Broker Check

Team

How We Work

How We Work

Our reasons for becoming financial professionals are deeply personal. We repeatedly saw many friends and family struggling to find the help they needed to map out their financial future. We are confident that with our understanding of personal finance, coupled with our training as financial professionals, we can help people better prepare for the future. After years in the business, we have developed a reputation for educating individuals in an easy-to-understand manner so they can grasp personal finance and use those concepts to pursue their financial objectives. We feel a commitment to our community.

Our team approach adds perspective to all we do and provides increased benefits to our clients.

Meet Our Team

Jay W. Branson CFP®, ChFC

Principal

713-780-0606

jbranson@bransonfowlkes.com

Born 1956 Lapeer, Michigan. 

Mr. Branson is a founding Principal of Branson, Fowlkes & Company, Inc., in 1987, and Branson, Fowlkes/Russell,Inc. in 1991. Prior to that He was a Financial Planner at Cigna Independent Financial Services Company (currently Lincoln Financial) from 1984 – 1987. 

Jay is a Certified Financial Planner, Chartered Financial Consultant and Registered Securities Principal through the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). Completed the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Sloan School’s Artificial Intelligence Implications for Business Strategy 2018. Completed the College for Financial Planning Advanced Studies in Securities Due Diligence 1989. He is a former Instructor, University of Houston Continuing Education Department, Investments & Financial Planning. He was admitted to the Registry of Financial Planning Practitioners 1989.

With over 35 years of experience (the Dow Jones Industrial Average was 2980 in 1984) there is a level of patience and wisdom which informs all the decisions and advice provided to clients. Many client relationships go back that far and at a point the relationship becomes almost familial. After receiving the CFP® designation in 1987, the decision to be an independent firm was driven by a desire to be completely objective in the products and services we offered to our clients. We wanted to treat our clients as if they were one of our own family and with that comes a long-term relationship which would be compromised if the products and services did not perform as planned. We were also one of the first generation of firms (in 1990) to transition to a fee-based compensation model for our investment management services. “One of the biggest lessons I have learned over all these years in this industry is that it is an industry of emotions not numbers. Knowing and understanding how people feel about wealth is critical to being able to advise someone appropriately”. Our responsibility as an advisor is to be well informed on a wide range of financial strategies, how they work, when they are appropriate, etc. and then be able to interpret from clients both the quantitative and emotional factors in their circumstances. Only then can good advice be given.  

Jay and his wife Hui "Sunny" have an 9-year-old daughter named Joy. They enjoy travel and have been to China and frequently travel across the U.S. to visit family and friends. They own property in Destin, Florida and Park City, Utah where they spend time in the winter and summer. Jay taught Elementary Sunday School at Unity Church of Christianity in Houston for 15 years which was helpful experience being a Dad to a 4th grader. He has a wide range of additional interests including previously being a triathlon coach for 7 years supporting the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team in Training program. He enjoys swimming and is an American Swimming Coaches Association Level III coach. The entire family has a passion for the visual arts, and they have amassed a large collection of paintings, prints and sculptures which is on display at the offices of Branson, Fowlkes & Company and at their residences.

Maco Stewart Fowlkes, CFP®, ChFC, CLU, CAP

Principal

713-780-0606

mfowlkes@bransonfowlkes.com

Born 1956 Marfa, Texas. 

Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas, B.A., 1978; American Graduate School of International Management, Phoenix, Arizona, M.B.A., 1979; University of Houston, Houston, Texas, P.L.M., 1983.
Mr. Fowlkes is a founding Principal of Branson, Fowlkes & Company, Inc., in 1987, and Branson, Fowlkes/ Russell, Inc. in 1991. Prior to that He was a Financial Planner at Cigna Independent Financial Services Company (currently Lincoln Financial) from 1986 – 1987. Prior to that he was with; Landata, Inc, as a Consultant 1984-1986, and Mesa Petroleum, Financial Analyst from 1980-1984.
Maco is a Certified Financial Planner, Chartered Financial Consultant, Chartered Life Underwriter and Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy. He is also a Registered Securities Principal through the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and completed the College for Financial Planning Advanced Studies in Investment Strategies and Portfolio Management.
After receiving the CFP® designation in 1987, in collaboration with Mr. Branson they decided to form an independent firm. This decision was driven by the knowledge that the clients we were serving were relationships we were going to maintain for a lifetime and our loyalty should be to them and not a financial services product sponsor. That philosophy still holds true today. We take a “best of breed” approach to the financial products we use, and many of our clients have been with us since the beginning. We are committed to staying well informed on what strategies are available, and in communication with our clients enough to know what their needs are.
Maco visits his brother and family in Marfa frequently and takes groups out for quail hunts on the family ranch land. Maco was involved with Houston Rugby Club for many years, both playing, and everything else that goes with Rugby. He loves sports of all kinds including tennis and on Saturdays you will find him watching his beloved Texas Tech Red Raiders play football.
Maco has raised his son, Gage, to be an outdoorsman, athlete, and a scholar. Gage is a senior at Lamar High School and plays on the Varsity Tennis team. He is also a member of the Katy Dusters Sporting Clays team. He competed in both the State Tournament in San Antonio and the National Sporting Clays Tournament in Ohio in 2020. Gage is an avid fisherman, when he is not in school, you will find him at the bay house in Dickenson or in the surf at Galveston.
Maco’s family has very deep roots in Texas. His grandfather on his father’s side, Judge Edwin H. Fowlkes, donated the land to McDonald Observatory where the Hobby-Eberly Telescope was built. It is one of the world’s largest optical telescopes, and rests atop Mount Fowlkes. Maco’s grandfather on his mother’s side, Maco Stewart, a young Galveston lawyer, formed Stewart Title company in 1893. Stewart Title is now one of the largest title companies, with more than 6000 employees. Maco’s dad, Manny Fowlkes, and his uncle, Edwin Fowlkes were well known for building a 300,000-acre ranch, which was among the ten largest working ranches in Texas. In 1988 the ranch was purchased by TPWD and became Big Bend Ranch State Park, the largest park in the State Park System.

Dallas Jones

Advisor

713-780-0606

djones@bransonfowlkes.com

Born 1961 Cambridge, Nebraska 

United States Military Academy West Point, NY 1983. College for Financial Planning 1991. 

Dallas joined Branson, Fowlkes & Company in 2004. Prior to joining the firm he was with; Fidelity Investments from 1992 to 2004, Houston Asset Management 1991 to 1992; Titan Value Equities Group 1988 to 1991, United States Army Aviation (helicopter pilot) 1984 to 1988.

Dallas has over 30 years’ experience in the financial services industry. He is a seasoned veteran of many market cycles, tax law changes, and political environments. The clients he serves would comment on the high level of service and comprehensive level of expertise he brings to the relationship. He is involved in the firm’s discussions on strategy and due diligence and can be counted on to provide valuable insight. Portfolio construction is an area of particular focus.

Dallas’s Christian faith is a driving force in all that he does. He has tried to live his life as an example for his family, including his two grown sons Peyton and Nick. The boys have grown into real gentlemen and Peyton who was recently married will be bringing a grandchild into the family soon. Dallas’s other son, Nick’s, role in the family has been the most well-known. He has been a child actor and performed in such films as Bambi II and Aeon Flux. He was also the lead voice in the animated cartoon “Chowder” on the Cartoon Network. Outside of family activities Dallas enjoys fishing and shooting sports. 

Michael S. Bishop

Advisor

713-780-0606

mbishop@bransonfowlkes.com

Born 1958, Marfa Texas.

Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas, B. B. A. Finance 1982. General Securities Series 7 License, Life, Accident, and Health Licensed  

Mike joined Branson Fowlkes & Company, Inc. in May 1999. Prior to joining Branson, Fowlkes & Company, Inc. he was, Principal of Alvarado Oil Company 1995-1999, Tenneco Gas Purchasing Manager 1989-1995, Lone Star Steel, Sales 1987-1989, Tenneco Oil Company, Administration 1982-1987.

Mike has worked in the financial services industry with Branson, Fowlkes & Company, Inc. for 20 years specializing in providing advisory services to small business owners and executives. 

Mike and his wife Pam have a home in Porter Texas where she keeps Mike busy with landscaping projects. Mike loves the outdoors and when he has time will be fishing on the Gulf Coast and Galveston Bay, or making a trip to his hometown of Marfa for a quail hunt with friends. Growing up in Marfa instilled a love for wide open spaces and a special affinity for ranchers and bankers, like his father. His blood flows red, as in "Red Raider" the Texas Tech mascot.

Mark E. Wilson

Associate

713-780-0606

mwilson@bransonfowlkes.com

Born 1977 Houston, Texas

University of Houston - Clear Lake, Texas B.S. Finance, 1999. University of Houston, M.B.A. Finance Concentration, 2006. Texas A&M Certificate for Financial Planning, General Securities Series 7 License. 

Mark joined Branson, Fowlkes & Company in 1999. Prior to joining Branson, Fowlkes & Company he was an Associate with Royal Alliance Associates, Inc. from 1996 to 1999.

With over 20 years of experience with our firm Mark brings a lot of experience to his role in making the operations of our firm run smoothly. He spends his time supporting the Principals and interacting with clients. Mark is expected to sit for the CFP® exam in the 1st quarter of 2021. 

Mark lives in Katy, Texas with his wife Tiffany and his two sons. Mark and his family love the outdoors and can be found off roading in their two jeeps or camping on many weekends. Mark is also volunteer Cubmaster for his sons Cub Scout Pack.

Trocon G. Reffell, CFP®

Associate

713-780-0606

treffell@bransonfowlkes.com

Born 1983 Rochester, New York. 

Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania B.S. Finance, 2005. Rice University Certified Financial Planning Education Program 2019 (received CFP® designation) in 2019, General Securities Series 7 

Trocon joined Branson, Fowlkes & Company, Inc. in 2009. Prior to joining Branson, Fowlkes & Company he was with, Ameriprise Financial, as an Associate and Advisor from 2005 to 2009.

Trocon has demonstrated a wide range of competencies and is a key member of the firm. He works closely with the Principals in developing and implementing financial and investment planning strategies. Being a CFP® registrant shows the wide range of his skill set. He has been very instrumental in work on asset allocation, rebalancing strategies, and tactical investing. 

When “Tro” is not at work you will find him and his wife, Katherine, enjoying their home in Cypress. Tro comes from an athletic background and attended Duquesne University on a Soccer scholarship. In 2001 his US Soccer club team from Houston won the US National Championship in the under-19 category. In addition to soccer and other sports he is an avid chess player. Tro’s family is very involved with a private school in Sierra Leone, (West Africa) called the J.T. Reffell Memorial French Friendship School (K-12). Tro’s father and aunts manage the operations of the school.

Eleanor Lipsey

Memorial 1959-2010

Eleanor was a long term (20 year) beloved Associate of our firm. She had a 12 year battle with cancer and in March, 2010, God called her home.