Michael Haines serves as a partner and Chief Investment Officer for Essential. He is a portfolio manager and principal relationship contact for many clients. Michael has been in the investment management industry for more than 25 years, including as a portfolio manager for JDH Capital Management specializing in options and futures and as a mutual fund portfolio manager and chief investment officer for Founders Asset Management. Michael is a native of Wyoming but was raised in Colorado. He earned a BA in Chemistry from The Colorado College and an MBA from the University of Denver with a finance concentration. Michael is happily married to Judy and they have two sons, all of whom enjoy the Colorado outdoors as well as beach vacations.

Jon Zeschin, CPA/PFS, CFP® serves as a partner and CEO for Essential. He is a principal relationship contact and a portfolio manager for many of the firm’s clients.   Jon brings a unique perspective gained from 40 years’ experience in all aspects of the investment management business, encompassing a very wide range of investment and personal finance issues.  Jon previously held senior executive positions with Founders Asset Management, INVESCO and Stein Roe & Farnham.   Jon holds a master of management degree from the Kellogg School of Business at Northwestern University, with majors in finance and marketing and a BBA in accounting with distinction from the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan.  He is a CPA with the Personal Financial Specialist designation and is a Certified Financial Planner™ certificant.  Jon and his wife, Kathy, love spending time with their bearded collies and enjoying the beautiful mountains of Colorado.  

Kelly Sumner, CFP® is Essential’s Chief Compliance Officer and Client Service Supervisor and is responsible for all administrative matters. This includes portfolio accounting and reporting for clients, relations with custodians on clients' service needs, and monitoring Essential’s compliance with regulatory and procedural requirements. Kelly is originally from Virginia and received a golf scholarship to the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in finance and marketing. Continuing her travels, Kelly worked for American Funds in San Antonio for three years where she also earned an MBA from Texas A&M San Antonio. She’s now happy to call Denver home, where in her spare time, Kelly enjoys reading, road trips, and volunteering with a local animal rescue transport team. In 2023, Kelly successfully completed the intensive coursework and examination to become a Certified Financial Planner™ certificant.