Kyle serves as the Chief Compliance Officer (CCO) of Independence Asset Advisors (IAA), a role he has held since the firm’s inception in 2010. With over 20 years of experience in compliance and regulatory oversight, Kyle plays a critical role in ensuring that IAA operates with the highest standards of transparency, integrity, and regulatory compliance.

In his role as CCO, Kyle oversees all aspects of the firm’s compliance program, leveraging his deep regulatory expertise and extensive experience working with SEC regional offices across the country. His leadership has been pivotal in helping IAA navigate complex compliance challenges and evolving regulatory processes. At IAA, Kyle works closely with the executive team to implement and maintain a compliance framework that aligns with the firm’s mission of delivering exceptional individualized service to clients.

Kyle’s career has been defined by a dedication to protecting clients and ensuring adherence to best practices in investment advisory services. In 2009, he founded Beacon Compliance Consulting to provide compliance solutions to SEC-registered investment advisors and mutual funds. He has also held senior positions, including serving as a partner and Chief Compliance Officer at TrendStar Advisors, LLC, where he oversaw compliance and trust administration.

Kyle earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Regis University in Denver, Colorado. A Colorado native, Kyle enjoys skiing, exploring the outdoors, and supporting his favorite professional and collegiate sports teams. He and his wife reside in Overland Park, Kansas.

Mary serves as a Manager of Client Service & Reporting at Independence Asset Advisors (IAA), bringing over 18 years of professional experience across marketing, communications, client service, and financial operations. Since joining IAA in September 2021, she has been a key contributor to the firm’s commitment to delivering exceptional service to its clients.

In her role, Mary manages the production of the firm’s investment reporting, including monthly account and performance reconciliation, private investment administration, quarterly reporting, and individualized ad hoc reports. She also plays a vital part in client onboarding, working behind the scenes to support clients with seamless account and asset transitions. Her meticulous attention to detail and dedication to delivering high-quality results ensure that IAA’s reporting and client processes remain efficient and effective.

Before joining IAA, Mary spent 11 years in marketing and client service roles at Affiliated Distributors (AD) before transitioning into financial services at Wells Fargo Advisors, where she focused on operations and client service for 3.5 years. This combination of experience gives her a unique perspective and the ability to approach her responsibilities with both technical precision and a client-first mindset.

Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, Mary graduated from The Ohio State University. She now resides in Dublin, Ohio, with her husband, John, and their two wonderfully chaotic children, Elizabeth and Henry. A passionate advocate for her local community, she enjoys attending Dublin’s annual Irish Festival, exploring the outdoors, and spending time with her family.

Mary is a registered Investment Advisor Representative with IAA and remains current with her education and responsibilities in the FINRA MQP and NASAA EVEP for her Series 7 and Series 63 exams.

Tom Grugan serves as Director and Senior Investment Strategist at Independence Asset Advisors (IAA). His primary responsibilities are portfolio management, with a focus on U.S. and Canadian institutional corporate investment portfolios, including manager research and analytical due diligence, ensuring delivery of disciplined, high-quality investment strategies tailored to client needs.

Drawing on a background in wealth management, Tom brings a unique perspective to his work with institutional clients. His experience delivering integrated portfolio solutions and multi-generational wealth guidance to families and business owners has shaped his ability to navigate the complexities of corporate portfolios. As an Outsourced Chief Investment Officer (OCIO), Tom approaches his role as an extension of the corporate boards and committees he serves, aligning investment strategies with their governance priorities and long-term objectives.

Raised in the suburbs of Philadelphia, Tom earned a B.A. in Finance from the Haub School of Business at Saint Joseph’s University. A founding member of Iron Club Investments, Tom is also a member of Overbrook Golf Club in Villanova, PA. His commitment to service includes previous roles on the Delaware Trust Administrative Committee, the Delaware Estate Planning Committee, and the Serviam Girls Academy Committee. Additionally, he was honored as a member of the National MS Society’s Leadership Class.

In his free time, Tom enjoys spending time at the hockey rink or on the golf course. He and his wife, Alyssa, reside in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, with their two children.

Katie serves as Vice President and Managing Director at Independence Asset Advisors (IAA), a role she has held since joining the firm at its inception in 2010. Over the past 15 years, she has been instrumental in shaping IAA’s growth and evolution, taking on key leadership responsibilities that span client portfolio management, firm operations, and business development. Katie currently manages portfolios for select high-net-worth clients, leads the firm’s manager engagement program, and oversees operations to drive efficiency and innovation. She also serves as a personal trustee for several client family trusts.

Before joining IAA, Katie developed a diverse professional skill set through her work in education and human resources, which she now leverages to bring a unique, people-centered perspective to client and team engagement. Her dedication to IAA’s mission—helping clients achieve their financial goals through custom strategies and broad access to public and private investments—has earned her a reputation for being both a strategic thinker and a tactical problem-solver. Katie is passionate about delivering exceptional service to IAA’s clients and values the opportunity to work alongside the firm’s highly skilled and committed team.

A Rhode Island native, Katie graduated magna cum laude from The College of William & Mary and earned a Master’s degree in Education from Boston University.

She is a registered Investment Advisor Representative.

Outside of work, Katie enjoys spending time with her husband and daughter, particularly during their annual trips to Switzerland to visit family and hike. An avid runner, she can often be found on local trails training for her next half marathon or studying for her Certified Investment Management Analyst® certification.

Scott Renninger is the founder, President and Chief Investment Officer of Independence Asset Advisors, LLC. He founded the firm to provide customized, independent, conflict free, high quality investment advisory services at costs much lower than industry norms to a select group of clients. By selectively accepting clients with compatible goals, Independence Asset Advisors can implement one style of investment management that focuses on risk mitigation and participation in market returns over market cycles.

Scott began his investment career during his tenure at Public Financial Management (PFM) where he facilitated the integration of two Vanguard funds into PFM’s investment management business. He then began actively managing corporate cash and investments at Affiliated Distributors (AD) in 1997. He developed AD’s treasury function into a high performing unit that supported 100% of AD’s operating costs while producing over $100 million in excess return distributed to members. Since 2010, Scott has also managed the Captive Investors Fund (CIF). The CIF is now a $9 billion multi asset balanced fund that serves as the core investment for Cayman-based captive reinsurance companies.

Scott enjoys helping middle-market businesses, AD and CRI member companies, and families use their resources to grow and prosper. In close collaboration with clients, Scott and his team implement proven strategies to meet each client’s individual goals through best-of-breed institutional managers. He provides access to leading private investments to meet financial goals with less volatility and risk than found in all-public investment portfolios. He specializes in helping private businesses, foundations and endowments as well as wealthy families meet their unique investment objectives through liquidity management, diversification and risk management, income production or total return strategies. Born in Allentown, PA and raised in Newark, Delaware, Scott earned a B.S. in Business Administration with a concentration in finance from the University of Delaware in 1979. After two years in commercial banking at Girard Bank in Philadelphia, Scott earned an M.B.A. from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania in 1984. Scott currently serves on the board and investment committee of the Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church with past service as its Treasurer and President of Trustees. He is also a Trustee Emeritus of Princeton Theological Seminary after serving on its finance, investment and executive committees and chairing its Audit Committee.

Scott enjoys golf, hiking in the Adirondack mountains and extensive travel. He and his wife Barbara have four children and six grandchildren and live in the Philadelphia area.

Rebecca is a Director and Senior Investment Strategist at Independence Asset Advisors, specializing in supporting Private Wealth and Endowments and Foundations clients. Rebecca joined IAA after relocating to Philadelphia in 2017. She spent her earlier career working in academia, teaching and doing research in philosophy of psychology and artificial intelligence. Rebecca was drawn to the analytical side of finance, including capital allocation, attribution and other analysis. IAA’s small, close-knit team and independent, unconstrained approach made the firm a perfect fit. She values her role helping clients translate their practical goals into long-term investment strategies that suit their unique needs.

Rebecca enjoys helping families, high net worth individuals, and educational and philanthropic institutions use their financial resources to effect positive outcomes in their lives or support their mission. Rebecca works across the asset class spectrum to source opportunities that offer exceptional benefits to many investors but that require institutional access, enhanced due diligence, operational heavy lifting and strategic expertise. In doing so, she is able to build nontraditional, custom portfolio allocations with the goal of reducing risk and enhancing returns. Rebecca specializes in integrating private markets allocations with traditional assets to optimize portfolios across the full asset class and liquidity spectrum over a long-term time horizon.

Originally from the Philadelphia area, Rebecca graduated cum laude with a B.A from Davidson College and subsequently earned a Ph.D. from the University of Colorado, Boulder. She has additionally attained her Certified Financial Planner and a Chartered Financial Analyst designations.

Rebecca serves as a mentor with the CFA® Society of Philadelphia, helping to guide young women entering finance. Rebecca and her husband, Steve, have two young boys and enjoy spending family time at the New Jersey shore. She also enjoys time spent playing pickleball, reading, photography and ornithology.