Meet Our Team
We stand ready to guide you with prudent, thoughtful advice as you navigate the sometimes uncertain waters of personal finance.
John S. Davis
Chief Mentor
John S. Davis founded Mentor Capital Management Inc. in 1992 with the belief that people need and want financial advice free from the conflicts of interest typically present in relationships with brokers and insurance agents. After filling the role of company president, registered investment advisory firm principal and lead wealth-management advisor at Mentor Capital, in 2023 he assumed a new role as mentor to the other advisors with the firm.
During his 31-year career as a fee-only advisor, John was a Certified Financial Planner licensee and a NAPFA-registered financial advisor. Transitioning into full retirement in 2024, he let his distinctions lapse, and he is no longer associated with CFP or NAPFA. Prior to establishing Mentor Capital, he enjoyed a successful financial planning career with American Express Co.
John has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Missouri and in 1994 completed the professional education program of the College for Financial Planning, Denver, Colo. He formerly was licensed as a Registered Representative of the NASD and as an Illinois Insurance Producer.
John, who makes his home in Greenwood, S.C., grew up in and raised his family in Elmhurst, Ill. An avid outdoorsman, he also enjoys playing pickleball, volunteering with the United Way, writing, traveling and spending time with his wife, Jaciene. He was previously a member of the Elmhurst College Planned Giving Committee and has held leadership positions with the Elmhurst YMCA Board of Trustees, Bethel United Church of Christ, the Edison School PTA and the Elmhurst Rotary Club, for which he was head of the Foreign Exchange Program.
Daniel B. Carey, CFP
President
Daniel B. Carey, CFP, is a member of the board of directors and President of Mentor Capital Management Inc. He joined the Mentor team in August 2007 and was named Chief Compliance Officer in 2015. He obtained full ownership of the firm in 2023 and was named President. He formerly was employed with Clune & Associates, a financial advisory firm in Chicago, where he worked since June 2000.
Daniel is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as an Investment Advisor Representative. He completed the College for Financial Planning professional education program and was awarded the Certified Financial Planner distinction in March 2004. Daniel advises clients on a broad spectrum of wealth management issues and is licensed to provide guidance on life, health, disability and long-term care insurance.
A graduate of The University of Notre Dame, Daniel has a degree in Finance and Computer Applications. While at Notre Dame, he was a member of the Fighting Irish football team, where he held the position of defensive lineman and snapper.
Outside the financial world, Daniel is an active member of the Notre Dame Club of Chicago and the Hamburg Athletic Association. He is an avid sports fan who enjoys attending football games at his alma mater and many baseball games in his hometown, on the South Side of Chicago. He also enjoys volunteering for his favorite charities: Misericordia and the Special Olympics.
Sarah Bodach, FPQP
Operations Manager, Investment Advisor Representative
Sarah is Mentor Capital’s Operations Manager and Paraplanner. She is responsible for client service and works with John, Dan and Dan in all areas of financial planning. Sarah graduated from Loyola University of Chicago with a degree in Communication. In 2021, she successfully passed all learning requirements and an exam with the College of Financial Planning to become a Financial Paraplanner Qualified Professional (FPQP). In 2023, she passed the Series 65 exam with FINRA, and is an Investment Advisor Representative.
She has used her attention to detail and love of learning in all her different endeavors. Early in her career Sarah worked in logistics, later in the human resources field. More recently she has been busy at home with her four children, which has taught her well in the areas of planning and scheduling, negotiations and stress management. She is available to make sure all client issues are satisfactorily resolved.
Outside of Mentor Capital Sarah is busy with her family, enjoying the outdoors and generally running around. She resides in Elmhurst.
Daniel G. Kaster, CPA
Director of Tax, Investment Advisor Representative
Daniel G. Kaster, CPA, is the Director of Tax for Mentor Capital Management, Inc. Before joining Mentor Capital Management in January 2023, Daniel served as a Senior Manager in a high-net-worth individual tax practice for a prominent public accounting firm based out of Silicon Valley.
Daniel coordinates with financial advisors to assist clients in stock option and investment planning. He has deep experience in all matters related to tax compliance and planning. In 2023, he passed the Series 65 exam with FINRA, and is an Investment Advisor Representative.
When Daniel is not at the Chicago office, you can find him on a golf course or a local ice rink. Though he is now an avid golfer, Daniel grew up playing hockey and has coached Chicago area high school hockey teams as a way to give back to the first game he loved. He is also a member of The Chicago Tax Club.
Daniel received his accounting degree from DePaul University, where he also obtained a minor in finance. Daniel has been a licensed Certified Public Accountant since 2016.
