Professionals Who Care

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.

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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.

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.

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.

Recognizing the importance of financial well-being for those in the sports industry, Danny O’Rourke joins Archford to provide a wide range of financial services tailored to the needs of athletes, sports leagues, and coaches nationwide.

Prior to joining the Archford family, O’Rourke was a seasoned professional soccer player. His career began at Indiana University , where he captained the Hoosiers to back-to-back NCAA championships.  After earning 1st Team All B1G and 1st Team All-American honors, Danny was awarded top individual honor in collegiate soccer: the MAC Hermann Trophy. After being drafted 4th overall to San Jose, O’Rourke would play eleven seasons in the top flight of US Soccer, most notably the seven seasons spent with his hometown team, the Columbus Crew.  He would win three Supporter’s Shield titles and two MLS Cups during his MLS tenure.

After retiring from professional soccer in 2016, O’Rourke transitioned into coaching.  He would finish his degree at Indiana and eventually serve as an Assistant Coach for his alma mater. Danny’s experience as a player and as a coach provides him with a unique perspective on the challenges faced by athletes and sports professionals alike.

O’Rourke most recently worked as a Strength Coach for the University of South Carolina, where he utilized his expertise to help athletes reach their full potential both on and off the field.

Mitch Pannitto is a Client Service Associate at Archford. In this role, he supports our wealth management advisor teams, assists with meeting preparation, and provides client service in account maintenance.

He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing from Cleveland State University and brings several years of experience from a registered investment advisory firm, along with a background in event coordination in Los Angeles. Mitchell is passionate about helping advisors, executives, and clients succeed. Previously, he volunteered with Believe in Dreams, a Cleveland-based nonprofit dedicated to granting dreams to children facing financial hardship.

Outside of work, he enjoys staying active, spending time with family and friends, cheering on Cleveland sports teams, and is currently training for his first marathon in Honolulu.

Jack is a Wealth Manager at Archford. Using his strong conversational skills and precise attention to detail, Jack works closely with and assists wealth managers in generating client reports, facilitating operational efficiency, and initiating client communication. Jack is actively working toward completion of his CFP^® designation.

Jack is a graduate of Creighton University where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science (BA) in 2023. In 2024, he received his Master of Science in Management (MSM) from Wake Forest University. Jack is a recipient of multiple honorary awards including, Beta Gamma Sigma Honorary Society in 2024, Pi Sigma Alpha, Theta Alpha Chapter Honorary Society in 2022. Most recently, Jack was awarded the Scarritt Family Pro Humanitate Award in 2024 which highlights his peers’ recognition of his unbound willingness to help others learn and grow.

Jack finds fulfillment in helping others and enjoys volunteering his time and efforts to causes that create a long-lasting impact in the community. He has helped with philanthropic ventures such as the Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) of the Heartlands where he assisted in fundraising efforts for community outreach to families.

Jack is a St. Louis native and enjoys spending time with his large extended family consisting of his mom, dad, two sisters and their husbands, along with his niece and five nephews. In his free time, Jack enjoys watching the Creighton Men’s Basketball team, playing sports, running, hiking, and collecting vinyl records. His favorite piece in his collection is Rumors by Fleetwood Mac.

Sam is an IT Coordinator at Archford Capital Strategies, where he is responsible for responding to IT issues and assisting the Business Systems Manager in managing the company’s IT infrastructure. With 5 years of experience in IT support with Managed Service Providers (MSPs), Samuel has serviced a diverse range of clients, which has honed his problem-solving skills and passion for fixing issues. He is eager to get to know Archford better and contribute to its efficiency and effectiveness.

Samuel graduated from the University of Missouri – Columbia with a Bachelor of Science in Animal Sciences in 2016. After college, he moved to Anchorage, Alaska, with his wife, where they lived for six years. During this time, he worked as a veterinary technician for three years before transitioning to his career in IT. In his free time, Samuel enjoys playing video games, hiking with his dogs, reading, golfing, and participating in fantasy football leagues. He is also actively involved in charitable organizations such as Puppies with Purpose, Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity, and Crescendo Youth Choirs.

In addition to his role as a Strategic Wealth Advisor, Bob oversees operations and client services for Archford. Motivated by helping people achieve their financial goals, he focuses on assisting clients and their CPAs and attorneys to coordinate tax and estate planning services with other aspects of their financial strategy. Bob is also involved with investment strategy development.

A Chartered Retirement Planning CounselorSM (CRPC®) designation holder and Accredited Investment Fiduciary® (AIF®), he particularly enjoys working with pre- and current retirees, and makes attentive customer service his hallmark. During his career, Bob has worked as a Certified Public Accountant at a regional accounting services firm, as well as with a regional trust company.

618-416-7085
info@archfordcapital.com

Joe Schmidt is a Wealth Manager at Archford. In this role, he supports wealth managers by preparing meeting agendas, portfolio reviews, personal financial statements, and assisting with various client service tasks. With a passion for helping others achieve financial security, Joe enjoys being part of a dynamic team committed to making a difference in clients’ lives and building lasting relationships with clients.

Joe graduated from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business with a bachelor’s degree in finance and marketing and was a member of the Hoosier Men’s Soccer team. During his collegiate career, IU won three consecutive Big Ten Conference Championships and were regular season champions in 2018, 2019, and 2020; achievements that highlight the teamwork and dedication needed to compete at the highest level.

Before transitioning into the world of finance, Joe played professional soccer for Hartford Athletic, Spokane Velocity, and Charleston Battery where he helped the team win the Eastern Conference Championship in USL. He enjoyed the competitive environment and traveling across the country, but above all, he valued the opportunity to form close-knit relationships with teammates.

Joe’s commitment to helping others is deeply rooted in his own experiences of pursuing professional soccer goals, where he received support and guidance from many people along the way. This motivates him to contribute to the success of others.

In his free time, Joe enjoys producing music and fly fishing, blending creativity with a love for nature and relaxation.

Colby Sherman is Chief Wealth Management Officer at Archford, where he leads the firm’s wealth strategy with a focus on helping families make confident, informed financial decisions. He is committed to delivering a high standard of care and building lasting relationships, ensuring each client experience is thoughtful, personal, and aligned to their unique financial journey. 

Colby brings widespread experience across wealth management and advisory services. Prior to Archford, he held key roles at Fidelity, including Branch Leader in Naples, Florida, where he led a team of more than 50 associates. He also held roles in investment solutions and portfolio advisory services, and earlier in his career worked with MetLife Investments and Columbia Threadneedle. 

His leadership approach is grounded in service and accountability, shaped in part by eight years in the Army National Guard as an Ordnance Officer. 

Colby holds an MBA from Salve Regina University and is driven by a belief that financial planning is ultimately about helping people live meaningful lives and care for their families. 

Outside of work, Colby and his wife stay active with their three dogs and enjoy fitness and indoor rock climbing. 

Brendan Skinner is a Portfolio Operations and Investment Analyst on the Wealth Management team at Archford. In this role, he supports our team’s advisors and Chief Investment Officer with investment analysis and research, portfolio construction and trading, as well as client reporting.

As a graduate of the University of Michigan, Brendan earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sport Business with high distinction. While on campus, he spent his time outside of the classroom traveling and working with the Michigan Football team. Brendan graduated from Althoff Catholic High School, where he was named Class Valedictorian.

Kristen Steele is a Senior Client Service Associate for Archford Capital Strategies, with more than 10 years of client service experience. She is committed to helping clients and supporting the team of Wealth Management Advisors. Prior to joining Archford, Kristen began her career as a Client Service Coordinator at a national firm.

Kristen graduated from Murray State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and a minor in Marketing. She holds a Financial Paraplanner Qualified Professional™ (FPQP®) designation, aligning with Archford’s mission of helping families plan for their future.

Beyond the workplace, Kristen enjoys spending time with her family, including husband Justin, and son Owen. In her free time, she loves to travel, try local coffee shops, and shop at local boutiques.

618-416-7085
info@archfordcapital.com

He earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting from Missouri State University in Springfield. He played on the Missouri State Men’s Soccer team. In the summer of 2017, David was an Archford Scholar Intern.