Welarians
Born out of shared values, a common problem, and shared interests, several of the Welara Founders have professional experience working together on various projects spanning multiple years and multiple industries, both as entrepreneurs and as investors. Each of us has a demonstrated track record of running a family office, specifically for our target clients, first-generation wealth creators. This results in cohesion for strategic decisions and alignment with the vision of the brand.
We know each other extensively, which helps us identify potential disruptions before they happen, as well as determine who is best suited to serve a client with a specific need. We approach team-building and client relationships differently. We believe that trust cannot be built solely by reading our biographies, so we've introduced Welarian Cards. While we have similar experiences as other Wealth Managers and CIOs, we want to show you who we are as individuals.
We've included several unique questions that you wouldn't typically find in a professional biography because managing your wealth is about building trust, and trust is cultivated over time as you get to know someone. We are passionate about design, interviews, standing out from the crowd, storytelling, and the future. We wanted to create a brand, Welara, that encompasses our shared values and interests, addresses a significant problem, and represents a place where we all want to work.
We are guided by integrity, curiosity, practicality, experience, discretion, transparency, reliability and excellence. It is our North Star. We are forever grateful and humbled by the opportunity to serve as stewards of capital for our clients.
Welarians
Colette K. Young
Founder I Managing Partner I
Chief Executive Officer
View Welarian Card →
40.6326° N, 73.9665° W | 51.5072° N, 0.1276° W
Philip G. Potter, CFA
Founder I Managing Partner I
Chief Strategy Officer
View Welarian Card →
40.6326° N, 73.9665° W
Ryan Mclaughlin
Founder I Managing Partner I
Portfolio Manager
View Welarian Card →
40.6326° N, 73.9665° W | 46.2044° N, 6.1432° E
Omar Divina
Chief Operating Officer
View Welarian Card →
40.7128° N, 74.0060° W
Tim Valliere
In-house Counsel
View Welarian Card →
40.6326° N, 73.9665° W
Jorge Velásquez Franco, LL.M
Chief Compliance Officer I
Corporate Counsel
View Welarian Card →
45.5019° N, 73.5674° W
Cole Evans, CFA
Investment Associate
View Welarian Card →
40.6326° N, 73.9665° W
Aileen McBride
Lifestyle Operations
View Welarian Card →
40.7128° N, 74.0060° W
Allison Young-Derderian
Lifestyle Operations
View Welarian Card →
40.6326° N, 73.9665° W
Mikaela Seegers
Lifestyle Operations
View Welarian Card →
40.7172° N, 74.0007° W
Delavan Kromer
Lifestyle Operations
View Welarian Card →
40.7359° N, 73.9911° W
Eric Willens
Business Operations & Client Engagement Manager
View Welarian Card →
33.6846° N, 117.8265° W
Yann-Léo Berthou
Investment Analyst
View Welarian Card →
48.8566° N, 2.3522° E
Louis Hospital
Investment Analyst
View Welarian Card →
46.2044° N, 6.1432° E
Duncan Bossle
Full-Stack Developer
View Welarian Card →
39.2904° N, 76.6122° W
Jason Q. McGowan
Full-Stack Developer
View Welarian Card →
39.7206° N, 104.8951° W
Ethan Gu
Full-Stack Developer
View Welarian Card →
40.6326° N, 73.9665° W
You
Dream Job
View Welarian Card →
What We Believe
Unknown, France, 1934 Unknown, Guggenheim Museum, 1968
We are guided by our values: integrity, curiosity, practicality, trustworthiness, discretion, transparency, and reliability. It is our North Star and unchanged from market to market. We believe all business dealings and relationships should always be win-win.
001
We believe that design is the backbone of how we think. We see the world differently, have unique imaginations, and are wired with curiosity—to question why things are the way they are and try to find better solutions to the world’s most challenging problems.
002
We are risk managers at our core. Our job is to properly assess and manage risk across our clients' professional and personal lives. Our process is radically transparent, ethical, and balanced.
003
We are not a one-size-fits-all approach. We are flexible with our ideas, solutions, and resources. Rational but open-minded. We have enough humility to know what we know, and we will search high and low to find the best solutions for what we don’t know.
004
We don’t believe in clients paying for things they don’t need. We believe in fractional ownership and the power of community. We operate under a conservative, asset-light methodology.
005
We will not sacrifice quality. A-players attract A-players. Attention to detail, intelligence, and excellence set us apart. We work with people we like, people we know, and people with integrity.
006
We view our network as a private club of curated relationships. Our relationships are not built around a boardroom table but through life circumstances, industry connections, and deep friendships that span multiple years and continents.
007
We believe that if something in our portfolio can drop to zero, we should not own it. If we can’t avoid owning it, we aim to add as much downside protection as possible and hedge out the risk of the asset.
008
We will be generous listeners and provide solutions to our clients' pain points. We approach portfolio management like chess—we think ahead and solve problems. We accept our clients for who and where they are, not who and where we want them to be.
009
We will always remember where we came from and how we got here. We are forever grateful and humbled by this opportunity. Our mission is to be modern stewards of capital for first-generation wealth creators by compressing time.
010
Colette K. Young I Founder I Managing Partner I Chief Executive Officer
Colette K. Young
Founder I Managing Partner I Chief Executive Officer
London I New York
English (native) I Korean (proficient) I Japanese (proficient) I French (conversant)
colette@welara.com I TG: @welara_colette
Colette / koh-LET /
Adjectives: Resilient, Curious, Authentic, Creative, Intellectual, Thoughtful, Elegant, Gritty.
Biography
Colette K. Young has spent the past 20 years building brands, operating companies, and investing in technology businesses. She has invested in over 250 early-stage companies and allocated investments to over 40 funds. She has been an early advocate and investor in bitcoin and blockchain technology and has dedicated her career to early-stage, emerging, and disruptive tech. Her specialty is building bridges between traditional industries and digital markets to enable growth for all participants. Ms. Young was most recently Chief Investment Officer and Chair of the Investment Committee of Percival Services LLC, a single-family office of the Pierce Family, where she joined in October 2021. She led investments and overall portfolio allocation and asset management in private and public opportunities. Being a design enthusiast, Ms. Young built her first business at 14—a women’s fashion brand and a chain of retail stores. She has been called one of the top young entrepreneurs by Bloomberg, Forbes, and The Today Show and was awarded a top entrepreneurship commendation by former US President Barack Obama (2010).
Unknown, known facts
Almost became a K-Pop Star 아이돌, is writing a children’s book series on her childhood, and grew up building robots.
Welara Coverage
Wealth:
Onboarding, Legacy Portfolio Management, Innovation Lab.
Assets:
Asset Allocation Advisory, In-Bound Investment Prospecting, Welara Co-Investment (SPVs).
Lifestyle:
Staffing, Health & Wellness, Longevity, Beauty, Real Estate, Fixed Assets, Art, Design, Fashion & Wardrobe Styling, Travel & Leisure, Restaurants & Entertainment, Event Design, Privacy & Security, Technology, Personal Services, Branding & Reputation.
Investment Experience
Chief Investment Officer (SFO) - Percival
Founder & Chief Strategy Officer - Atlas Capital Team L.P.
Investor - Venture, Angel, Crypto - Various & FirstMark Capital
Entrepreneur - Consumer, NGO, Asset Management
2021-2024
2018-2021
2010-2023
2004-2023
Interest
Family, Design, Architecture, Botany, Film, Art, Tennis, Photography, Museums, HiFi, Chess, Blockchain & Cryptocurrency, Artificial Intelligence, Cooking, Technology, Music, Ballet, Geopolitics, History, Gardening, Antiquities, Space, Physics, Sci-fi, Biohacking, Piano, Interviews, Travel, Pilates, Writing, Nature, Investing, The Future.
Dream
To compress time, square the circle, and help progress humanity forward.
Philip G. Potter, CFA I Founder I Managing Partner I Chief Strategy Officer
Philip G. Potter, CFA
Founder I Managing Partner I Chief Strategy Officer
New York
English (native) I CFA I Series Licenses: 4, 7,24, 55, 56, 63 & 99 (holds or has held)
phil@welara.com I TG: @welara_phil
Philip / FIL-ip /
Adjectives: Intellectual, Curious, Fearless, Confident, Resilient, Generous, Sensible, Honest.
Biography
Philip G. Potter has concentrated his career on bridging the business of Wall Street and the technology that drives it. Beginning as a Derivatives Analyst with Morgan Stanley, he quickly moved to developing automated portfolio management technologies. He then joined Bear Stearns Private Client Services division, where he assumed responsibility for the division’s technological infrastructure and software development. Mr. Potter decided to leave banking and become a Founding Partner of Mercury Securities, LLC, where he served as Chief Technology Officer. He later co-founded PacMid Technologies, LLC and Dimension Capital, LLC, to focus on developing and implementing cutting-edge trading technology and creating a successful automated trading consulting business where he developed several widely used trading technologies. In March 2003, Dimension Capital, LLC sold the Dimension SDK to SunGard Data Systems. Beginning in 2005, Mr. Potter formed, owned, and managed several broker/dealers that have served the active trading community. After several months of arbitrage trading, he pursued Bitcoin-related projects and joined Bitfinex in early 2014 as Chief Strategy Officer. He was instrumental in transforming Bitfinex from an obscure exchange player into the leading source of price discovery in the cryptocurrency marketplace. Mr. Potter also co-founded Tether, the most widely used stablecoin in the industry, with a market valuation at its peak of $184B.
Unknown, known facts
Almost became a K-Pop Star 아이돌, is writing a children’s book series on her childhood, and grew up building robots.
Welara Coverage
Wealth:
Onboarding, Innovation Lab, Accounting, Financial Modeling, & Bookkeeping, Insurance Oversight, Tax Oversight, Trust & Estate Oversight, Philanthropy Overnight, Succession Planning Oversight.
Assets:
Asset Allocation Advisory, Public Markets Portfolio Management, Welara Co-Investment (SPVs).
Lifestyle:
Health & Wellness, Longevity, Real Estate, Fixed Assets, Art, Design, Privacy & Security, Technology.
Investment Experience
Chief Investment Officer (SFO) - Potter Ventures
Various Brokerage Firms - Co-founder
Investment Banking - Morgan Stanley & Bear Stearns
Entrepreneur - Asset Management, FinTech
2013-2024
2000-2013
1994-2000
2000-2023
Interest
Family, Chess, Blockchain & Cryptocurrency, Tennis, Coding, Investing, Art, History, Museums, Physics, Geopolitics & Politics, Ancient Civilizations, Linguistics, Design, Architecture, Debate, Science Fiction, Podcasts, Cooking, Gardening, Antiquities, Dinner Parties, Space, DIY, Artificial Intelligence, Longevity.
Dream
To solve the problem of faster-than-light communication and live forever.
Ryan Mclaughlin I Founder I Managing Partner I Portfolio Manager
Geneva I New York
English (native) I French (conversant) I Italian (conversant)
ryan@welara.com I TG: @welara_ryan
Ryan / Rahy-uhn /
Adjectives: Hard-working, Imaginative, Open-minded, Adventurous, Reliable, Practical, Funny, Composed.
Biography
Ryan McLaughlin started working in finance in the 1990s in New York City, acting as an FX market maker in European currencies. After six successful trading years on the street, he moved to London and co-founded Rhicon Currency Management with a few of his close friends. At its peak, Rhicon raised close to ~$1b. Mr. McLaughlin managed a team of 18 people between London and Singapore, ran the short-term trading book, and had a positive P&L every year. When he retired from the hedge fund world in 2011, he was asked to become the Treasurer of a small private bank in Geneva, Switzerland. In 2015, Mr. McLaughlin couldn’t escape trading and joined the Gelber Group in Chicago as an FX Portfolio Manager. In 2021, after many years of monitoring trading opportunities in cryptocurrencies and digital assets, Mr. McLaughlin decided to leave the Gelber Group and become a Portfolio Manager at Peregrine Digital, a digital assets firm backed by Mubadala’s Abu Dhabi Catalyst Partners. Throughout the years, Mr. McLaughlin has profitably run FX money for clients around the world and has become known for his professional management of risk. Mr. McLaughlin has a Sharpe ratio of 4.
Unknown, known facts
His favorite sweater is from a thrift store and cost CHF 2.00, he is an avid reader of literature & poetry and when he first moved to London to launch his hedge fund, he put his entire savings into trading his personal account during the day, and waited tables at night for over two years before they closed their first institutional ticket – he never, ever gave up.
Welara Coverage
Wealth:
Onboarding, Legacy Portfolio Management, Rescue Services, Innovation Lab, Accounting, Financial Modeling, & Bookkeeping.
Assets:
Asset Allocation Advisory, In-Bound Investment Prospecting, Public Markets Portfolio Management, Welara Co-Investment (SPVs).
Lifestyle:
Staffing, Real Estate, Fixed Assets, Personal Services.
Investment Experience
Chief Investment Officer (SFO) - Potter Ventures
Investment Banking - Morgan Stanley & Bear Stearns
Entrepreneur - Asset Management, FinTech
Founder & Portfolio Manager - FX - Rhicon
Entrepreneur - Asset Management
2021-2023
2015-2021
2011-2015
1998-2011
1998-2023
Interest
Family, Friends, Mountain Biking, Sailing, Books, Skiing, Backgammon, Chess, Geopolitics, Antiques, Blockchain & Cryptocurrency, Artificial Intelligence, Poetry, Trading, History, Classical Music & Symphonies, Podcasts, Opera, Nature, Dinner Parties, Pilates, Innovation, Macroeconomics, Farming, Switzerland.
Dream
To help others.
Ryan Mclaughlin
Founder I Managing Partner I Portfolio Manager
Tim Valliere I In-house Counsel
New York, Licensed in the Tri-State Area (New York, New Jersey, Connecticut)
English (native) I French (conversant)
tim@welara.com I TG: @welara_tim
Tim / TIHm /
Adjectives: Competitive, Honest, Intuitive, Calm, Inquisitive, Analytical, Confident, Happy.
Biography
Tim Valliere has provided legal and business advice for start-ups and multinationals for over 25 years, for the past nine years as a sole practitioner and at multiple law firms in New York (including two that he co-founded and managed). He has represented family offices, technology companies, financial institutions (broker-dealers, hedge funds, mezzanine funds, and investment advisors), UHNW and HNW Individuals, music licensing firms, law firms, manufacturers, doctors, inventors, and general investors. Mr. Valliere has appeared in New York and New Jersey state and federal courts and arbitrations before FINRA, JAMS, and AAA. Mr. Valliere has litigated IP rights (copyright, trademark, and patent) and disputes involving property rights, note indentures, insurance coverage, securities fraud, product liability, and contract breaches. Mr. Valliere received his B.A. in European and French from Washington & Lee University (1994), where he was a Rhodes Scholar Finalist, 3x captain, and 2x MVP of the wrestling team, and his J.D. from New York University School of Law (1995). Mr. Valliere is recognized annually as an AV Preeminent lawyer – the highest possible rating for Legal Ability and Ethical Standards.
Unknown, known facts
In 2022, competed in the World Board Gaming Championships and World Axe Throwing Championships, went white water rafting for six days in the Grand Canyon, and competed in multiple marathons.
Welara Coverage
Wealth:
Onboarding, Legacy Portfolio Management, Rescue Services, Innovation Lab, Legal Oversight, Tax Oversight, Trust & Estate Oversight, Philanthropy Overnight, Succession Planning Oversight.
Assets:
Asset Allocation Advisory, In-Bound Investment Prospecting, Welara Co-Investment (SPVs).
Lifestyle:
Staffing, Real Estate, Fixed Assets, Personal Services.
Legal Experience
Founder, Partner - Valliere LLC
Co-founder, Managing Partner - Smith Valliere PLLC
Co-founder, Managing Partner – Bushell & Valliere LLP
Partner – Schoeman, Updike & Kaufman LLP
2014-2023
2007-2014
2005-2007
2003-2005
Interest
Axe Throwing, Golf, History, Board Games & Puzzles, Travelling, Wrestling, Reading, Marathons, Pickleball, Hiking, Live Music, Romance Languages.
Dream
To become President and end Bipartisan Politics.
Tim Valliere
In-house Counsel
Jorge Velásquez Franco, LL.M I Chief Compliance Officer | Corporate Counsel
Montreal I Bogota, Licensed in Colombia and Canada
Spanish (native) I English (native) I French (conversant)
jorge@welara.com I TG: @welara_jorge
Jorge / HOR’-haey /
Adjectives: Analytical, Meticulous, Insightful, Elegant, Determined, Thoughtful, Versatile, Respectful.
Biography
Jorge Velásquez Franco’s expertise includes advising cross-border investments in a series of asset classes, covering a full range of areas from corporate, employment, taxes, commercial, and regulatory. Jorge’s experience from 2016 to 2021 as Head of Sales, Chief Project Management Officer, and M&A and Corporate Affairs Manager for a global French industrial multinational firm gives him a valuable perspective on the matters and objectives driving transactions. Since October 2021, Mr. Velásquez acted as International Counsel for Percival Services LLC, a single-family office, advising on investments across different jurisdictions, mainly in the Iberian Peninsula, North America, and the Caribbean. Speaking three languages and having spent an important part of his life studying and working both in North and Latin America, Jorge brings real-world perspectives to crossing borders and cultures in the Americas.
Unknown, known facts
Mr. Velásquez spent the early years of his life in a place that few people will ever visit, at the foot of the largest coal mine in the world in the most northern point of South America, he almost had a career as a professional football player (soccer), and he once rode a motorcycle from Bogotá to Guayaquil and back, through more than 3000 km of jungle mountains, desert beaches, and seemingly endless treacherous stretches of highway.
Welara Coverage
Wealth:
Onboarding, Legacy Portfolio Management, Rescue Services, Innovation Lab, Legal Oversight, Tax Oversight, Trust & Estate Oversight, Philanthropy Overnight, Succession Planning Oversight.
Assets:
Asset Allocation Advisory, In-Bound Investment Prospecting, Welara Co-Investment (SPVs).
Lifestyle:
Staffing, Real Estate, Fixed Assets, Personal Services.
Legal Experience
International Counsel – SFO – Percival
Manager – M&A and Corporate Affairs – Air Liquide
Founder – Territorio Consultoria
Associate Counsel – Baker Mackenzie
General Counsel – Summum Corp
2021-2023
2017-2019
2016-2023
2015-2016
2013-2015
Interest
Family, Languages, History, Football (Soccer), Geography, Tennis, Motorcycle Travel, Etymology, Transdisciplinary Non-Fiction Books, Learning New Sports, The Art of Management, Dancing, Comedy, South America, Bespoke Suits.
Dream
For his children to spend time with him when they are older, not because they have to, but because they want to.
Jorge Velásquez Franco, LL.M
Chief Compliance Officer | Corporate Counsel
Cole Evans, CFA I Investment Associate
New York
English (native) I Charles River I MS, Java, SQL, R, JIRA, C/C++, Python, Scala
cole@welara.com I TG: @welara_cole
Cole / KOH-uul /
Adjectives: Loyal, Intuitive, Creative, Genuine, Perceptive, Competitive, Inquisitive, Thoughtful.
Biography
Cole Evans is deeply passionate about the confluence of technology and finance, having cultivated a career at the intersection of these dynamic fields. His educational journey led him to Lehigh University, where he obtained a degree with a focus on computer science and FinTech. Notably, his final thesis delved into blockchain technology, focusing on friction reduction in the municipal bond market—an early indicator of his commitment to exploring innovative solutions. At State Street Corporation, Mr. Evans began his professional journey by immersing himself in the investment management software division. There, his focus was on portfolio management and trading, contributing to the development of innovative product enhancements. Collaborating closely with software developers, he delved into the code to bring these enhancements to life. His role extended to business analysis in the front office, where he gained invaluable insights into client workflows across diverse markets such as fixed-income, emerging markets, derivatives, asset-backed securities, and FX. This experience equipped him to identify and address inefficiencies within the trading system, optimizing processes and enhancing overall performance. Recently, Mr. Evans achieved a significant milestone in his career by obtaining the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) certificate.
Unknown, known facts
Went to culinary school and created a meal prep service in college called ABC Prep, was a volunteer firefighter, and an ocean lifeguard.
Welara Coverage
Wealth:
Onboarding, Legacy Portfolio Management, Rescue Services, Innovation Lab, Accounting, Financial Modeling, & Bookkeeping.
Assets:
Asset Allocation Advisory, In-Bound Investment Prospecting, Public Markets Portfolio Management, Welara Co-Investment (SPVs).
Lifestyle:
Staffing, Health & Wellness, Longevity, Real Estate, Fixed Assets, Travel & Leisure, Restaurants & Entertainment, Privacy & Security, Technology, Personal Services.
Investment Experience
Investment Software – State Street Corporation
Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Certificate
2019-2023
2023
Interest
Family, Friends, Cooking, Chess, Soccer, Investing, Geopolitics, Dinner Parties, Podcasts, Tennis, Skiing, Blockchain & Cryptocurrency, Strength Training, Science Fiction, Thriller Films, Reading, Gardening, Coding, Space, Hiking, Board Games, Running, Yoga, Kayaking, Fishing, Biking, Sketching, Rock Climbing.
Dream
To contribute to an ever-changing world.
Cole Evans, CFA
Investment Associate
Aileen McBride I Lifestyle Operations
New York | Jakarta
English (native) I Indonesian (native) I Mandarin (proficient) I Swedish (conversant)
aileen@welara.com I TG: @welara_aileen
Aileen / AY-leen /
Adjectives: Original, Visionary, Resilient, Strategic, Empathetic, Adaptable, Tenacious, Innovative.
Biography
Aileen McBride is a multifaceted professional with a remarkable career in eCommerce, highlighted by her extensive experience within the dynamic world of fashion. With a background that spans continents and a career marked by exceptional achievements, Ms. McBride is a true global leader and a fashion connoisseur. Born in the Philippines and raised in diverse locations, including Indonesia, China, and the Netherlands, Ms. McBride brings a unique global perspective to her work. Her multilingualism allows her to connect with people from various cultures, enhancing her empathetic and adaptable nature. Throughout her career, Ms. McBride has had the privilege of working with some of the most iconic names in the fashion industry. Her journey has taken her through the hallowed halls of renowned fashion brands, where she's applied her visionary leadership, strategic prowess, and tenacious drive to create exceptional results. Beyond her fashion-focused career, Ms. McBride is an avid animal advocate and philanthropist, demonstrating her compassion and commitment to making a positive impact on the lives of animals in need and communities around the world.
Unknown, known facts
Has been a classically trained violinist since the age of seven, grew up riding horses, and has lost track of how many tattoos she currently has (but it's more than 50).
Welara Coverage
Lifestyle:
Staffing, Health & Wellness, Longevity, Beauty, Real Estate, Fixed Assets, Art, Design, Fashion & Wardrobe Styling, Travel & Leisure, Restaurants & Entertainment, Event Design, Privacy & Security, Technology, Personal Services, Branding & Reputation.
Lifestyle Experience
Director – E-Commerce – CharityBuzz
Director – E-Commerce – HODINKEE
Director – E-Commerce – What Goes Around Comes Around
Buyer – Consumer – Bloomingdale’s
Buyer – Consumer – Gilt
2022-2023
2019-2023
2017-2019
2016-2016
2009-2016
Interest
Family, Global Travel, Fashion, DJing, History, Muay Thai, Animal Rescue & Advocacy, Languages, Antiquing, Dinner Parties, Perfume Alchemy, Scandinavian Design, Ornithology, Multiculturalism, True Crime, Perfecting Recipes, Natural History Museums, Marine Biology, Equestrianism, Tropical Weather, JDM Cars, Vinyl Records, Architecture, Wildlife Conservation, Curating Playlists, Untouched Wilderness, DIY Projects, FPS Video Games, Sci-Fi, Asia, World Religions, Hobby Farming.
Dream
To construct her very own self-sustaining greenhouse home in the Swedish countryside.
Aileen McBride
Lifestyle Operations
Allison Young-Derderian I Lifestyle Operations
New York
English (native)
allison@welara.com I TG: @welara_allison
Allison / Al - Iih SUhn /
Adjectives: Detailed, Resourceful, Nurturing, Competent, Assertive, Diligent, Loyal, Fearless.
Biography
Allison Young, a native of New York, hails from a family with a background in high-profile professions. Her mother formerly served as the Head of Public Relations at CBS Broadcasting Inc., while her father is a seasoned litigator. Growing up in this environment afforded Ms. Young a front-row seat to crisis management, negotiation, and handling various critical tasks, often with seemingly impossible deadlines. She also gained an understanding of the trust, rhythm, and sensitivity required when working with high-profile media executives, artists, and celebrities. While pursuing her studies in communications at a university in New York, Ms. Young realized that the skills she had developed during her upbringing would form the foundation of her career. This realization led her to collaborate with numerous ultra-high-net-worth individuals, specifically first-generation wealth creators, assisting them in both their personal and professional endeavors. Over the past five years, she has worked closely with Philip G. Potter, contributing her expertise across several enterprises, entities, and personal matters. In addition to her professional pursuits, Ms. Young is interested in the culinary arts, particularly baking. This passion prompted her to briefly explore her talent, eventually leading to her appointment as the Head Pastry Chef at a local bakery and restaurant in Brooklyn, New York.
Unknown, known facts
Her grandparents survived the Holocaust, with one grandparent escaping Auschwitz. Macaulay Culkin was her babysitter growing up, and she is currently juggling work, life, and weekly dance parties with her husband and their two young children.
Welara Coverage
Lifestyle:
Staffing, Health & Wellness, Longevity, Beauty, Real Estate, Fixed Assets, Art, Design, Fashion & Wardrobe Styling, Travel & Leisure, Restaurants & Entertainment, Event Design, Privacy & Security, Technology, Personal Services, Branding & Reputation.
Lifestyle Experience
Operations & Personal Assistant - Potter Ventures
Operations & Personal Assistant - (UHNWI & Family Offices)
Head Pastry Chef - Tilda Bakery, Otway Restaurant
2018-2024
2012-2018
2015-2017
Interest
Her Children, Family, Baking, Interior Design, Art, Dinner Parties, Architecture, Gardening, Antiques, Landscape Design, Fashion, Book Club, Photography, HiFi, Organizing Systems, Long Walks, Pilates, Yoga, Hospitality, Wallpaper, Podcasts, Animals, Beauty & Wellness, Travel, Italy, Philanthropy.
Dream
To create a warm and inviting home on the Italian seaside with an open-door policy for friends and family that inspires creativity, artist residency, and animal sanctuary.
Allison Young-Derderian
Lifestyle Operations
Ethan Gu I Full-Stack Developer
New York
English (native)
ethan@welara.com I TG: @welara_ethan
Ethan / EE - thuhn /
Adjectives: Curious, Diligent, Strategic, Resourceful, Analytical, Methodical, Determined, Adaptable.
Biography
Ethan Gu is an emerging programming specialist starting his career in technology, with a solid foundation in coding and data analysis. His hands-on experience spans the entire data pipeline in the asset management industry, including internships at Wellington Management Company and Artisan Partners. Born and raised in New Jersey, Mr. Gu graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s Degree in Data Science and Mathematics from Northeastern University in Boston. His passion for sports, particularly fantasy football, has ignited a deep interest in data and statistics, leading him to finance where he focuses on enhancing investment strategies through technology. Ethan combines his technical expertise with a lifelong curiosity, constantly exploring ways to integrate innovative solutions that optimize both performance and user experience. He also values collaboration and thrives in team environments where ideas are shared and built upon to create impactful solutions.With a determination to apply his knowledge globally, Mr. Gu is eager to advance his career and contribute meaningfully in the world of data science.
Unknown, known facts
Has many ongoing collections including Funko Pops (~30), keychains (too many to count), and landmark figurines (8) from places he’s visited. He is currently building a PC from scratch.
Welara Coverage
Wealth:
Technology
Experience
Internship – Quantitative Analyst – Artisan Partners
Internship – Global Risk & Analytics – Wellington Management Company
2023-2023
2022-2022
Interest
World Travel, Video Games, Basketball, Spikeball, Fantasy Football, Collecting, Sneakers, Chess, Trying New Restaurants, Ergonomics, Trivia, Bouldering, Mixology, Board Games, Puzzles, Legos, Artificial Intelligence, Technology, Programming, Camping, Crabbing, Gardening, Mahjong.
Dream
Travel the world and continue to experience new cultures and cuisines.
Ethan Gu
Full-Stack Developer
Louis Hospital I Investment Analyst
Abu Dhabi | Geneva
French (native), German (native), English (proficient)
louis@welara.com I TG: @welara_louis
Louis / Loo-ee /
Adjectives: Determined, Adaptative, Curious, Realist, Ambitious, Versatile, Stoic, Strategist.
Biography
Louis Hospital is a Franco-German finance professional who began his trading career early, managing his own investment portfolio at just 15 years old. Initially specializing in equities, Mr. Hospital shifted his focus toward cryptocurrencies in 2020, driven by a strong interest in identifying and capitalizing on market inefficiencies. Since then, he has actively traded digital assets across decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms and centralized exchanges, consistently refining his strategies to exploit structural inefficiencies within fragmented markets. Mr. Hospital recently graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Finance from EDHEC Business School. Throughout his university studies, he developed exceptional discipline and time-management skills by successfully balancing rigorous coursework with active trading. In 2023, Mr. Hospital completed a summer internship at DWS, Germany’s largest asset manager, as part of their Digital Assets Products team. This role provided him with valuable insights into ETFs, stablecoins, and the high standards of excellence and consistency expected within institutional asset management. Travels solo to a different country every summer to unwind; started competitive skiing at age 9 but later shifted focus to pursue freeride skiing; has watched every movie released on Netflix in the past two years.
Welara Coverage
Wealth:
Onboarding, Legacy Portfolio Management, Rescue Services, Innovation Lab, Accounting, Financial Modeling, & Bookkeeping.
Investment Experience
Trader - TRG
Analyst - DWS
2023-2025
2022-2023
Interest
Cooking, Space Travel, History, Animals, Cycling, Photography, Paintings, EDM Music, Skiing, Philosophy of Mind, Inner Development, Chess, Comedy, Augmented Reality, Video Games, Martial Arts, Mixology, Sailing, Motorcycles, Squash, Cinematography, Rollerblading, Cities, Poker, Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, Fiction To explore another Galaxy.
Dream
To explore another Galaxy.
Louis Hospital
Investment Analyst
Asset:
Asset Allocation Advisory, In-Bound Investment Prospecting, Public Markets Portfolio Management, Welara Co-Investment (SPVs).
Duncan Bossle I Full-Stack Developer
Baltimore
English (native)
duncan@welara.com I TG: @welara_duncan
Duncan / DUN-kun /
Adjectives: Resourceful, Detail-oriented, Curious, Creative, Trustworthy, Consistent, Driven, Protective, Loyal.
Biography
Duncan T. Bossle has spent the past 24 years building software solutions designed to make people's day-to-day lives easier and more productive. He spent 15 years working in the legal industry, both as a software vendor to large firms and in-house as a Senior Developer for one of the largest international firms in the world. Mr. Bossle has spent the past 7 years as Director of Technology for a successful digital advertising startup that saw its top-line revenue triple during his tenure. An inherently curious and self-motivated individual, Mr. Bossle draws on his extensive experience as a developer, marketer, and data analyst to deliver scalable, beautiful, and usable software solutions for clients and businesses alike. Mr. Bossle relishes his role as both a doer and a mentor, and works constantly to keep himself and his team informed on the latest software design, development, and security paradigms.
Unknown, known facts
Sang Tenor 2 in an A Cappella group in college, raised two crazy kids and two crazier dogs, is double-jointed in his hands, and anxiously waits in Baltimore year after year for his beloved Orioles to win another Series.
Welara Coverage
Wealth:
Technology
Experience
Director of Technology - Driven Media Group
Sr. Software Engineer - DLA Piper
Sr. Software Engineer - Select Associates
2018-2024
2011-2018
2005-2011
Interest
Family, Dogs, Vinyl Records, Baltimore Orioles, Golf, Live Music, Gardening, Cooking, Breadmaking, Tottenham Hotspur, Sailing, Camping, Video Games, Maryland Terps, The Mountains, Technology, Bluegrass, Travel, Baltimore Ravens, Old School Hip Hop.
Dream
To break 80 and then 70 on the golf course and retire to Scotland with too many Labradors.
Duncan Bossle
Full-Stack Developer
Mikaela Seegers I Lifestyle Operations Manager
Mikaela Seegers
Lifestyle Operations
New York
English (native), Spanish (proficient), French (conversant), German (conversant)
mikaela@welara.com I TG: @welara_mikaela
Mikaela / mi-KAY-la /
Adjectives: Dynamic, Elegant, Ambitious, Passionate, Curious, Resolute, Empathetic, Creative.
Biography
Unknown, known facts
Grew up cold water surfing in the Pacific Northwest with her dad; serendipitously met her first boss and interviewed on a plane; former dancer and dedicated member of the Misty Copeland Foundation.
Interest
Family, Live Music, Hotel Design, Fashion, Ballet, Haute Couture, Laughter, Abstract Expressionism, Podcasts, Space, Pilates, Backgammon, Ancient Civilizations, Skincare, Languages, Wine, Artificial Intelligence, Skiing, Classic Fiction, Travel, Matcha, Philanthropy, German Cars, Holistic Wellness, Mood Boarding, Quality Time with Close Friends, Creative Writing, Piano, Guitar, Reading Menus, Yoga, Meditation, Architecture, Documentaries, Aviation, Fashion Shows, Dinner Parties, Perfect Martinis, Robert Green, Dr. Joe Dispenza, Longevity, Gardening, Philanthropy.
Dream
To time travel.
Mikaela Seegers has built her career at the intersection of real estate, finance, and luxury hospitality. With experience spanning private equity, commercial real estate advisory, and brand strategy, she brings a multidisciplinary approach to crafting design-forward, sustainable solutions that resonate in both function and feeling. Her work reflects a unique ability to navigate between analytical rigor and creative storytelling, a skillset honed across global markets and high-touch sectors. Her international perspective is shaped by time living in Europe and collaborating with some of the world’s most iconic names in hospitality and lifestyle. She has advised well-known European hospitality brands on their entry into the North American market, including the expansion of Beefbar—bringing global concepts to new audiences through thoughtful positioning and localized strategy. Ms. Seegers has also contributed to large-scale investment efforts, including a strategic reimagining of the investor relations approach for a real estate private equity fund during a $100 million capital raise. She led the development of communication frameworks that clarified the fund’s vision, fostered trust, and deepened alignment between the investment team and its capital partners. She launched her career at just 18, founding a boutique fitness program in partnership with Club Med—an early sign of her entrepreneurial drive and passion for placemaking. Since then, she has worked on a range of high-profile ventures, lending her voice to brand development, creative strategy, and experiential concepting. Whether shaping the identity of a new mixed-use development or helping reposition a legacy property, Ms. Seegers blends strategic insight with an innate sense of aesthetics. A published singer and songwriter, Ms. Seegers draws from her background in performance and storytelling to bring emotional resonance to everything she touches.
Welara Coverage
LIfestyle:
Management
Experience
Founder – Meraki Paddle Fitness
Chief of Staff & Licensed Real Estate Broker – Thirty Three Group
Director of Investor Relations – Christina Real Estate Advisors
Founder – Blond Company
Director & Licensed Real Estate Broker – Vantage Real Estate Advisors
2014–2018
2018–2022
2022
2022–2025
2022–2025
Yann-Léo Berthou I Investment Analyst
Yann-Léo Berthou
Investment Analyst
Paris | Geneva
French (native), German (native), English (proficient)
yann@welara.com I TG: @welara_yannleo
Yann-Leo / yahn-lee-oh /
Adjectives: Authentic, Curious, Driven, Empathetic, Insightful, Passionate, Precise, Strategic.
Biography
Unknown, known facts
Crashed his first car on a racetrack, turned down a football career to stay in Germany with his family, and spent childhood designing maquettes of cars and planes for the company he dreamed of building.
Welara Coverage
Wealth:
Portfolio Research, Strategic Diligence, Intelligence & Analysis, Asset Exploration.
Experience
Financial Analyst – Bouygues Construction
Co-Founder – InZePocket
Co-Founder – Travel Breizh
2023–2024
2024–Present
2019–Present
Interest
Aviation, Artificial Intelligence, Architecture, Aesthetics, Cognitive Science, Cooking, Culture, Engineering, Entrepreneurship, Family, Golf, Investments, Mathematics, Mindset, Motorsports, Nature, Neurodiversity, Performance, Photography, Real Estate, Roadtrip, Strategy Games, Sea, Sailing, Travel, Triathlon.
Dream
To build something meaningful with people I admire, stay curious forever, and live a dozen different lives in one.
Yann-Léo Berthou is a Franco-German investment analyst with an entrepreneurial mindset and a deep curiosity about how systems, people, and ideas interact. Mr. Berthou launched his first company at 15, driven by a desire to create products that were useful, elegant, and ahead of their time. Since then, he has explored a wide range of ventures, including e-commerce, digital branding, AI tools, NFC-based networking technology, and a family-led real estate business focused on property investments and short-term rentals.
Mr. Berthou graduated as valedictorian and was awarded for academic excellence and entrepreneurial initiative. During his studies, he co-founded the EDHEC Entrepreneur Club to support student-led innovation and strengthen the university’s start-up ecosystem. At Welara, Mr. Berthou contributes to strategic diligence, portfolio research, and cross-sector intelligence, bringing rigor and structured thinking to every stage of the investment process.
Known for synthesizing complex information across disciplines, Mr. Berthou is especially interested in how performance, design, and human cognition connect. His interests span aviation, motorsports, and endurance athletics, and he is currently preparing for pilot training.
Delavan Kromer I Lifestyle Operations
Delavan Kromer
Lifestyle Operations
New York
English (native)
delavan@welara.com I TG: @welara_delavan
Delavan / DEL-uh-van /
Adjectives: Intuitive, Resourceful, Loyal, Meticulous, Kind, Adaptable, Inquisitive, Funny, Reliable, Caring.
Biography
Unknown, known facts
A sommelier turned yoga instructor who opened a restaurant with a rock legend and has over thirty tattoos.
Welara Coverage
Lifestyle Operations:
Office of the CEO.
Experience
Executive Assistant – FTV Capital
Executive Assistant – Abound
Executive Assistant – Envogue
Sommelier & Hospitality Roles – Fleetwood’s, The Battery, Aina, 232 Bleecker
2023–2025
2021–2023
2020–2021
2009–2020
Interest
Yoga, Ayurveda, Architecture, Art, Design, History, Holistic Nutrition, Meditation, Chess, Biking, Running, Ballet, Sustainable Fashion, Travel, Camping, Hiking, Environmental Conservation, Crafting, Hospitality, Philosophy, Animals, Wellness, Herbal Medicine, Nature, Strength Training, Aromatherapy, Fitness
Dream
To work toward universal justice and human flourishing.
Delavan J. Kromer brings a diverse and unconventional background to her role as Executive Assistant. Her career began in hospitality, eventually leading to the opportunity to open a restaurant on Maui in partnership with Mick Fleetwood of Fleetwood Mac. That experience sparked a lifelong appreciation for culinary arts and creative collaboration at the highest level. Ms. Kromer later became a certified sommelier in San Francisco and gained extensive experience in fine dining, management, and service across some of the country’s most respected restaurants. It was in the corporate world where Ms. Kromer discovered her true calling. She developed a passion for executive support while working at an early-stage startup, where she learned to thrive in fast-paced, high-growth environments. Her transition into private equity further sharpened her attention to detail, discretion, and ability to anticipate the needs of senior leadership. In addition to her professional accomplishments, Ms. Kromer holds a 500-hour Registered Yoga Teacher certification and is currently pursuing credentials as an Ayurvedic Health Counselor. Her approach to executive support reflects a blend of precision and presence, merging operational excellence with a deep commitment to wellness and integrity.
Eric Willens I Business Operations & Client Engagement Manager
Eric Willens
Business Operations & Client Engagement Manager
Los Angeles
English (native)
eric@welara.com I TG: @welara_eric
Eric / ERR-ick /
Adjectiives: Strategic, Analytical, Perceptive, Composed, Dependable, Creative, Detail-oriented, Organized.
Biography
Unknown, known facts
Caught an international “Catch Me If You Can”–style scam artist, became a league-champion wrestler, and landed a national television commercial for a major automotive brand.
Welara Coverage
Wealth:
Operations - Asset Oversight, Business Process Design, Client Reporting, Fixed Asset Management, Entity & Governance Infrastructure, Strategic Client Liaison.
Experience
Fixed Assets & Operations Director (SFO) – Percival LLC
Director – Teamson LDA
Director, Operations – SwissX
Co-Founder & CPO – PRECISELY
2020–2025
2020–2024
2018–2019
2015–2018
Interest
Artificial Intelligence, Basketball, Board Games & Strategy, Coaching & Mentoring, Design, Family, Film, Fishing, Friends, Gaming, Geography, Geopolitics, History, Investing, Kayaking, Podcasts, Stand-up Comedy, Strength Training, Technology, Trading, Travel, Wrestling.
Dream
To craft invisible systems that multiply human potential and free millions to turn bold ideas into reality.
Eric Willens serves as the Business Operations & Client Engagement Manager at Welara, bringing over a decade of experience in transforming complex portfolios into structured, audit-ready ecosystems. Prior to Welara, Mr. Willens served as Fixed Assets & Operations Director for Percival LLC, where he managed a $120 million portfolio of real estate, passenger vessels, and collectible automobiles across the U.S., Puerto Rico, and Europe. A native of Southern California and graduate of UC San Diego’s business program, Mr. Willens is known as an operational architect. His focus is on building integrated systems that protect client capital, reinforce governance, and bring clarity to multifaceted asset structures. Mr. Willens excels at creating infrastructure that empowers first-generation wealth creators to focus on vision and legacy while ensuring their holdings are managed with discipline and precision. With a quiet but highly attuned approach, he supports clients in navigating both detail and scale—bridging technical execution with long-term trust.
Jason Q. McGowan I Full-Stack Developer
Denver
English (native) I Spanish (conversant)
jason@welara.com I TG: @welara_jason
Jason / JAY-sen /
Adjectives: Consistent, Relentless, Versatile, Passionate, Thoughtful, Empathetic, Logical, Quiet.
Biography
Jason Q. McGowan is a seasoned Software Engineer with a progressive five-year career at Fidelity Investments, where he has specialized in developing sophisticated financial service applications. His journey began after earning degrees in Economics and International Relations from Hobart and William Smith Colleges in New York, leading him to the tech industry driven by a keen interest in finance and technology integration. At Fidelity, Mr. McGowan quickly distinguished himself by creating impactful decision-making and analysis tools for portfolio managers, thereby enhancing firm operations. His work involves not just coding but also crafting processing tools that adapt and scale according to evolving business needs. Mr. McGowan’s relentless drive, curiosity, and logical approach have established him as a pivotal figure capable of translating complex market demands into tangible technological solutions. He is committed to leveraging his expertise to drive further innovation and efficiency in financial technologies, aiming to make significant contributions to the industry’s future.
Unknown, known facts
Loves to spend his time exercising, eating good food (especially pasta), and chasing the feeling he gets when he has a breakthrough on a project he is working on.
Welara Coverage
Wealth:
Technology
Experience
Software Engineer – Fidelity Investments
Advanced Process Solutions – Fidelity Investments
2021-2023
2019-2021
Interest
Nature, Technology, Quality Time, Exercise, Italian Food, Reading, Cultural Exchange, Hiking, Marathon Running, Live Music, Cycling, Winter Sports, Yoga, Surfing, Artificial Intelligence, Nordic Skiing, Traveling, Camping, Coding, Financial Technology, Whole Foods, Health, Routines.
Dream
Fuel positive and impactful change.
Jason Q. McGowan
Full-Stack Developer
Don't see your role, but want to work at Welara? We want to hear from you.
