Our Management Team
The management team at Equilus Group Inc. shares a common vision: to share their knowledge of the financial industry with our clients and peers and to build multi-generational wealth for our clients. We feel that the best way to achieve this is through open collaboration and putting the needs of our clients first.
Joel R. Frank – MBA
Managing Principal and Founder
Joel Frank is the founder and President of Equilus Group Inc.
He is driven by his passion to make a difference in each client’s life. He empowers people to achieve their financial goals by delivering proven solutions backed with over 30 years of experience. Joel specializes in the areas of business capitalization, financial management, real estate capital formation, and estate planning. He is an investment advisor representative of Equilus Group Inc. He co-owns and serves as the managing member of several real estate investments and management projects.
He comes from an agricultural background in Northeast Oregon where he was a respected business and financial consultant serving three governors on the Governor’s Advisory Council, primarily in the areas of economic and business development. Joel has attended and graduated courses and studies from Cal Poly Ag Technical in Agronomics, Wharton Business in economics and Harvard University courses through NYLIC University in business and finance. Joel has an MBA and a Master’s in Financial Capital Management (MCM).
Joel is a licensed investment advisor representative.
Marc Bannos
Senior Financial Advisor
Marc has worked in the financial services industry for over 7 years. He began his career in financial services with Charles Schwab and has worked as a financial planner for other large name firms. A seasoned professional, he specializes in insurance planning, capital gains tax deferral strategies, trust strategies, business succession, tax-efficient income strategies, and retirement planning. He is an investment advisor representative of Equilus Group Inc. Marc’s niche market is working with small business retirement plans and tax minimization strategies for affluent households and their families. He is respected amongst his peers and a definite team player.
As an educator, Marc excels in customer service and is passionate about educating his clients and helping them make smart financial decisions. Marc enjoys listening to his clients and helping them find the gaps in their financial plan and working with them to understand all their options. Whether it’s managing risk, deferring tax, or selecting the right retirement plan, Marc thrives upon helping his clients (and their families) make wise financial decisions.
Marc was raised outside of Chicago, Illinois. His family has been involved with restaurants for decades, and he originally was on course to be a chef before switching majors in college. Marc graduated in the top percentage of his class at Johnson & Wales University in Rhode Island with a Bachelor’s of Science in International Business. Outside of work, he enjoys hiking, volunteering, international travel, road trips, and experimenting in the kitchen. Marc and his fiancée, Angeline, currently live outside of Seattle in quiet Kent, WA.
Mike Musco
Financial Advisor
Mike has diverse skills and work experience. His work history includes Fiduciary duties for a Trust and Estate Management firm and Business and Finance Manager roles with Microsoft. In 2019, Mike and his wife, Stephanie, made a lifestyle move out of the Seattle area to Bend, where he ran a successful mortgage practice. He was a member of the NEXA Presidents Club and was in the top 20 out of hundreds of loan officers nationally for 2021 and 2022. With the 2023 interest rate environment and desiring a role where he could leverage his creativity and analytical skills more heavily, the transition into Financial Planning seemed very natural. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Western Governors University.
Mike is located in Bend, OR. His approach to business includes taking the time to better understand an individual, their situation, and financial goals. He is driven to give every individual the best experience possible, providing strategies and education that are tailored to help the individual reach their goals.
Mike was born an island boy in Kona, Hawaii, while his parents were serving with Youth With A Mission. His early work history included family construction on spec-homes and new builds in Hawaii, then in Eastern Washington, where he tended their micro-farm and animals in Entiat. He also worked in an orchard, a restaurant, and fought wildland fires. This was all by age 20 which was instrumental in Mike learning hard work, resiliency, and resourcefulness.
Shane Veitenheimer
Financial Advisor
Shane is a seasoned Financial Advisor with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. He believes that properly managing one’s finances stems from disciplined decision-making. His primary objective is to educate and equip his clients with the knowledge and resources needed to lead financially successful lives.
Shane is originally from Kennewick, WA, and moved up to the Spokane area to attend college at Eastern Washington University. While in college, Shane completed his Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and met his wife Kimberly, who completed her Master’s degree in School Psychology. Shane and Kimberly have three young children whom, they love and adore. Most of their time is spent on family activities such as sports and church groups. In his free time, Shane enjoys working out at the gym or being outside on hiking trails.