In his role with BRPW, Kyle is responsible for identifying and onboarding strategic advisor hires and exploring potential advisory merger possibilities. Beyond his role in supporting the firm’s growth, he supports the C-suite team on a day-to-day basis, helping to improve the marketability of the firm to both prospective clients and advisors.
The Team
Brooke Courtney
As Client Service Director Brooke combines her years of industry experience to better support BRPW advisors and their clients. Prior to joining Ballast Rock Private Wealth, she spent almost five years working for a Chicago-based registered investment advisor that catered to high-net worth clients. She collaborated closely with her former colleagues to provide investment management and financial planning services to individuals, families, and foundations.
Brooke is originally from Tucson, and now resides in San Diego. She is a graduate of The University of Alabama where she obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Consumer Sciences with a concentration in Consumer Affairs in 2018 and a Master’s Degree in Consumer Sciences with a concentration in Family Financial Planning and Counseling in 2019. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, traveling, exercising, trying new recipes, and exploring San Diego.
- Series 65 – Uniform Investment Adviser Law Exam
The Team
Jake Fetchen
A Charleston native, Jake joined Ballast Rock Private Wealth in 2026. With a background in independent financial planning, he works closely with high-net-worth individuals to develop comprehensive financial plans that integrate investment and tax strategy. Jake holds a B.S. in Finance from the Darla Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina.
