Gary Stewart is a highly accomplished Financial Consultant dedicated to addressing the needs for retirees to plan and protect their retirement.

As a retirement and income planning specialist, Gary has spent over 40 years assisting retirees and those near retirement in protecting their savings, reducing income taxes, and taxes on social Security benefits as well as creating retirement income guaranteed to last a lifetime. Gary has extensive knowledge in retirement planning, portfolio and asset management, insurance, and real estate. Gary’s expertise coupled with a keen sense of the financial markets grew his client base in the thousands.

Gary holds a B.S degree in Business Administration from the Rochester Institute of Technology and the Executive Management Program at the Wharton School of Business. He has numerous industry awards for his financial success and client service.

While not working, Gary enjoys spending time with his wonderful family, traveling, and volunteering in the community.

Ron Cook Jr is an independent fiduciary Investment Advisor Representative that helps families with the fear of possibly running out of money in retirement, lowering or eliminating retirement financial risks and protecting their retirement funds from unexpected life events. He prides himself in making complex situations simple and easy to put into place with comprehensive retirement planning.

Ron loves his God, country and family. He is a big New England Sports fan, he has two French bulldogs and has a annual pass to Disney World where he and his wife got married.

Russ has been in the Topeka area his entire life except when he attended college at Kansas State Teachers College in Emporia, KS and when he was in the military as a Navy Pilot.  When he was in flight training in Pensacola FL, his dad called him one night and told him his younger brother, Ron, who was an Army helicopter pilot, had been killed in an aircraft accident.  Because of that event, Russ understands respect in a much different way that most people!  If you are involved in building a financial road map for your clients, respect and honesty are extremely important!  After returning from being a Navy pilot Russ was a building contractor for 12 years and a computer programmer for 8 years.  He also taught computer programming at a local private university during his programming years.  If you want to get better at whatever it is you are doing, it really helps to teach it!  Russ has been involved in the insurance industry since 1995.  Helping clients and educating them about a detailed road map to move successfully to your financial destination is very satisfying and enjoyable for Russ and the team here at M.A.P.S.  It would be very informative for anyone interested in being educated about current financial conditions that would affect your successful road map to attend one the upcoming webinars presented by Russ and the team.

Peggy is dedicated to helping people pursue their retirement dreams by utilizing a well-thought-out financial strategy. Even as a self-described introvert, Peggy has always loved helping people and will go out of her way to help them figure things out. Her love of people and numbers inspired her to join the financial services industry where she focuses on helping clients create financial solutions tailored to their specific situations and needs.  Unlike some financial professionals, Peggy is not focused on selling products. Instead, she is committed to helping clients find the best solutions that will allow them to make the best decisions for themselves and their families.

My name is Vasili Zois and I am the Managing Partner, Wealth Advisor, and Chief Compliance Officer of Meritum Wealth Management, a Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) firm, based in Cincinnati, Ohio. Both of my parents have been in the financial services and insurance industries for over 40 years and I am continuing in their footsteps. 

Education and trustworthiness mean a lot to me, which is why I have taken the time to acquire and maintain the following professional designations, including Certified Financial Fiduciary®, Certified Tax Specialist™, and Certified Annuity Specialist®. 

Our firm offers investment management, retirement and financial planning, insurance planning, tax planning, and estate planning for individuals, families, business owners, and institutions. 

Linda Jensen is the principal and owner of Heart Financial Group.  The main office is in Olympia, WA and a satellite office in Lakewood, WA.  Linda began her career with Prudential Preferred in 1994 where she was an agency leader. She earned the credentials of CLU ChFC and has been in practice as a financial services and insurance professional since that time. Linda started her own company in 1997.

Some of the most common concerns of Linda’s clients are:

·        Not having a written plan

·        Taking too much risk

·        Understanding when to draw Social Security Benefits

·        Concern about the next market correction and potential losses

·        Someone to call if a partner dies or is incapacitated

·        Not understanding how long savings will last in retirement

·        Advice about the best way to take income from retirement accounts

Matching her clients with the appropriate amount of risk for their comfort and security is the foundation of financial planning.  Linda assists her clients to manage the risks of retirement:

·       Potential long-term care event

·       Mitigating stock market losses

·       Legacy planning for surviving spouse

·       Tax Planning

·       Estate Planning

·       Longevity Planning

Linda Has enjoyed conducting educational seminars for the past 24 years.

Melissa began her career in financial services in 1997 with several respected National financial planning firms. In 2006, she founded InvestHER Fiduciary Solutions, LLC, a State Registered Investment Advisory firm. Melissa has worked extensively with families, small-business owners, and city/county government etities with specialized services in developing bulletproof retirement income plans, and business cost-containment strategies. As an experienced financial planner, Melissa uses a methodical approach to help her clients build,  protect, spend, and distribute assets to expand their lives and allow them to live more abuntantly.

Melissa eraned a BBA from Georgia State University and holds multiple licenses and security registrations in multiple states. She is a Certified Financial Fiduciary(R) , Certified Fund Specialist(R), FINRA Arbitrator, and a Goldman Sachs One Million Black Women in Business Scholar. Melissa is also pursuing her Certified Financial Planner(R) designation through the Terry College of Business. [Expected late 2023]

An avid workout enthusiast, golfer, sports fan, and dog mom is also an active member in several professional and civic organizations including the Association of Afican American Financial Advisors, Girls inc. of Greater Atlanta,  the Women's Entrepreneurial Opportunity Project, United Way VIP Alumni Association, and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Steve helps people clearly identify and achieve what matters most to them using a proprietary process he’s developed and refined to put all the pieces of the financial puzzle together.  This process, the PILLARS FORMula, is driven by personalized financial planning and includes investment management, retirement planning, risk management, tax planning, estate planning, debt and cash flow, philanthropy, and value-added services.  The process is designed to ensure his clients never outgrow the process, but grow into it, as their lives unfold, and needs evolve.

Steve is a graduate of Auburn University and has lived in Alpharetta with his family for 35 years.  Steve is a member of the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce, BNI, the Senior Resource Alliance of North Atlanta, and the Alpharetta Business Association where he is currently serving on the Board of Directors.

Mark is a managing partner of Elevated Financial Management & President of Mark Stimpson and Associates Inc. of Federal Way, WA. For nearly 40 years Mark’s mission has been to bring Clarity, Confidence, & Independence to the retirement planning process. Mark also hosts both a weekly radio & television show in the Seattle-Tacoma metro area.

Since 1979 Mark has specialized in Tax & Income planning along with reducing  market risk, minimizing tax liabilities and protecting assets from the ravaging effects of unexpected long term care expenses.

Mark is a Certified Financial Fiduciary & holds a Series 65 Securities License as an Investment Advisor Representative. Mark is a nationally certified Social Security Advisor (NSSA) that teaches both Social Security & Income Planning at 3 local community colleges. Mark is also a Certified Senior Advisor (CSA). Mark teaches financial education through human resource departments & the Heartland Institute of Financial Education.

Mark is father to 3 wonderful children & 2 grandsons. Mark loves to cook, ski, play golf & really enjoys spending quality time with friends but especially with his beautiful wife of 43 years.

The Picture You’re Painting: It’s about what YOU want

Seek first to understand, then to be understood is a great quote from author Stephen Covey. However, many in the financial world have it backwards. Too often advisors seek first to be understood (sell their product). This “sale” becomes the focus and the goal. As a result, they often fail to take the time to understand who you are, your retirement goals, dreams and concerns about current or future economic conditions. As a result, then may not allow you the time to “Paint Your Picture”. Some seem to forget that retirement is one of the biggest transitional times in your life and therefore the development of a solid plan should not be rushed into. It should take time to develop over several meetings.

Bryan Rich has been serving clients for over 30 years. He strives to teach a balanced approach to retirement while highlighting both the positives and negatives of options available. He began his financial services career in North Carolina in 1992 upon graduating with honors with a Business Finance degree from Liberty University. After working for over a decade for a national financial planning company he decided to pursue his own career. As part of that decision, in 2005, he assisted experienced insurance and investment professionals from the Roanoke, VA and established Secure Financial Group, Inc. Later opening a office in Cary, NC. Since its founding Mr. Rich became the face of Secure Financial after speaking to thousands of “50 and Uppers” throughout Virginia & North Carolina in presentations and educational workshops. Now, as President of SFG since 2008, he has continued to develop strategic relationships with attorneys, CPA’s and other experienced professionals in order to provide a holistic approach to financial and estate planning. These NETWORK Partners share in SFG’s desire to fully inform and educate each and every prospective client.

Bryan is proudly an independent advisor when it comes to meeting the insurance and lifetime income needs of his clients. In 2007 Bryan passed his Series 65 Exam and is currently an Investment Advisor Representative for Brookstone Capital Management www.brookstonecm.com. When dealing with the risk portion of your portfolio, along with BCM Bryan provides fiduciary advice. This helps promote a balanced approach to retirement…it is not one-size fits all. Risk based options provide more upside potential, while protected options offer peace of mind. Your best interest is always the primary objective…matching your goals with the math.

PEOPLE FIRST, MONEY SECOND is not just a motto; it is the way SFG chooses to do business by taking the time to get to know you and the “Picture You’re Painting” for this stage of life before we ever start talking about the “products”. The “products” are important, but they are simply the tools. How do we know what tools to use until we know what you want to build?

Let’s dream a little first. Then, once your goals for retirement are understood we help you implement the ABC PLANNING PROCESS. This process is designed for the Conservative & Moderate Investor who doesn’t want to simply leave retirement to “I HOPE IT WORKS” -- or “IT SHOULD WORK” – well, as long as the stock market does what I want it to do. Risk investments certainly have their place and are a major part of the ABC PLANNING PROCESS. But, first we must ensure our Liquidity and Income needs, then chase risk for greater return potential. So, the key question is not, “What kind of returns might I get?” Nor is the question, “Can I afford to retire now?” No, the key question should be: “Am I in a position to retire and most importantly…STAY RETIRED?” All with a level of risk that if the market has a major decline you can step back and say, “I’m still okay”.

Investment advisory services offered through Brookstone Capital Management, LLC (BCM), a registered investment advisor. BCM and Secure Financial Group are independent of each other. Insurance products and services are not offered through BCM but are offered and sold through individually licensed and appointed agents.