Your Team

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James B. Cox, CFP®, AIF®

CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™

Jim, a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ practitioner and Accredited Investment Fiduciary® professional, joined Tom in 2004. Prior to joining McCarthy & Cox, Jim was a financial advisor with Merrill Lynch in Columbus, Ohio. Before that, he was a lead real-time commodities trader for American Electric Power, where he managed more than 20 individual traders. Jim is a member of the National Financial Planning Association. 

Jim, a graduate of Bowling Green State University, is an active leader in our community. He is a past chairman of the Board of Directors for the Union County Foundation, the Marysville Uptown Renewal Team, as well as the United Way of Union County. Jim is a current board member of The Care Train of Union County. In addition, Jim and his wife own The Ridge Golf & Gardens (www.TheRidgeGolf.com), an 18-hole public golf course and event center. Jim is a graduate of the Union County Ohio Leadership Society. In addition to these community activities, Jim has been quoted and sourced for numerous articles over the years in the Columbus Dispatch, the Marysville Journal-Tribune, as well as Columbus CEO Magazine.

In 2013, Jim and his wife started a charitable fund, The Elizaveta Fund (www.Elizavetafund.org), to help families mitigate the financial burden of the adoption of orphans. Over the past 10 years, the organization has helped over 25 orphans find a forever home! Jim and his wife (Faye, of Schulze, Cox & Will law firm) live in Marysville with their son (Kaleb James) and daughter (Caroline Elizaveta).

Does your family have a "motto"- spoken or unspoken?
“Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.” - Calvin Coolidge

What was your first job?
I got a paper route of 90 homes when I was 9 years old. The age requirement was 10, but I was determined to start making my own way at a very early age!

Ryan Mickelson, CFP®, AIF®

CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™

Ryan, a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, joined the McCarthy & Cox family in September 2009. Prior to joining McCarthy & Cox, Ryan worked as an associate financial advisor at Ameriprise Financial for three years. He was a National Merit finalist and graduated from Ball State University with a BS in business administration. He has the Accredited Investment Fiduciary® designation and passed the CFP® examination in November 2011.

Ryan lives in Marysville, Ohio, with his wife, Kelly, and their five children.

What is your favorite childhood memory?
Spending time out on my grandparents’ farm in northwest Iowa exploring the huge barn, playing baseball and croquet in the yard with my cousins, watching Andy Griffith reruns when we’d come inside, eating Grandma Ruth’s incredible apple dumplings, and making hundreds of laps up and down the long gravel lane on the same old bikes my dad and his brothers rode when they were kids.

What are three things that most people don't know about you?

  • My current hobby is collecting and restoring fountain pens from the 1920s–1970s. I also accumulate loads of paper, ink, wax seals, and other items related to personal correspondence because I find these old ways of communicating so fun.

  • My dream hobby is falconry (hunting with a hawk or falcon); it has been an interest since I read My Side of the Mountain as a kid. Time-wise, it’s not realistic right now, but someday . . . .

  • If I had to name a favorite author, it would be Ernest Hemingway. I love his books, but his life and breadth of experience are just as fascinating. A flawed man, for sure, but talk about somebody who squeezed every last drop out of life!

Mark Finney, CFP®, CRPC®, AIF®

CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™

Mark, a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, joined McCarthy & Cox in October 2015. Mark has been in the industry for more than 18 years and has worked for PNC Investments as a financial advisor, Transamerica Capital as regional vice president, and most recently at US Bancorp Investments as vice president, senior financial advisor. He has the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor℠ and Accredited Investment Fiduciary® (AIF®) designations and passed the CFP® examination in April 2017. Mark has also completed the program for the Investment Adviser Certified Compliance Professional® (IACCP®).

Mark has a BA in business administration from Ohio University cum laude. Mark enjoys spending as much time with the kids as he can. He is the Rotary Club of Marysville president. When not watching movies or following a few series on TV, he also spends time checking out the local cuisine and enjoying some competitive family game nights.

Mark and his wife, Elizabeth, were married in August 2012. They live in Milford Center with their children Adalyn, Aiden, and Austin.

What was your first job?
I worked at Finney Family Dental for a summer in Marion, Ohio, before college.

What is your favorite family holiday tradition?
Watching the kids wake up each morning in December and finding the crazy places their Elf on the Shelf is hiding.

Megan McCarthy Collins, CFP®

CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™

Megan, a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional and partner in McCarthy & Cox, joined McCarthy & Cox in 2017. Prior to joining McCarthy & Cox, Megan worked as a retirement specialist at Nationwide Insurance from 2010-2017. She earned her BS in business administration from Ashland University, where she graduated with honors, majoring in finance and minoring in political science. At Ashland, she was a member of the Eagle Elite Dance Team, Eagle Investment Group, and Ashbrook Scholar Program.

Megan has a passion for serving others. After college, she was a member of the AmeriCorps VISTA program and worked with the Cleveland Foodbank in northeast Ohio. In the past, she volunteered with Marysville Uptown Theatre, United Way of Union County, Alpha Phi Fraternity, and the Mid-Ohio Foodbank. Today, Megan serves as a board member of 2nd Chances Thrift Store in Marysville. In her spare time, she enjoys thrifting, musical theatre, and spending time with her family.

Megan is the fifth generation of McCarthys to serve our community. Megan and her husband, Jarrod, along with their children, Eliza, Mia, and Walter, are proud to call Marysville home.

What is your favorite childhood memory?
I have many wonderful memories of growing up in Marysville, but if I had to choose just one it would be the joy of visiting my grandparents at McCarthy Pharmacy, where they served up warm cinnamon toast, ice cream sundaes, and cups of 5-cent coffee at the soda fountain. It was a community gathering place and it was fun to engage with the many regulars who frequented the drugstore.

What is your favorite family holiday tradition?
Christmas is my favorite! Growing up, my family taught us the importance of sharing our own gifts and blessings. For the past few years, we have participated in Besa’s Adopt a Senior event at Christmas in Columbus. Our daughters enjoy “helping Santa” shop for an individual so more of our neighbors can have a happy holiday.

Jon Lawrence, CFP®

CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™

Jon, a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, joined McCarthy & Cox in 2020 before taking over Yellow Finch Financial in 2022. Coming to us with bachelor’s degrees in economics and Russian from Vanderbilt University, Jon brings a unique background and knowledge to our team. He has worked to lead several next-generation advisor programs with other firms around the country with the goal of helping younger clients better understand their financial future. In his free time, he is also the treasurer of Families Matter, a local organization that assists the Union County court system with funding for parenting and drug rehabilitation programs.

What's your favorite activity to do locally and why?
I love going to Blue Jackets games with my family and/or friends. My family is a big sports family and after we started going to hockey games as kids, my sister fell in love with the Blue Jackets and the sport in general. Now, we try to make it to as many games as we can, and I always love to catch a game and watch our favorite team take the ice!

What are three things most people don’t know about you?
I'm a third-degree black belt in taekwondo and a registered scuba diver, and I speak Russian fluently.

 

Quinn Mickelson, CFP®, AIF®

CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™

Quinn joined McCarthy & Cox in January 2019. A graduate of Marysville High School, Quinn obtained his BS in business administration from the Ohio State University Fisher College of Business with a marketing specialization. Previously, he had been a production coordinator with Abercrombie & Fitch. Quinn  is an Accredited Investment Fiduciary® and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional.

Quinn enjoys spending time with his family, playing the guitar, and hitting the links whenever he has the time.

Quinn was born in Iowa but raised in Marysville from the age of 4. Quinn currently lives in Dublin with his wife, Sarah.

What is your favorite childhood memory?
I really enjoyed having the opportunity to swim competitively with three of my (six) brothers from ages 5 to 18. That experience really gave us a close, and often overly competitive, connection growing up.

What's your favorite activity to do locally and why?
My favorite local activity is golf since there are a plethora of courses to choose from in the Marysville area. It’s also a great excuse to spend time with family and friends!

Tony Dalton, FSCP®, LUTCF®

Chief Operating Officer

Tony, FSCP®, LUTCF®, joined McCarthy & Cox in May 2017 and serves as the chief operating officer. Tony has been in the industry for more than 26 years and most recently worked for MetLife in Charlotte, North Carolina. 

Tony has a BBA in management and a BBA in marketing from Valdosta State University. Tony is a Certified Lay Speaker and enjoys delivering the message (sermon) at a church whenever the opportunity presents itself. Within the community, he is involved with the Walk to Emmaus organization and his church. In his free time, he enjoys cycling, hiking, and spending time with his family.

Tony and his wife, Caryn, were married in 2002 and have three children: Chelsey, Emma Lita, and Seth. 

What is the best gift you have been given?
My family gave me a tissue box labeled The Box of Sweet Things filled with small slips of folded paper with sweet endings to the phrases: “I love you because…
  “I like you because …  “I like how …”

What is your favorite childhood memory?
One of the many is related to something with my mother. At night just before bedtime, she would rub Jergens lotion on her hands. Then she would take my hands in hers and rub the extra lotion (which she always seemed to have) on each of my hands. I can remember that bottle and the way it smelled along with my hands wrapped in hers like it was yesterday. My kids know this story and now they ask me to do the same for them … legacy happens in many forms!

Wesley W. Bean, CFA®

Chief Investment Officer

Wesley joined the McCarthy & Cox family in June 2016. Prior to McCarthy & Cox, Wesley spent more than 12 years with Nationwide Securities, most recently serving as the director of suitability and trading. He also has experience with Carroll Financial Associates in Charlotte, North Carolina, as lead portfolio analyst in its Managed Accounts department.

Wesley earned the prestigious Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA®designation in 2021, as well as the title of chief investment officer.

Wesley was born in North Carolina and moved to Ohio in 2010. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Catawba College in Salisbury, North Carolina, and his MBA from East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina.

Wesley lives in the Delaware area with his two children, Savannah, and Samantha.

What is your favorite childhood memory?
When I was in elementary school, I rode the bus home to my grandparents
 house. My grandfather and I would throw the football every day, and he would always ask me how many girlfriends I had that day. In third grade, my highest number was 52.

What are three things most people don’t know about you?

  • Ive been to Walt Disney World 24 times
  • I have artwork displayed in a North Carolina state museum
  • I hold four state records in drug-free powerlifting

Previn Pandey

Portfolio Manager Assistant

Previn joins McCarthy & Cox with a master’s degree in financial economics, a master’s degree in Asian studies, and a bachelor’s in finance. Hes a Level 1 CFA candidate, February 2024, and comes to us with four years of industry experience, most recently as an equity research associate at Johnson Investment Counsel and a junior equity analyst at Briefing.com. Previn has been recognized as a regional semi-finalist in the CFA Equity Research Challenge. 

In his spare time, Previn enjoys heading to the theater to take in a movie, hiking with his girlfriend and dog, trying new restaurants in the area, and spending time with family and friends.

What is your favorite childhood memory?
One of my favorite childhood memories was from when I was in seventh grade. I was jogging on the street alone in the morning and randomly ran into a group of neighborhood kids that I did not know. I ended up spending the whole day with these kids laughing, talking, playing sports, and microwaving hot dogs. We instantly clicked and became friends for years, even through high school. We spent the whole night jumping on this giant trampoline and ended up sleeping on the trampoline while looking up at the stars. I forgot to come home that night. It was the perfect day for a kid to have (until I got home and faced the wrath of my parents).

What was your first job?
My first job was as a Sandwich Artist at Subway when I was pursuing a bachelor’s degree in finance at Illinois State University. I worked the night shift from 9 p.m. until 2:30 a.m. I would not get out of work sometimes until 4:00 p.m. I then had an 8 a.m. class most mornings. This experience taught me the value of hustling, hard work, and healthy, consistent doses of caffeine. I saved nearly every penny I could and started my lifelong investment journey with this first job.

Diane Hutson

Director of Business Processing

Diane has more than 35 years of experience in the financial services industry and joined McCarthy & Cox in 2006 as practice manager. Prior to joining McCarthy & Cox, Diane worked for Smith Barney and Edward Jones in the brokerage services field. Diane is licensed in the state of Ohio for life, health, accident, and annuities insurances.

Diane was recognized at Commonwealth Financial Network®
s Assist U Symposium in Waltham, Massachusetts, as the 2007 Nationwide Staff Member of the Year.

Diane has two children and three grandchildren and lives in Marysville.

Brenda Vollrath, FPQP™

Business Processing Assistant

Brenda came to work at McCarthy & Cox in June 2007. She has previous administrative assistant experience with the Union County Court system, and prior to that, she worked as an administrative assistant at Emerald Crossings.

Brenda provides administrative support as Diane’s assistant in the Business Processing Department. Brenda completed her Financial Paraplanner Qualified Professional certification (formerly titled Registered Paraplanner®) in 2015.

Brenda and her husband, Neil, reside in Marysville. Together they have four children and one granddaughter.

Trinna Easterday

Financial Analyst

Trinna joined McCarthy & Cox in April 2016. Having attended school in Ohio (Buckeye Valley), she then spent the past 35 years in North Carolina. Trinna returned to Ohio to help care for her parents and decided to remain in the Buckeye State.

Trinna comes to us with a background in legal administration and attended the Ohio State University, Otterbein University, North Carolina State University, and Meredith College.

Traveling, hiking, gardening, enjoying nature, and spending time with friends are among her favorite things to do in her leisure time. Trinna lives in Delaware County.

Three things most people don’t know about me:

  • I like roller coasters.
  • I play the violin.
  • I used to compete in figure skating.

What is the best gift you have been given?
Salvation.

Mindy Henson, FPQP™

Client Relationship Manager

Mindy joined McCarthy & Cox in May 2015 as our bookkeeper and has grown her skills with the company, now working as the lead paraplanner, HR coordinator, and compliance assistant. Mindy completed her Financial Paraplanner Qualified Professional certification and is licensed in the state of Ohio for life, health, accident, and annuities insurance. Mindy has a BS in industrial/organizational psychology and was recently qualified as a SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management) certified professional. Mindy lives in Zanesfield and enjoys spending time with her two children and her granddaughter.

What is your favorite childhood memory? ​
Running and playing cops and robbers at dusk throughout our neighborhood with about 20 or so neighborhood kids.

What are three things most people don’t know about you?

  • I’m very shy and uncomfortable in new situations.
  • I’m claustrophobic.
  • I play multiple musical instruments (piano, clarinet, flute, oboe, saxophone, baritone, and trumpet).

Gabby Keckler, FPQP™

Client Relationship Manager

Gabby joined McCarthy & Cox in 2023 as an advisor assistant. She has a BS in business administration specializing in finance from Bowling Green State University and has completed her Financial Paraplanner Qualified Professional™ certification. She lives in Marysville with her husband, Blain, and their two dogs, Luna and Sunny. She spends much of her free time reading, baking, shopping, and trying new coffee shops.

What is the best gift you have been given?
Salvation.

Does your family have a “motto”—spoken or unspoken?
Even if.

Tyler Metzger, FPQP™

Client Relationship Manager

Tyler (TJ)  joined McCarthy & Cox in 2022 as a client relationship manager and advisor assistant. TJ has nearly four years of industry experience and holds his Ohio life and health insurance license, and has completed his Financial Paraplanner Qualified Professional™.

TJ and his wife, Ashley, and their dog, Dennis call Marysville their home. In TJ’s spare time, he enjoys basketball, coin collecting, soccer, and golf.

Whats your favorite childhood memory?
Playing wiffle ball in my parents backyard with my brother and neighbors.

Whats your favorite activity to do locally and why?
Enjoying some sand volleyball at Eljer Park—it is a great way to meet new people.

Ted Murphy, FPQP™

Client Relationship Manager

Ted joined McCarthy & Cox in November 2019 as an advisor assistant. With 20 years as a project manager and two MBAs: Ohio Christian University (Business Management) and DeVry Keller School of Management (Business Intelligence and Data Analysis), Ted brings years of organizational experience to the team.

Family is important to Ted, as he likes to spend time with his wife, Debbie, and their son and daughter, Davis and Halley. Currently, he serves North Lewisburg as mayor and on the leadership team at Bible Baptist Church in Marysville, where he leads the ministries of Fellow’s Fellowship, Seasoned Saints, and is Sunday school superintendent/junior church administrator. These leadership roles align well with our values at McCarthy & Cox. Ted enjoys spending time at his church in Marysville, appreciating the fellowship and the various opportunities to serve.

Does your family have a “motto”spoken or unspoken?
God first, everything else will work itself out.

What are three things most people don’t know about you:
Former radio news director and on-air talent with various stations in Ohio and West Virginia. Has taught as an adjunct professor for various universities.

Olivia Nance, FPQP™

Client Relationship Manager

Olivia joined McCarthy & Cox in 2021 as director of first impressions and now fills the role of advisor assistant. She has a BS in criminology from The Ohio State University and has completed her Financial Paraplanner Qualified Professional™ certification. She lives in Logan County with her husband, Luke, and their two dogs, Chance and Chase. She spends much of her free time reading fiction books and spending time with her family.

What was your first job?
My first job was at Tim Hortons during my senior year of high school—unbeknownst to me, it is where I would meet my husband!

What are three things most people don't know about you?

  • I was president of the German Club at OSU.
  • I participated in numerous activities in high schoolchoir, tennis, bowling, student council, and more!
  • Fall is my favorite season.

Sheila Sullivan-Passwaters, FPQP™

Director of First Impressions

With more than 20 years of administrative experience, including human resources, policy development, and office management, Sheila brings a strong background and personable demeanor to her role as director of first impressions. She holds a BA in journalism from Western Kentucky University and an MA in Christian education/communications from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. 
 
Sheila and her husband, Earl, truly love spending time with family and friends, but their grandson and granddaughter are the shining stars in their world. Sheila also enjoys time alone to rejuvenate and read or listen to mystery and fantasy books. She and Earl are planning new travel adventures for the two of them, but are still in negotiations for locations.


What is the best gift you have been given? 
My children are the absolute best gifts ever received
straight from heaven. 

What is your favorite childhood memory? 
My childhood was filled with family get-togethers for birthdays, holidays, and random Sunday afternoons. Most of these events, overflowing with food and laughter, were held at Mamaw and Papaw’s house. When the house got too full, we’d head to the front porch swing, climb some trees, or wander toward the barn or a small pond. I loved it when we stayed late enough for the fireflies to show themselves!

Sarah Bauer

Director of First Impressions

Sarah holds a BSBA in purchasing/supply chain and production/operations from Bowling Green State University and comes to us with 10 years of experience in inventory management at Cardinal Health. 
 
Sarah has been married to her husband, Adam, for 11 years, and they have two children, Anna and Luke. When she isn
t welcoming clients into the office, she enjoys cheering on her children at various sporting events, reading, walking, and spending time with her family.

What is your favorite childhood memory?
Our whole extended family would take vacations to Norris Lake in Tennessee. We’d spend the week boating, skiing, wakeboarding, and jet-skiing. At night we would play cards/games and just hang out and have fun with cousins, aunts, and uncles. It was the best time. A favorite memory from that time also is when we had Grandma on a jet ski!

What's your favorite activity to do locally and why?
We love to explore new walking trails … our favorites are MacIlvor Woods, Jim Simmons Trail, and the Reservoir!

Cassandra MacDonald

Director of Marketing

Cassandra comes to McCarthy & Cox with 15 years of industry experience and a communications background that brought her from a BS in visual communications technology from Bowling Green State University to her previous role as marketing and design coordinator at the Ohio Secretary of State’s office. We are thrilled to have her as our director of marketing.

Cassandra, her husband, Curtis, and their two children enjoy being active in the community. She also enjoys reading, attending local craft fairs, drinking coffee, and can be found cheering on her children at soccer, baseball, basketball or dance.

What was your first job?
I worked at Arby’s from the time I was 16 until I was 20. During that time, I was promoted to shift manager, as soon as I turned 18, and was awarded Shift Manager of the Year for the Midwest Region.

What's your favorite activity to do locally and why?
There are two local activities I really enjoy: the FestiFair Arts and Crafts show (I love seeing the creativity of others and having the opportunity to support local artists) and Merry on Main (the horse-drawn carriage rides and iceless ice skating rink have been something we always look forward to enjoying as a family).