TCG Advisors' Team
Mike Cochran
Manager Mike Cochran has been in the employee benefits field for over 25 years. Mike taught at Brevard College, North Carolina, and then moved to Southwestern Life's Group Health and Pension division in Dallas. He started VALIC's in-house third party administrator, and during this time, served on the national LOMA Pension Committee as Chairman. He was president of Pension Consultants & Administrators in Austin, which grew from 10,000 to 80,000 employees covered by its plans, in six years. Mike is a managing partner and one of the founders of TCG Advisors.
John Pesce
Manager John Pesce has owned and managed a successful third party administrator, served as head of marketing for two of the largest TPAs in Texas serving public school districts, and has been an investment and financial advisor to individuals and employers in the public and private sectors for many years. He has extensive experience as a fee-based financial planner. John has completed all Certified Financial Planner™ courses and serves as a personal financial planner and investment advisor for many executives and other individuals. John is a managing partner and one of the founders of TCG Advisors.
Chris Jamail
Chris Jamail specializes in working with clients in the public sector, particularly with school districts, superintendents and other school administrators. Chris earned a BBA in Marketing from Texas A&M University and started his professional career in 2002 with The Paragon Group, LP (an affiliate of TCG Advisors and a subsidiary of TCG Group Holdings, LP). He acquired his Group One Life and Health Insurance License along with the Series 6 and 63 FINRA securities licenses. At Paragon, Chris worked with educators in choosing proper retirement vehicles and understanding the Texas Teacher Retirement System. In 2004 Chris made the transition to TCG Advisors where he provides financial planning, investment advisory services and employment agreement/compensation consulting services. He also provides educational presentations to school districts and administrator organizations nationally that focus on retirement planning and the state retirement systems.
Blake Rhodes
Blake Rhodes specializes in working with clients in the public sector including cities, city managers and other municipal administrators. Blake earned a BBA in Finance from The University of Texas at Austin. Blake previously worked for Charles Schwab and Co. for nearly 5 years as a Registered Representative. He acquired his Series 7 and 63 FINRA securities licenses and worked extensively with a broad client base of investors. Blake joined the team at TCG in 2005. TCG Advisors entered into a contract in 2005 with the Texas City Management Association (TCMA) to provide financial planning services for TCMA members. Blake makes educational presentations at the TCMA regional conferences on financial and retirement planning services, as well as providing financial planning assistance and working with members' employment agreements/compensation packages.
Matt Escalante
Matt Escalante specializes in working with clients in the public sector including school superintendents and other school administrators. Matt earned his BBA in Management from Cal State University, Fullerton and started his career in financial services as a college intern at Northwestern Mutual Financial Network. After graduation, Matt worked full-time as a registered representative at the Northwestern Mutual Financial Network working with business owners and professionals. There he acquired his California license in life and health insurance along with the Series 6 and 63 FINRA securities licenses. Matt joined TCG Advisors in 2006 to work with California educators where he provides financial planning, investment advisory services, and employment agreement/compensation consulting services. He also provides educational presentations to school districts and administrator organizations in California that focus on retirement planning and the state retirement systems.
Alex Navarro
Alex Navarro is an Assistant Portfolio Manager and Database Administrator specializing in investment analysis, systems management, and quarterly reporting functions. Alex began working in the investments industry while still attending the University of Texas at Austin where he earned a BA in Economics with a minor in Business Administration. Soon afterward, he joined TCG Advisors in 2008 where he works closely with investment advisors in providing financial planning, analyzing investment strategies and streamlining operational processes. He also oversees the firm's client database as well as periodic reporting for individual and institutional clients. Alex is currently pursuing the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation.