George W. Hawkins

Managing Partner

George Hawkins, Managing Partner of Hawkins Laakso Wealth Management (HLWM), started the firm in 2005 with his business partner Chris Laakso. George leads the investment arm of the firm. He offers his clients more than forty years of financial industry experience, advising high net-worth families on wealth management and investment strategies. HLWM is in alliance with Equitable Advisors.

George began his career with a five-year position in commercial banking, followed by ten years on the fixed-income trading floor, filling various roles in marketing, fixed-income security trading, management, and recruitment. He then spent two years with an investment banking firm where he worked closely with the principals to develop new investment advisory and banking relationships. Following that position and immediately prior to joining his current broker-dealer, now Equitable Advisors, he managed a private, leveraged portfolio for a group of high net-worth investors. He joined his current broker-dealer in 1998, managing an independent district of financial professionals as Vice President from 2000-2005.

During his career, George has received numerous awards including Equitable Advisors Centurion, Equitable Advisors Gold, Equitable Advisors Circle of Excellence, Hallmark I, II, III, IV, V, the prestigious Excalibur award, and has earned a place of honor in the Equitable Advisors Hall of Fame. Each award was granted for either integrity, exceeding financial benchmarks, leadership, or honoring his long-standing tenure with the company.

George is an Alumni of the University of Houston Business School and is a lifetime member of the Lambda Chi Alpha International Fraternity. He graduated from the Equitable Advisors Institute at Harvard in 2012, a specialized training program in finance and asset allocation and management. He participates in regular portfolio analysis meetings with a prestigious global economist and maintains several FINRA registrations; Series 7, 63,65, 53, and 24.

He currently serves on the Advisory Board for the Legacy Community Health Planned Giving Committee, is a Director on the Board of Space City Winds, is a Committee Member with Equitable National Diversity Committee, and supports numerous animal rights organizations. In addition, George is a former Human Rights Campaign Governor and a former Equitable Advisors National Associates Forum (NAF) Committee Member.

George is a native Houstonian who shares homes in Houston, TX, and San Francisco, CA, with his partner Garret and their five rescue dogs. They enjoy traveling, fitness, and the arts, including culinary.

Christopher M. Laakso

Managing Partner
Retirement Planning Specialist

Chris joined his current broker-dealer, now Equitable Advisors, as an associate planner in 2001. His primary focus was developing a financial planning practice through personal and professional relationships. In 2005, he teamed up with his mentor, George Hawkins, to form the Hawkins Laakso Group (HLG), which is now known as Hawkins Laakso Wealth Management (HLWM). Chris' role as one of the Managing Partners of HLWM is financial planning and asset protection strategizing. He has clients in California, Colorado, Florida, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Texas, and Washington.

In 2005, Chris was given the "DSF of the Year - Houston Branch" and the "National Leaders Corp" awards. In addition, Chris received the "Centurion" award for outstanding production in 2007 through 2013 and the "Circle of Excellence" award in 2014-2016. Additionally, Chris achieved the distinction of Equitable Advisors "Hall of Fame" in May of 2015. This honor is earned through 10 years of outstanding production and is commemorated through a digital wall of fame housed at Equitable Headquarters in New York City. Chris also achieved Bronze Eagle, the Excalibur award, and Hallmark III in 2020.

In 2013, Chris was elected to the National Associates Forum (NAF), an advisory board within Equitable Advisors that discusses issues, improvements, and product design with the Equitable Home Office. In 2014, Chris was elected to the Executive Committee on the NAF and served as the Marketing and Communications Committee Chair and Chair of Annuity Committee. In 2017, Chris was elected to the Vice-Chair position by the Executive committee and Officers of the NAF. In 2018, as Chairman of the NAF, Chris was in attendance at the New York Stock Exchange when Equitable went public.

Chris grew up in Portland, OR, and attended Parkrose High School. He played college baseball at Clackamas CC and transferred to the University of Colorado at Boulder. Chris holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting and Information Systems from the University of Colorado at Boulder and the Series 7 - General Securities Representative, Series 66 - Uniform Combined State Law registration, and the General Lines Insurance License. In addition, Chris completes 30 hours of continuing education every two years to keep his licenses current.

In 2013, Chris attended The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania to earn the supplemental title Retirement Planning Specialist from Equitable Advisors. Equitable and Wharton designed this program to help Equitable Advisors address the ever-changing challenges individuals and families face at retirement. In 2015 Chris attended the Wharton School as a cohort of this program. Additionally, Chris served as the President of the University of Colorado Alumni Association Houston Chapter from 2002-2004 and as Committee Chair on the Board of Directors for the University of Colorado at Boulder Alumni Association from 2002-2006. Currently, he serves as a Professional Mentor for the University of Colorado, Leeds School of Business. Additionally, he is Chairman of the Golf Committee for the Frank Billingsley Golf Classic, benefiting Legacy Community Health's school-based clinics.

Chris has lived in Houston since 1999. He and his wife Brandy have three daughters, Samantha, Peyton, and Cali.

Equitable is the brand name of the retirement and protection subsidiaries of Equitable Holdings, Inc., including Equitable Financial Life Insurance Company (NY, NY), Equitable Financial Life Insurance Company of America, an AZ stock company with main administrative headquarters in Jersey City, NJ, and Equitable Distributors, LLC. Equitable Advisors is the brand name of Equitable Advisors, LLC (member FINRA, SIPC) (Equitable Financial Advisors in MI and TN).

Keaton Shaw

Financial Advisor

Keaton Shaw joined Hawkins Laakso Wealth Management in 2018 as an intern. In 2019, Keaton was elevated to Associate Case Manager, where he oversaw how we implement client plans. In 2020, he was promoted again to interim Business Manager, where he oversaw logistics, scheduling, client events, and day-to-day business operations. Finally, in 2021, he moved from operations to production and became an Associate with the firm. Today, Keaton develops client relationships and creates client plans as a financial advisor with Hawkins Laakso Wealth Management.

Keaton is a student-athlete graduate of the University of St. Thomas and is currently working on his MBA with a concentration in Finance.

Liam James

Accounts Analysis Manager

Liam joined HLWM in 2020 while attending the University of Houston and is pursuing his degree in Finance. He is licensed in Life and Health Insurance in TX and is studying towards his FINRA Series 7 & Series 66 registrations. Liam is a born and raised Houstonian.

Joshua Sanchez

Project & Scheduling Coordinator

Josh joined HLWM in 2020 while attending the University of St. Thomas in Houston, TX. Josh has been accepted into the five-year BBA/MBA program and is pursuing a degree in Finance. He is a student-athlete and a member of the University's basketball team. Josh was born and raised in McAllen, TX.

Ryan Mirisoloff

Client Support Manager

Ryan Mirisoloff is a licensed Financial Professional with the Equitable Advisors Preferred Client Partners Group (PCPG). Focusing on retirement planning strategies, insurance planning, investments and risk management. He is FINRA Series 7 and 66 registered as well as Life and health insurance licensed in 50 states.
CA Insurance Lic #0J18929 AR Insurance Lic #16288317