Jeff Bechtel

Ensemble Work

As an investment banker and consultant, I have had the privilege of providing strategic and financial advice to CEOs and business owners for over 25 years. For the last 20+ years I have focused exclusively on assisting firms in the asset and wealth management industries, leading a variety of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and strategic advisory projects on behalf of my clients.

I began my financial services career in 1996 when I joined Bank One Corporation, working in commercial banking, capital markets, and M&A roles out of their Columbus, OH headquarters and in Detroit, MI. After earning my MBA at Kellogg, I moved to San Francisco and joined Putnam Lovell, which was one of the largest independent investment banks focused on serving asset and wealth managers, in 2002. This is where I developed a passion for studying the investment industry and supporting firms at various stages of their growth journey, from start-up firms like Cantata Wealth to established global financial institutions.

Putnam Lovell was acquired by Jefferies & Co. in 2007 as part of an effort to aggressively expand its financial services advisory capabilities. I served as Senior Vice President in Jefferies’ investment banking group in San Francisco, leading M&A engagements for investment industry clients.

In 2010, after many rewarding years in ‘corporate’ banking roles, I decided to pursue a more entrepreneurial venture. Alongside longtime colleagues from Putnam Lovell, I helped establish MHB Advisers, LLC, a specialist independent investment bank based in the San Francisco Bay Area serving firms in the asset and wealth management community. MHB provides a variety of advisory services tailored to meet the needs of our global clientele, including buy-side and sell-side M&A engagements and strategic advisory projects focused on topics such as succession planning, equity incentives and business valuation. I am proud to manage MHB alongside my two partners with whom I have worked for more than two decades.

Long-term relationships and an entrepreneurial spirit—which have been fundamental to the success of MHB Advisers—are also cornerstones of Cantata Wealth, and I’m excited to help support the firm’s growth and development.

I received my MBA with a focus in Finance, Management and Strategy, Technology from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. I also hold a BBA in Finance and Marketing, with Honors, from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. 

Solo Work

I’m an avid golfer and skier and enjoy traveling around the state with my wife for our two daughters’ indoor and beach volleyball tournaments.