When financial advisor Mike Dressel bought his first stock at 14 years old, it was the beginning of a lifelong career. The son of a broker, Dressel officially entered the business in the 1990s, eventually taking over his father’s practice.
Nearly three decades later, he’s continuing that legacy at Stifel’s Frontenac office with his wife, Amy, by his side as senior client service associate and their son Miles is learning the operations side of the business in Stifel’s home office.
“I’ve really been doing this my whole life,” Dressel says. “I was fortunate to learn from my father, and now I get to carry that forward with my own family.”
Experience That Makes a Difference
Before joining Stifel earlier this year, Dressel spent 25 years at UBS Financial Services, where he managed hundreds of client accounts.
“I managed about 348 different accounts,” he says. “I don’t run a model everyone else is in; I provide each client an individual customized portfolio.”
As the financial industry shifted, he sought a firm that aligned with his philosophy of putting clients first, which led him to Stifel, a move that he says offers more flexibility, deeper research, and stronger client alignment. He works alongside Virginia Kase, a client relationship manager who began working for Dressel’s father in 1991.
“Having everybody headquartered in St. Louis makes a huge difference. If I’ve got a problem, it’s a phone call away downtown,” he says. “It’s a much more client-focused culture, and that’s exactly what I was looking for.”
A Proven Three-Leg Model
Dressel’s investment philosophy centers on a three-part model that he has refined over decades. It combines three distinct approaches:
- Fundamental Analysis: Identifying companies based on earnings, balance sheets, and research.
- Quantitative Screens: Narrowing choices with measurable factors such as return on equity and earnings strength.
- Technical Research: Refines evaluating buying and selling using chart-based analysis to enhance performance.
“Fundamental analysis tells you what to buy, who’s doing well on a fundamental basis,” Dressel explains. “Then, I put that through a quantitative screen to narrow it down, and finally I use technical research to help figure out when to buy and when to sell.”
It’s a disciplined approach that helps him mitigate risk and make consistent decisions across different market conditions. “You can’t fall in love with a stock,” he says. “Cover up the name, and what’s the chart telling you? My goal is for every dollar I risk, I want $2 of reward. I believe that’s the discipline that keeps clients on track.”
Personalized Strategies for Every Client
Even with a clear framework, Dressel emphasizes that no two clients are the same. “It starts with an investment plan that holds everybody accountable and keeps expectations realistic,” he says. “Then, it depends on their stage of life. Is it pre-retirement? Retirement? Passing wealth to the next generation? That’s what drives the strategy.”
While his favorite part is running portfolios, Dressel says collaboration is essential. “I quarterback myself, but I surround myself with good people—such as estate-planning attorneys and insurance specialists.”
Future Focus
For Dressel, Stifel is not only a fresh start but also a chance to grow while continuing his family tradition.
Amy adds, “It’s a true multi-generation story. His father was originally the broker, then Mike took it over. His son is now getting experience in operations at Stifel.”
As Dressel looks to the future, he sees Stifel as the ideal place to continue building on his family’s legacy. With a commitment to client-focused service and the next generation preparing to join the business, that legacy is set to grow even stronger.
This post was created by SLM Partner Studio on behalf of the Stifel. Learn more about the Dressel Financial Group and connect with Dressel today.
