About Us

John is a Founding Partner and Branch Manager of Magis Financial Advisors.

Before founding Magis, John served as a Managing Director and Branch Manager for Wells Fargo Advisors (WFA). During John’s 25 year career at WFA, he was consistently recognized as Platinum Council and Platinum Council Manager, from 1998-2023.  Prior to his time at Wells, John spent thirteen years on Wall Street as a bond trader at Bankers Trust, Merrill Lynch, and Coast Asset Management.

John received an AB in Economics at Princeton University and an MBA from New York University Stern School of Business, graduating with highest honors. In the past, John has served as a Trustee of St. Louis University High School and Fontbonne University. He currently serves as a board member of the Harvest Table, a non-for profit providing a weekly warm meal for the homeless in Washington, Missouri. John also served as a Missouri State Senator during the 96th & 97th General Assemblies.

John and his wife Caryn have six children and live on Magis Farm in Augusta, Missouri.


The Platinum Council (previously known as Premier Advisor) distinction is held by a select group of Financial Advisors within Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network as measured by completion of educational components, business production based on the past year, and professionalism. Additional criteria, best practices and team structure, may also be used to determine recipients.

The Platinum Council Manager (previously Premier Manager) distinction is held by a select group of Managers at Wells Fargo Advisors and reflects a superior level of professional achievement and a steadfast commitment to achieving business objectives.

Jim is a founding partner of Magis Financial Partners.  Prior to founding Magis, Jim served as First Vice President – Investments for Wells Fargo Advisors and its predecessor firm A.G. Edwards.  During his 25+ years with the firm Jim was recognized as a Platinum Council recipient for 1998-2023 by the firm.

Prior to joining Wells, Jim served as Midwest Region Vice President for Aon Consulting.  He earned a BA in Finance degree from University of Arkansas.  He and his wife Stacie reside in Kirkwood MO where they raised their three daughters.


The Platinum Council (previously known as Premier Advisor) distinction is held by a select group of Financial Advisors within Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network as measured by completion of educational components, business production based on the past year, and professionalism. Additional criteria, best practices and team structure, may also be used to determine recipients.

Ellie is a founding partner of Magis Financial Advisors. For over 30 years as a Financial Advisor, Ellie has offered a wide range of services, from building well diversified portfolios to developing & implementing retirement plans. She encourages her clients to save aggressively & invest wisely. Ellie derives a great deal of satisfaction from the personal relationships that she has developed with her clients over the years. Many of her friends are clients & many of her clients have become friends.

Ellie is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional or CFP®, a certification awarded by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards to those who have successfully completed a series of rigorous courses and examinations. She utilizes her knowledge, experience, and credentials to provide objective advice that focuses on the unique goals of each client, regardless of where they are on their financial journey.

As a Founding Partner of Magis Financial Advisors, Kelly exceeds 30 years in the securities industry.  Before her current role, Kelly served as a Senior Vice President-Investment Officer for Wells Fargo Advisors, having started with predecessor firm A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc.  

Kelly received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics, with a concentration in Business from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana.  In addition, she earned her CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER^TM practitioner designation from the College for Financial Planning.  This professional designation requires completion of approved educational programs, passing rigorous examinations, stringent experience requirements, in addition to continuing education.

Kelly blends work and family, as the daughter of Polly Jones and wife to Mike Waller, both Magis Financial Advisors Partners.  Mike and Kelly have three children and reside in St. Louis, Missouri where she has been extensively involved in the Ladue School District as a member of the Parent District Council, Finance and Facilities Committees.  Ladue School District awarded her their Friends of Education Award in 2016.


The 2016 Friends of Education Award by Ladue School District as a result of community efforts, unrelated to the business of the firm.

Mike Waller is a founding partner at Magis Financial Advisors.  He thrives on helping clients make smart financial decisions.  Having earned the designation Accredited Asset Management Specialist® through the College for Financial Planning Mike knows how vital it is, especially in our current environment, to plan for a person’s financial future

Working with Mike and his team to plan your financial future will help to provide a sense of financial responsibility. His approach is to listen and understand your goals and continually collaborate with you to help stay on course.  He is a true believer that whether you are a new investor just starting your portfolio or are a seasoned investor at the peak of your net worth, you deserve a Financial Advisor who can talk with you about your life plans and can help make financial decisions to achieve your goals.

Mike graduated from Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. After college, he pursued his career in sales and marketing which required him to develop good communication and listening skills to successfully fulfill client needs. He developed long-standing client relationships in diverse industries.  It is this rich background outside of the Financial Services Industry that his clients perceive as a real asset. Mike joined Wells Fargo Advisors as a Financial Advisor in 2014 and has enjoyed the career field immensely.

Mike and his wife Kelly have 3 children and live in St. Louis, Missouri.

Following a 40 year career at A. G. Edwards, Wachovia and Wells Fargo Advisors, Polly is now a Founding Partner of Magis Financial Advisors.

She has a Bachelor of Science in Business, an MBA and has frequently been recognized as a Platinum Council recipient, a designation at Wells Fargo Advisors. Prior to entering the investment industry in 1982, Polly was on the Business School Faculty at Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville, IL.

Polly’s only child, Kelly, has been in the securities industry for 30 years and the two of them partnered in 2007. Nine years ago her son-in-law, Mike Waller, also joined the team. When not working, she enjoys travel, college sports, reading, and her 3 grandchildren. Over the years, she has been involved in various charities and community endeavors.


The Platinum Council (previously known as Premier Advisor) distinction is held by a select group of Financial Advisors within Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network as measured by completion of educational components, business production based on the past year, and professionalism. Additional criteria, best practices and team structure, may also be used to determine recipients.

Anita is a Senior Registered Branch Administrator for Magis Financial Advisors.  Prior to joining Magis, Anita worked with Wells Fargo Advisors and its predecessor firm A.G. Edwards for over 38 years.  Through her years of experience, Anita has gained an understanding of the importance of building meaningful client relationships and attention to detail.

Anita is married to her husband, Mark, for 35 years.  They have two girls and one beautiful granddaughter.

Anita love bowling, fishing, and family vacations.  She is also a big fan of the St. Louis Blues and St. Louis Cardinals.

Cindy is a Senior Registered Branch Administrator for Magis Financial Advisors.  Prior to joining Magis, Cindy worked with Wells Fargo Advisors and various other financial firms for over 37 years.  Cindy strives to provide exceptional partnerships and serve as a liaison between the Financial Advisor(s) and the client.

Cindy is married to her husband, Jesse, for 35 years.  They have two girls and one son. 

In her free time, Cindy enjoys fishing with her husband and two dogs along with spending quality time with her adult kids.