“I’ve always been a fierce competitor. This is an absolute necessity for managing money in this constantly changing economy.”

Ron Sloy co-founded Sloy, Dahl & Holst on 1986. His ever-expanding practice has brought him to the attention of both local media and national publications including Forbes, Fortune, Bloomberg, Money Magazine, and landed him a slot as a contributor on the KOIN-TV program Keep It Local, offering concise market reviews and forecasting.

A lifelong athlete, Ron competed on national television in the pro-football halftime game Punt, Pass and Kick at age ten. He was a three-sport star athlete in high school, playing baseball, basketball and football. He made first-team all-state in baseball, and joined the Sigma Chi first-team All-American roster as the only freshman during his first year at University of Oregon.

“I get great pleasure when a Client shakes my hand to thank me. It reminds me when my Coach would congratulate me after a ball game for a job well done.”

Ron was drafted by both the St. Louis Cardinals and the Montreal Expos. Instead of pursuing the major leagues, he applied his competitive nature to his new passions: personal finance and wealth management. Ron began his career at Alexander Hamilton Life Insurance Company and later joined Interwest Financial Advisors before co-founding Sloy, Dahl & Holst in 1986.

Ron also brings his competitive nature to the golf course. He is a scratch golfer, and has won numerous Northwest tournaments and dreams of one day giving the Senior PGA Tour a run.

In 2017, Ron Sloy created and launched a Concentrated Equity private investment Fund.  The Fund’s objectives are to maximize shareholder return and wealth accumulation using an aggressive, highly-concentrated investment strategy focusing on growth.  He is a trailblazing, highly competitive investment advisor who has been a student of, and a contributor to the financial markets for decades.

“I’m a strong advocate of a coordinated approach to wealth management. Working in tandem with accounting, insurance and legal advisors guarantees the best result in every situation.”

Jim Holst is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP^®) and co-founder of Sloy, Dahl & Holst. Putting his analytical background to use, Jim has developed several of the computer models we rely on for asset allocation and money management. These models assist in structuring portfolios to successfully balance risk and rate of return.

Jim focuses his practice on asset management and comprehensive retirement planning. His extensive client base benefits from his decades of experience and an investment philosophy which incorporates thorough planning, careful review, and custom asset allocations geared to meet the unique needs of each client.

An active member of the Institute of Certified Financial Planners, Jim has been a featured speaker at financial planning seminars throughout the Portland metropolitan area.

When he’s not working, Jim enjoys taming his nearly half-acre property into a garden worthy of Sunset Magazine. He is also an avid beachcomber, spending hours with his family hunting for agates and special shells. Prior to co-founding Sloy, Dahl & Holst. Jim provided investment management services to a variety of profit-sharing plans, pension plans and trusts.

A co-founder of Sloy, Dahl & Holst, Tony Dahl was a Certified Financial Planner (CFP^®). A good friend and loving husband, Tony was an avid runner, golfer and beach volleyball player with a passion for microbrews and the outdoors. In 1996, Tony lost his battle with cancer. He is honored every day as Sloy, Dahl & Holst. successfully continues the legacy he helped envision.

“Sloy, Dahl & Holst helps clients retire well. Whether through Qualified Plans or individual investors, we compete for our clients and constantly let them know how we compare to the relevant benchmarks. Too many advisors in this space set up programs that lack accountability, always allowing themselves the opportunity to point a finger at someone else. Our fees are fully disclosed, how we perform is always made black and white, and our clients understand whether or not working with Sloy, Dahl & Holst has added value. It’s not the way most advisory firms like to work, but that’s who we are.”

Michael began his impressive career in the Qualified Plan industry while working for an independent TPA/Record Keeper, giving him invaluable insight which he would later leverage into the advisory side of the financial industry. His list of distinctions include Qualified Plan Financial Consultant (QPFC) through the American Society of Pension Professionals and Actuaries (ASPPA) and Accredited Investment Fiduciary Analyst (AIFA) through Fi360. Michael is a Series 65 licensed Investment Advisor Representative for Sloy, Dahl & Holst.

Michael joined the firm in November of 2008. He is credited with revamping Sloy, Dahl & Holst’s Qualified Plan practice, which has led to a tremendous amount of growth over the last 10 years. He developed and implemented their one-on-one participant education program, in an effort to truly impact the financial health of all participants within Qualified Plans managed by Sloy, Dahl & Holst. Michael was also the architect of the firms Collective Investment Funds, established in 2016, which brought purchasing power and fee reductions seldom seen in the “Small Plan Market” to all plans and participants. He was named Chief Operating Officer in 2016.

Michael has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from the University of Washington. He has served on Charles Schwab’s National Trust and Custody Board, and is also a former board member of the ASPPA Benefits Council of the Great Northwest. Passionate about his community and child education, Michael served on the Investment Committee of Kindering; Washington state based nonprofit. Michael resides in Bellevue, Washington with his wife Brittany, and their daughters Sienna and Charlotte.

“Saving for retirement is one of the most important decisions one will ever make. I learned this lesson at a young age and knew I wanted to help others do the same.”

Paul has focused his career on the Qualified Plan industry.  In his current role as Sloy, Dahl & Holst’s Director of Retirement Plan Services, he works directly with plan participants to help them achieve financial freedom.  He knows that it is crucial for individuals to invest properly and he finds great satisfaction in helping others achieve their financial goals.  Sloy, Dahl & Holst prides itself on excellent client service, and Paul is committed to making sure that every Qualified Plan managed by Sloy, Dahl & Holst receives the highest standard of care.

Paul earned his BA in Economics from the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay and his MBA from Ashford University.  Born and raised in the Upper Peninsula region of Michigan, Paul has enjoyed outdoor activities from a young age. He is an avid golfer and when he is not on the course enjoys spending free time backpacking and exploring everything the Pacific Northwest has to offer. Shortly after completing his collegiate career, his love for the outdoors brought him to the Portland area; where he lives with his wife Alison and their children Emily and Alden.

“Solving problems is a significant part of my job. Whether it’s transferring assets, executing a trade or managing a client request, there is always something to keep me on my toes.”

With more than thirty years in financial services, Christine Cruz pairs a sophisticated level of industry experience with a gift for client communication, negotiation and trouble-shooting. Our clients and our team members rely on her expertise and attention to detail. Christine is a Series 65 licensed Investment Advisor Representative for Sloy, Dahl & Holst.

When she is not busy generating quarterly reports, trouble-shooting compliance issues or researching on Morningstar, Christine can be found playing the piano at a local parish or with one of Portland’s best salsa bands.

“Passion for supporting our “Wall Street” team with a “main street” client focus. There is no such thing as “no” – there is always a way to support our clients’ quest to achieve their investment dreams, even through internal operations.”

After managing a doctors’ office in Silicon Valley, Leslie spent more than a decade working for The Marcus & Millichap Company – the largest privately held, diversified commercial real estate and residential development firm in the United States.  As Vice President of Administration, she was responsible for human resources, facility management, project management, and operations of the corporate headquarter office of 100 employees.  In 2018 Leslie joined Sloy, Dahl & Holst, leveraging her vast knowledge and skills to manage the financial and corporate infrastructure of their California based wholly owned subsidiary, Smart Investor.  Leslie helped navigate and transition the divestiture of Smart Investor in 2022, at which time she turned her focus to the greater Sloy, Dahl & Holst business portfolio operations.  She is passionate about creating and refining processes and efficiencies “back of the house” that are laser focused on producing world-class client service.

Leslie earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Management from UC Irvine/Menlo College, Summa Cum Laude, and is a commissioned California Notary Public.  She is passionate about supporting music education for local elementary and high school students and dedicates a great deal of her free time serving as President of the Auburn Symphony as well as President Emeritus of Placer High School Music Boosters.  She is a columnist for the Auburn Journal, and former Board Member of Menlo College, Professional Studies Program.

"I'm deeply intrigued by the psychology behind financial planning—understanding how clients think and feel about money is essential to building trust, forging meaningful connections, and helping them toward their financial goals."

Kylee Harris joined the Sloy, Dahl & Holst team in 2023.  She is a graduate of George Fox University where she earned bachelor’s degrees in both Management and Financial Planning.  After graduating from college, she entered the financial services industry as an intern and trade analyst at a large Oregon based firm.  Through that experience Kylee realized that she wanted to work for a smaller boutique firm where she could play a key role in the operations/backside within a smaller team environment which Sloy, Dahl & Holst fosters and supports.  In her role as Client Services Associate, she enjoys managing client trading, reporting and all facets of client service.

When she is not at work, Kylee enjoys spending time with her family, enjoying the outdoors, and spoiling her two cats at home.

“I love being the person that clients can count on to make things easier”

As a Holst, Rachel grew up immersed in the world of financial planning.  She studied at OHSU – Portland State University where she earned a bachelor’s degree in public health studies with a minor in business, and officially joined the Sloy, Dahl & Holst team in 2021.  Known to many as the most welcoming voice answering incoming client phone calls, Rachel leverages over a decade of impressive client service experience as she assists our clients. She prides herself on making every client interaction and request flow seamlessly and as “stress-free” as possible. 

When she is not at work, Rachel enjoys local gourmet coffee hotspots and her favorite activities include exercising, paddle boarding with friends, and spending time with her church community.

“The best part about facilitating our events is watching clients and friends come together to have fun.”

Shantel Sloy brings more than twenty years of customer service and marketing experience to her position. She joined our team in 2003 to strategically plan and execute all events for Sloy, Dahl & Holst. Shantel understands the ins and outs of marketing strategy, analysis, campaign execution and staff management — all while keeping tight control over the bottom line.

In her free time, Shantel enjoys spending time with her family & friends, experimenting with new recipes including publishing her own cookbook, entertaining, traveling and photography.

“I believe it’s the personal touch we offer our clients which sets us apart.”

Celeste Lucas joined our team as an assistant to Ron Sloy. Her initial duties included premier customer service, client trading, and client reporting. Over the years, Celeste has accumulated vast experience in the financial industry, and accordingly, her duties expanded to all aspects of managing Ron’s practice.

After more than thirty years, Celeste has stepped out of the day-to-day operations of the firm and now focuses solely on assisting Ron. This transition has allowed her to maintain the personal connections and service she values most while also enjoying a little more freedom with her time.

In 1998, Celeste met her husband Michael in the elevator of our office building. Their short trip made a strong impression and they were married three years later.