Craig began his investment industry career in 1975 with Hornblower and Weeks, and as he continued as a financial advisor in the early 1970s and 1980s, he worked at firms such as Kidder Peabody, Rauscher Pierce, and E.F. Hutton & Company. In the early 1990s, Craig served as a Branch Manager for several years at Dean Witter Reynolds before he decided supervisory duties were getting in the way of serving clients to the best of his ability. He then spent some years at PaineWebber and Prudential Securities and moved to UBS Financial Services in 2004. In 2018, and after many years of significant changes in the industry, he felt that Stifel was the best place to serve his clients’ interests and a great firm to make his permanent home.

Over his time in the industry, Craig has helped his clients build portfolios on equity positions, focusing on buying companies with large insider interest that are below private market value while culling losers and letting winners run. Yield is a high consideration in his investment philosophy based on each client’s personal investment objectives. 

Craig is originally from Kansas City, Missouri. He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Risk and Insurance – Finance, Investment and Banking from the University of Wisconsin in Madison. Craig also earned a Master of Businesses Administration in International Management from Arizona State University. He holds Series 7, 9 & 10, 63, and 65 securities licenses.

In his free time, Craig enjoys tasting delicious food and traveling with his wife, Karen. He is also a fanatical reader.

Craig’s fascination with Wall Street began in 1983, when he was introduced to his father’s stockbroker. His dad’s broker had a red Porsche, a jet ski, amazing pinstripe suits, a million-dollar smile, and a mustache even Tom Selleck would admire. What more could a teenage boy dream of becoming?

It turns out, Craig didn’t dream of more; he simply dreamed differently. Over time, Craig’s values shifted, and consultative relationships with clients had far more appeal to him than cars, suits, and transactional arrangements with clients. Luckily, the wealth management industry was realigning itself with its clients as well, so it was no accident that he began his financial services career as fresh wealth management ideas reshaped the industry to reflect the changing needs of its clients.

Craig brings a passion for people to the Inspired Wealth Advisory Group and developed his practice around you – with your life, your goals, and your needs at its center. Powered by energy, warmth, amazing teammates, and Stifel, Inspired Wealth Advisory Group was built around you. 

Sturdy investments form the foundation of solid wealth management strategies, and Craig’s best investment by far has been in his family. He was lucky to meet Lisa, and even more fortunate to marry her. Together, they have been blessed with raising two terrific kids, Jack and Reeve. As for his dad’s broker, he eventually shaved that gorgeous mustache, became Craig’s mentor, and runs a wealth advisory group in Los Angeles. Things tend to work out.

Cheryl is a third-generation Arizona native. She began her career at Prudential Life Insurance Company and later joined PaineWebber in 1996. After UBS Financial Services acquired PaineWebber, Cheryl was promoted to Operations Manager.

Desiring more client interaction, she returned to serving as a Senior Client Service Assistant, where she supported a financial advisor’s practice for 13 years before joining RBC Wealth Management in 2009. In 2014, an opportunity arose at UBS Financial Services to further her career as a Client Service Assistant Training Coach, Team Administrator, and Community Outreach Coordinator. 

In 2018, Cheryl joined Stifel as Client Relationship Manager. She manages our team by navigating our regulatory requirements, anticipating and mitigating possible roadblocks, and making sure that our business runs smoothly and all clients receive top-tier service.

Cheryl was married to her husband of 21 years before he passed away of Cystic Fibrosis in 2008. Since his passing, she enjoys socializing with close friends and family, hiking, swimming, fishing, tackling home improvement projects, and above all, spending quality time with her two German Shepherds and other rescue fur babies.        

Sarah began her financial services career at Charles Schwab in 2017. She quickly grew in her role in the call center, making connections with clients as well as colleagues. She even received such a high score on a client survey, along with a raving comment, that she was part of a presentation a senior executive made to 500 shareholders. Sarah moved on from taking inbound phone calls to inbound chats and again succeeding in that role. Sarah wanted to learn more about other roles so she moved into compliance. She holds Series 7 and 63 securities licenses.

Sarah has held an investment account with Craig Johnson since she was 10 years old and has built a relationship with Cheryl. After gaining valuable experience in compliance at Charles Schwab, Sarah returned to working closely with clients and building relationships by joining Cheryl, Craig, and Craig at Stifel in 2021. Sarah has become an integral part of the team as the first point of client contact, ensuring a positive, efficient client onboarding and service experience.

In her free time, Sarah enjoys being outdoors when it’s not 100+ degrees, spending time with friends exploring the millions of restaurants and bars Phoenix has to offer, escaping to San Francisco to visit family, cooking healthy but tasty food, and spending time with her five rescue animals. Sarah is an avid rescue advocate and fosters dogs and cats/kittens when she can.