J. Michael Priester, CFP®

Financial Advisormichael.priester@schrockfin.com

Originally hailing from Cincinnati, OH, love and music brought me to the Valley in 2013, after completing my Doctor of Music in Double Bass Performance and Literature at Indiana University.  Upon transitioning to the financial services field and joining Edward Jones Investments, I earned my Series 7, Series 66, and Life and Health Insurance licenses in 2018.  My Certified Financial Planner® designation followed in the spring of 2021.  In August of 2023, I was thrilled to accept an offer to join Schrock Financial.

Early in my professional development, I knew my calling was to help people along their life’s journey.  My first career as a collegiate educator and musician married my calling with my passion for music.  My greatest reward was working with my students to refine their dreams into achievable goals with measurable objectives and an executable plan.  I came to financial advising with the same calling in mind.  As the music and university businesses began to change, I sought opportunities to leverage how I had grown professionally beyond being solely an orchestral musician into a career which could have the same, if not more, impact on people’s lives.  The thrill of a student executing a brilliant recital has been superseded by the thrill of seeing a family knock out goal after goal and living exactly how they want to live.

I could not do this work without the love and support of my wife, Briana, who has partnered with me in this journey.  Taking our daughter, Birdie, on our travels (and leaving the cats, Loomie and Xerxes, at home!), we enjoy family trips while I go to “work” at Pittsburgh Opera and Roanoke Symphony, continuing my playing double bass.  I also stay active as a soccer and wrestling referee at the youth and interscholastic levels.  And, I’m still trying to convince one of them to indulge my inner aviation geek by allowing me to get my private pilot certificate as our next great adventure!