Meet Our Team
Our team has over 100 years of combined experience working with multi-generational families to design, implement, monitor and adjust comprehensive wealth strategies. We often find that clients have investments or insurance planning, estate documentation, and existing relationships in place but may not have clarity on how it all works together to provide income in retirement. Or they may not have the confidence that the plan they have will ensure their wealth outlives them. Our hope is that every client has confidence that their plan will work, clarity on how they will accomplish their goals through the plan, and peace of mind that their team is working for them.
Mike Mayernick is a Partner and Wealth Management Advisor at Capital Stewardship Partners with more than three decades of financial planning experience.
As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Professional, Mike works with high net-worth individuals and families across the country in the areas of investment management, retirement income planning, estate planning, risk management, and charitable wealth management. He is passionate about the client experience and derives great satisfaction from partnering with clients to help them best steward their resources according to their values, dreams, and goals.
A resident of Brentwood, Tennessee, Mike and his wife Suzanne have eight children and share a passion for orphan advocacy, adoption, and speaking up for those who cannot speak for themselves. They frequently travel to Uganda to serve with Love One International, an organization founded by Suzanne that cares for the most vulnerable children in Uganda.
Mike has served on various steering committees for Northwestern Mutual and is very focused on community engagement. He served on the Board of Directors for Amazima Ministries International and previously held positions as a board member for Franktown Open Hearts, Financial Planning Associates of Middle Tennessee, and Strong Tower Bible Church. He is a recipient of the Global Impact Award from Invest in Others, a foundation that recognizes and rewards financial advisors from across the country for their philanthropic work.
Mike earned his bachelor’s degree in finance at Belmont University.
David A. Knox CFP®, CLU®, RICP®
Partner and Wealth Management Advisor
David Knox is a Partner and Wealth Management Advisor at Capital Stewardship Partners with more than 25 years of financial planning experience with Northwestern Mutual.
A highly credentialed wealth management advisor, David has achieved the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Professional, Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU®), and Retirement Income Certified Professional (RICP®) designations. He specializes in helping families prepare for retirement by creating a comprehensive plan to organize their financial life and is passionate about helping clients build financial confidence so that they can achieve their goals and dreams.
David and his wife Rachel reside in Brentwood, Tennessee. Outside of work, David enjoys spending time with family and supporting his five kids’ sports activities.
David played basketball for Belmont University and graduated with a degree in business marketing.
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David M. Teague CPA, CFA®, CFP®, CLU®, ChFC®
Partner and Wealth Management Advisor
David Teague is a Partner and Wealth Management Advisor at Capital Stewardship Partners with more than two decades of experience consulting clients on a variety of wealth management needs.
A trusted financial advisor with diverse expertise across the financial services industry, David began his career as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). He previously worked as a tax consultant for Deloitte & Touche and as an internal auditor with Quorum Health Group. David joined Northwestern Mutual as a wealth management advisor in 2003 and has spent nearly 20 years leveraging his expertise to help clients achieve financial security and peace of mind.
In addition to his CPA license, David has achieved several prestigious professional designations, including CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Professional, Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA®), Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU®), Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC®), Chartered Advisor for Senior Living (CASL®), and he holds a Certificate in Long Term Care (CLTC). He is licensed in FINRA Series 7, Series 63 and Series 66, and has also obtained his life and health insurance licenses.
David and his wife Alyson are parents of twins and live in the Sylvan Park neighborhood of Nashville. They are dedicated members of West End Community Church where they volunteer regularly in the nursery. Passionate about community engagement, David and Alyson actively support numerous charities, including Barefoot Republic, Uprise Nashville, and Siloam. David previously served on the board of directors for Progress, Inc., and is an alumnus of Leadership Nashville.
When he’s not working, David enjoys a variety of outdoor activities including hiking, cycling, open water swimming and traveling. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accounting at the University of Tennessee.
Matt McLean is a Partner and Wealth Management Advisor at Capital Stewardship Partners with more than two decades of experience as a financial planner.
With a heart for people and a love of planning, serving as a financial advisor is more than a career for Matt – it’s his passion. He specializes in working with clients near or in retirement, as well as with business owners and professionals that desire personal financial planning. He takes deep pride in caring for his clients and seeks to build lasting relationships that help clients reach their ideal future and provide security for their families.
In addition to serving as a Retirement Income Certified Professional (RICP®), Matt is licensed in FINRA Series 6, Series 7, Series 63, and Series 65. He also has his life and health insurance licenses.
Matt and his wife Julie live with their three children in Brentwood, Tennessee. They are very active in their local church and engage in numerous community activities through their children’s’ school. Passionate about the next generation, Matt and Julie are proud supporters of Preston Taylor Ministries, a non-profit organization that helps children and youth develop a love for learning and discover their God-given dreams.
Matt earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration at Samford University.
Matthew A. Self CFP®, CLU®, ChFC®, RICP®, ChSNC®
Partner and Wealth Management Advisor
Matt Self is a Partner and Wealth Management Advisor at Capital Stewardship Partners with nearly 20 years of experience serving as a trusted financial advisor and wealth management professional.
Matt joined Northwestern Mutual’s Nashville office in 2003. Early in his career, Matt served as a field director for Northwestern Mutual helping to attract and select new financial representatives. In 2012, he was appointed Managing Director and launched Northwestern Mutual’s first office in the Green Hills area of Nashville. Six years later, Matt moved his group to the newly expanded main Nashville office of Northwestern Mutual.
A graduate of Northwestern Mutual’s intensive Emerging Leaders program, Matt holds the designations of CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Professional, Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU®), Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC®), Retirement Income Certified Professional (RICP®), Chartered Advisor for Senior Living (CASL®) and Chartered Special Needs Consultant (ChSNC®).
Matt is active in the local community, serving as a board member for Mental Health America of the Mid-South for 10 years. In 2017, he co-founded Whiskey for the Kids, a fundraiser to support Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation in its efforts to research childhood cancer. He is a member of Church of the Redeemer, where he has previously served as treasurer and as an ex officio member of the Council of Elders in the Anglican Church in North America. Matt is also a member of the Harvard Club of Middle Tennessee, Life & Qualifying Member of Million Dollar Roundtable, the Nashville Chapter of the Financial Planning Association, and Class 50 of the Young Leaders Council.
A graduate of Hillsboro High School, Matt grew up in Green Hills and this is where he and his wife Ali reside today along with their four children, two dogs, two parakeets and two chickens. Matt earned his bachelor’s degree in government at Harvard University, where he also played four years of varsity baseball.
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Lauren Kotras is the Chief Operating Officer of Capital Stewardship Partners. In this role, Lauren designs and implements policies to promote company culture and vision, and she oversees operations to keep the Capital Stewardship Partners business on track.
Lauren has worked in the financial services industry since 2008, first serving as Pension Manager for The May Department Stores Company. She joined Northwestern Mutual in 2008 as Investment Operations Manager for the St. Louis office. Three years later, Lauren transitioned to the compliance team of Northwestern Mutual, which brought her to the Nashville office where she spent time as Director of Supervision.
Lauren holds FINRA Series 7, Series 9, Series 10, Series 63, and Series 66 registrations and has obtained her life and health insurance licenses. She has also earned the Retirement Income Certified Professional (RICP®) designation.
A resident of Bellevue, Tennessee, Lauren enjoys spending time with her husband Nathanael and daughter Emmy, playing and watching soccer, or you may see her running through Nashville.
Lauren has a bachelor’s degree from Millikin University.
John Robus is Director of Portfolio Research and Advisory at Capital Stewardship Partners. In this role, John oversees investment research, portfolio management, and trading.
Prior to joining Capital Stewardship Partners, John was an Investment Analyst at LifeWay Christian Resources overseeing the company’s pension, 401(k), and other corporate assets. He also previously worked as a trader of small-cap stocks at Mindshare Capital Management & Missouri Valley Partners in St. Louis, Missouri. He has earned the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA®) designation and has his FINRA Series 7 and Series 63 licenses.
John, his wife Leslie, and their three children live in Hendersonville, Tennessee. He is an active member of Redeemer Church, where he teaches Sunday School and serves as the Deacon of Finance. When he’s not working, John enjoys being involved with his kids’ sports activities and cheering on the Arkansas Razorbacks.
John earned his bachelor’s degree in finance at Union University and has a master’s degree in finance from Saint Louis University.
Mendy Stewart is Director of Client Services at Capital Stewardship Partners where she helps clients with any service needs that may arise.
With nearly 40 years in the financial services industry, Mendy has had a diverse set of experiences including working as a discount broker at W.N. Estes & Company and as a fixed income assistant at Morgan Keegan. In 1996, Mendy joined Mike Mayernick’s team as Director of Client Services, a role she continues to hold today at Capital Stewardship Partners. Mendy is licensed in FINRA Series 7 and Series 63, and she has obtained her life and health insurance licenses.
Mendy lives in Brush Creek, Tennessee. When she is not working, she enjoys spending time with her husband Tom on their alpaca farm and relaxing with family and friends.
Mendy earned her bachelor’s degree in finance at Middle Tennessee State University.
Ashley G. Wilson FLMI, RICP®
Associate Wealth Management Advisor
Ashley Wilson is an Associate Wealth Management Advisor at Capital Stewardship Partners. In this role, Ashley focuses on client relationships, client asset management, and risk management services. She also supports various investment-related needs.
Ashley joined Northwestern Mutual in 1994 and has worked closely with David Knox, a Partner at Capital Stewardship Partners, for more than 25 years to deliver exceptional client service. She is fully licensed and has the Fellow, Life Management Institute (FMLI) and Retirement Income Certified Professional (RICP®) designations.
Ashley earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration at the University of Tennessee.
James Casanova is a Portfolio Manager at Capital Stewardship Partners. In this role, he consults clients on a variety of wealth management needs including personalized planning, alternative investments, charitable gift funds, and 529 education accounts.
Prior to joining Capital Stewardship Partners, James worked for The Vanguard Group as an Investment Consultant, where he interacted with clients and the financial markets daily. He also previously worked at a Morgan Stanley branch office. James is licensed in FINRA Series 7, Series 63, and Series 66, and has obtained his life and health insurance licenses.
A resident of Bellevue, Tennessee, James serves in the UGA Mentor Program, which connects current UGA students with alumni for the purpose of supporting their professional development. When he’s not in the office, you can find James enjoying a round of 18 holes on the golf course and cheering on the Georgia Bulldogs.
James earned his bachelor’s degree in finance at the University of Georgia and continues to pursue additional financial industry education opportunities.
Mary Wilson is an Associate Wealth Management Advisor at Capital Stewardship Partners. In this role, Mary handles annuity and insurance servicing, coordinates licensing, and assists financial representatives to prepare for client meetings. She also delegates tasks to be completed and manages client files.
Mary started her career in financial services in 1985 as an agent with Mutual Benefit. She joined Northwestern Mutual in 1990, where she worked closely with a career financial representative. Seven years later, she joined the Pruett network office and was named Investment Operations Manager. Mary joined Mayernick & Associates in 2004 and today, plays a key role on the Capital Stewardship Partners leadership team. She is licensed in FINRA Series 7 and Series 63 and has obtained her life and health insurance licenses.
Mary and her husband Don live in Hendersonville, Tennessee. She is active in church activities and enjoys traveling and spending time with friends and family.
Mary has bachelor’s degree in business management from Tennessee Tech.
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Valerie Mayes is an Associate Financial Representative at Capital Stewardship Partners. In this role, Valerie provides valuable support for the firm’s wealth management clients, assisting with day-to-day business operations, overseeing client communications, and supporting various investment and insurance service needs.
Valerie has been in the financial services industry since 1998. She joined the Northwestern Mutual team in 2012, where she has worked closely with Matt McLean, a Partner at Capital Stewardship Partners, for more than a decade. Valerie has obtained her life and health insurance licenses.
Valerie earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration at the University of Tennessee.
Rachel Reed is an Associate Financial Representative at Capital Stewardship Partners. In this role, Rachel provides valuable support for the firm’s wealth management clients, specializing in day-to-day business operations, overseeing client communications, and supporting various risk management and investment service needs.
Originally from Wisconsin, Rachel relocated to Nashville in 2015. She joined Northwestern Mutual in 2017 to support Matt Self, a Partner at Capital Stewardship Partners. She has obtained her life and health insurance licenses.
Rachel lives in the Hillsboro/West End neighborhood of Nashville. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, cheering on her favorite Wisconsin sports teams, playing volleyball, and spending time with friends and family.
Rachel is a graduate of The University of Wisconsin, La Crosse.
Angela Thompson is an Associate Wealth Management Advisor at Capital Stewardship Partners. In this role, she supports client relationships and other investment-related needs. She also is responsible for alternative investment subscriptions.
Angela began her career in financial services in 2016 as a Registered Client Associate with Merrill Lynch and later with RBC Wealth Management. She joined the Capital Stewardship Partners team in 2022 and assists Mike Mayernick and David Teague with various client and investment service needs.
Angela grew up in Brentwood, Tennessee. She is an avid backpacker and spent the summer of 2021 completing over 1,000 miles of the Appalachian Trail. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, reading, and playing piano.
Angela earned her bachelor’s degree at Miami University in Ohio.
Abby Williams is an Associate Wealth Management Advisor at Capital Stewardship Partners. In this role, Abby provides valuable support for the firm’s wealth management clients, assisting with day-to-day business operations, overseeing client communications, and supporting various investment and insurance service needs.
Abby has been in the financial services industry since 2018. She joined the Northwestern Mutual team in 2021, where she has worked closely with Shane Lantigua, a Financial Advisor at Capital Stewardship Partners. Abby holds FINRA Series 7 and Series 66 registrations and has obtained her life and health insurance licenses.
When she’s not working, Abby enjoys spending time with her dog, Leo, serving as a barista at her church’s coffee bar, playing guitar, kayaking, and golfing.
Abby is a graduate of Judson University with a bachelor’s degree in management and leadership.
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