Professionals Who Care

Anna Hanger is the Client Service Associate at Archford. In this role, she supports our team’s wealth management advisors, assists with meeting preparation, and provides client service in account maintenance.

She graduated from McKendree University with a degree in marketing and a Master of Business Administration in 2020.

At McKendree, Anna played for the women’s soccer team. In her free time, she loves the outdoors, going on hikes, watching movies and spending time with family and friends.

Julie contributes her talent and skills in various areas within the firm. She offers executive administrative services to the Archford team and manages all client and business events. Additionally, she serves as a campaign coordinator for the United Way of Greater St. Louis. Julie studied mathematics at Southeast Missouri State.

Sam Hanger is a Strategic Wealth Advisor at Archford. Sam was an Archford Scholar Intern during the summer of 2013. After graduating college, he began his career at a national financial firm and later brought this experience with him to Archford as a full time member of the team. He serves as a member of a local community college’s Foundation Board and also serves as vice chairman of the Finance Committee.

Sam’s experience in nearly every aspect of the client’s financial picture helps fuel his passion and motivation for helping others.

Sam graduated Cum Laude from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance. He holds his Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) designation with the CFP Board of Standards, a Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC ®), and also holds the Accredited Investment Fiduciary (AIF®) designation, which coincides with Archford’s philosophy of holding the client’s best interest to the utmost fiduciary care.

Sam lives in O’Fallon, IL where he enjoys spending time with his family – his wife Max, son, daughter, and golden retriever Callie.  He also stays active within the community, with work done for the O’Fallon Food Pantry, and active involvement with the Mizzou Alumni.

Ryan Haynes is a Wealth Managerr at Archford. In this role, he supports Relationship Managers and assists with daily operations to enhance client experiences. Ryan began his journey at Archford as an intern where he managed compliance tasks, and broker-dealer accounts which led him to his current position. 

Ryan graduated summa cum laude from McKendree University with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Economics and Finance. He was recognized as the McKendree School of Business Top Graduating Economics and Finance Student and earned multiple honors including National Wrestling Coaches Association Scholar All-American, and GLVC Academic All-Conference Honoree. 

Driven by his passion for working with clients and problem solving, Ryan is committed to building and maintaining strong relationships with clients by providing exceptional service to clients and their families. Ryan’s dedication to helping others is highlighted by his upbringing and involvement in the various roles he held at McKendree including resident assistant, and student academic mentor. 

In his free time, Ryan enjoys exercising and other outdoor activities like golf and pickleball. He remains connected to the McKendree University community and supports the NCAA Division II McKendree Men’s Wrestling Team.

Jeff Keiser serves as the Chief Legal Officer at Archford. His objective will be to help position your family’s wealth in a tax efficient manner and with a generational mindset.

He brings to the table nearly 40 years of experience in tax, retirement, estate, and financial planning, having held leadership positions at a large private bank and a national trust company. Jeff recently earned the Accredited Estate Planner designation from the National Association of Estate Planning Councils. He is a member of the St. Louis Estate Planning Council, the Kansas City Estate Planning Society and the Missouri Bar Association’s Trust & Probate Committee.

Jeff received his J.D. from the University of Missouri – Kansas City. He then taught classes at the K.C. Chapter of the American Institute of Banking, Maple Woods Community College and Park University.

Monette has been helping people plan for retirement for almost three decades. Having successfully completed multiple exams (securities and insurance) she is also a Chartered Retirement Plan Specialist. Monette oversees Archford’s Retirement Plan’s section. Monette works closely with Archford’s business owners to craft a “best fit” retirement plan and navigate the complex world of ERISA. Her gift for helping employees understand their retirement plan and how to use it to their advantage is what she is most recognized for.

Before joining Archford, Monette worked for a national financial planning firm who worked closely with members of our armed forces to help them create a financial plan. Always motivated by helping others she has volunteered for the local “spouses club” on base, served as the president of the school’s PTA, lead the high school booster club, serves as an ambassador at the TMSM Chamber of Commerce and sits on the board of the Troy Maryville Collinsville CEO program.

Monette was raised in Texas but moved around the country with her husband during his career in the US Army. She holds an undergraduate degree in Social Work from University of Texas at El Paso and a graduate degree in Education from Northwestern State University in Louisiana. Monette and her husband Dave have two sons and enjoy listening to live music, traveling, boating, sailing, and golfing.

Elvin Lay is the Tax Director at Archford. In this role, he oversees client relationships and staffing for Archford Accounting. Elvin brings a great deal of experience to the team and has previously owned and managed a CPA practice which provided services to 1,100 clients relative to bookkeeping, payroll, and tax. He also served as the Assistant Director of Financial and Compliance Auditing for the Illinois Office of the Auditor General and served as the Fiscal Officer for the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS).

Elvin obtained his Master of Science in Business Administration degree with an emphasis in accounting at the University of Central Texas in 1990, and also earned his graduate degree with a Master of Arts in Accounting at the University of Illinois, Springfield in 2007. On top of his education, Elvin has served as an alderman for the city of Auburn, IL and was the finance committee chair. He also served on the Board of the Auburn, IL Fire Department and volunteered for the Auburn Lutheran Church finance committee.

As a member of the United States military, Elvin was awarded the Army Commendation Medal and served during the Gulf War. Within the State Government, he was assigned to manage and participate in various projects and positions such as the implementation of the State of Illinois’ child support State Disbursement Unit, Manager of the Illinois Federal Statewide Single Audit, participation in the Illinois Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, and oversight of the audits of Medicaid providers in the Illinois HFS Office of the Inspector General.

In his free time, Elvin enjoys spending time with his grandchildren, traveling, golfing, and other outdoor activities. He has also been an avid volunteer for community organizations, the church, and a proud supporter of the Make-a-Wish Foundation.

Martin Leifeld is an Archford Capital Business Consultant. He is also an author, coach and speaker.

During his 24 years of professional fundraising, Martin and his teams raised a staggering $500 million dollars. In 2018 Martin was named Outstanding Fundraising Executive by the Association of Fundraising Professional St. Louis Regional Chapter. He was recently named the 2020 winner of the Millard S. Cohen Lifetime Achievement Award from St. Louis Public Radio (KWMU).

With a passion to serve, Martin established MartinLeifeld.com as a resource for those looking to learn more about fundraising and leadership. It’s Martin’s hope that those looking to enrich their lives and organizations will continue to visit this page for updates, learn professional experiences and proven tips in Five Minutes for Fundraising, and connect with like-minded professionals.

Martin served as vice chancellor for university advancement at the University of Missouri–St. Louis for ten years, overseeing external affairs and 140 employees for the university. While there, he led a dramatic increase in fundraising, averaging $26.4 million per year.

Prior to joining UMSL, Leifeld was associate vice president for university development at Saint Louis University. There he directed 55 University development staff, and all campaigns, planned giving, major gifts, corporations and foundations, data maintenance and gift processing, prospect research and stewardship. Leading a major reorganization resulting in a 500% increase in donor/prospect engagement, Leifeld and his team raised $158 million in 3 years.

In addition to his years in academia, Martin worked tirelessly for the Catholic Diocese of Belleville in Belleville, Ill. directing efforts that raised $80 million by creating and instituting a development program that included an annual appeal with major gifts component, the first diocesan major campaign and the establishment of the Catholic Community Foundation. Always called to serve, he spent twelve years with Franciscan University – Steubenville, Ohio as the Director of Christian Outreach and also served as a consultant and executive in Ohio and Wisconsin.

Leifeld’s civic activities have included serving on the boards of directors for FOCUS St. Louis and the Nonprofit Services Consortium, and the President’s Council for Food Outreach. He is a former president and a board member of the Southern Illinois Charitable Giving Council. Leifeld holds a bachelor’s degree (summa cum laude) in theology and a master’s degree in business administration, both from Franciscan University. Martin is married to Ellen Howe and they reside in University City, MO. He enjoys four adult children, seven grandchildren as well as a son-in-law and a daughter-in-law.

Dom Macaluso serves as an Estate Planning Specialist at Archford, where he utilizes tax and estate planning strategies to help families protect and grow their wealth for future generations. He is passionate about guiding clients toward their lifelong goals and thrives in energetic, collaborative environments.

Dom earned his Bachelor of Science in Accounting and his Master of Business Administration from Xavier University, where he also served as Captain of the Men’s Tennis Team and received the Brockhoff Award for Character. He is currently completing his Juris Doctor at the University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law, where he has earned Dean’s List distinction and the Greenbaum Award for Excellence in Legal Writing.

Before joining Archford, Dom gained valuable experience as a Legal Intern at Baird Trust Company, assisting the legal team with reviewing trust documents and diagramming estate plans. He also previously interned with Archford and worked as a tennis professional and coach. Across all roles, he has most enjoyed working with exceptional mentors whose willingness to teach has shaped his professional development.

Dom is driven by a strong desire to help others, believing that people deserve support from someone who is committed to using their skills for good. Providing guidance to honest, hardworking families is especially meaningful to him.

Outside of work, Dom enjoys traveling with his girlfriend, Caroline, playing tennis and golf, watching sports with friends, and relaxing with a good TV show or movie.

James D. Maher, an attorney and CPA, holds a bachelor’s degree and a law degree from the University of Missouri–Columbia. He is the CEO and Founder of Archford, an Inc. 5000 fastest-growing private company in America in 2022. Believing that the most essential asset for a business owner is the employees themselves, James has assembled an exceptional team of advisors.

James has earned seven certifications and designations in addition to his advanced degree. These designations help him to design and implement both financial and tax-advantaged plans efficiently. He also created a consulting division to assist business owners with a wide range of solutions for business continuation or succession planning. As a Certified Exit Plan Advisor (CEPA®), he helps closely held family businesses to establish resources for business owners in transition. As an award-winning, nationally recognized authority in estate planning, business transition, and philanthropy, he is a sought-after thought leader, speaker, and author.

In 2024, James was named the Vistage Lifetime Achievement Award winner. He is a member of the Missouri Bar, the National Center for Employee Ownership, Vistage, and the St. Louis Titan 100 Hall of Fame. Currently, he serves on the St. Louis Children’s Hospital Foundation Board of Trustees and is a member of the St. Louis Chapter of the Exit Planning Institute and the Leadership Council of Southwestern Illinois. In 2009, James was named “Donor Advisor of the Year” by Leave a Legacy, Planned Giving Counsel, and The Greater St. Louis Community Foundation.

James and wife Jenny have four sons. Together, they enjoy giving back to the community through philanthropy and traveling. Their children are a source of unparalleled joy, each marked by their unique achievements, humility, and resilience.

Check the background of your financial professional on FINRA’s BrokerCheck.

James “JD” Maher, Jr. serves as an Estate Planning Specialist for Archford. In his position, he assists his estate planning team through all the complexities of the job while ensuring that clients receive the best possible service. As a past intern and Archford Scholar, he has been able to witness the firm grow due to the incredible work done by current team members. He looks forward to contributing to this growth in his current role as he dedicates himself to assisting clients with all their legal and financial needs.

He completed his Bachelor of Science in Finance and Juris Doctorate (JD) from the University of Missouri – Columbia. In addition, he has also completed his Masters in Philanthropy (MA) from Indiana University – Indianapolis Lilly Family School of Philanthropy and Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP) from the American College of Financial Services.

JD possesses a passion for helping others, driven by his personal experience of receiving two life-saving liver transplants early on in his life. Grateful for the kindness and support he received during those challenging times, he has dedicated his professional journey to making a positive impact on others’ lives. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with friends and family, playing golf, supporting Mizzou, and attending sporting events – especially those where his younger brothers play soccer.

Joey Maher is a Tax Accountant with Archford Accounting. In this role, he supports the tax managers by helping prepare tax returns as he continues studying for securities licenses and navigating the CPA exam. Joey is also involved in community work.

Prior to joining Archford, Joey attended Indiana University Bloomington (IU) where he completed his Bachelor’s in Accounting at the Kelley School of Business. After completing his undergrad, he completed his Master of Accountancy at Saint Louis University (SLU).

During college, Joey was a devoted student-athlete who excelled on and off the field. In 2023, he was recognized as Scholar All American by United Soccer Coaches for Men’s NCAA Division I student-athletes. Joey played soccer for both IU and SLU where he was named team captain of both teams, demonstrating his excellence in leadership. Helped lead his team to two Big Ten Regular Season Championships, and two Big Ten Tournament Championships. His team made the NCAA College Cup twice and was drafted 30^th overall by Toronto FC in the 2024 MLS Draft.

Joey is excited to help and serve others with the Archford team and be a part of the mission of Taking Care of Families. Joey enjoys helping others because as he put it, “…that’s simply my purpose. Being able to help put a smile on someone’s face will immediately light mine with joy.”

In his free time, he enjoys traveling with family and friends, playing sports, and watching the Hoosiers, Billikens, and Nashville S.C.

Nathan Martin is a Senior Tax Accountant. In this role, he assists with tax return preparation and bookkeeping for clients. In 2019, he was an Archford Scholar and continued working with the firm through multiple accounting internships until starting his full time position.

Graduating from the University of Missouri-Columbia in December 2022, he has earned his Bachelor of Science and Master of Accountancy. Prior to attending Mizzou, Nathan attended O’Fallon Township High School.

In his free time, he enjoys spending time with family, playing golf with his friends, and watching Mizzou sports.

Dustin Mercer is a Wealth Manager at Archford. In this role, he supports and assists Strategic Wealth Advisors with client service and portfolio management efforts. Driven by a commitment to helping others achieve their financial goals, he is dedicated to building strong relationships and contributing to a team that not only makes a lasting difference in clients’ lives, but is dedicated to a culture that values helping others.

Dustin is a graduate of Murray State University where he graduated with a degree in Finance. During his time at MSU, he cultivated a powerful work ethic and collaborative spirit during his five-year collegiate baseball career with the Racers. He was a pivotal member of a historic team that shattered multiple records and secured the program’s first-ever berth in the College World Series—an achievement that underscores his dedication to teamwork and being able to perform his role at the highest level.

His passion for helping others stems from a deep sense of purpose he finds in making a positive impact, whether by solving a problem or supporting someone’s growth. This philosophy guides his professional life and extends to his personal time, where he has been involved with Murray Needline, a nonprofit, community supported organization that assists Murray and Calloway County residents with basic human needs.

Outside of work, Dustin stays active by playing pickleball and going to the gym.

Cathy brings over 30 years of administrative assistance with nearly 20 years of financial service to Archford. She proudly serves our tax and accounting clients and our team. Cathy lives in Collinsville, IL with her husband and boxer, Kacey. She is dedicated to her church, it’s Fun Food Ministry, and is active in the Collinsville area Meals on Wheels and Baptist Children’s Home & Family Services which provides support throughout the entire state of Illinois.

Kimberly Noltkamper serves as Director of Administration for Family Office Services and Wealth Management at Archford, where she helps ensure the firm’s work with multigenerational families operates with precision and care. Her role focuses on the operational foundation behind family office planning, supporting the systems, processes, and documentation that allow advisors to deliver seamless service to families whose financial lives often span multiple entities, advisors, and generations.

Kim brings more than two decades of experience in financial services administration and operations. Over the course of her career, she has worked within a credit union, a trust company, and a family office, developing a strong understanding of the discipline required to support sophisticated wealth structures.

Before joining Archford in 2015, Kim spent seven years working within a family office supporting the administrative and operational needs of high-net-worth families. That experience provided her with firsthand insight into the coordination, discretion, and thoroughness required to serve families with complex financial lives.

At Archford, Kim works closely with Strategic Wealth Advisors and the Family Office Services team to coordinate client service across the firm. She leads the Client Service Associate team and helps align the work of advisors and service professionals; as a result, client communications, documentation, and reporting remain organized and consistent. Her leadership supports the implementation of planning strategies while maintaining the level of care and responsiveness families expect from a family office relationship.

Kim enjoys volunteering in her community and spending time with her rescue dogs, Baby Girl and Bear. She lives in Belleville, Illinois.