Our philosophy.
Family is important. However, many of us have observed that financial success can come at the expense of the family, either during accumulation or in transfer to future generations.
With family as one of our clients’ most treasured assets, we believe in providing strategic direction that includes family values, vision, and aligned purpose. Asking meaningful questions, we get to the heart of what is most important – your dreams, fears, sources of joy, and causes for concern – because fiscal wealth is hollow without rich relationships, meaningful connections, and intellectual confidence.
In short, we work to make wealth a blessing and not a curse.
Our guiding principles.
As students of our craft, we hold ourselves to the highest standards of excellence and a commitment to continued learning and understanding. Our guiding principles are a benchmark for how we conduct ourselves and interact with clients.
Mastery.
A journey of curiosity, exploration, and innovation to broaden our understanding of each situation in order to provide the most effective strategic counsel.
Alignment.
Intentional integration of purpose, values, and priorities that results in clarity, strength, and long-term stability.
Courage.
Sharing truth, balanced with grace and wisdom in order to always be in the best interest of all involved.
Why Akili?
When our co-founder Ryan was tasked to name our company, his first thought that related to family legacy and heritage revolved around his Grandma Dotty. At only 9 years old, Dotty dreamed of owning her own elephant. Never wavering, that dream became a reality when she rescued a baby elephant from Africa years later. The family spent summers with Akili, making memories that they’ll pass on for generations and teaching them that no dream is too big – figuratively and literally.
Reflecting on this story, we realized elephants represent a lot of what we stand for. They are one of the most multi-generational animals – passing down knowledge, mourning the deaths of loved ones, and can recognize members of their herd even after years of separation. This continuity of family connection is what we strive to bring to your family. So we thank Grandma Dotty for handing us such a memorable gift on so many levels.
About us.
John Wheeler
Business Strategy, Co-Founder
With over 30 years of experience focused on advising owners and family-controlled businesses, John brings a unique depth of knowledge and care to the clients he serves. A focus on building the family continuity supported by the business, real estate, investments, and long-term planning are key aspects to his most successful engagements. With an extensive financial background, John has established relationships with experienced specialists and works well with all professionals. In addition to raising four children of his own, he is also a licensed Investment Advisor and Insurance professional with banking, finance, and management experience.
Ryan Ponsford
Integrated Strategy, Co-Founder
Ryan has been involved in wealth management, real estate, business building, and philanthropy for over two decades. Designing strategic solutions for some of our nation’s wealthiest families, creating business systems for rapidly growing companies, and founding Main Street Philanthropy, a non-profit organization teaching life, purpose, and finance to youth across the country, his experience is extensive, yet built upon a repeatable set of core principles. Having spoken at family office events, conferences, and family retreats, Ryan is considered a thought leader and innovator in the integration of family enterprise with core values and generational continuity.
Collaborative partners.
Kevin Brown
Tax Strategy
Kevin is a native San Diegan and has significant expertise in providing business, tax, and strategic planning services with a focus on their overall business, individual, and family goals. He spent the first six years of his career as a Manager with a large Multi-National CPA firm.
In 1990 he started his own CPA firm and merged with two other CPA firms that today is RBTK. Kevin has helped a wide variety of businesses transition ownership to the next generation, key management, or sale to a third party. He also provides leadership and strategic planning services to organizations and has served on several Boards of Directors.
Scott Hamilton
Estate & Legal Strategy
Scott is the CEO of InKnowVision, a national consulting firm and the leader in design and development of business succession planning, wealth transfer planning, and income tax solutions. Akili Capital consults with him on cases involving high net worth families and business owners. Their core services include Advanced Estate Planning, Business Transfer Planning, and High-End Income Tax Planning and Captive Insurance Planning for families and business owners with a net worth in excess of $20M.
Ryan Connor
Business Transition Legal Strategy
Ryan is a seasoned attorney whose practice involves a full range of corporate matters, both domestically and internationally. In 2013, he founded the Law Offices of Ryan Connor, a corporate law firm specializing in transactional matters for companies of all sizes in a wide range of industries. Prior to founding his practice, he spent 9 years as an attorney at Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP, an international Am Law 100 Law Firm. Ryan obtained his law degree from UCLA School of Law, is admitted to the California State Bar, and is a member of the San Diego County Bar Association.
