- 35 years of investment experience, 40 years in financial services
- Passed the Series 7, 9, 10 and 66 securities exams • Insurance licensed
- Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)
- Awards: Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Advisor (2022, 2021, 2020, 2019)
Professional qualifications
Les began his career in Chicago, with Continental Illinois National Bank. He joined RBC Wealth Management in 1997 to help the firm expand its presence in discretionary client portfolio management. Prior to joining RBC Wealth Management, Les spent 13 years with Banc One Investment Advisors, where he was responsible for the firm’s portfolio management activities in the Southwest. During his tenure there, Les was on national committees responsible for investment policy and asset allocation, and served a term as Vice Chairman of the fixed income policy committee. Les also managed the One Group Government Bond Fund during its first year of operation.
Currently Les is a member of the Private Wealth program at RBC Wealth Management which is comprised of a select group of financial advisors who have exclusive access to a team of experienced specialists who can assist with the development of well-rounded, well executed wealth management plans. In preparation for membership in the Private Wealth Program, Les completed detailed training on the 13 wealth management issues critical to the financial well being of high net worth individuals.
Born and raised in Youngstown, Ohio, Les attended Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in computer science in 1978. He received an MBA in finance and accounting from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri in 1980, and successfully completed the required three year curriculum and annual testing to be awarded the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation in 1993. Les earned the Accredited Investment Fiduciary (AIF) designation in 2005. He is a member of the Association for Investment Management and Research and the Houston CFA Society.
Personal
Les has made his home in Houston for nearly 40 years with his wife, Cindy (a native Houstonian.) They have two grown daughters, Lauren and Lindsey, a terrific son-in-law, Marc (see below), and the most amazing granddaughters, Reese and Blake. Les currently serves on the board of directors and is a former Chairman of the investment committee of the CHRISTUS Foundation for Health Care. In 2006 and 2007, Les served as Chair of the organizing committee for the Bad Pants Open, a golf tournament benefiting the Newborn Center at Texas Children’s Hospital. In recognition of RBC's support of this effort over many years, the event is now called the RBC Bad Pants Open. Les remains active at Texas Children’s, serving on the Ambassador’s Group with his wife and participating on the organizing committee for the Bad Pants Open each year. In 2016, Les was honored to be the recipient of the RBC Wealth Management Volunteer of the Year award.
Les has played the drums since the age of 10 and continues to work on his skills at home, while finding the occasional gig for some musical fun. He has been the drummer for Night Court, an annual musical comedy show raising much needed funds for the legal needs of Houston’s most underserved citizens, for nearly 25 years.