Michael O'Reilly
Co-founder, Partner
Michael co-founded Vista Capital Partners in 2001. Currently, he is focused on client service and business development, while serving on the board of directors.
After earning his bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Oregon, Michael entered the corporate world, working as a sales account executive for Xerox. Over time, he realized he wanted to build something of purpose to make a difference in people’s lives.
Michael gravitated to the financial services industry and spent several years learning about what worked – and what didn’t – in the world of investing. Traditional Wall Street ways weren’t working, and he saw a need to bring change to the financial industry itself.
He joined forces with co-founder Doug Johanson to form Vista Capital Partners with a vision for a new kind of firm: one that would focus on what really matters for a successful investment experience, with a holistic approach to financial planning, investment management, and relationship management.
That was more than two decades ago. Since then, the firm has used that focus to grow a team of the best and brightest, serving over 500 clients and more than $2.5 billion in assets under management.
As a partner, Michael is still actively involved in setting the vision for Vista’s future. He has served as a member or chairman of several non-profit boards, including The March of Dimes, Lifeworks NW, and the Jesuit High School board of Trustees, among others.
Over the past 30 years, Michael and his wife Joan have raised four boys, and Michael helped coach many football, basketball, and baseball teams. As both the firm and his family grew up, he learned several lessons from each experience that complimented the other. He still plays and watches as much sports as possible. Michael is also living the life he has many times helped plan for his clients by spending the majority of the winter in the California desert. He calls this leading by example.
