About Us

About Us

We are your resource, auditing financial products for professional advisors, individuals, and business owners.

We proactively review, audit, and design strategies for our clients.

It’s challenging to be confident that you are making the right financial decision in a world with so many opinions. DeNovo Advisory Group members have been providing process-driven, fact-based options to financial advisors, accountants, attorneys, business owners, and high net worth individuals for over a decade. There are hundreds of financial institutions, thousands of financial vehicles, and millions of opinions.

Our job is to simplify the complicated.

In a historically transactional industry, DeNovo Advisory Group has systems in place to equip our clients with a better understanding of their financial products and how to manage those assets in the most efficient manner possible.

Our Purpose:

Serve Others to Affect Generations

Contact Us to Learn How

What Do We Value at DeNovo Group?

Trust

Teamwork

Integrity

Service

Your clients have a lot of professional support. Let us support you by having a seat at the table.

"Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed."

- Proverbs 15:22

Managing Director, Founder

David A. Means, Jr.

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David graduated with honors early from Austin College with a dual major in Economics and Finance while captaining both the football and baseball teams. David holds his FINRA Series 7, FINRA Series 66, FINRA Series 24 registrations, and State Insurance Licenses. He also obtained the designation of Accredited Investment Fiduciary (AIF®).

With the success that the DeNovo Advisory Group has experienced, David speaks across the country to industry professionals regarding sophisticated risk management strategies. Much of his time is spent understanding the financial landscape and helping businesses or individuals understand how to best position themselves. He is committed to deepening his understanding of the industry through his memberships in the Top of the Table, Forum 400 and EARC.

David and his wife, Mallory, were married in September 2017. In their free time, they love to travel, eat at new restaurants, spend time with family & friends, and be outdoors with their dog, Lambeau. They enjoy playing golf, watching binge-worthy TV shows and cheering for all Dallas sports teams. David and Mallory attend Watermark Church in Plano.

Director of Corporate Retirement Planning

Austin Webb

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Austin graduated with a degree in finance from Texas A&M University. He holds his FINRA series 7, 63, and 65 registrations, state insurance licenses, and has obtained the designation of Accredited Investment Fiduciary (AIF®.)

Austin leads the Corporate Retirement Planning division at DeNovo. His passion to serve others is shown in each of DeNovo’s thousands of plan participants. His goal is to deliver talented and dedicated employees with retirement confidence within the qualified and non-qualified plan design.

Austin married his high school sweet heart Britton and they have three children together. Austin and family are members of Faith Bible Church in the Woodlands where Austin serves as a deacon. In his free time, Austin loves exploring God’s creation, golf, hunting, and fishing.

Director of Planning & Investment Oversight

Richard D. Barton

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Ricky graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of North Texas and has a Master’s degree of Business Administration (MBA) with a concentration in strategic leadership from Southern Methodist University’s (SMU) Cox School of Business.

Ricky holds his FINRA series 7, FINRA Series 66 registrations, and State insurance licenses. Ricky has obtained the designation of Accredited Investment Fiduciary (AIF®).

Ricky is absorbed with helping clients remain focused on the “whys” of what they plan to do. Through a comprehensive planning process Ricky provides wealth management and insurance planning strategies designed to guide clients to reaching their goals and dreams they have for their family or businesses.

Ricky married his high school sweetheart Erica, with whom he has a son and daughter, Lane and Brooklyn. In their free time Ricky and Erica love being outdoors and staying active. They enjoy wake surfing, CrossFit, and coaching their children’s sporting teams. Ricky and Erica are longstanding members of Fellowship Church in Grapevine, Tx.

Director of Operations & LTC Planning

Steven Pirtle

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Steven graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Agri-business from Texas A&M University in College Station and has a Master’s degree of Supply Chain Management from the University of Texas at Dallas Naveen Jindal School of Business. Steven holds his FINRA series 7, FINRA Series 66 registrations, Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU®) and Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC®) designations as well as State Insurance licenses. Steven is also a Certified Cheese Professional with the American Cheese Society.

Steven is committed to building long-term relationships with his clients and professional advisors. He has a passion in coaching others to reach their potential both personally and professionally. He works as the team integrator to help promote and advance the growth of the DeNovo Advisory Group while focusing on disability and long-term care strategies for DeNovo’s clients.

Steven currently resides in Dallas with his wife Heather and their three sons. He enjoys traveling, reading, fly fishing and spending time with his family. Steven and Heather are founding members of Eastside Community Church in East Dallas where Steven serves as a deacon and Treasurer of the Board.

Director of Research and Analysis - Insurance

Kyle B. Lynch

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Kyle graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Finance from Sam Houston State University. Kyle holds his FINRA series 7, FINRA Series 63, FINRA Series 65 registrations, and State insurance licenses.

He began his career in finance in 2013 gaining experience in various parts of the insurance business. In 2016, he made partner with the DeNovo Advisory Group to help continue serving clients for the next 30+ years. Kyle spends his time understanding client situations then compiling data within their existing strategies to help offer guidance. He also councils the DeNovo team relating to industry products and their applicability to client situations. Kyle has the tools and resources needed to help you develop and implement a personalized financial strategy.

Outside of assisting his clients, Kyle spends the majority of his time with his wife to be, Sarah, and their two children Holden & Blake. Outside of running a household, Kyle spends his time skydiving, working on his golf game, and keeping up with the Dallas Stars & Dallas Cowboys.

Director of Business Development

Jabulani Lovelace

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Jabu graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Business from Rutgers University. While attending Rutgers, Jabu was also a Division 1, 4 time Bowl Champion and a “wildcat” quarterback for the Scarlet Knights. Jabu holds his FINRA series 7, Series 65 and Series 63 registrations along with multi-state insurance licenses.

Since entering the industry in 2010, Jabu brings energy and excitement when working with his clients and a sincere passion to help establish financial confidence with each client. Jabu is deeply interested in the story of his clients and creating strategies that enable their story to be told for generations. For companies, he enjoys designing comprehensive benefits that evolve with company.

Jabu married his college sweetheart, Annette. In their free time, they enjoy spending time with family, youth mentorship, playing wacky games that Annette always wins, and watching a good Netflix series.

Director of Research and Analysis - CRP

Cameron Michalski

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Cameron is a graduate of Texas A&M University. He holds his FINRA series 7, series 63, series 65 registrations, and state insurance licenses.

Cameron joined Equitable advisors in June of 2014 where he gained exposure to numerous aspects of the business. In 2018, Cameron began partnering with members of the team and was officially invited to join the DeNovo Advisory Group in April of 2020 as the Director of Research and Analysis for the CRP division. Alongside our CRP Director, Cameron provides the team with insight into the retirement plan design process as well as assistance with advanced business planning strategies.

Cameron married his better half, Emily, in September of 2019. In their free time they enjoy cooking and trying new restaurants, traveling with friends, and staying active around Houston.

Ambassador of Business Development

Bobby Spradlin, PhD

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Bobby graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering and Management from Oklahoma State University (OSU). He also received a Masters and PhD in Operations Research and Statistics from OSU . He was a tenured professor in the Industrial Engineering and Systems School at The Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) where he advised Masters and PhD students and taught graduate courses in control systems and statistics . He was a tenured professor at Southern Methodist University (SMU) In The Cox School of Business where he taught corporate finance for MBA Students and in the Executive MBA program.

He was co-organizer of a company that grew to 200 employees consulting with national law firms and Fortune 1000 companies in complex litigation and regulatory matters. His current interest is helping high net worth individuals add value in the transfer of wealth to family and charities.

For more than 60 years Bobby was a workout enthusiast better known as a gym rat. He and his wife of 57 years Stona have a daughter Sydney and a son Matthew. He and Stona have for many years been members of Dallas Bible Church.

Office Manager

Chris Kline

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Chris attended Western Kentucky University and earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology and Psychology. She has been in the insurance industry for over 30 years in various roles from Director of Field Underwriting to Relationship Manager.

Chris has many roles within the DeNovo Advisory Group. She manages the day to day operations, runs the team’s calendars, prepares and tracks new account paperwork, and provides client support. Chris enjoys building lasting relationships with clients while delivering an excellent client experience.

Chris and her husband, Richard, have 5 children, 8 grandchildren and 1 great grandson. Chris & Richard enjoy working out and spending time with family and friends. Chris & Richard are long time members of First Baptist Dallas where Chris has served in several ministries including Peacemakers and Celebrate Recovery.

After going through our process, our clients can be confident that there is no better strategy in the industry for their needs.

Securities offered through Equitable Advisors, LLC (NY, NY 212-314-4600), member FINRA/SIPC (Equitable Financial Advisors in MI & TN). Investment advisory products and services offered through Equitable Advisors, LLC, an SEC registered investment advisor. Annuity and insurance products offered through Equitable Network, LLC, which conducts business in CA as Equitable Network Insurance Agency of California, LLC, in UT as Equitable Network Insurance Agency of Utah, LLC, in PR as Equitable Network of Puerto Rico, Inc. Equitable Advisors and its affiliates do not provide tax or legal advice. Please consult your tax and legal advisors regarding your particular circumstances. Individuals may transact business, which includes offering products and services and/or responding to inquiries, only in state(s) in which they are properly registered and/or licensed. The information in this website is not investment or securities advice and does not constitute an offer. For more information about Equitable Advisors, LLC you may visit https://equitable.com/crs to review the firm’s Relationship Summary for Retail Investors and General Conflicts of Interest Disclosure.

DeNovo Advisors Group is not a registered investment advisor and is not owned or operated by Equitable Advisors or Equitable Network.

PPG: 148294 (Rev. 6/15/20) (Exp. 6/24)

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