Education

• Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Economics at St. Thomas University in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada
• Life/Health/Long Term Care Insurance Licenses
• FINRA SIE, Series 7, Series 63

Background and Expertise

With 20 years of experience in the financial service industry, Steve takes a detailed and proactive approach to handling complex corporate and personal planning needs. He has a strong commitment to ongoing servicing, evidenced by the longevity of the relationships with clients, which sets him apart from other top financial service professionals nationwide.

In the corporate market, Steve’s practice focuses on incentive and retention strategies for corporations nationwide, as well as strategies for shareholder succession planning. Through personal wealth management planning, Steve provides solutions for our clients’ wealth accumulation and estate preservation goals, while strategizing risk management along the way.

Personal Note

Steve is a devoted husband and father, as he and his wife Christy have two daughters, Lahana and Lily, as well as two dogs. Steve is also a supporter for The Miracle League, which is an organization designed to provide opportunities for children with disabilities to play baseball. In Steve’s free time, he enjoys watching hockey and spending time with his family.

Background and Expertise

Ross Hoezee’s relationship with Northwestern Mutual began as a college student when he was introduced to the Northwestern Mutual internship program in 1976 while he was completing his degree in Marketing from Ferris State University. Ross started his career in financial services with Northwestern Mutual in 1977. During his career in the financial services and wealth management industry, he has earned the professional designations of Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC^®) and Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU^®).

He is a founding member of Ascent Wealth Partners along with Steve Lowe, Tim Hoezee and Justin Haan. Ascent Wealth Partners specializes in working with family business owners, executives and retirees.

Personal Note

Ross and his wife Thea reside in West Olive, Michigan. They have three married children and nine grandchildren.

Education

• Bachelor of Business Administration in Business Administration, Northwood University
• CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional
• Life/Health/Long Term Care Insurance Licenses
• FINRA SIE, Series 6, Series 7, Series 66

Background and Expertise

Tim started as an Associate Wealth Management Advisor in 2010 and is now a Private Wealth Advisor. He began his career in the qualified retirement plan industry in 2004.

Personal Note

Tim and his wife, Hope, live in Hudsonville, MI, with their three children, Ellery, Ember and Hudson. As a family, they love being outside and enjoying many outdoor activities such as volleyball, swimming, hiking, gardening, and fishing.

Education

• Master Degree in Security Studies, Georgetown University
• Bachelor of Science in Political Science, US Naval Academy
• FINRA SIE, Series 7, Series 63
• Executive Finance Program, University of Chicago Booth School of Business Executive Education

Background and Expertise

Justin joined Ascent Wealth Partners in February 2021 after a career as a US Marine infantry officer.

Personal Note

Justin and his wife, Leah, are natives of West Michigan and have four children, Jovienne, William, Benjamin, and Jack.

Background and Expertise

A team member since 2007, Linda works as administrative lead support for the team.

Personal Note

Married with two grown daughters and the proud grandparent of three grandsons, Linda is a very talented musician and enjoys playing music in her spare time.

Education

• Bachelor of Science in Health Administration, Central Michigan University
• Life/Accident/Heath Insurance Licenses

Background and Expertise

In February 2024, we welcomed Rachel to the team. She comes to us with experience in Medicare product design and in nursing home management. On our team, Rachel is assisting with scheduling for the advisors and with various insurance, marketing, and administrative efforts.

Personal Note

Rachel was born and raised in Metro Detroit and currently resides in Wyoming, MI with her cat, Chino (short for “cappuccino”) and dog, Roman. She enjoys spending time with friends and family and is active in her church. In her free time, Rachel invests in an array of hobbies, including singing, reading, baking, going to the gym, hiking, and traveling. 

Education

• Bachelor of Science in Integrative Public Relations, Central Michigan University
• Life/Accident/Health Insurance Licenses

Background and Expertise

Brianna joined the team in June 2021 with public relations, communications, and retail management experience. She currently manages scheduling for the team and partners, marketing efforts and administrative tasks, and assists with insurance servicing.

Personal Note

Brianna resides in Jenison, MI, with her husband, David, their new baby girl and their black lab, Maya. Brianna values spending time with friends and family, reading, traveling, and is an enthusiast of all that West Michigan has to offer - especially Lake Michigan and enjoying its local restaurants and shops.

Education

• Bachelor of Science Degree in Statistics, Western Michigan University
• Life/Accident/Health Licenses
• FINRA SIE, Series 7 and Series 63

Background and Expertise

We welcomed Garret to our team in December of 2022. Garret brings forth his background in areas of data analysis, probability, and mathematics as he supports our planning team. Garret has experience monitoring financial data, managing accounts, and assisting with insurance-related business.

Personal Note

Garret resides in Kalamazoo, MI. His personal interests include weightlifting, golf, and football. He also enjoys spending time with his friends, family and loved ones.

Education

• Bachelor of Science Degree in Finance, Trinity Christian College
• Life/Accident/Health Insurance Licenses
• FINRA SIE, Series 7 and Series 63

Background and Expertise

Brevin joined Ascent Wealth Partners in October 2022 with previous work experience in the wealth management industry. He brings his skillset for client communication and account service to his current role. Brevin is serving primarily with investment services.

Personal Note

Brevin resides in Grand Rapids with his wife Katie, and his son Hayes. In his free time, Brevin takes interest in a variety of outdoor recreational activities such as golfing, boating, as well as walking and running at Riverside Park in Grand Rapids, MI.

Education

• Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Finance
• Grand Valley State University
• Life/Health/Long Term Care Insurance Licenses
• FINRA SIE, Series 7, Series 9, Series 10, Series 66

Background and Expertise

Alisha began her career with Northwestern Mutual in 2007 in the Network Office Investment Operations area. She eventually moved on to work as a compliance officer on the Network Office supervision team. Prior to Ascent Wealth Partners’ formation in 2021, Alisha worked on Ross Hoezee’s team beginning in 2018. On our team, Alisha focuses her energy on investment services.

Personal Note

Alisha is a native of northern Michigan and loves traveling up north in the summer. She and her husband Omar spend much of their time chasing after their toddler daughter, Ramona. Alisha is also an avid basketball fan.

Education

• Bachelor of Science in Sociology (Pre-Law Emphasis) and Bachelor of Arts in Spanish, Valparaiso University
• Life/Health/Long Term Care Insurance Licenses
• FINRA SIE, Series 6, Series 7, Series 63

Background and Expertise

Nate began working with Northwestern Mutual in March of 2018 out of the Denver and Colorado Springs, CO networks specializing in investment operations and financial planning. As of January of 2022, he joined Ascent Wealth Partners in Grand Rapids, MI as a Financial Planning Analyst.

Personal Note

Nate and his wife Ashley reside in Hudsonville, MI with their newborn son and their dog, Echo. They spend their free time outdoors, partaking in a variety of activities ranging from hiking and skiing in the winter, to fishing, kayaking, and wakeboarding in the summer.

Education

• Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Financial Planning – Central Michigan University
• Life/Health/Long Term Care Insurance Licenses
• FINRA SIE, Series 7, Series 63

Background and Expertise

Jennifer has been with Northwestern Mutual since 2008 and has worked in the financial services industry since 1999. Jennifer leads the investment department at Ascent Wealth Partners.

Personal Note

Jennifer is from Grand Rapids, Michigan, and enjoys spending time golfing with her husband, Tim.