Our Team

John Lohr, Attorney. Retirement Analyst, Fiduciary expert

John is widely regarded as a top legal expert on fiduciary responsibility relating to the investment management profession, John is a founding father of the investment management consultant’s profession and has personally trained over 100,000 financial professionals. Additionally, he has counseled major Wall Street firms and associations in various aspects of managed account programs, and has trained and consulted to firms on corporate legal, compliance, fiduciary responsibilities and business development issues specific to the investment management industry. A former Banker and teacher and college adjunct, John started his securities representation in 1983, joining EF Hutton in 1987 where he served as the director of Portfolio Management Programs and General Counsel of the Consulting Group. Later, he started his own law firm, specializing in employee benefit, ERISA law and securities law. In 1995, he co-founded The Lockwood Group of companies, where he served as Chief General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, as well as President of Lockwood Financial Services, Inc. Upon retiring from Lockwood in 2002, John devoted his efforts to Howling Wolf Enterprises, a training company and a publisher of books and articles on Investment and Financial issues as well as fiction. In 2011 with partners known in the Investment management business he founded The Learning Network, whose mission is to improve Financial Literacy globally for financial professionals and investors. His current mission is The Ethical Treatment of Somebody Else’s Money, found at https://somebodyelsesmoney.com/. In 2010 the Money Management Institute designated him an “architect of the managed solutions industry” awarding him their Pioneer award for Lifetime Achievement in Wealth Management.

Christine Byrnes, General Manager

Ms. Byrnes has 30 years experience in the financial services industry, specifically in management, operations and administration.  She joined Tremont Capital Management, a hedge fund company, in 2004 as Chief Administrative Officer.  Ms. Byrnes was responsible for the day-to-day oversight of Tremont’s business operations with particular focus on optimizing technology and operations across the organization.  Prior to Tremont, Ms. Byrnes was the Director of Administration of the Consulting Group, the managed accounts product area of EF Hutton and Shearson Lehman Brothers, where she was responsible for product administration and operations.  Her Wall Street career includes senior level positions at E.F. Hutton, Shearson Lehman Brothers and Smith Barney where she was responsible for many aspects of marketing, administration and product and business development.

Ms. Byrnes holds an Associates Degree in Paralegal Studies from the University of Rochester and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Bi-lingual Education from San Diego State University.  In addition, she received a certificate in Information Brokering from the University of California at Berkeley Mentor Program and attended the Harvard University Program on Negotiation.

Ian Lohr, Editor

A twenty year  veteran of the financial industry, Ian Lohr is the author or co-author of seven books, including Securities Fraud in the Digital EconomyWall Street Bull and How To Bear ItThe Fiduciary Sale, Investing As A Fiduciary, and Somebody Else’s Money. He is also editor in chief of Lost Pulp Classics, a small publisher. His first novel, Sargasso Junction, was published in 2010. He is a graduate of High Point University. A native of Ohio, he currently lives in the suburbs of Philadelphia.

Erin Geller, Editor

Erin Geller has been involved with Howling Wolf, since it’s inception. A former employee of Lockwood Advisors, a managed account advisory firm, Mrs. Geller has been involved in the financial industry since 1997. After completing her education she moved west to pursue a lifelong dream of working with horses, and returned a fully qualified equine professional, before returning to the financial industry. Now an invaluable member of our Learning Network team, Mrs. Geller lives in Orlando Florida.

Paula Calhoon, Sales Manager

Paula Calhoon has over 40 years experience in sales, marketing and motivational work, including retail, medical, online, real estate and intangible sales.  She has done client communication and consulting work for Disney and Sax, among others.  She has also been an active volunteer for Hospitals and schools in literacy and promotion.  In 2016 she has taken on sales and marketing for https://somebodyelsesmoney.com/, and Howling Wolf Enterprises.

r_surzRon Surz, TDF and Fiduciary Contributor

Ronald J. Surz is president of PPCA Inc. and its division, Target Date Solutions. He is a pension consulting veteran, having started with A.G. Becker in the 1970’s. Ron earned an MBA in Finance at the University of Chicago and an MS in Applied Mathematics at the University of Illinois, and holds a CIMA®(Certified Investment Management Analyst®) designation.

He has published regularly in such publications as The Journal of Wealth Management, The Journal of Investing, Journal of Portfolio Management, Pensions & Investments, Senior Consultant, HorsesMouth and the IMCA®Monitor, as well as contributed to and edited several books. Ron’s most recently co-edited book is Hedge Funds: Definitive Strategies and Techniques (Wiley Finance). Ron has served on several boards and councils.