Our Founder

Our Founder, G. Stephen (Steve) Wheeldon

Steve's first career as a CPA started upon his graduation from the University of Utah in 1970 with an accounting degree. After graduation, Steve and his family moved to Southern California to accept his first career job as a Certified Public Accountant at the accounting firm Price Waterhouse. Steve worked in southern California as a CPA for two international public accounting firms and a NYSE publicly traded company.

After several years of working at top-notch accounting firms in the Los Angeles area, he acquired the experience necessary to branch out on his own and get out of the “big city”. He was drawn to Durango, Colorado, reminiscent of his small-town roots, where he found his calling. Steve became a partner in the accounting firm of Stolberg, Brown and Wheeldon, and later became a Certified Financial Planner and formed an investment management firm in 1997, known as Intelligent Investment Management, LLP.

Steve  had spent many years working for clients as a CPA and financial planner. He came to the realization that each investment advisory firm he had worked with had its own agenda, which in most cases did not align well with the financial goals and objectives of the clients.

Steve thought there was a better way to provide investment management services to individuals. It is an approach that is focused on helping each client achieve their long-term financial needs, goals and concerns.  Steve's first career as a CPA was focused on income and estate tax planning strategies aimed at individuals and their businesses. In his second career, managing Intelligent Investment Management, LLP, he applied the skills honed as a CPA to Intelligent Investment Management's proprietary, fee-only, investment strategies. 

He was an active member in the Durango community, having served in a broad variety of leadership positions, including the Durango High Noon Rotary Club, La Plata Open Space Conservancy, the Boys and Girls Club of La Plata County and Toastmasters.

When not managing client investments, Steve enjoyed as much time as possible with his wife, Jeannie and family on horseback and also enjoyed sunrises and sunsets wherever they were. Steve “galloped away into the sunset” on October 15, 2025.