Our Team
Howard Ashlock, CFP®, CRPS™
Senior Vice President/Investments
Howard began his wealth management career in 1994 with Merrill Lynch, after spending several years practicing law in Orange County. He earned a bachelor's degree from Cal Poly-Pomona and a J.D. from Western State University College of Law. He is a member of the California Bar Association and holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and Chartered Retirement Plans Specialist™ certifications from the College for Financial Planning. After college, he played professional baseball in the Baltimore Orioles organization and subsequently coached with the Oakland A's. He joined Stifel in 2018.
Howard leads his team's investment committee and designs customized portfolios to help clients deploy, preserve, and grow their wealth effectively. He combines his in-depth industry experience with Stifel's capital markets experience to help his clients pursue their objectives in a thoughtful manner, mindful of risk, tax, and wealth-transfer considerations. He develops customized strategies for ultra-high-net-worth individuals to anticipate and address a broad range of financial priorities. As an experienced financial advisor to many highly accomplished clients, he is acutely aware of the opportunities and challenges that significant wealth can entail. He offers extensive knowledge of alternative investments, including private equity, and other boutique investment themes.
Moreover, Howard applies a holistic perspective that connects his clients' diverse circumstances to their goals and long-term aspirations. Resourceful and responsive, he prides himself on providing his clients with the capabilities needed to do this appropriately.
Howard, and his wife, Sandee, live in Coto De Caza and have four children and two dogs. Howard is an active member of his church and has served on the boards of directors of several local charities. He enjoys tennis, mountain biking, and golf.
Stifel does not provide legal or tax advice. You should consult with your legal or tax advisors regarding your particular situation.
Alternative investments may include, but are not limited to: Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), Commodities, Futures, Hedge Funds, Venture Capital, Limited Partnerships, etc. Real Estate – When investing in real estate companies, property values can fall due to environmental, economic, or other reasons, and changes in interest rates can negatively impact the performance. Commodities and Futures – The risk of loss in trading commodities and futures can be substantial. You should therefore carefully consider whether such trading is suitable for you in light of your financial condition. The high degree of leverage that is often obtainable in commodity trading can work against you as well as for you. The use of leverage can lead to large losses as well as gains. Hedge Funds and Private Equity – Investors should be aware that hedge funds often engage in leverage, short-selling, arbitrage, hedging, derivatives, and other speculative investment practices that may increase investment loss. Private equity funds are not appropriate for all investors. Hedge funds and private equity funds can be highly illiquid, are not required to provide periodic pricing or valuation information to investors, and often charge high fees that can erode performance. Additionally, they may involve complex tax structures and delays in distributing tax information. While hedge funds may appear similar to mutual funds, they are not necessarily subject to the same regulatory requirements as mutual funds. Venture Capital – Venture capital investments involve substantial risks. The risks associated with investing in companies in the start-up or expansion stages of development are greater than those of companies in later stages, because the companies' business concepts generally are unproven and the companies have little or no track record. Limited Partnerships – Generally, limited partnership investments are suitable only for a narrow class of relatively sophisticated investors. Limited partnership investments may be speculative in nature and be subject to resale restrictions or illiquidity. An investment is appropriate only for investors who have the capacity to absorb a loss of some or all of their investment.
Ashlee Ashlock
Associate Vice President/Investments
Ashlee began her investment services career with Merrill Lynch in 2016 and joined Stifel in 2018. She earned a B.S. from Utah Valley University with an Emphasis in Communication. Since becoming a financial advisor, she has brought commitment, compassion, and trust to her work with affluent families, businesses, and high-net-worth women.
Employing a goal-based approach, Ashlee develops customized strategies through risk-appropriate portfolio construction. She also uses trusts and wills, personal liability management, and insurance for wealth creation and intergenerational transfer. Her primary responsibilities include investment analysis and plan creation and implementation.
In addition to her professional commitments, Ashlee serves as a member of 44 Women for Orangewood. She is passionate about bringing awareness to the community regarding child abuse and neglect. In her spare time, she enjoys competing in showjumping with her horse, Beckett, and racing road bikes. She loves reading and truly appreciates a good book recommendation.
Lee O' Rourke
Registered Client Service Associate
Lee began her financial services career in 2003, after spending five years in the banking industry. She earned a B.S. from California State University, Long Beach, with a double Major in Marketing and Finance Real Estate Law.
As the backbone of the Ashlock Wealth Management Group, Lee manages operations and administration for the team. She appreciates the preferences of each of the team's clients and their family members and fosters a warm and attentive office atmosphere. She applies the insight and skills she has acquired from working with highly affluent clients for more than a decade.
In addition to her professional commitments, Lee is active in the local community. On the weekends, she attends multiple sporting events, Boy and Girl Scout activities, and enjoys taking photos. She is an active member of the PTA and loves being involved at her children's school.
She and her husband, Brett, have two young children, Keegan and Mackenzie. She loves spending time with her family and her two dogs.