Our Philosophy
At Michael Oak Advisors, we are passionate about designing pay strategies that align people, purpose, and performance. We believe that human capital is your greatest asset. Your organization is fueled by the drive, focus, and dedication of your team. We understand the complexities of leading high-impact teams at pension funds, endowments, foundations, and other mission-driven institutions. You’re not just managing risk and return — you’re also stewarding careers, aligning values, and cultivating a culture of excellence.
Our Approach
At Michael Oak Advisors, our approach is grounded in three principles:
Clarity. Candor. Care.
We cut through complexity, speak plainly, and tailor our work to fit your mission, your team, and your long-term goals.
Whether you’re designing a new incentive plan, navigating leadership transition, or facing board scrutiny, we bring a steady hand and sharp insight.
We don’t overcomplicate. We don’t sell templates. We listen deeply, analyze thoughtfully, and deliver tailored, practical solutions that empower your people and strengthen your organization.
Because success isn’t just measured in returns — it’s measured in the strength of the team behind them.
Leadership
Michael Oak, Founder and Managing Director, is a nationally recognized expert in compensation strategy for institutional investors. He has advised hundreds of investment organizations on how to align human capital with mission and performance. His innovative work has helped leading institutions become employers of choice in a fiercely competitive talent landscape.
Mike brings a distinctive combination of quantitative rigor and human capital insight, shaped by his 15 years leading the Institutional Investor Rewards Data and Advisory business at McLagan | Aon Human Capital Solutions. His career also included roles as a Mathematical Statistician at the U.S. Department of Agriculture and an Executive Compensation Consultant at Pearl Meyer and Partners.
Mike holds a B.S. in Biometry & Statistics and a Master’s in Applied Statistics from Cornell University.
Outside of work, Mike serves on the Board of the Cornell CALS Alumni Association. He is also a certified master naturalist and a volunteer paramedic with his local fire company—reflecting a deep commitment to service, education, and community.
Our Promise to You
We believe that trust is earned. That’s why we keep our model simple:
If you don’t believe our work added meaningful value, you won’t receive an invoice.
No fine print. No pressure. Just a shared commitment to doing work that matters.
What others say about US
What do Clients Say?
"Mike has a keen intellect combined with deep analytical abilities. One of his key strengths is being able to identify potential solutions and quickly assess the pros/cons of different approaches and explain them clearly and concisely. He’s smart, thorough, and ridiculously hard-working. Mike doesn’t look for the easiest or quickest answer, he wants to understand the context to be able to develop the best solution, tailored to an organization’s specific need."
"Mike is a very knowledgeable and trusted compensation consultant. He provides valuable guidance on industry trends as well as matters specific to our organization's compensation structure and incentive program. His expert advice is relied upon by our executives and our Board. Mike is well regarded, trustworthy, and a pleasure to work with."
"Mike is a highly technical compensation consultant that truly understands how compensation, especially incentive plan design, should be aligned with broader mission and HR objectives. Mike’s understanding of compensation structures within the investment management industry is unparalleled – his knowledge spans across all industry segments."
"Michael is very knowledgeable, credible, and is a great consultant. He is confident, articulate, and provides pointed commentary during conversations with staff and Board members. Michael has great Board presence and is obviously well respected by our board and senior leadership team."
