We are committed to making our clients’ lives more Profitable, Simple, and Fun.
Don Garman
Founder & Chief Investment Officer
Don is the Founder and Chief Investment Officer of Mirador Capital Partners and Co-Founder of Tri-Valley Ventures.
A seasoned investor in both public and private companies for over 30 years, Don leads Mirador’s Investment Committee and oversees each of the firm’s proprietary investment strategies. In addition, he is responsible for all investments in the Financial Services, Financial Technology, and Insurance Sectors for Tri-Valley Ventures.
Prior to founding Mirador, Don served his clients at two of the nation’s largest advisory firms.
He is very active in the Tri-Valley area and supports many community organizations, including The First Tee of the Tri-Valley, The George Archer Foundation, and the Livermore Valley Winegrowers Foundation. Don lives in Pleasanton with his wife Mindy and has two children, Emma (Georgetown University) and Scott (UC Berkeley). He is an avid drummer, golfer, and snowboarder.
Carol Wikle
CFP®, CIMA®, CRPC®
Principal
Carol is an investment professional with over 20 years of experience. Prior to changing careers in 1998, Carol owned and operated her own company for 16 years, serving as the Chief Financial Officer. Carol understands the needs of business owners and families, and works with them to simplify their financial picture. She works with clients to collaborate with their tax and legal advisors for efficient implementation of their goals and plans. Carol has earned the prestigious designations of Certified Financial Planner®, Certified Investment Management Analyst®, and Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor®. She is a member of the firm's Investment Committee.
Prior to Mirador Capital Partners, Carol was Financial Advisor, Associate Vice President in The Garman Group at Morgan Stanley. Carol began her career as a Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch in 1999, building her own practice until joining The Garman Group in 2006 at Merrill Lynch.
Carol actively gives to her community through her 25 years of service in the Castro Valley Rotary Club where she is a Past President, having held the position for 2016-2017. Carol has also served on the Board of Directors of the San Leandro Boys and Girls Club and the Eden Medical Center Foundation. Her passions include dancing, gardening, cooking, traveling, and Bible study. Carol graduated from Cal State East Bay and is the mother of two sons, Don Garman and Howard Wikle.
Dan Murray
Principal
925-621-1004
dan.murray@miradorcp.com
Dan Murray is an advisor at Mirador Capital Partners and is a member of the firm's Investment Committee.
He advises individuals, families and assists companies with their retirement plans. Since 1995, Dan Murray has been actively involved in investment management and the capital markets. Prior to Mirador Capital Partners, Dan worked at Morgan Stanley as a Financial Advisor in The Garman Group. Earlier in his career, Dan was a General Partner for the Manzanita Fund, LP, where he managed a portfolio of equities and ETFs. Dan also served as a Managing Partner of the broker-dealer MasterBlaster Trading Company, LLC. For the firm, he made markets in equity and index options on The Pacific Exchange, as well as the Chicago Board Options Exchange.
Dan is deeply engaged in his community. He is involved in the Northern California Chapter of the University of Colorado's Alumnae Association, where he graduated cum laude in History and Sociology. He is a long-time member of the Mill Valley Historical Society, served as a coordinator of the Mill Valley Soccer Club's Recreational League and coached in the Mill Valley Little League. Since 2010, he has served on the Board of Trustees of the Mount Tamalpais School, where he is also an alumnus. He was the co-chairman of Save our Trails, where he successfully led a community effort in Mill Valley, CA to preserve the town's heritage Steps, Paths, and Lanes.
Joseph D. Garcia
CFP®
First Vice President, Wealth Management Advisor
With over 25 years experience in finance and investments, Joe is a skilled professional, offering asset and liability management, estate planning, and financial solutions. As First Vice President, Wealth Management Advisor at Mirador Joe is proud to service our clients with a strong research approach and dedication to excellence. Joe is a member of Mirador’s Investment Committee and has earned the prestigious designation of Certified Financial Planner®.
Originally from New Jersey, Joe earned his Bachelor of Arts in Economics from The University of California, Berkeley. Upon graduation, Joe pursued a career in finance, working for Merrill Lynch in their San Mateo office. Joe moved to Merill Lynch's downtown San Francisco office after 10 years in San Mateo to become a Producing Sales Manager where he helped develop and train advisors as well as handle his own clients. During his career at Merrill, Joe was honored to serve clients who he considers friends, and was responsible for nearly $200 million in client assets.
Joe lives in the heart of San Francisco. He is a member of the San Francisco Financial Planning Association.
Mark Swoboda
Financial Advisor
Mark Swoboda is a Financial Advisor at Mirador Capital Partners and serves as a member of the firm’s Investment Committee.
Mark specializes in working with families and professionals to help them prepare for their future and ultimately achieve financial independence.
He helps his clients create a comprehensive and easy to follow financial plan that prepares them for both their long-term and short-term goals, whether it be saving for college, buying a second home, estate planning, optimizing taxes on equity compensation, or retirement planning.
Mark joined Mirador after spending 14 years as a successful sales executive in both the semiconductor and SaaS industries. While leading global account teams in the high-tech industry, he found it difficult to understand how his investment plan was preparing him for the future and decided to learn as much as he could himself. Through the process he found himself supporting friends and family with their investing strategies and found his passion as a financial advisor.
A native of Pleasanton, Mark attended Foothill High School where he was an All-American lacrosse player. He went on to attend Santa Clara University where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering in addition to captaining the University’s lacrosse team, where he earned All-America and Academic All-America honors.
Mark is an active member of the Pleasanton community where he lives with his wife and two young daughters. When he is not working, Mark enjoys hiking, golfing, skiing, and spending time with his family.
Audrey Glafkides
CFP®
Chief Operating Officer
audrey.glafkides@miradorcp.com
Audrey has more than 30 years of financial services and real estate experience. Audrey is responsible for the daily operations of the firm as well as trading, compliance, and human resources. In addition, Audrey offers her services as a Notary Public and, as a Certified Financial Planner®, she provides financial planning for clients. She also leads the firm's Women's Investment Education initiative and involvement in the community.
Prior to Mirador, Audrey worked for Morgan Stanley as a Relationship Manager in The Garman Group. She has her State of California Insurance license and has earned the prestigious designation of Certified Financial Planner®. Audrey is a member of the firm's Management Committee.
A native of Pleasanton, Audrey actively volunteers as a member of Pleasanton North Rotary, at animal rescues, and for other local community groups. She is a graduate of the University of the Pacific as well as the Leadership Pleasanton program. She enjoys spending time with her two children, Scott and Elise, and her family, as well as hiking, travel and time with her animals.
Daniel Potts
Vice President, Marketing
Daniel is a graduate of the University of Nevada, Reno where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and a minor in Business. He is responsible for marketing and many day-to-day operations at Mirador.
Daniel lives in Livermore where he is able to appreciate the Tri-Valley for its proximity to world class wineries. Daniel enjoys spending his time off traveling, bike riding, reading, and pursuing novel dining experiences.
Jackson Vickers
Financial Planner & Investment Analyst
Jackson Vickers is a Financial Planner and Investment Analyst at Mirador. He works closely with our advisors to review client portfolios, steering them toward clearly defined goals and expectations. He is an active member of the firm’s Investment Committee.
Jackson graduated Summa Cum Laude from Barrett, The Honors College at Arizona State University with a Bachelor of Science in Finance and certificates in International Business and Political Economy.
Jackson is originally from Phoenix, Arizona. He attended Brophy College Preparatory where he played on the varsity golf team. Prior to joining Mirador, Jackson spent over three years interning in the financial planning department at the Dollarhide Financial Group. In his free time, Jackson loves to play golf, cook, read, travel, and spend time with friends and family.
Ryan Long
Research Analyst
Ryan is a Research Analyst at Mirador Capital Partners and an Investment Associate at Tri-Valley Ventures.
Prior to joining Mirador, Ryan worked as an Investment Banking Associate at the Bank of Montreal providing financial advisory services to clients in the technology sector with a focus on M&A, debt financings and equity offering transactions. He graduated with Highest Distinction from the University of Iowa, earning a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance and a Minor in Psychology.
A native of the Tri-Valley area, Ryan grew up in Danville, attended Monte Vista High School, and participated in Track and Cross Country. In his leisure time, he enjoys playing basketball, boating, weightlifting, and distance running.
Amber Ottersen
Director of Client Services and Operations Manager
Amber oversees both operations and the client service team, ensuring advisors receive the support they need to serve clients effectively. Amber's past experience managing a dental practice and running her own fitness business demonstrates her strong leadership and organizational skills. She brings a unique blend of academic background (Kinesiology) and management experience to her role as Director of Client Services at Mirador.
A lifelong resident of Livermore with a young family, Amber enjoys outdoor activities like hiking, camping, and running.
Blair Laidlaw
Client Service Associate
Blair Laidlaw is a Client Service Associate at Mirador where he is responsible for supporting our advisors, ensuring a smooth experience for our clients, and being an avenue for clients to field any queries they may have.
His professional experience spans eight years with roles in Investment Operations and Wealth Management across Australia, Canada, United Kingdom, and the US.
Prior to Mirador, he worked at large investment firms including JP Morgan and Alliance Bernstein, where he obtained his SIE, Series 7, and Series 63.
Blair is a graduate of The University of Aberdeen in Scotland, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts in Business Studies. He currently resides in Castro Valley and is passionate about international travel, golf, soccer, and spending time with his family.
Kylie Engkvist
Client Service Associate
In her role as a CSA, Kylie is responsible for assisting Mirador’s advisors and clients with a variety of tasks and requests. She has extensive experience with our firm in account management and administrative support.
Her professional background includes nearly a decade in customer service positions.
Kylie is a graduate of the University of Arizona Global Campus, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Accounting. She currently resides in Dublin with her husband and son. She enjoys camping, cooking, and spending time with her family.
Chris Fusco
Senior Client Service Associate
Chris Fusco is an experienced financial services professional with a strong background in executive support, client relationship management, trading, and operations. He has held leadership roles at Tocqueville Asset Management in New York City and Merrill Lynch in San Francisco, where he excelled in streamlining operations and providing high-level administrative support to C-Suite executives and Ultra High Net Worth clients.
Chris holds an MBA in Management and a BS in Graphic Design, with a minor in Business Management, from SCSU.
In his personal life, Chris enjoys skiing, spending time with family, cooking, motorsports, vintage audio gear, and photography.
Deja Holland
Receptionist
Deja Holland serves as our receptionist, creating an inviting environment for our clients and providing them with an exceptional experience.
Deja's background as an educator demonstrates her strong leadership and organizational skills. She brings a unique blend of academic and administrative experience to her role at Mirador.
Deja is a graduate of San Jose State, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies. She enjoys outdoor activities like hiking, exercising, and going to the beach. She currently resides in Oakland.