When Does a Joke Become a Dad Joke?

When it becomes apparent. 

Welcome back to the Sunstone Way, 2026 version! 

I hope you had a wonderful holiday and are recharged to make this new year the best yet. I certainly feel that way after some great time with my family and friends. 

It wouldn’t be a good new year without a Dad joke or two, so allow me: 

In 2025, I didn’t do a marathon. I didn’t do one in 2024, 2023 or 2022, either. This is a running joke. 

I got a new pen that can write underwater. It can write other words, too. 

Yesterday, I was washing the car with my son. He said, “Dad, can’t you just use a sponge?” 

Okay, enough is enough. Let’s talk about what the year holds for you, me, and Sunstone. 

A Strong Platform for You 

To begin the new year, we’re excited to announce a bit of a restructuring that will support our clients and kick off a new phase of growth at Sunstone.  The center of our family of companies will now be known as Sunstone Investment Group, Inc., with several affiliated entities that do unique but important things to help advance The Sunstone Way — our unique mission of investment through public-private-partnership (P3).  If you aren’t familiar with the term P3, please visit one of my past blogs about one of the first big P3 projects – the George Deukmejian Courthouse in Long Beach. It is the prototype of our P3 philosophy. 

You are already familiar with the family of companies that make up the Sunstone group. For example, you may have attended one of our Sunstone Connects sessions at the Sunstone Stage where entrepreneurs have explained their new business, or hearing experts detail strategies to get ahead. That was the Sunstone Venture Partners team introducing you to cutting edge technologies. 

Or perhaps you made it to one of the P3 Strategy Sessions featuring amazing leaders explaining how their municipalities or agencies work to make the partnership between government and industry work – remember when Brian Coleman talked about all the different resources available to small business owners at the state’s GO-Biz agency? That was the Sunstone Cities crew putting resources on the table for everyone’s benefit. 

A Family of Companies 

Sunstone Investment Management Services, LLC, reports directly to our parent company, and supports our clients and business partners with general administration and investment management services.  This includes things like marketing, communications, accounting, and human resources.  All of our websites, social media, and this blog are produced by team members at Sunstone Investment Management Services! 

Sunstone Advisors LLC, a SEC Registered Investment Adviser (RIA), is the member of the Sunstone family that handles all of our investment activities.  This includes raising private capital, making investment decisions, and reporting to investors. Sunstone Venture Partners LLC, a private capital fund manager, is under Sunstone Advisors.  If you have ever been to a Sunstone Connects event on Friday afternoon you are familiar with Sunstone Venture Partners and the founder development team that works with investors, entrepreneurs, and universities to build out the innovation ecosystem in Southern California. 

Sunstone Cities LLC gained traction last year as the go-to resource for government consulting work, with contracts for government economic development, strategic plans, and communications work.  The team at Sunstone Cities also helps private companies secure small business loans or to implement government procurement strategies.  Sunstone Cities also works with another awesome affiliate, Public Private Partners LLC, to execute P3 infrastructure financing solutions in California.  If you have ever joined us for a “P3 Strategy Series” event at the Sunstone Stage, you know what I am talking about! 

And what about all those community sponsorships and grants?  Last but far from least, the Sunstone Community Fund is alive and well, having donated over $2 million over the past three years to non-profit organizations that support our core mission of investment, entrepreneurship, and community. Our nonprofit donor-advised fund continues to support entrepreneurs and community causes and is preparing to host the third annual Irvine Dream Run fundraising event later this Spring.   

Built to Support You in 2026 

What does all this mean to you? It means that Sunstone now has all the pieces in place to advance your goals across public, private, and non-profit sectors.  Our mission of enriching lives through P3 investment is now supported by a platform and structure to better support you and your goals for 2026—whether you are a startup technology founder, individual investor, or local government leader. 

Through Sunstone Cities we can help your community with economic development planning, disaster recovery, and Olympics preparation. Through Sunstone Advisors and Sunstone Venture Partners, we can connect you with an ecosystem in Southern California to fund your startup or connect with the right advisors.  And of course, the Sunstone Community Fund is here for you to help build investment, entrepreneurship, and community for public benefit.  Together, the Sunstone Investment Group is a powerful platform to enrich lives. 

Guiding Light 

You know the story of the Sunstone by now. My Viking ancestors used the stone to help guide them through uncharted waters when the sun was hidden by clouds. 

It’s no Dad joke when I say that today the Sunstone guides us into the future. It points us to partnerships, to new approaches and to a positive outcome. 

I’m looking forward to traveling the 2026 path with you. After all, that’s the Sunstone Way! 

Remember, always be a Sunstone! 

John Keisler 

CEO & Managing Partner 

Sunstone Management, Inc. 

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©Sunstone Management, Inc. 2025 

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