Ronald J. Briggs Jr., FIC, CRPC®, is the Founder, CEO, CCO, Chief Investment Strategist, and visionary behind the SimplyRIA Enterprise. Ron began his financial services career in January 1984 at the age of 18, building a career that now spans more than 42 years of client service, advisor leadership, fiduciary guidance, investment strategy, and enterprise development.

Ron’s career has been shaped by one guiding principle: stewardship. Whether helping clients protect and preserve their wealth, guiding advisors toward independence, or building a platform designed to support the next generation of fiduciary firms, his focus has remained the same: to create lasting value for clients, advisors, families, and future generations.

In 2010, Ron and Kristin founded Caitlin John Private Wealth Management, a fiduciary-based Registered Investment Advisor firm inspired by the middle names of their two children. What began as a deeply personal, family-centered advisory vision quickly became the foundation for something much larger.

From the beginning, Ron and Kristin shared a vision of creating a less fragmented environment for advisors to build and grow their practices. Rather than forcing advisors to piece together compliance, investment management, insurance resources, business consulting, marketing, technology, and operational support from disconnected providers, they envisioned a vertically integrated ecosystem where advisors could access the core resources they needed under one roof.

That vision led to the creation of Entry Point Advisor Network, Inc., also known as EPAN, in 2011. EPAN ultimately evolved into what is now the SimplyRIA Enterprise. Today, the enterprise brings together Caitlin John, LLC/ DBA; SimplyRIA Advisor Network, A Smarter Way to Invest, Inc. and SimplyRIA, Inc. which provides non-registered related resources to support advisors, independent RIA firms, and the clients they serve.

As a Founder, CEO, CCO, and Chief Investment Strategist, Ron continues to help shape the enterprise’s fiduciary culture, advisor-first structure, risk-aware investment philosophy, and long-term strategic direction. His leadership reflects both entrepreneurial vision and practical experience, built from decades of serving clients directly while also helping advisors build stronger, more efficient independent lifestyle practices.

Alongside Kristin, and a highly accredited SimplyRIA team, Ron remains committed to building a scalable enterprise rooted in fiduciary responsibility, vertical integration, advisor independence and operational excellence.

Kristin E. Briggs is the Co-Founder and Chief Financial Officer of the SimplyRIA Enterprise and has been an integral part of the organization’s growth, structure, and long-term vision from the beginning.

Kristin began her career in the financial services industry in 1992, when she established her first insurance agency specializing in fixed insurance products and health insurance offerings. Over the past 34 years, she has brought the determination, versatility, and hands-on leadership of a true entrepreneur to every stage of the firm’s evolution.

In 2010, Kristin played a key role in helping establish Caitlin John, LLC, including the firm’s initial ADV process. From there, she and her husband, Ron, shared a vision of creating a less fragmented environment where advisors could build and grow their practices with the resources, support, and infrastructure they needed under one roof.

That vision led to the creation of Entry Point Advisor Network, Inc., also known as EPAN, in 2011. Over the next several years, Kristin helped support the development of multiple affiliated companies designed to strengthen and expand the enterprise’s capabilities. What began as a family-led entrepreneurial vision has grown into what is now the SimplyRIA Enterprise.

Throughout her career, Kristin has been instrumental in helping move the organization forward through financial leadership, operational oversight, business development support, and a deep commitment to the advisors and families the enterprise serves.

Kristin and Ron have been married for more than 38 years. Together, they have two children and four grandchildren, and Kristin enjoys spending as much of her free time as possible with her family.

Maxwell E. Carlson, CFA®, CPA (Inactive), serves as Vice President and Senior Portfolio Manager for A Smarter Way to Invest and the SimplyRIA Enterprise. He brings a strong foundation in accounting, tax, investment analysis, and portfolio management to the firm’s applied investment discipline.

Max earned both a Master of Science in Accounting and a Bachelor of Business Administration with dual majors in Finance and Accounting from Eastern Michigan University. He began his career in public accounting with Plante & Moran, PLLC, where he earned his CPA and developed a strong technical foundation in tax, accounting, financial analysis, and client service.

Since joining the firm in 2020, Max has played an important role in the continued development of the enterprise’s investment management capabilities. As Senior Portfolio Manager, he helps lead portfolio construction, investment research, risk management, and the ongoing oversight of client and advisor portfolio strategies.

Max’s background as both a CPA and CFA® charterholder gives him a disciplined, analytical perspective on investment decision-making. His approach emphasizes thoughtful portfolio design, risk awareness, tax sensitivity, and long-term alignment with each client’s financial goals.

In addition to his portfolio management responsibilities, Max also serves in a leadership capacity with the SimplyRIA Enterprise, supporting the broader advisor platform through investment insight, operational collaboration, and enterprise-level strategy.

With his combination of accounting expertise, investment credentials, tax background, and portfolio management experience, Max helps ensure that A Smarter Way to Invest continues to deliver disciplined, research-driven investment solutions for clients, advisors, and the broader SimplyRIA Enterprise.

Nathan D. Meyer, CFP® serves as Director of Compliance & Operations for SimplyRIA Advisor Network and A Smarter Way to Invest, Inc. He earned his bachelor’s degree in business through the Professional Golf Management program at Ferris State University, where he also earned his PGA credentials.

Nathan brings a unique blend of financial planning knowledge, compliance leadership, operational oversight, technology implementation, and advisor support to the SimplyRIA Enterprise. His background as a CFP® professional, Investment Adviser Representative, former TrackMan regional sales representative, and PGA professional gives him a well-rounded perspective on performance, process, client service, and advisor needs.

In his current role, Nathan helps oversee the day-to-day operations of the firm’s internal RIA entities, supports the Enterprise’s compliance program, and contributes to the continued development of SimplyRIA’s Compliance and Consulting division. His work includes supporting internal advisors, outside RIA firms, and financial professionals served through SimplyRIA’s advisor-support platform.

Nathan also contributes to enterprise-wide workflow development, client billing processes, advisor onboarding, training, technology integration, and cross-channel team support. Because he maintains a select group of personal client relationships, he remains closely connected to the real-world planning, service, and operational needs of advisors and the clients they serve.

Outside of his professional responsibilities, Nathan is an endurance athlete and IRONMAN competitor, a pursuit that reflects the discipline, preparation, and performance mindset he brings to operations, compliance, advisor support, and client service.

With his combination of CFP® knowledge, compliance experience, operational discipline, and technology-driven execution, Nathan helps ensure the SimplyRIA Enterprise continues to operate with structure, efficiency, and advisor-focused support that helps make the Enterprise truly scalable.

Ronald J. Briggs III serves as Director of Business Development for the SimplyRIA Enterprise and as a Financial Advisor with Briggs Financial Group Wealth Advisors. In his business development role, Ronald is often on the front line of new relationships, helping advisors, firms, and strategic partners better understand the vertically integrated ecosystem SimplyRIA has built to support independent advisors and institutions.

A graduate of Central Michigan University with a degree in Finance, Ronald began building his financial services career while still in college. As a sophomore, he joined Jackson National Life’s exclusive intern program, gaining early exposure to its extensive training across insurance, investment, and the advisor-support marketplace. By his senior year, he was helping lead the intern program, and after graduation, he transitioned into a key internal wholesaling role supporting his external wholesaler in the highly sought-after Central Region wirehouse territory.

That early experience gave Ronald a strong foundation in advisor engagement, insurance solutions, investment advisory services, practice support, and relationship development before he joined the family-led advisory enterprise in 2020.

Additionally, through BFG Wealth Advisors, a branch office of the SimplyRIA Advisor Network, Ronald continues to serve retail clients directly, helping keep him closely connected to the real-world needs, expectations, and questions of the individuals, families, business owners, and advisors the Enterprise supports.

As part of the vision and next generation of team leaders, Ronald brings a modern, relationship-driven perspective to a platform built on independence, fiduciary guidance, advisor support, and long-term client service. His work includes supporting new advisor relationships, enterprise growth initiatives, client-facing advisory services, and the continued expansion of the SimplyRIA Enterprise.

With a service-first mindset and a deep understanding of the Enterprise from both the advisor and client perspective, Ronald helps bridge the SimplyRIA vision with the people and firms looking for a more integrated, fiduciary-based way to grow and scale.

Jacob K. Kasperski, CFA®, serves as Portfolio Manager for A Smarter Way to Invest and the SimplyRIA Enterprise, where he specializes in quantitative research, data analytics, and disciplined portfolio management.

Jacob earned his bachelor’s degree in finance from Eastern Michigan University and joined the firm in 2021. After beginning his career with the organization as an intern, he quickly advanced into portfolio management, contributing to the research, analytics, and investment processes that support the firm’s disciplined portfolio strategies.

In April 2025, Jacob earned the right to use the CFA® designation at just 22 years old, an achievement that reflects exceptional focus, technical ability, and commitment at an early stage in his career. His work centers on using data-driven research to support portfolio construction, risk analysis, investment strategy development, and ongoing portfolio oversight.

Jacob plays an important role in helping translate complex market data into actionable insights for the firm’s investment team, advisors, and the clients they serve. His analytical approach, attention to detail, and quantitative skillset help strengthen the firm’s ability to design and manage portfolios with discipline, consistency, and a long-term perspective.

With a strong foundation in finance, investment research, and quantitative analysis, Jacob brings a forward-looking perspective to A Smarter Way to Invest and supports the SimplyRIA Enterprise’s commitment to disciplined, research-driven portfolio management.

Jacob Burkhart serves as Director of Marketing for the SimplyRIA Enterprise, where he leads brand strategy, marketing, and design across SimplyRIA, Inc., the SimplyRIA Advisor Network, and A Smarter Way to Invest, Inc. He brings a rare combination of creative design, web development, and digital marketing expertise to the Enterprise’s growth, brand, and advisor-support initiatives.

Jacob earned his degree in Digital Communication and has built a fifteen-year career spanning design and marketing, the last nine of which have been with the Enterprise. He advanced into his current leadership role after holding positions as a graphic designer, web developer, SEO specialist, and associate marketing manager, gaining hands-on command of nearly every discipline he now oversees.

In his current role, Jacob manages the overall brand and marketing for all three organizations, directing campaigns, design projects, and a growing body of work in technology, software development, and artificial intelligence—including the development of Engage360AI, the Enterprise’s AI-powered marketing platform. He also delivers marketing and brand services directly to RIAs and advisors, helping them grow their practices. His capabilities span graphic design, web development and custom coding across HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and PHP, paid search and social advertising, analytics, video production, and the practical application of AI tools and agents—allowing him to translate enterprise strategy into consistent, modern, and forward-looking execution.