Gail Murdoch

Have you ever wondered if the people running your broker dealer know what it’s like to be a financial advisor? There is no question that Gail Murdoch knows what it is like to be in your shoes. She is the founder and owner of Cardinal Investment Group which is a successful branch office of Veritas Independent Partners. Cardinal is made up of five advisors with various specialties.

Gail brings her industry experience to the partnership which pairs well with Debra’s extensive compliance background.

“I often say that I am the lobbyist for the advisors,” said Gail when describing her role for the firm. She said, “Debra will be working on a new procedure or form and I will try it out and make suggestions that I believe will keep it more user-friendly for the advisors.” Through their collaboration, Gail and Debra strive to keep compliance in the forefront of the business without stifling business progress.

With more than 20 years of experience in the securities industry, Gail enjoys helping the advisors on special cases and is constantly looking for ways to further streamline the processes of the business.

Gail is a Certified Financial Planner™ and holds the Series 7, 24, 51, and 63 securities licenses.

On a personal note, Gail and her husband, Mark Murdoch, live in a small town in Arkansas where they raised their only child, Moira, who is now in medical school. Gail and Mark love to travel, from theme parks to national parks or beaches. Their somewhat empty nest now holds two rescue dogs who they adore.

Debra Shannon

Debra is the Chief Compliance Officer and Co-Founder of Veritas Independent Partners. Debra views the firm-advisor relationship as linear, meaning it takes both working together, side by side, to be successful.

After spending more than eight years in the industry working for firms that didn't share her philosophy, she partnered with her friend and colleague Gail Murdoch to create a firm that embodied their values; trust, transparency, and honesty.

Debra states, "For me, service and communication are things that I can control, so I strive to do that best."

Debra and her husband Ladd reside in Atkins, Arkansas. They have two adult children and three grandchildren. Debra enjoys cooking, painting, and decorating. She loves learning new things and is currently working to obtain her Master Gardeners license.

Robert Mikkelsen

Robert has been the Chief Investment Officer for Veritas since 2016. He has been in the financial services business for 38 years and has a diverse background in the industry. He was an equity trader on Wall Street during the 1980s and 1990s. He started out at Lehman Brothers and also worked for other trading firms such as Cantor Fitzgerald, ABN AMRO and Advest.

In 2006 Robert relocated to Arkansas and became a financial advisor working with organizations and clients on the retail side of the business. He has been with Veritas since it was created in 2014. He performs various duties for Veritas but his primary role is to review suitability for all the RIA accounts. He works with advisors on their portfolio and asset selection and also manages other advisors assets when applicable.

In describing his role at Veritas, Robert said, "Veritas, to me has been a place that has tapped into all the work experience I've acquired over the years. My passion is in portfolio management and sharing insights and ideas with all the advisors at Veritas. In this ever-changing industry I always strive to learn and communicate as much as I can."