JESSICA D. AURAND
Client Service Manager

Jessica entered the financial service industry in 2006 as a bank Teller at a local bank in the Byron, IL. A quick learner, she soon transitioned to the bank’s Mortgage Department, assisting Loan Officers with a myriad of duties. During her time working in banking, she grew a passion for building personal relationships and providing an optimal customer service experience to clients. Jessica returned to financial services in 2015 with the Hoopis Group, in Chicago, IL. Her position involved firm compliance, as well as the contracting and licensing of financial service professionals.

Jessica understands the need for close attention to detail and excels at completing complex assignments from start to finish. For the GWS&A team, Jessica works directly with our clientele, beginning in the on-boarding process and throughout different times in our client relationships. In addition, Jessica oversees all Investment Operations and investment account Underwriting. Because of her skill set, she has multiple touch points with clients throughout implementing and maintaining the financial plan. Her strong backgrounds with compliance and high-level customer service are essential to her day to day role and make her an integral member of GWS&A.

Jessica obtained her undergraduate degree from Western Illinois University in Business Administration with an emphasis in Finance. She is licensed in Life and Health Insurance. After growing up in rural Illinois, Jessica lived in Chicago before moving to Denver. Her active lifestyle of snowboarding, marathon running, Tough Mudder, and Spartan Races, sparked her interest in relocating to Colorado. Jessica lives near Boulder, CO and has a rescue pup named Rue. In her free time, she enjoys running races, music festivals, hiking, and exploring the outdoors.

TERRI L. HINRICHS, CFP®, ChFC®, ChSNC®, CLU®
Insurance Underwriting & Client Service Specialist

Terri Hinrichs joined the GWS&A team as a seasoned veteran, after owning her own financial planning practice for 17 years as a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (CFP®) and a Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC®). Terri draws from her diverse background with unique knowledge across multiple areas of comprehensive planning, allowing her to recognize and diagnose client needs quickly and efficiently. She is committed to providing clients with outstanding service and support in the implementation and continuing maintenance of their financial plans. Her passion for helping clients reach their goals makes her an excellent fit for the GWS&A team, given our mission.

In her role at GWS&A, Terri heads up our Insurance Operations as well as helping with a myriad of other duties throughout the client onboarding process and ongoing planning process. Terri’s strong work ethic and knowledge of multiple aspects of holistic planning make her a perfect fit for guiding clients whether they are working towards retirement or already navigating the waters of their post-work lives.

Terri enjoys giving back to her community through charitable work such as volunteering at a local food bank as well as giving her time to Meals on Wheels.

A Colorado native, Terri and her husband Eric raised their family to enjoy the outdoors and all Colorado has to offer. Outside of work, Terri enjoys Blues Guitar music and has hopes to grow her guitar playing skills over time. Most especially, Terri loves spending time with her children and grandchildren. In her free time, Terri enjoys genealogy, reading mysteries and painting.

BRIANNA N. LESLIE
Operations & Client Service Associate

720.667.1420 Direct
brianna@gwsa.us Email

Brianna entered the financial service industry in 2020 as a financial services representative at Charles Schwab. Her position involved assisting clients with account maintenance, money movement transactions, and providing guidance on various account types and diverse investment goals.

Before joining Schwab, Brianna practiced behavior therapy, working with autistic children and their families. During her time in behavior therapy, she developed a passion for helping others, cultivating meaningful connections, and continuous learning.

Brianna has taken these passions and applied them to her various roles in the financial services industry. She excels in providing outstanding customer service and going above and beyond to help each client. She is devoted to helping individuals and families reach their financial goals, which makes her a great addition to the team here at GWS&A.

In her role at GWS&A, Brianna works closely with clients, helping to implement their financial plans and is a core member of the firm’s Investment team. She assists with onboarding new clients and helping to manage existing client’s investment relationships. Brianna was raised in Dallas, Texas. She then moved to Austin, where she attended the University of Texas and graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s in Psychology in 2018.

In 2021 she, made the exciting decision to relocate to Denver. Brianna loves nature & animals, and has a 7 year old lab/pit mix named Elvis. She enjoys volunteering in her community and has been active in community revitalization and local animal shelters. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, snowboarding, camping, reading, traveling, and spending time with her family and friends.

CHRISTOPHER P. CLANCY, IACCP®
Compliance Associate

720.667.3385 Direct
christopher@gwsa.us Email

Christopher embarked on his journey into the Financial Services industry in 2020 as a registered representative at Fidelity Investments. He started on a holistic service team that assisted clients with every aspect of their account from securities trading to maintenance and research. After proving his proficiency in client services and trading, he joined a risk mitigation and consulting team that specialized in cross-organizational high risk money movement.

Christopher was tasked with upholding AML/KYC/OFAC compliance through account monitoring, in-depth investigations, and performing interrogations on suspected victims/instigators of financial crimes.  In pursuit of Christopher’s passion for seeking out risks and following rules, he joined GWS&A as a Compliance Associate. He ensures GWS&A is consistently operating to the highest possible code of conduct set forth by regulators, assist with business risk mitigation, and unbiasedly uphold the ethical standards our clients deserve.

Christopher graduated from the University of Colorado Denver with a degree in Risk Management & Insurance after completing the majority of his education at Oregon State University. Since graduation, he passed the following exams: Series 63, 7, 9, and 10. Christopher was born in Indiana and subsequently moved to a handful of other states before settling here in Colorado. In his free time, Christopher enjoys competitively racing road bikes, scrambling, camping, and cleaning.

BRYAN E. SCHLAIS
Operations & Client Service Associate

720.954.2731 Direct
bryan@gwsa.us Email

Schedule a Meeting

Bryan arrived at GWS&A after 20 years in the mortgage industry, where he was part of several different dynamic teams. During his time in the mortgage industry, Bryan acquired efficiencies in multiple financial arenas, and when combined with a strong work ethic and high level of attention to detail, these make him a great fit for his role at GWS&A.

Utilizing accumulated skills, Bryan contributes to the GWS&A team in multiple facets of the business. These include various responsibilities related to client service, Insurance Operations & Underwriting, as well as Investment Operations and client onboarding.

Bryan graduated from Colorado State University with a degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Finance and a minor in Economics.  As a Colorado native, Bryan enjoys outdoor activities including hiking and camping. Other favorite activities include watching movies and playing games with his wife and 2 teenage sons. Bryan lives in Thornton, CO and has a 2 year-old lab/collie mix named Harley.

RITA D. COOPER CFP®, CWS®, AAMS®, CRPC®, ABFP®, APMA®, CRPS®
Associate Financial Planner

720.420.4875 Direct
rita@gwsa.us Email

Schedule a Meeting

Rita is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional with over 20 years in the industry. Her experience is vast and diverse, having worked in Financial Planning & Analysis, Investment & Retirement Planning, Client Relationship Management, and Project Management. Prior to joining GWS&A, Rita worked at TIAA and Charles Schwab.

Rita thrives on getting to know people and learning about their unique journey toward creating a life they love. She enjoys helping clients find solutions to a variety of financial issues and providing support to help clients simplify their lives, while inspiring them toward their goals and dreams. Her strong work ethic and expertise combined with her passion for helping clients in a fiduciary capacity makes her well suited to deliver on the GWS&A mission.

For the GWS&A team, Rita’s role is multifaceted; she manages special projects, assists with financial planning case preparation, performs client service, and closely tracks clients through their onboarding, as well as throughout their relationship with GWS&A in order to ensure their financial plan remains in balance.

Rita is a graduate of Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana with a Bachelor of Science degree, fulfilling the requirements for a double major in Finance and Legal Administration. She is licensed in Life and Health Insurance and has passed the following exams: SIE, Series 6, 7, 63, 66, 9, and 10. Outside of work, Rita enjoys spending time in the great outdoors with her camera, cycling, golfing, and creating on her canvas. Rita gives back by donating her time to the Denver Botanic Gardens and has provided support to Habitat for Humanity, The Action Center of Lakewood, and the Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields.

DOMINIC KAY, DipPFS
Paraplanner

720.420.4869 Direct
Dominic@gwsa.us Email

Dominic started working in the Financial Services industry in the life and pensions arena for a well-established European pension and insurance company. Dominic had the privilege to work in Mayfair, London for two senior partners of St. James’s Place. After moving to the United States, Dominic then shifted into international wealth planning, specifically in Miami, working with dual national executives with a connection to both the U.S. & U.K. where he helped them navigate their complex financial affairs. Dominic completed his Diploma in Financial Planning in the U.K. and possesses his Series 65 and Life Insurance qualification in the U.S.

Dominic enjoys helping clients visualize and then achieve their goals, whether it’s creating efficiencies within their plan or adding in that trip of a lifetime and making it happen.

At GWS&A, Dominic’s focus will be on developing and modeling bespoke plans for our clients. Investigating different scenarios, he builds out custom timelines then creates financial blueprints that cater to each client's needs and desires in retirement and beyond.

Outside of work Dominic enjoys rowing, reading philosophy, and is currently learning Spanish. Dominic was nicknamed Frenchie locally while living in Miami as he would speak with a mixture of Spanish and French, expecting them to understand. After suffering this ribbing, he intends to brush up on his foreign language skills to set the matter straight as there is no greater insult to an Englishman than to be called French.