Management

Michael Cannivet is the founder, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer of Silverlight Asset Management. He is also a Forbes contributor and author of The Four Minute Retirement Plan.

Michael manages our firm’s investment process and portfolio strategies. He also provides strategic counsel related to financial planning and asset allocation.

Outside of work, Michael is a member of the Advisory Board for The Boys & Girls Clubs of Capistrano Valley. He is also an active supporter of the Make-a-Wish Foundation and serves as a Wish Granter. 

Education

B.A. Georgetown University

Chartered Financial Analyst®

My Story

I was born on New Year’s Day, which has always made me appreciate the value of time and new beginnings.

Growing up, several people played a pivotal role in my life. My father taught me to be results-driven, my mother taught me creativity, and my grandparents taught me a lot of simple financial lessons that I’ve never forgotten.

When I was 8 years old, I became obsessed with baseball cards. I studied player stats, monthly price guides, and made lists of the cards I thought would do best. My dog ate most of the cards, and the baseball card industry turned out to be my first exposure to an asset bubble.

In 1995, my grandmother bought me my first stock. A coffee company called Starbucks. That investment worked much better.

I moved to Washington D.C. to study Government at Georgetown University. The summer before my senior year, an internship at a venture capital firm changed my life. That’s when I fell in love with investing and decided to pursue a career in finance.

After college, I spent the majority of my 20s working in the Bay Area at Fisher Investments. I was an Equity Analyst and worked under the tutelage of acclaimed investor, Ken Fisher.

In my 30s, I became a partner and Co-Chief Investment Officer at Palo Capital. During my tenure, I helped grow the firm's assets under management five-fold.

I founded Silverlight to help private clients actively manage their money, lifestyle, and legacy.

Geoffrey Berwind is the firm's Director of Client Service and a Partner. He coaches clients on how to craft the story behind their financial plan and is in charge of shaping the client experience. 

Education

B.A. George Washington University 

My Story  

I am one of the foremost storytelling experts in the world. I've personally coached the Kennedy Space Center and 87 TEDx speakers on how to effectively tell their story.  

My grandparents instilled in me core values of creativity, kindness, optimism and trust. Designing my life around these values has served me well.

I have created award-winning tourism programs and been a storytelling consultant to major corporations, universities, and non-profits. I have also coached over 10,000 authors, speakers and entrepreneurs to delicately craft the stories they want to tell the world.

Now, I help Silverlight clients build the stories behind their financial plans. These are purpose-driven narratives that link a client's core values to their most important future financial goals. I also help clients improve their wellbeing by actively managing their lifestyle and legacy.