Our Team

Kirk is the founder and Portfolio Manager of Desert Rose Capital, having opened operations in 2010 out of a deep desire to bring the Integrated Options Portfolio (IOP) to the market.

Kirk began trading exchange-traded options in 1996. His expertise in derivatives and exchange options enabled the creation of the IOP strategy, which is designed to capture the full potential of the market while also creating a reduced risk profile. He first began using the strategy with his own money and quickly realized how the IOP could resonate with clients. The potential performance with limited downside risk is a true advantage in any portfolio.

The strategy is exclusive to Desert Rose Capital Management, where he has set the tone for a ‘people first’ approach to wealth management. Kirk believes financial peace of mind should be accessible to everyone. This has led to a no-minimum philosophy within our client criteria. Taking it one step further, his confidence in the IOP also led to DRCM’s ‘no obligation to pay fees’ model. As far as we are aware, we are the only wealth management firm in the country that will voluntarily forfeit payment if you are not happy with our service or performance.

In his spare time, Kirk resides with his wife in Meridian, Idaho, He adores spending time with his family, grandchildren, and “Suzy,” his favorite calculator. He is also a dedicated member of his church community, where he regularly participates in community events.

Mausmi holds a master’s degree in Financial Analysis and Quantitative Risk Management, has successfully completed the CFA Level 1 exam, and is currently pursuing the CFA Level 2. With a strong foundation in corporate finance, risk management, and portfolio analysis, she brings extensive expertise to her role as Chief Compliance Officer.

In her capacity as CCO, she is responsible for overseeing regulatory compliance within the organization, ensuring strict adherence to industry standards and legal requirements. Leveraging her deep understanding of financial data and regulatory frameworks, Mausmi provides valuable insights to guide compliance strategies that foster sustainable operations and mitigate risks.

Committed to upholding the highest standards of compliance, Mausmi is dedicated to ensuring our firm operates ethically and responsibly within regulatory frameworks. Mausmi plays a pivotal role in safeguarding our firm’s reputation and maintaining the trust of our clients and stakeholders by fostering a culture of compliance and integrity.

John is our Senior Vice President and Investment Advisor who has faithfully served clients his entire career in the financial services industry. He spent the lion’s share of his career with Charles Schwab where he was the #1 rated Sr. Financial Advisor in the U.S. multiple years.

John promoted to Vice President – Branch Manager for two decades, building the top rated Branch office in the nation for Schwab. In addition, he served as Regional Executive, leading a 7-state territory of 200 employees.

John was presented with the “CEO Award” by Charles R. Schwab for his distinguished service and commitment to clients. He also named the Branch Manager of the Year, presented with the Excellence in Leadership National Award, and won the coveted National Chairman’s Club Award 8 different times (top 2% Advisor in the U.S.)   John was thrilled to make the change to Desert Rose Capital Management because of his deep-rooted belief in our unique strategy and unparalleled commitment to clients’ financial wellness.  John lives with his wife Marcie and 2 children in Eagle, Idaho and they enjoy spending time at their mountain cabin in McCall, Idaho.

Valerie Coffey is our Senior Wealth Manager at Desert Rose Capital Management who has spent her entire career in the financial industry. With over 18 years of experience, she is a licensed Investment Adviser Representative, holds Life and Health insurance licenses, and obtained her Accredited Asset Management Specialist AAMS ® designation from the College for Financial Planning in 2021. Through her tenure at Charles Schwab, she was a top Financial Consultant thanks in large part to her background in financial planning, her personalized approach to her client, and each of their unique circumstances. Valerie is passionate about financial education, serving others, and leading clients into a financially successful retirement. A proficient Spanish speaker, Valerie also volunteers with Gonzaga University’s women’s summer program, an eight-week financial education course focused on women who are rebuilding their financial lives. She is native to the Northwest and loves to travel the world and enjoy the great outdoors.

As a Vice-President and Senior Wealth Strategist for DRCM, Nathan is fully realizing his dream of helping affluent clients across the spectrum of retirement needs with solutions that are not hindered by the size of the company, but instead, tailored to the client. Nathan started his career working as a Financial Services Rep where he developed his love for providing clients with financial peace of mind. When designing investment portfolios, preservation of capital without sacrificing opportunity for healthy gains was almost always a top priority. When he learned about the power of Options and the Integrated Options Portfolio at DRCM, he instantly recognized the perfect combination he’d been looking for. Before joining DRCM, Nathan served clients for nearly 3 years as a Premier Banker for Wells Fargo Bank. His prior experience combined with a BS of Business Administration with an Entrepreneurial emphasis, has given him the skills needed to help his clients succeed financially.

Cade Stafford is an experienced investment professional residing in Boise, Idaho. With his entire career in financial services, he has been an integral part of Desert Rose Capital Management (DRCM) and affiliated businesses since 2015. He is currently working as a Portfolio  Analyst at DRCM.

Cade specializes in options trading, where he collaborates closely with the Portfolio Manager and trading team to maximize client safety and returns. Beyond his professional pursuits, Cade enjoys building, woodworking, reading, cycling, and spending time with his wife and two children.

Rohit Jahagirdar is a graduate of Temple University in Philadelphia where he studied Financial Analysis and Quantitative Risk Management. After school, he began working as a Financial Analyst at a capital management firm in Mumbai, India where he had a consistent track record of supporting the company to achieve their goals.

Rohit joined Desert Rose Capital Management in September of 2021 as a Portfolio Analyst. He works on the Integrated Options Portfolio team where he utilizes his expertise in financial analysis to ensure the strategy is executed for every client. When Rohit isn’t obsessively studying the market, he enjoys trying different cuisines (especially pizza  places) and hiking.

Drew McCurdy has a passion for helping people meet their retirement dreams and goals. As a Wealth Manager, he constantly strives to make sure his clients get a first-class experience while focusing on building trusted, long-term relationships. He began his career in financial services in 2016, helping public employees and families understand, prepare, and feel comfortable with their financial future.

In previous years, Drew served as an operations manager, leading a team to meet and exceed customers’ expectations. Excellent planning and execution allowed him to be successful. Playing sports growing up also taught him hard work, dedication, and discipline are key to achieving goals. He applies these skills to the financial field with a client-first mindset.

Drew and his wife, Dezzie, enjoy spending their free time with their four children, whether that’s at the kids’ sporting events, barbecuing, or enjoying the great outdoors.

Casey McCurdy has been in the finance and insurance industry for the past 10 years. After college, he worked in a CPA’s office before eventually starting his own insurance agency. As a Wealth Manager, he enjoys helping his clients all over the country with their financial goals and needs. Casey focuses on helping educate clients on their financial future, along with creating the most tax-efficient solution to do so.

After playing baseball and football in junior college, Casey accepted a baseball scholarship to Indiana State University where he graduated in 2013. He was part of numerous championship teams during that time and remained on the honor roll academically throughout school. His time as a student-athlete has brought out a desire to win and be competitive in business. He thoroughly enjoys working as a team and building teams to reach their potential.

When he is not helping clients with their financial needs, Casey is usually planning his next outdoor trip. He has a passion for the outdoors including hunting, fishing, and backpacking. He also enjoys fitness, visiting friends, and traveling around the United States.

Mercedes Hoch is an Experience Design and Management professional who has been with Desert Rose Capital Management (DRCM)  for nearly her entire career. She attended the Marriott School of Business at Brigham Young University, and her passion is helping companies improve their customer experience, employee satisfaction and employee engagement

Her expertise in the experience design process and interpersonal skills have enabled her to evaluate and refine the company culture and procedures at Desert Rose Capital Management. Mercedes loves hiking, camping, and traveling.

Angie Gardner is a dedicated member of the Desert Rose Capital Managementteam, specializing in client services and operations. She has a deep commitment to the onboarding and day-to-day experience of every client. Angie is dedicated to getting problems solved, questions answered, and doing so with a smile.

Before coming to work for Desert Rose Capital Management, Angie was a stay at home mom of four children, and previously a Lease Processor. She resides with her family in Meridian, Idaho, where she loves to cheer on her kids at their various sports activities.

Brendon LaMay uses the skills and experience he acquired while doing Church Humanitarian and Mission work for two years (1 in Turkey, 1 in Germany), as well as obtaining his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management at Brigham Young University, Idaho, to improve all Desert Rose Capital Management  Service and Operations processes. He is an expert at connecting with clients and making their process seamless.

He often uses coding, such as Excel VBA and other automation tools to improve spreadsheets and systems to eliminate bottlenecks and increase process efficiencies across the board. He genuinely cares about each person he interacts with in and out of the firm and wants to do whatever is in his power to give them the best experience possible. Brendon was previously a Manager of the Village Cinema 15 movie theater in Meridian, Idaho for 5 years, and loves movies. He became fluent in Turkish and German while serving his Mission. He also loves science, exercising, reading, and spending time with friends and family.