​​Led by Mike and Elizabeth Bisaro, StraightLine is a dedicated team of financial professionals on a mission to empower and guide you on your financial journey.  We do this by focusing on the three core principles of educating, planning, and investing.
 
Discover the firm's history and how our journey has evolved over the years, just as your financial journey has and will continue to evolve.

StraightLine History

Founded in 2002 by Steve and Bethany Mosshart, StraightLine’s history is firmly rooted in Steve’s deep experience as a financial advisor at some of the  industry’s most prestigious firms of the time. As the firm became established, other talented professionals joined the cause.

More than twenty years later, the firm has grown to over $1 billion in assets under management and has served employees in over 150 different employer-sponsored retirement plans in both the for-profit and not-for-profit market – and is proud to say that many of those clients from those early days are still with StraightLine.

While StraightLine has always managed assets in retirement plans as well as regular assets such as IRAs, joint accounts, and trust accounts, the firm has developed a specialty for serving those that serve others in higher education.

Noteably, StraightLine is one of a handful of advisory firms that have 15 or more years of experience working specifically with the TIAA retirement system that dominates the higher education market.

Let’s retrace some ground to see how StraightLine became the powerhouse it is today.

​Steve Mosshart, AIF®

Beth Mosshart, AIF®

1986

Steve started his financial career with Merrill Lynch and, ultimately, spent time with PaineWebber, Morgan Stanley, and CitiGroup

While Steve valued the institutional research and money management capabilities of the large financial institutions, he recognized that these tools were only available to a select few and that the financial services industry in general was focused on selling products as opposed to educating clients and supporting them in a less-conflicted way.

In addition, these large Wall Street firms lacked both the desire and the infrastructure to manage what for most is their largest financial asset, their 401(k) or 403(b). People were left with virtually no guidance or management during their critical accumulation years. At that time – and sadly still today – most traditional financial firms and advisors cannot provide help until people retire and are able to roll their accounts to an IRA, where the firms can generate revenue by selling other financial products and services.
Ever the visionary, Steve knew there had to be a better way, and that way was StraightLine.

2002

Based on fiduciary values and a passion for educating clients, StraightLine officially opened in Troy, Michigan

Beth and Steve - both of whom eventually became Accredited Investment Advisors (AIF®) laid out three guiding principles.

1. Always educate clients, and never sell them.
   
   
2. Deliver institutional research, financial planning, and fiduciary investment management services to all.
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3. Manage assets in employer-sponsored retirement plans to maximize each client’s potential to achieve their retirement goals.

​Through the years, StraightLine has been honored to work with employees of some of America’s premier institutions such as General Motors and Michigan State University.

2004

Mike Bisaro and Jason Fisher joined the firm as financial advisors in 2004 and led the effort to deliver on StraightLine’s mission

​Mike Bisaro had been working at Wachovia Securities. Jason Fisher had been working as a loan officer at Savage Mortgage Services. They were intrigued by what Steve and Beth were building, and were pleased to be invited in to help serve the firm’s growing clientele. Both Mike and Jason eventually earned the AIF® (Accredited Investment Fiduciary) designation.

The early years were challenging and included many weeks on the road away from family for Mike, Jason, and their team. However, their commitment to meeting with employees face-to-face in both group settings delivering general financial education and in one-on-one meetings providing personalized advice and guidance set the foundation in place for the firm.

​Since inception, StraightLine has been honored to help individuals at more than 150 firms, universities and municipalities nationwide plan for their retirement goals. With a steadfast commitment to their clients and a fiduciary standard of care as guiding principles, they continuously strive to be the research-based, professional investment management firm clients can trust to always act in their best interests.

​Mike Bisaro, AIF®

​Jason Fisher, AIF®

2020

Mike and Elizabeth Bisaro became the owners of StraightLine and continue today as Principals of the firm

Mike Bisaro is now President & CEO and continues as a financial advisor, and Elizabeth Bisaro is the firm’s Controller.

Both Beth and Steve continue to play important roles in the company. Beth is the firm’s Chief Operating Officer and maintains relationships with many clients in an advisory capacity. Steve is the firm’s Chief Investment Strategist and a financial advisor.

Jason continues to serve clients as a financial advisor for the firm.

​The firm’s history would not be complete without mentioning Doris Karras, who began her career working directly with Steve before StraightLine was launched. She continues today as the firm’s Chief Compliance Officer.

​Mike Bisaro, AIF®

Elizabeth Bisaro

​Doris Karras

​Together, these six individuals have over one hundred years of combined experience with the firm, and make up our founders, originators, and current owners.

With them at the helm, StraightLine’s future is solidified as they remain committed to the founding principles that have guided the firm’s success over the past two decades.

​Whether you are an individual or an institution, the StraightLine team stands ready to support you as you seek to achieve your goals and objectives. Let us help you chart the best path forward and, ultimately, realize financial freedom on your terms.

Read Team Bios

2023​

Rob Rickey joins StraightLine

Rob Rickey spent 25 years honing his skills at TIAA, a pioneer in the development and delivery of independent fiduciary advice solutions in not-for-profit retirement plans and annuity products, Rob was ready for a change. Over the course of his career, he’d learned that it is not always the road less traveled that makes all the difference, but sometimes it is about paving your own path. Today, StraightLine is pleased to have added his skills and experience to the team.

While at TIAA, he eventually became the driving force behind the firm’s ability to work with independent advisors. His mission was to improve retirement outcomes by ensuring plans and participants had access to quality advice delivered by a fiduciary – and this is how Rob became acquainted with the StraightLine team.

Rob Rickey, CFP®, CPC

A Certified Financial Planner™ professional and Certified Professional Coach, Rob is a mission driven financial services professional and leader with over 30 years of experience serving individuals, institutional clients, and financial advisors. He is driven by a desire to ensure every individual has access to quality independent advice, delivered by a fiduciary, at a reasonable price, and with full transparency.

StraightLine Values

No matter what stage of life you are in, StraightLine’s only objective is to help you manage your financial resources to achieve financial balance to and through retirement.

With an eye always focused on retirement, StraightLine can help you manage the pressures of meeting your day-to-day financial obligations and being prepared for the unexpected, while also planning for other important life goals.

For most clients, their largest asset is their employer-sponsored retirement plan such as a 401(k), 403(b), or 457 retirement plan. The sad thing is that most financial advisors will not manage assets in these retirement plans while you are working. At StraightLine, we recognize how important it is to ensure that you have professional investment management services on these assets during your working years, so you are in the best position to achieve your retirement goals.

StraightLine brings its Discretionary Investment Management service to you by designing your portfolio based on the investment options available in your employer-sponsored retirement plan. Better yet, StraightLine will handle implementing and managing your assets on an ongoing basis.

Then, only when it is right for you and in your best interests, will StraightLine suggest that you roll over your assets to an IRA – which could also be professionally managed for you by the StraightLine team you’ve come to know and trust.

StraightLine works as a Fiduciary to its clients. Their interests are aligned with yours. The StraightLine fee is the same for managing your assets in your employer-sponsored plan or in an IRA, so they have no reason to move your assets unless it is right for your personal situation.​

The StraightLine Difference

StraightLine is a retirement planning-centric investment management firm that utilizes goals-based financial planning to maximize your potential to achieve your financial goals.

Everything they  do is based on the foundation of the StraightLine three-pillar process.
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• Educate – At StraightLine, the team never sells. Everything starts with educating clients. StraightLine believes an educated client makes for a successful client.
  
  
• Plan – Every journey starts with a plan. Without a destination in mind, you don’t know where you will end up. By helping clients define their goals, StraightLine can maximize their potential to reach their destination. Think of StraightLine  as your financial GPS.
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• Invest – With an educated client and a plan in place, it is time to invest and manage your financial resources leveraging StaightLine’s  institutional research and investment knowledge.

With the proper planning in place and the ongoing management of your assets, you can strike the right balance of living today while planning for a retirement defined by your values that meets your lifestyle expectations and provides the lifelong dignity you deserve. 

While StraightLine can handle employer-sponsored retirement plans for any employee, over the years, StraightLine has developed a specialty serving those who serve others in the not-for-profit and higher education market.
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The firm has developed operational relationships with both TIAA and Fidelity to manage assets on their platforms. With decades of experience working with individuals in the higher education market, StraightLine understands the strengths of Fidelity and the uniqueness of TIAA’s offer and how to best utilize them to maximize your potential to achieve your retirement goals.

Like any journey, the shortest distance between two points is a straight line,
​but it is never that simple.

​When life throws you a curve, we can help get you back on your StraightLine.

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