Meet Highpoint Advisor Group's Partners and Team

Highpoint Advisor Group has built a strong foundation through its partnerships with top financial institutions.

Their team is comprised of experienced professionals with a deep understanding of the financial industry.

With a focus on delivering exceptional client service, Highpoint Advisor Group's partners and team work together to achieve this goal.

Led by experienced professionals, the team at Highpoint Advisor Group is dedicated to providing expert guidance and support to their clients.

HighPoint Associates boasts a leadership team with diverse backgrounds and expertise. Nikesh Poudel, an Associate within the Business Development Team, collaborates closely with fellow associates and partners to foster the firm's growth through initiatives that cultivate enduring client relationships.

The firm's Chief Operating Officer and Partner, Justin, devotes much of his time to running internal operations, including HPA partner business development and client delivery support. He also serves several clients as lead partner.

Justin's experience spans over 20 years in general management, finance, strategy, and marketing leadership roles, including senior consultant with Bain & Company and Group CFO and Senior Vice President for Mattel's Global FP&A.

Nikesh Poudel's leadership roles demonstrate his ability to excel in diverse environments. He has held leadership positions at the University of California, Irvine, where he made significant contributions to the Undergraduate Finance Association and 180 Degrees Consulting.

Nikesh's experience at 180 Degrees Consulting, a premier university-based consultancy for nonprofits and social enterprises, shows that he can effectively lead teams in a professional setting. His role at this organization likely involved mentoring and guiding team members to achieve their goals.

As a graduate of the University of California, Irvine, Nikesh holds a B.S. in Business Information Management, which indicates that he has a strong foundation in business principles. This education has likely helped him develop the skills necessary to lead and manage teams.

Nikesh's professional journey has taken him through various industries, including consulting, financial services, technology, startups, and law. His experience at West Monroe, where he served as an M&A Consulting Intern, has given him valuable knowledge of buy-side diligence work and industry understanding.

Outside of work, Nikesh enjoys staying informed about the startup and venture capital ecosystem, which shows that he is committed to staying up-to-date with industry trends and developments. This curiosity and enthusiasm are essential qualities for a leader who wants to stay ahead of the curve.

Justin, the Chief Operating Officer and Partner at HighPoint Associates, is a seasoned leader with over 20 years of experience in general management, finance, strategy, and marketing leadership roles.

He spent 20 years in various leadership roles, including senior consultant at Bain & Company and progressive CPG-retail responsibilities at Mattel, Inc.

Justin's experience includes serving as Group CFO and Senior Vice President for Mattel’s Global FP&A, Investor Relations, Commercial Finance, Brand Finance, and Investment Finance organizations.

He also helped build out Mattel’s global e-retail and Amazon operations as General Manager of its North America Online business.

Justin holds an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, where he was an Austin Scholar, and a BA in Math-Economics from Pomona College.

Justin is based in Los Angeles with his wife and three children.

As a leader in network development, Earl has a unique perspective on building strong relationships and fostering growth within an organization.

Earl holds a BA in International Relations from the University of Southern California, a degree that has likely served him well in his role as Vice President, Network Development & Talent.

He has worked with HighPoint for over 6 years, initially joining the firm as a Business Development Associate before transitioning to the network development and staffing side of the firm.

Earl drives network development initiatives to recruit top-tier independent consultants into the HighPoint Network, a task that requires strong communication and interpersonal skills.

In his free time, Earl enjoys activities like cycling, golfing, and surfing, which suggests that he values a balance between work and play.

As someone who has worked with HighPoint for over 6 years, Earl has a deep understanding of the company's needs and goals, and is well-positioned to lead the team in network development and talent acquisition.

Earl is based in Los Angeles, a city that offers a diverse range of activities and experiences, which likely influences his approach to network development and talent acquisition.

HighPoint's Senior Advisors are a team of experienced leaders from top consulting firms. They bring extensive industry expertise to the table.

These advisors have spent years working on high-level projects, including operational turnarounds and strategy development. One of them, for example, spent 8 years at McKinsey & Company, where they led engagements for clients in healthcare, technology, and industrials.

As a result, they're valuable resources for clients, providing thoughtful collaboration and partnership on projects at all stages.

Craig F. Ibrahim has a long history in the financial services industry, starting with Dreher and Associates in 2000. He worked with the firm through its merger with Waterstone Financial Group in 2003.

Craig received a B.S. from Western Illinois University in 1999.

He has held various roles, including Director of the RIA when the firm was acquired by LPL Financial in 2009.

Craig is currently a Managing Partner at HighPoint Advisor Group LLC, a position he holds since the firm's merger with Service 1 Financial Group in 2016.

Meet Daniel, a Sr. Talent and Business Development Associate at HighPoint Associates. He's a recent college grad with a degree in International Relations and Psychology from Claremont McKenna College.

Daniel's background is impressive, with a strong track record of leadership and teamwork. As a member of the varsity Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Swim Team, he demonstrated discipline and dedication.

In his current role, Daniel collaborates with the Business Development and Talent teams to drive company growth. He's responsible for building out HPA's consulting network and staffing client projects with top-tier independent consultants.

Daniel's experience in project sales, information services, event planning, marketing, project management, and research has given him a unique skillset.

Denise is a Senior Director of Operations and Finance at HighPoint Associates, overseeing day-to-day internal operations with a focus on client contracting, insurance, forecasting, and more.

She has a 25-year career background, including a stint at Mattel where she worked in various functions such as corporate FP&A, financial reporting, and treasury.

Denise holds an MBA from the University of Southern California Business School and a BA in Finance from California State University, Fullerton.

She's not just a numbers person, Denise is also a supportive mom who cheers on her kids at their sports events and captures their adventures on video.

Our Senior Advisors are a team of former leaders from top consulting firms, bringing extensive industry experience and expertise to the table. They're a valuable resource for our clients, providing thoughtful collaboration and partnership on projects at all stages.

These Senior Advisors have spent years honing their skills at top consulting firms, with some having led operational turnarounds and strategy development engagements for a wide range of clients across various sectors.

One of our Senior Advisors spent 8 years at McKinsey & Company, most recently as an Associate Partner, where they led operational turnaround, strategy development, and implementation engagements for clients in the healthcare, technology, and industrials sectors.