PERSONNEL

Together, Todd and Wheeler have almost 65 years of investment experience. Prior to founding Kokua, they worked together for over five years at a previous employer, managing investment portfolios for their own clients as well as those of other advisers nationwide. You can read more about their backgrounds below.

Todd Erskine, CFA, CFP®

Todd Erskine is the founder and managing partner of Kokua Capital Management, LLC. He has over 20 years of markets experience and is responsible for developing the firm's investment strategy and conducting day-to-day operations. Prior to forming Kokua in 2016, he spent 10 years in wealth management and 5 in investment banking. He began his career working in the fixed income divisions of three large banks (ABN AMRO and Bank One in Chicago and JP Morgan in New York) where he managed bond offerings for Fortune 500 corporations. Upon moving to the wealth management industry, he spent two years at East West Wealth Management in Honolulu as a Senior Fixed Income Analyst and then eight years with United Capital Financial Advisers in the Chicago area. While at United Capital, he served as Senior Investment Analyst & Senior Portfolio Manager, overseeing the research and trading activities of United Capital's Northbrook office as well as three equity strategies and four fixed income strategies for 50 other offices nationwide. Todd earned his CFA charter in 2008, his CFP® designation in 2013, and graduated from Northwestern University in 2000 with a bachelor's degree in economics and political science. Todd volunteers on the governing board of Hawaii Technology Academy, Hawaii’s largest charter school, where he serves as Board Chair. He lives in Kailua, Hawaii with his wife and daughter.

Wheeler E. Chapman

Wheeler Chapman is a founder of Kokua Capital Management and also serves as President of Chapman Financial Group, LLC, a separate registered investment advisor located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Wheeler has over 35 years of experience in the wealth management industry. He began his investment management career with Sussex Financial in Chicago, and he formed Integrated Financial Management in 1989, which United Capital Financial Advisers acquired in 2008. Five years later, Wheeler left United Capital and founded the Chapman Financial Group in 2013 and Kokua in 2016. His responsibilities at Kokua include formulating investment strategy, investment research, client engagement, and trading. Wheeler earned his bachelors degree from Auburn University and a master's in engineering from the University of Colorado. He lives in Chapel Hill with his wife, several cats, and whatever other pets his kids and grandkids happen to be bringing through his house at any given moment.