Joanna Burish is President & CEO of Custer Burish Financial Services, where she leads with a client-centered philosophy rooted in empathy, integrity, innovation, and excellence. As the firm’s named successor and Managing Partner beginning in 2021, she has helped shape its continued evolution with a deep commitment to helping individuals, families, and organizations make financial decisions aligned with their values, goals, and long-term vision.
Joanna brings a distinctive blend of analytical expertise and emotional intelligence to her work. Her professional background spans the film and music industries, as well as executive leadership in real estate development and management. Together, these experiences have shaped her ability to lead with both strategy and heart. She is known for her intuitive ability to connect with others, listen deeply, build trust, and guide people through complex decisions with clarity and care.
Originally from Nazareth, Israel, Joanna immigrated with her family to Madison, Wisconsin, in 1976. She earned her bachelor’s degree in accounting with a focus in finance and real estate in 1996, followed by a Master of Business Administration in 2011, both from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. She also earned her Real Estate Broker’s license in 2009.
A passionate advocate for community engagement and empowerment, Joanna founded The Brauds Network in 2011, a mission-driven nonprofit organization dedicated to mentoring and empowering women in business through authenticity, trust, and collaboration. Over the past two decades, she has also served numerous nonprofit organizations as a board and committee member, supporting community empowerment through Rotary of Downtown Madison, environmental sustainability through Clean Lakes Alliance, the arts and arts education through Overture Center, Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra, and Madison Symphony Orchestra, and epilepsy research and cure through Joey’s Song, among others. Her service reflects a people- and mission-first mindset, with a focus on strategic leadership, sound business practices, and sustainable growth.
Joanna’s leadership and impact have been recognized through numerous distinctions. In 2025, she was recognized as an excellence awardee of Investment News Women to Watch’s Orion Award for Rising Star of the Year1. In 2026, she was again named one of the top fifty female leaders in finance in the United States and Canada by Women We Admire2, a recognition she has received for five consecutive years. She was also a nominee for the 2026 Athena Awards in recognition of her business leadership and her commitment to empowering nonprofit organizations throughout Dane County and Wisconsin.
Joanna finds her greatest joy in being a role model and mother to her daughter, Raquel, who lives in New York with her husband, Luke Johnson.
1. The Orion Award for Rising Star Advisor of the Year issued by InvestmentNews on 10/21/25 is awarded annually to the outstanding female advisor who has displayed excellence in their first three years as an advisor. The financial professional was nominated for the recognition. Criteria used to determine the winner includes accredited as an advisor on or after January 1, 2022; knowledge, understanding and communication of investment opportunities and strategies for their clients' portfolios; client retention and relationship strategies; unique value proposition; and approach to regulatory compliance. No fee was paid for the nomination, receipt, or promotion of the. Third-party ratings are no guarantee of future investment success and do not ensure that a client or prospective client will experience a higher level of performance or results. These ratings should not be construed as an endorsement of the advisor by any client nor are they representative of any one client's evaluation.
2. Top 50 Women Leaders in Finance for 2026 issued by Women We Admire on 2/1/26 for the prior year recognizes women leaders in the finance industry. The financial professional was nominated for the recognition. This year's nominees were selected by the Women We Admire editorial team for their ability to manage risk, inform strategy, safeguard controls, and support long-term planning . No fee was paid for the nomination or receipt of the award. Third-party ratings are no guarantee of future investment success and do not ensure that a client or prospective client will experience a higher level of performance or results. These ratings should not be construed as an endorsement of the advisor by any client nor are they representative of any one client's evaluation.