Meet Brandon Rydell, leader at the helm of all Axtella firms. With a financial services career spanning 25 years, Brandon has helped steer the firm toward success by serving in various positions including Controller, CFO, and other VP roles. Armed with a strong understanding of market dynamics and commitment to our corporate values, he’s carved a path of innovation and success, propelling our firms forward as institutions of trust and reliability in the financial services landscape.

As he continues to pioneer the future-state and foster an environment of collaboration and growth, he continues to inspire the staff and financial professionals, leading with a vision that shapes the future of financial services.

Beyond the office, Brandon is a sports car and Formula One enthusiast, but his adventurous side doesn’t stop there. He’s on a quest to find the world’s finest chocolates and delectable pasta dishes – savoring each moment of his epicurean adventure.

As the trusted guardian and compliance troubadour, John held the title of Chief Compliance Officer for an impressive 15 years. He skillfully leads a team of 35 dedicated associates, while continually steering Sigma Financial and Parkland Securities toward compliance excellence and maintaining the firm’s integrity. With the baton of leadership in hand, he oversees firm regulatory communications, branch office audits, sales supervision, and communications with the public review – orchestrating our firm’s dedication to compliance excellence in an ever-changing landscape.

John, being an avid Pearl Jam enthusiast, owns enough memorabilia to open his own museum. He is also incredibly active and enjoys pounding the pavement with a brisk run, pumping iron at the gym, and engaging in a lively match of volleyball. Watch out for his spike – he’s not one to back down from a friendly competition. To wind down, there’s nothing quite like being on the serene beaches of Hawaii, where he can bask in the warm sun, listen to the soothing sounds of the waves (and maybe some Pearl Jam), and get lost in the pages of an autobiography.

With over 20 years of financial services experience, Dana contributes valuable expertise to our firms on money matters, successfully crafting impactful wealth management programs. Working closely with financial professionals, she uses her keen eye to identify their product and compliance needs, skillfully combining both to gain a panoramic view of the advisory landscape.

As a driving force and spirit behind establishing our NOVA Women’s Collective, she passionately advocates for the support and guidance of women in our industry and leads a united front in the pursuit of solidarity and success.

She hails from the Lone Star State, a true Texan through and through. Her academia journey led her to the University of Texas at Austin, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish with a minor in Business. Longhorn football is near and dear to her heart, and as fate would have it, she met her husband at the games. As a devoted fan, her family has held season tickets for over 30 years – so you know exactly where she’ll be on game days. Hook ‘em!

On non-game days, you’ll find her enthusiastically cheering for her daughter at gymnastic competitions and indulging in some country music – mostly the classics with a few new artists sprinkled in.

Maria is a visionary leader, crafting impactful brands and spearheading growth and revenue marketing strategies. She adeptly oversees all marketing and communications endeavors – seamlessly coordinating them across each internal division and elevating the financial professional experience. In 2022, Maria infused our team with a wealth of diverse marketing experience gained from various leadership roles at esteemed financial services companies. Alongside her 15 years of industry experience, her impressive qualifications include a Series 7 license and a Bachelor of Social Science from Florida State University.

As a founding member of the NOVA Women’s Collective, Maria fervently advocates for and champions the support and empowerment of women in the financial services industry. Her dedication is focused on uniting women on their path to greatness.

Outside the office, Maria finds joy on the golf course where she’s finally reaching 100 yards with her pitching wedge and continues her mastery of slicing the ball. When she’s not conquering the green, you can find her training boxing with her son, or online shoe shopping while sipping an iced americano.

Adam is a financial services professional with 15 years of experience. Starting his early career working as an advisor, he worked his way up in product management, eventually becoming VP of Product Management at Sigma Financial. Adam ensures all teams are speaking the same language when it comes to the tech products involved in their daily workflows. He manages the rollout of products, ensures the tech product needs of all teams are met, and educates advisors on the use of the latest programs.

In 2021, Brian Carter joined our team armed with a mission to revolutionize the technology platform. With his expertise spanning over two decades, his dedication lies in implementing cutting-edge solutions and infusing the power of innovation to empower our organization and financial professionals.

In 2014, Brian earned an MBA from the prestigious Vanderbilt University – which served as a catalyst for reshaping his perspective on the importance of technology becoming more business focused.

When away from the office, you’ll find him cozily settled into his favorite chair, accompanied by his Great Dane. Fortified with an extra shot of espresso in his cappuccino, he’s often busy programming a new app while immersing himself in a range of tunes from Pink Floyd to Beethoven.