Very Smart and Dedicated Professionals Mentor Us

James Connor Is currently consultant and investor in emerging technology companies focused on financial services. He was the Founder and CEO of SymPro Inc., a leading investment management software company providing solutions to government, corporate and institutional clients. SymPro products enable these clients to manage information related to the issuance of and reporting on debt instruments. In 2003 Sympro was acquired by JP Morgan/Chase and now operates as a subsidiary of that company. James has also worked as a consultant delivering IT solutions for various industries. A published author, he has made numerous presentations at national and regional investment and treasury management conferences across the country. He is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati. James advises FNI in the areas of business strategy and product development.

With over 20 years of experience in finance and operations at all stages of the business life cycle, Joe Consul is an invaluable advisor to FNI. He assists the FNI Management Team in the areas of strategic partnerships and corporate financial strategy. Joe is currently working as the CFO for LogLogic, a San Jose-based IT company leading the market in the development of Log Data Management and Intelligence (LMI) appliances and platforms. Prior to joining LogLogic in 2008, Joe was the CFO for Everdream Corporation, where he was instrumental in developing the strategy that led to Everdream being acquired by Dell, Inc. in the Fall of 2007. Prior to Everdream, Joe has had multiple successes in key roles with several financial and IT businesses where he achieved significant returns for investors. Joe received a BS in Business Administration from San Jose State University and a MBA from the University of Southern California Marshall School of Business. He is also licensed as a CPA in the state of California and is on the Advisory Board for the SJSU College of Business.

Chris is founder and CEO of Christopher D. Croft, Inc., a firm that provides investment management and financial advisory services to high-net-worth individuals and family offices. Prior to founding his own firm in 1987, he was Executive Vice President with one of the leading investment management firms in the San Francisco Bay Area. His earlier experience includes working for a real estate developer and for First Hawaiian Bank. Chris has an MBA from the Harvard Business School and a J.D. from Hastings College of the Law (University of California). Chris advises FNI on issues related to investment management and performance reporting.

Joe advises FNI on matters related to strategic partners, sales and marketing. For over 20 years, he has worked in the financial services, software, and Internet industries running corporate development, sales and marketing departments. Currently, the Vice President of Business Development at Capital Alliance Advisors, a fixed-income fund manager, Joe is responsible for raising the investment equity and for overall marketing. At Utopia Technology, a CRM applications vendor, he built and managed the marketing, business development, direct sales and channel operations. He also has experience as Managing Director for investment banker JCM Financial, and Vice President of Shearson Lehman Hutton. A Board Advisor to Pro Health, Inc. and Shepard Associates, Joe holds an M.A. in Applied Economics and Finance and a B.A. in Mathematical Economics from the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he was a Regents Scholar and a Health, Education and Welfare (HEW) Fellow.

Bob Grant is a partner in the firm of Grant & Gordon in Palo Alto, CA. He specializes in estate planning and adminstration and has extensive experience handling complex estates with a wide range of investment types and legal structures. He has practiced for 35 years and has given numerous presentations on estate and tax planning. He is a graduate of Princeton University, Stanford Law School and Stanford Business School. Mr. Grant is also a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel and has served as a member of the national Board of Governors of the American Red Cross.

Ed has founded several technology-related, start-up companies. He has a strong background in computer science, marketing, and building companies based on innovative technology. His vision and leadership led to the creation of Silicon Valley Association of Start-Up Entrepreneurs (SVASE) as a forum for individuals to become more effective at starting and building young companies. He is also the author of Entrepreneurial Software Engineering, a book based on his research and experience. Ed received his Master's and Ph.D. degrees in Computer Science from the University of Southern California. He advises the company in areas of product development, Internet-based services and corporate strategy.

Ray is an experienced executive with a track record of major accomplishments. He has a strong background in marketing, having held senior positions at companies including BroadWare Technologies where he was responsible for strategic and tactical marketing as well as business development and product management. At Digital Impact he was employee number three in charge of all aspects of marketing and business development. The company completed a successful IPO. Prior to Digital Impact, Ray was President and CEO of UGC, a direct marketing services and catalog company where he led the company to 13 consecutive profitable quarters. In addition he has held management positions at Apple Computer, Metaphor Computing Systems, and LederleLabs. Ray has a MBA degree from Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, and a B.S. in Business from San Diego State. Ray advises the company in strategic marketing issues, public relations, channel selection, and relations with strategic partners.

Sidney Kess is a nationally renowned tax expert and author/coauthor of hundreds of tax books on financial and estate planning. Having lectured to more than 700,000 practitioners on tax, financial and estate planning, he is one of the nation's best-known lecturers in continuing professional education. Mr. Kess is consulting editor of CCH Incorporated's Financial and Estate Planning Reporter, and consultant for the CCH Estate Planning Guide. He was also the editor of CCH newsletters and author of numerous CCH books and audiocassettes. Mr. Kess is chairman of the advisory board of Tax Hotline and is a member of the PPC Tax Action Panel. He has edited a column on "Tax Tips" for the New York Law Journal for the past 34 years. He has also written several AICPA tax workshops, audio and video programs, and is the recipient of the AICPA Distinguished Lecturer Award.

Mr. Kess is often quoted in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times and other national publications. He was the national director of taxes at KMG Main Hurdman and a tax partner at KPMG Peat Marwick. During the last 36 years he has chaired or conducted some of the leading estate, financial planning and income tax conferences. Mr. Kess is the recipient of the AICPA's Special Recognition Award for his many years of contributions to the AICPA's Continuing Professional Education program. He received his JD from Harvard University School of Law and LLM from New York University Graduate School of Law

Dr. Bruce Magid is the Dean of the Brandeis International Business School, in Waltham, Mass. His previous academic experience includes serving as Dean of the College of Business of San Jose State University. Prior to this he served twenty years as a senior manager with Bank of America where he used his regional expertise in Latin America and emerging markets to guide the Bank’s strategic initiatives in this area. He is fluent in Spanish and Portuguese.

Bruce holds a Ph.D. in International Economics, Business Law, and Comparative Politics from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University (1977) and a B.S. (magna cum laude) in International Relations & International Economics from the School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University (1973). Dr. Magid stays active both in his profession and in the community. He has held positions with various non-profit organizations, including the Board of Trustees for the Jewish Community Association of Austin, Texas, and the Michigan State University Center for International Business and Economic Research.

Kim is a co-founder and partner of McCabe & Totah, LLP, a firm providing accounting, tax and family office services to high-net-worth families. Prior to starting the firm in 1992, Kim was a tax manager at Ernst & Young where she worked with a range of clients including individuals with complex financial situations. She has a M.S. in Taxation degree from San Jose State University and a B.S. degree in Accounting from Santa Clara University. Kim advises FNI in the areas of income taxation and multi-client family office services.