Meet The Team
Rob Branton, CEO
Rob currently serves as the Chairman and CEO of Contego. Prior to founding Contego in 2014, Rob accumulated over 20 years of financial industry experience including private client advisory and product distribution.
In March of 2017, Rob and Brian Gahsman joined Pacific View Asset Management, where Rob was responsible for the distribution of the Global Innovations Strategy. Rob Branton’s and Brian Gahsman’s affiliation and roles with Pacific View Asset Management through which they were responsible for managing and distributing the AlphaCentric Global Innovations mutual fund, ended upon Contego’s effective registration with the SEC and upon Contego’s approval to serve as Sub-Advisor to the Fund. To that end, in 2018, Contego began sub-advising the AlphaCentric Global Innovations Fund, now known as the AphaCentric Robotic and Automation fund.
Rob graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Finance and Marketing from St. Cloud State University. He also holds Series 7, 24, 66 and life/health and annuities licenses.
Brian Gahsman, CIO/PM
Brian currently serves as the Chief Investment Officer of the Contego Capital Group. Since 2018, Brian has served as the Portfolio Manager of the AlphaCentric Robotics and Automation Fund (GNXIX).
Previously, Brian, along with Rob Branton, formed Gahsman Branton, LLC to focus exclusively on making investments in businesses benefiting from the robotics and automation theme. In March of 2017, Brian and Rob Branton joined Pacific View Asset Management, where Brian was responsible for managing the PVAM Global Innovations Strategy and AlphaCentric Global Innovations Fund.
In April of 2008, Brian joined the Leuthold Group as an Operations Research Analyst/Institutional Trader. In April of 2013, Brian began serving as portfolio manager co-managing the Leuthold Strategies Fund. Prior thereto, Brian served as a Global Network Management Consultant, within the International Asset Services Group, at Wells Fargo. His responsibilities included oversight and account maintenance of Foreign Securities and American Depository Receipts.
Brian holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from the quantitative securities analysis program of Haworth College of Business, Western Michigan University.
Kurt Wedewer, President
Kurt leads Contego Retirement Partners offering extension of their wealth management capabilities into the qualified plan arena. Contego Retirement Partners creates unique retirement solutions that combine cutting edge design consulting and boutique investment strategies.
Kurt has 30 years of leadership experience in the retirement space. In 1997, he created American Trust Retirement and grew it to nearly $3 billion in assets with over 1,000 retirement plans serviced before its sale in 2020. Prior to his time at American Trust, Kurt was a pension Underwriter with CIGNA for 3 years, focusing on plan design and unique solutions for company sponsored retirement plans. Kurt holds a BA in Finance with an emphasis on Accounting from the University of Northern Iowa and was a member of the UNI baseball team.
Brian McCleary, Wealth Manager
Brian currently serves as a Wealth Advisor for Contego Capital. He works with clients to meet their financial goals and investment needs. He has 23 years of experience helping clients with customized planning and investment solutions. Brian started his career with Prudential Retirement and spent the last 14 years with MidwestOne/American Trust in Dubuque.
Brian holds series 7,63 and 65 licenses along with Life and Health insurance licenses. He holds a BA in Marketing from Iowa Wesleyan University
Matt Wicklund, Wealth Manager
Matt oversees wealth management and private client services. Matt has served in the Financial Services industry in1995, working in the third-party asset management and RIA platforms for some of the largest firms in Minneapolis. In 2009, Matt branched out to the Health Insurance and Benefits industry, where he helped market and present the first individual health insurance quoting engine in Minnesota.
Matt has his Series 65 registration, Life/Health Insurance license and is a broker representing individual/family, group, and Medicare plans with most health insurance carriers in Minnesota.
Ryan Carlson, CCO
Ryan Carlson currently serves as the Chief Compliance Officer for Contego Capital Group.
Prior thereto, Ryan accumulated over 15 years of experience in the financial services industry, overseeing departments in Compliance/Operations and Private Client Advisory. Ryan has been with Contego since 2015.
Ryan has earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of North Dakota and a Juris Doctorate from the Rutgers University School of Law – Camden, NJ. He holds his Series 66 license.