Finding a financial professional you can trust is key to achieving a successful retirement.
Certified Financial Fiduciaries® are sworn to uphold the highest moral, ethical and fiduciary standards of service when providing advice to potential or existing clients. By choosing to work with a Certified Financial Fiduciary® you can be confident that your best interests will always come first!
Craig J. Ferrantino, Certified Financial Fiduciary®
Craig J. Ferrantino, Certified Financial Fiduciary® & Certified Wealth Strategist® is the founder and president of Craig James Financial Services, LLC. Craig began his career on Wall Street at JP Morgan Private Banking Group in New York City providing asset management and assistance to high-net-worth clients. With over 35 years in the financial services industry, Craig has gained a wealth of experience.
At JP Morgan Chase, he gained expertise in Corporate Finance, Asset-Backed Securities, and Developing Country Asset Trading. He later transitioned to the investment side of the business, working with Smith Barney and A.G. Edwards, where he deepened his knowledge in financial planning for individuals and small businesses. In 2007, Craig founded Craig James Financial Services, LLC to offer independent, objective financial advice. The firm specializes in financial planning and wealth management for pre-retirees, retirees, seniors, and small businesses on Long Island. Craig frequently provides his independent market outlook to the media and delivers a daily economic and market update every morning at 7:20 am on LO NEWS RADIO station 103.9 FM.
Craig holds a Master’s degree in International Affairs from Columbia University and a Bachelor’s degree in International Administration from New England College. He has passed three Principal/Supervisory Exams (Series 24, 30, 51), two General Industry/Product Exams (Series 7 and Series 31) and two State Securities License Exams (Series 63 and 65). Craig is a respected speaker on topics like investing, retirement planning, financial strategies, and wealth management. He holds the designations of Certified Wealth Strategist® and Certified Financial Fiduciary®.
Craig lives in Quogue, NY with his wife and their three children. Outside of the office, he volunteers as an Emergency Medical Technician with the Westhampton Ambulance and as a fire police with Quogue Village Fire Department. He also serves as the New York Chapter Director for the American Financial Education Alliance and the Foundation for Personal Financial Education, both of which aim to educate the community on financial and retirement planning.
Craig J. Ferrantino is a Registered Representative offering Securities and Advisory Services through UNITED PLANNERS FINANCIAL SERVICES, Member, FINRA, SIPC. Craig James Financial Services, LLC and United Planners are not affiliated.
Craig J. Ferrantino, Certified Financial Fiduciary®
Megan D. Muccio, CPA and Certified Financial Fiduciary ® is the VP of Investment and Accounting Services at Craig James Financial Services. She is the in-house CPA advisor, with a focus on client tax preparation services, advisory services and expanding the company’s ability to provide clients with overall comprehensive financial advice. In addition to a CPA, she is also a Series 7 and a Series 63 Registered Sales Assistant.
Megan started her career in public accounting at Mazars as an audit and tax associate, with a focus on the manufacturing and distribution industries. Prior to graduating college, she also volunteered for the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program in Ithaca, NY to help low to-moderate-income clients prepare their personal tax returns. While at Mazars, she worked on private clients, providing well-rounded services in audit and review work, tax preparation and bookkeeping services for select clients. She then transitioned into the Internal Audit group at Henry Schein where she focused more on financial audit and internal control testing of the company and their subsidiaries. She received her Certified Internal Auditor designation while working at Henry Schein and also worked independently as a tax preparer throughout her professional work years.
Megan graduated summa cum laude from Ithaca College in 2011 with a double major in Accounting and Business Administration with a concentration in Finance and a minor in mathematics. While in college she was a Beta Gamma Sigma National Scholar and was invited into Beta Alpha Psi and Phi Kappa Phi for her achievement within the business school and her graduating class. She also spent a summer studying in London, and after graduation continued her education at Hofstra University with additional graduate level accounting courses. Megan was born and raised in Wantagh, NY and currently lives in Commack, NY with her husband.
Scott is co-founder of Liberty Wealth Management, LLC, which specializes in wealth management and a unique approach to strategic retirement income planning for both the accumulation and distribution. Scott entered the financial services industry in 1986 after serving in the United States Navy as a personnel administrator.
Scott has worked collaboratively with accountants and attorneys for over 30 years to provide the best possible advice and service to his clients. He holds his series 7,24,63,65 and life insurance licenses
Scott has offices in Syracuse, N.Y and Franklin, TN where he resides with his wife Connie. They have two grown children and a granddaughter.
Quote: “Leadership is not power, it is a responsibility”
As the youngest member of the firm, my efforts are focused on helping shape the vision for the future of our firm. My day to day responsibilities include; building and maintaining our Tactical Portfolio’s, reviewing client accounts to make sure they are in line with each client’s specific set of goals. I am also head of research and development at our firm focused towards implementing new technologies to help improve efficiency and our clients’ experience.
My greatest passion is helping others become the best possible version of themselves. I have spent a large portion of my life coaching athletes and I bring that same enthusiasm and strategic guidance to support our firm’s advisor team as well as my clients through personal and professional journeys.
In my personal life, family is most important to me. I recently married the love of my life, Marina, and we are excited about starting a family. We are expecting our first child in June 2019. I am a sports fanatic and have been characterized as a voracious reader (I read on average, around 30 books a year)
Quote: “The secret to getting ahead is getting started”
I have been a financial advisor for over 33 years focused on delivering great service to my clients every day.With all the confusion and changes within the industry, I really enjoy meeting and sharing ideas with individuals, families and business professionals to help them make sense of it all..I feel the greatest satisfaction in assisting my clients in setting goals and implementing a workable plan to ensure those goals are achieved.It is my belief that being able to truly identify with my clients has allowed me to be successful in this business.
I have been blessed with 2 children; now grown, and 2 step “children”, with my wonderful wife, Carol, who also happens to be my traveling and yoga partner.On weekends you’ll likely find me reading, running, or relaxing at my lake cabin.
Al Procaccino II, MBA, CFP, CFS, Certified Financial Fiduciary®
Al Procaccino is a Certified Financial Fiduciary®, Certified Financial Planner™, Certified Fund Specialist®, Five Star Wealth Manager and also a former 5 Star rated Morningstar Institutional Money Manager. Al has been active in the financial services industry since 1980, helping both individuals and corporations throughout the USA to plan, invest and manage their wealth. He is also a long-standing member of the National Society of Accountants and National Ethics Association. Mr. Procaccino is the President and Chief Compliance Officer of Castle Financial, a Registered Investment Advisory Firm filed with the SEC and he also holds FINRA licenses 5,7,63,65 and 24 (General Securities Principal).
Mr. Procaccino has conducted financial, retirement and estate planning seminars for the employees of Procter & Gamble, IBM, TRW, IFF, General Dynamics, Siemens Private Communications and many other large and small companies. His work for the NJ State Chamber of Commerce earned him an honorable mention in Who’s Who. He also served as a consultant on a Merv Griffin television production documenting the stock brokerage process on the New York Stock Exchange. In addition, Al guides family firms and small business owners with legacy planning on how to pass their family values along with other non-financial assets, as well as their money and other assets, to future family generations.
Prior to Castle Financial, Mr. Procaccino directed the Retirement Group at Cowen and Company as a Partner of the global firm. He was also Vice President and Branch Manager at Dean Witter Reynolds at 5 World Trade Center in New York City and was a Senior Vice President and the Retirement Group Strategist at Oppenheimer & Company. Al holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance, an MBA degree in Finance, and is a graduate of the College for Financial Planning. His ongoing education includes business, financial, tax and estate planning courses at a number of accredited universities and institutions. Al enjoys meeting and helping people throughout the USA from Castle’s offices in NYC, Fair Haven, NJ and Naples, Florida and feel free to visit us at www.castlefinancial.com
We are a “fee only” financial advisory firm acting in our valued clients best interests at all times.
On a personal note: Al is happily married and has been blessed with two wonderful daughters. He loves his pets and enjoys music, reading, swimming, biking, cooking, college sports, golf, model railroading, chess, supports many charities and served on the Board of Room in Our Hearts, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping families whose homes have been affected by crisis.
Al Procaccino II, MBA, CFP, CFS, Certified Financial Fiduciary®
Jim obtained his Series 7 brokerage license in 1983, and has since continued to guide clients to their Financial goals. Focusing on maximizing retirement income within the risk tolerance of each client requires a clear understanding of income options, portfolio construction, and carefully monitoring of fees and expenses. The attention to detail is the difference between having “a guy” and knowing your finances are secure.
Jim joined Commonwealth Financial Group, LLC. In 2017 for the total independence from brokerage firms/banks requirements to focus on their goals, as well as my clients. This allowed him to focus on why he first found Finance appealing ..…”To work directly with clients to help them generate a better return, reduce taxes on their investments, and ensure known risks are manage or minimized where possible”. Additionally, Jim holds the Series 63 & 65 licenses, his NYS Insurance license and has both an Accounting and Business degrees. These, and extensive professional contacts, enable him to quickly find the best answers to each client’s unique situations.
Jim and his wife Lin make their home in Victor, NY where they enjoy time with friends, boating, golfing, and a wide variety of outdoor activities, usually accompanied by their son, Tyler.
Securities Offered Through Cadaret, Grant & Co., Inc. * Member FINRA/SIPC
CadaretGrant and Commonwealth Financial Group, LLC are separate entities.
We work with clients, their family, and businesses with independent personalized financial solutions that strive to meet their unique financial goals throughout all phases of their financial lives. We are committed to being there when changes occur by being able to tailor any ideas, suggestions, or alternatives to fit the client’s needs.
Wealth Management Approach
Our approach to wealth management starts with you. Every plan we put together is designed differently around the needs of the client. My practice does not follow a generic “one size fits all” portfolio model. We will work together to develop strategies and recommend personalized solutions designed to help you during the phases of your overall financial lifetime; create & grow your assets, protect & preserve those assets, distribute assets & transfer your wealth in the most tax-advantaged ways possible.
n Understanding Your Financial Objective —We begin by asking questions and more importantly listening to understand more about your financial objectives
n Developing Strategies — Next, we evaluate the financial and personal information you provide so we can match your objectives with sound strategies.
n Implementing Solutions — Using these strategies, we develop independent customized solutions tailored to your goals and objectives.
n Providing Timely, Ongoing Service — After implementing your plan it is our duty to keep you informed on a regular basis. Also pro-actively monitor if any changes are needed based on market conditions or change in financial objectives.
Qualifications
I have been managing money professionally for over 22 years and my strong entrepreneurial drive motivated me to be one of the early founders of North Shore Wealth Management Group. I hold the title of Managing Partner of the Massapequa, NY office for our broker dealer NBC Securities.
n Series 7 FINRA General Securities Representative
n Series 65 Uniform Investment Advisor Law Examination
n Series 63 Uniform Securities Agent State Law Exam
n New York State Life/Accident & Health Insurance License
n CDFA Certified Divorce Financial Analyst
I am licensed to do business and work with clientele in 25 states – AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, KS, MA, MD, MI, MN, MO, NC, NJ, NV, NY, OR, TX, UT, VA and WA.
Edward Wells
Managing Partner
North Shore Wealth Management Group – NBC Securities
.PNG)
.png)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
 (002).jpg)
