John takes great care in developing relationships and providing quality service. John has extensive knowledge in Financial Planning, Investment Management, Insurance Planning and Estate Planning needs.

John is a native to Fox Point. He takes great pride in his three adult sons, John Jr., Daniel and Thomas. John serves on the Pastoral Council at St. Eugene Parish. He also serves on the Marquette University High School Development Committee that helps the school raise money for scholarships.

BACKGROUND

John holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Organizational Leadership from the School of Technology at Purdue University.

John began his career in the Chicago offices of R.W. Baird, a former subsidiary of Northwestern Mutual, in 1995. In 2001 he helped Northwestern Mutual develop the Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company. John became a Senior Investment Specialist in 2001 and has been a Wealth Management Advisor since 2006.

EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL DESIGNATIONS

• Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership from Purdue University
• CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®) Professional Certification
• Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU®) Designation
• Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC®) Designation
• Chartered Advisor for Senior Living (CASL®) Designation

BACKGROUND

Hi, I am Jerod Spaeth. After earning my bachelor’s in finance from Marquette University, I joined Northwestern Mutual. I am dedicated to helping clients in an impactful way and motivated by helping others succeed. Through continuous learning and growing aided by my team, we aim to ensure our clientele always has the best resources available.

Currently, I reside in Menomonee Falls with my wife, Michele and three daughters: Claire, Hazel, and Arya. As I am a lifetime resident of the southeastern Wisconsin area, my sports soul belongs to the Milwaukee Brewers and the Marquette Golden Eagles. In my free time, I like to keep in shape by running and playing with my local softball team.

EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL DESIGNATIONS

• Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from Marquette University
• CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®) Professional Certification
• Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU®) Designation
• Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC®) Designation

Hi, I am Mike Cappozzo. I am a 2013 graduate from University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee. In 2020, I joined Northwestern Mutual as a Financial Advisor. Soon after, I joined Spaeth Barrett Group in 2022 serving as the Retirement Plan Service Associate. I am the first point of contact for retirement plan participants. My main responsibility is educating our clients' on their retirement plans so they can understand their many plan options and how we can help them achieve their personal financial goals.

When not in the office, I enjoy spending time with my two wild and rambunctious rescue dogs, Luna and Nova. I am extremely passionate about the Packers, Brewers and Bucks and am an avid fantasy football and baseball player. I also enjoy staying active by playing competitive cornhole and slow pitch softball.

Hi, I am Jason Dorn, a 2002 graduate of the University of Wisconsin.  I joined Northwestern Mutual in October of 2007 as an Investment Specialist and then Jerod’s team as an Associate Wealth Management Advisor (AWMA) in 2009.  Today, I serve as the Director of Planning Services aiding clients in the creation and adaption of their plans as well as help maintain their assets to the desired target(s) that align with their plan.   

I enjoy spending my free time exercising, reading (non-fiction only), cooking and, of course, with my family - my wife Heidi and our two children, Logan & Madelyn.  We enjoy summer weekends at my in-law’s cottage in Wabeno, WI and winter weekends skiing or getting together with friends and family to play cards.

Hello! My name is Erin Dragan. I joined Spaeth Barrett Group in February 2024. I am a senior at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and will graduate in May with a B.S. in Personal Finance. I am passionate about improving financial literacy and helping people along their financial journey.

Originally from Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, I currently live in Madison with my fiancé and our 1-year-old cat, Goose. Outside the office, I enjoy reading, overspending at the farmers markets, and crocheting with friends.

Hi, I’m Ashlyn Friedrichs! I am a 2023 graduate from the University of Wisconsin – Madison with a BS in Consumer Behavior/Marketplace Studies and Spanish and minors in Gender/Women’s Studies and Entrepreneurship. Throughout college I enjoyed working a range of customer service jobs, volunteering as the Marketing Director for a sustainable fashion student organization called Re-Wear it Wisconsin, and volunteering my time to teach English as a second language through the Literacy Network. After graduating, I moved to Milwaukee to pursue a career in retail business, but ended up finding my passion in working more closely with clients, which is what led me to transition to my current position with Spaeth Barrett group. As an Executive Assistant & Operations Associate, I spend time engaged in client meetings with Jerod, ensuring that key meeting details are disseminated to the greater team to help provide the best possible planning experience for all clients and their personal financial goals.

When I’m not at the office, my favorite things to do are lifting weights, going for long walks outside, trying new restaurants downtown, or, when the weather is nice enough, hanging out at the beach with my friends! I also enjoy spending time at home with my two cats, Toby and Caramel, cooking up some stir fry, or rewatching Grey’s Anatomy.

Hi, I am Danielle Hayes, and I started with Northwestern Mutual in 2013 and joined the Spaeth Barrett Group in 2015 serving as an Associate Financial Representative and Director of Client Relations and Marketing. I attended Hawai’i Pacific University for teaching English to speakers of other languages and am life and health insurance licensed, as well as securities registered with a Series 6 and 63. My primary role is supporting our retirement plan directors and group benefits business to facilitate an efficient and organized service model for our clients. I have a passion for embracing new technology and constructing easy and repeatable processes to deliver the best client experience.

Currently, I reside in Brookfield, my hometown, where I swam competitively for Elmbrook Swim Club and Brookfield East High School. I maintain an unwavering love of swimming, as well as spending time with my long-time boyfriend, Brandon. I also enjoy reading, writing, and hosting events for a local women’s group as the chair. My favorite past-time as of late is playing piano again after 15 years and practicing my favorite movie scores every night.

Hi, I am Niki Hohlweck. I graduated from University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee with a bachelor’s in finance. Shortly after, I joined John Barrett and Jerod Spaeth in 2004 serving as the Director of Investment Operations and Services.  Daily, I aid our clients through account opening and the transfer process. My tenure and proficiency provide our clients an enjoyable experience through swift, organized, and knowledgeable action. If in need of any investment related transactions, I am our clients’ go-to.

When not in the office, I enjoy spending time raising my three girls in my hometown, Brown Deer. For family activities we enjoy spending time with our American-Bully, She-Ra. When I am not with the girls or cheering on my beloved Packers, I enjoy reading and biking, though my true love is crafting. Whether it be adding a fresh coat of paint to an overlooked table or bedazzling an ordinary coffee cup, I find joy in repurposing. Specifically, I am passionate about bringing life to forgotten-about objects through the process of upcycling.

Hi, I am Maureen Holsen. I started my career in financial industry in 2007 and I am the Director of Employer and Participant Services with expertise in investments, employer plans, and retirement software. In 2024, I joined Spaeth Barrett Group and work with Qualified Plan sponsors and participants on employee education and financial wellness programs.

I simplify complex financial topics and make them relatable for employees, in the same way that I taught Girl Scouts money management skills with a paper doll shopping trip - or used a board game to coach softball concepts! My approach motivates employees’ action to achieve their retirement readiness, while also making the information accessible and intuitive at a fundamental level.

I live in Brookfield with my husband and two young daughters, Lydia and Savannah, who have recently discovered a love of Taylor Swift songs. One our favorite things to do right now is read Little House on the Prairie and visit Old World Wisconsin to see life in the 1800s come to life just like in the books!

EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL DESIGNATIONS

• Bachelor of Business Administration from Marquette University
• CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP® ) Professional

Hi, I am Andrew Hoy. After earning my bachelor’s in finance from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 2007, I began my career at Northwestern Mutual as an Employee Benefit Specialist. In 2013 I joined John Barrett and Jerod Spaeth as Director of Retirement Plans helping clients design a retirement benefit to recruit, retain, and reward their employees. I assist with the development and implementation of a sound process required to maintain a competitive and compliant retirement plan. I am passionate about working with people to create a roadmap to help them achieve their goals and retire with confidence.

Born and raised in Milwaukee, I currently reside in Glendale with my wife, Larissa and daughter, Emma. Outside the office, my free time is spent with my family, golfing, camping, hiking, and cheering on the Green Bay Packers.

Hi, I am Drew Hunn. I joined Northwestern Mutual in 2004 after graduating from Marquette University with a degree in finance and economics. I began my career as part of Northwestern Mutual’s compliance department and quickly moved from a support role to starting my own financial services practice. In 2010, I began consulting small businesses on designing retirement benefits to recruit, retain and reward their valued employees. Our team of retirement plan specialists serve as my clients’ single point of contact for investment and compliance support, communication strategies and employee education/financial wellness.

My wife, Meredyth, and I live in Brookfield, WI. Outside of the office, I stay active in the community through volunteer work.  I currently serve on the Board of Directors at the Milwaukee Athletic Club and for many years have booked the musical acts for Milwaukee’s Lakefront Festival of Art.

Hi, I am Carol Jacobs. At Spaeth Barrett Group, I serve as the Director of Operations and Client Service. With 20 years of experience on both the agency and carrier side, I have great breadth of product knowledge to offer and support our clients with the best options. I service our clients’ accounts, process enrollments, process commissions, quoting, and help with large group reporting. Customer service and satisfaction are very important to me.   

I reside in Appleton with my husband; we have three grown sons and one grandson. When not at home, we enjoy our cottage by Crooked Lake spending as much time as we can on the pontoon or out on the trails riding our UTV. 

Hi, I am Chris Knaub. I joined Spaeth Barrett Group in 2021 and support the retirement plans team to enhance the client experience. In 2005, I graduated from the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee with a degree in finance. I have been in the retirement plan industry since then. With over 12 years of record keeping experience, I have a wealth of experience in account management including but not limited to plan administration, plan design, compliance, the participant experience, and much more. Afterwards, I joined the Northwestern Mutual Home Office on the Retirement Plan Product Team where I assisted with product development, record keeping vendor partners, and both our commission-based and fee-based platforms.

I am a lifelong resident of Wisconsin and currently reside in Sussex with my wife, Lea and children, Ava and Ollie. I enjoy spending time with family and staying active with playing sports, running, & biking. 

Hi, I am Lesa Krause. At Spaeth Barrett Group, I serve as the Director of Insurance and Group Benefits. With more than 30 years of practice in the marketplace, my group disability/group life expertise is among the highest in the field. From carrier selection to plan design, I can confidently ensure each plan will be individualized to meet the needs of the client. I aid our clientele as the liaison between them and the insurance carrier for group disability and group life insurance.  Additionally, I handle the maintenance of each plan to be sure the plan is continuing to meet the needs of the client.

Currently, I reside in Waterford with my husband and we have two grown children. In my free time, I enjoy reading and spending time with my family and friends whether it means traveling or just relaxing poolside. Now that my children are older, I hope to travel more with my husband which is a true love of mine.

Hello! My name is Lola Mendeloff and I started my career with Northwestern Mutual in 2019 as part of the Financial Planning Team for the Lueder Financial Group. In 2023 I joined the Spaeth Barrett Group as Associate Financial Representative to John Barrett. I assist the team internally with insurance applications and opportunities, communicate with clients regarding their policies, investment accounts, as well as other office projects.

I graduated from Denison University in 2014 with a degree in English Literature which means that my home library continues to grow ever since my husband and I bought our first home in 2022 right on the Milwaukee/Wauwatosa border. I love to spend the summer in hammock and winter on the couch with a good book and cup of tea, but we also like to go for walks in the park and take on projects around the house, or traveling with friends and family whenever possible!

Hi, I am Larry Myrold. Shortly after I graduated with my bachelor’s in finance from the University of Wisconsin at Madison, I started with Northwestern Mutual. While I am a long-time member of the NM team, I joined Spaeth Barrett Group in 2017 serving as an Associate Wealth Management Advisor. With more than 30 years of experience working on retirement plans, the majority of my efforts are focused on supporting the directors of retirement plans and transitioning new business. Specifically, my work focuses on aiding clients with setup and maintenance of a due diligence process for investment support, plan management, compliance assistance, and participant communication.

When I am not assisting clients in their qualified planning efforts, I enjoy spending time with my family in our hometown of Brookfield. My wife, Ann and I have three grown boys now. Much of my leisure time involves the never-ending project of landscaping the yard, visiting the boys, and walking the dogs on a daily basis.

Hi, I am Max Pasher. I am in the midst of finishing my master's of science in management at the University of Wisconsin at Green Bay. In 2021, I completed my bachelor's degree in public administration with a minor in business. I just recently joined the Spaeth Barrett Group in 2022 and work with the 401(K) group as a retirement plan operations assistant.

I was born and raised in Milwaukee. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my family in Mequon. Much of my free time is spent golfing, working out, hiking and cheering on the hometown favorites such as the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks.

Hi, my name is Kylene Radmer. I recently joined Spaeth Barrett Group in 2021 serving as Director of Client Services. I earned my Bachelor’s in Business Management from Ottawa University. Prior to joining Spaeth Barrett Group at Northwestern Mutual, I worked in higher education for 20 years as a Financial Aid Advisor and most recently as a Branch Office Administrator for Edward Jones. Working in higher education is where I developed my passion for proving exceptional service for everyone. I work to deliver an ideal experience that is personalized to each client’s unique situation and am dedicated to providing the highest level of service possible.

I grew up in Waukesha and currently reside in West Bend with my partner Matt, my two children, Emma and Caleb and our fur baby, Olive. I enjoy spending time with my family, attending my kids sporting events, reading and walking.

Hello, my name is Mackenzie Sanger! I am a graduate of the University of Wisconsin La Crosse, where I majored in Communications Studies. After spending the larger part of my career in the philanthropic sector, I joined Spaeth Barrett Group as the Director of Marketing and Communications in 2023. I serve our team internally through the execution of human resources and organizational development, as well as externally through dedicated client outreach and global marketing efforts. I’m passionate about fostering resilient corporate culture, creating opportunities for effective communication, and establishing meaningful relationships.

I was born and raised in southeastern Wisconsin and currently reside in Brookfield where I live with my two children, Callyn and Cooper. I enjoy many of the seasonal activities Wisconsin has to offer, and cherish free time spent with my friends and family.

Hi, I am Sarah Szymborski. I started my career as an Associate Wealth Management Advisor with Northwestern Mutual in 2022 and joined Spaeth Barrett Group in 2024. As a Client Experience Manager I lead new and existing clients through the planning process. Fostering engaging client relationships is my top priority, whether it’s acting as a liaison for new clients or supporting existing clients with a five-star experience every step of the way.

I reside in Milwaukee with my finance, Ty, and our dog, Beau. When I am not at the office, I can be found staying active outside, gardening, cheering on Wisconsin sports teams, or in the kitchen cooking new recipes for family and friends.

Hi, I am Danny Vongnarath. I graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee with a bachelor’s in Finance. I joined Spaeth Barrett Group in 2016 and work with John to build and drive financial planning strategies to help clients meet their goals and objectives. I am dedicated and hard-working, with a passion for client service.

My wife, Ashley and our two children, Ellisyn and Callan currently reside in Brookfield. We enjoy being outdoors and attending events in our community such as the Brookfield Farmer’s Market. If I am not in the office or spending time with my family, you can catch me running/training for my next marathon.

Hello, I am Melissa Werner. I recently joined the Spaeth Barrett Group in 2021 serving as the Director of Insurance and Group Benefits. My passion is helping employers make appropriate business decisions regarding their employee benefit plans by combining the best products for their unique needs, with outstanding service. I am a hands-on representative and energetic leader.

I earned my bachelor’s degree at University of Stevens Point. After college, I was a Benefits Claims Analyst at Employers Health (now Humana). This gave me the solid foundation of understanding employer group plans. By working for the carrier, I enjoyed helping individuals understand their benefits and resolving any claim questions. I was in this role for two years and then joined the Strategic Employee Benefits Team with Northwestern Mutual. I have been with Northwestern Mutual for 19 years.

Currently, I reside in Appleton with my husband and we have two grown sons. In my free time, I enjoy time at our cottage and spending time with family and friends.

EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL DESIGNATIONS:

• RHU® - Registered Health Underwriter
• Bachelor of Business Administration with an emphasis in Finance

Hi, I’m Andrea Weyer! After graduating from Macalester College with a BA in English, I moved back to Milwaukee to be closer to my family. Shortly after, I joined the Spaeth Barrett Group, where I’ve been able to further my professional development in Operations and Client Service. My role focuses on assisting new and existing clients through the planning process, ensuring we continually help them meet their unique financial goals. Personalized onboarding and dependable communication form the core of my work, where client engagement is a top priority to guarantee our services suit our clients’ needs.

Outside the office, I enjoy staying active; as a retired college athlete, I still enjoy a range of sports as well as volunteering with the Wisconsin Humane Society as a dog walker and socializer. When I’m not on my feet, I love to pick up a good book, anything from non-fiction to poetry, and am always looking for recommendations!

Hi, I am Chris Young. I have been with the practice of John Barrett and Jerod Spaeth since 2011 serving as the Director of Retirement Plans. After graduating from University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee with a degree in business marketing, I received my CRPS® (Chartered Retirement Plans Specialist). Alongside the business planning team, I service business retirement markets in California, Minnesota, Illinois, and Wisconsin. Specifically, my work focuses on aiding clients with setup and maintenance of a due diligence process for investment support, plan management, compliance assistance, and participant communication.

Currently, my wife, Ellen and I live in Oconomowoc where we are raising our two children Edison, Maci and the best Golden ever, Sullivan. As I am passionate about nature, I enjoy spending much of my free time outdoors. In the conjunction with community outreach through Northwestern Mutual, I partake year-round in the Oconomowoc Rotary Club.