ABOUT OUR FIRM
Guidance built on decades-long experience, grounded in fundamentals.
Grand Traverse Financial is a private financial advisory firm based in Traverse City, Michigan, dedicated to serving successful individuals, families, and business owners who require thoughtful, disciplined stewardship of their assets. With over 16 years of combined experience, we provide discreet, relationship-driven guidance designed to preserve, grow, and efficiently transfer wealth across generations.
Our approach begins with understanding the full scope of your financial life, including investments, tax exposure, concentrated positions, business interests, and long-term legacy objectives. We construct tailored strategies aligned with your risk tolerance, time horizon, and personal priorities, not market noise or short-term trends.
Clients value our independence, confidentiality, and commitment to clear, direct counsel. We believe wealth management is not a product, but a long-term advisory relationship built on trust, judgment, and consistent execution through changing market and economic conditions.
Located in northern Michigan, we serve clients locally and nationally who expect a higher standard of care, deeper strategic thinking, and a trusted partner in protecting and advancing their financial position.
OUR TEAM
Meet The Partners
— Managing Partner & Co-Founder | Chris Sheeran
Chris Sheeran, as co-founder of Grand Traverse Financial, Chris believes the most effective financial advice is grounded in steady guidance, long-term partnership, and trust earned over time. His approach centers on helping clients make thoughtful, disciplined decisions through every stage of life, by providing clarity and perspective.
With more than a decade of experience in the financial industry, Chris combines technical knowledge with a practical mindset shaped by his background in large-scale operations management. Known among clients as a steady “voice of reason,” Chris helps families prioritize logic over short-term emotion, particularly during market volatility or major life transitions. His goal is not simply portfolio performance, but helping clients build durable financial lives capable of supporting their long-term goals and values.
Chris works closely with individuals and families actively planning for retirement and major financial decisions, emphasizing consistency, transparency, and ongoing guidance rather than one-time advice. He believes financial planning succeeds when clients feel informed, confident, and supported, knowing they have a trusted partner helping them stay aligned with their broader vision for life.
Based in Traverse City, Chris maintains a deep commitment to both his clients and his community by coaching the St. Francis High School wrestling team, where he mentors young athletes in resilience and personal growth, values that closely mirror his professional philosophy. He also enjoys deep-sea fishing off the coast of Florida and spending time with his wife and three children.
For Chris, financial planning is ultimately about more than numbers or markets. It is about helping families gain the confidence and stability to fully enjoy the people, experiences, and moments that matter most.
Financial Advisor
Series 7 & 66 Licensed
Wrestling Coach | St. Francis High School
Enjoys Deep Sea Fishing & Golf
— Partner | Tyler C. Baer
Tyler C. Baer works with accomplished individuals and families whose financial lives have grown more complex than a simple investment account. From concentrated equity positions and liquidity events to long-term wealth stewardship, he helps clients turn complexity into clarity, designing personalized strategies that align their wealth with what matters most: family, freedom, and future legacy.
Before entering wealth management, Tyler spent nearly eight years as an executive and leadership coach advising high-performing professionals across Fortune 500 and Silicon Valley companies. That experience shaped a core belief he carries into every client relationship today: financial success is rarely determined by markets alone, but by the quality of decisions made during pivotal moments. By combining behavioral insight with disciplined portfolio design, he helps clients navigate change with confidence rather than reaction.
As a licensed real estate professional, Tyler also helps clients think strategically about investment properties and 1031 exchanges as part of a broader wealth strategy. He collaborates closely with attorneys, CPAs, and other trusted advisors to ensure each client’s financial life works together seamlessly rather than in silos.
Clients know Tyler for his grounded perspective and understated sense of humor, qualities that make even complex or emotionally charged financial conversations feel approachable. He balances discipline with empathy, helping clients stay focused on long-term outcomes without losing sight of the human side of money.
Outside the office, Tyler can often be found wet wading the fly-fishing rivers of Northern Michigan, where patience, timing, and respect for the environment offer lessons surprisingly similar to investing.
Financial Advisor
Series 7 & 66 Licensed
ICF Professional Certified Coach
Michigan Real Estate Licensed
Fly Fishing & Hosting Dinner Parties