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!
Ed De La Rosa, Certified Financial Fiduciary® , AIF®
Ed de la Rosa of Solid Ground Financial founded his practice with a unique approach. He sets out to help families find money they are losing unknowingly and unnecessarily. Then, Ed uses the found dollars to help solidify their financial future, preferably without impacting their current lifestyle. Ed wants to help regardless of whether you are in your working years, accumulating for retirement, or already in your distribution years. Ed recognizes that opportunities to minimize both market risk and tax risk can be lost and could jeopardize your retirement without a retirement plan. By providing financial education, he can help those preparing for that next step to acquire the tools they need for a more secure path forward.
Ed recognizes that people have worked hard for their money and that there is more to be gained by preventing the losses than choosing the winners. As a Certified Financial Fiduciary, he has embraced a higher standard in always serving his clients’ best interests.
Ed and his wife are avid hikers and take several trips per year to ‘conquer’ Mt. Rainier.
Ed De La Rosa, Certified Financial Fiduciary® , AIF®
Jeremy Sparks is a Certified Financial Fiduciary® and a proud partner of JD Mellberg Financial, the nation’s leading retirement income planning firm. He continues to be named by multiple organizations as one of the top Safe Money and Income Experts in the Nation.
Since 2017, Jeremy has protected MILLIONS of dollars in client retirement savings. He has a passion for life and protecting the hard-earned money that people have acquired over the years. Jeremy specializes in removing his clients’ money from market volatility and has helped countless individuals avoid the significant retirement losses that many experience year after year due to market uncertainty. Due to his success, Jeremy’s expertise and knowledge are heavily sought after.
Jeremy is licensed in multiple states and works with a wide variety of clients located all across the country. Jeremy takes a customized approach with each and every client he works with to build a retirement plan that consists of SAFETY, SECURITY, and GUARANTEED LIFETIME INCOME. He lives happily in Austin, Texas with his girlfriend Melissa and their 6 year old French Bulldog Chaparro.
Jeremy loves knowing that none of his clients have ever lost a dime or missed a lifetime income payment due to market risk, helping to reduce some of the most common fears of today’s retirees.
Being raised by a single parent with two children, I learned the value of a dollar and the importance of making wise decisions with finite resources early in life. Growing up I had numerous part-time jobs and learned how to budget my money for the things I wanted in life. When it became time to choose a career I was introduced to the world of finance and the opportunities it provided. I have spent years learning about money and how it works. In turn, the wealth-building ideas and strategies I teach my clients are the same principles I practice in my own life. They work; I started from scratch financially and have been able to build a successful financial life for my family through patience, discipline, smart common sense investing and financial management.
Eric is a published author, has been on television multiple times, and is a 26 year veteran in the financial industry.
Matt Richman, Certified Financial Fiduciary®, NSSA
Matt started his career over a decade ago while serving as a Military Police Officer in the Army and graduating from Iowa State University. Upon starting his career, he focused on Medicare and retirement age clients and knew right away that this was for him as he had a natural connection working with individuals and families in the retirement age group. After a couple of years, he knew that while helping seniors with Medicare and Long-Term Care strategies was very fulfilling and beneficial to seniors… there was so much more he could do to help them have the retirement they had worked so hard for and deserved!
So, for the last 10 years Matt has been helping thousands of clients build and protect wealth with zero principal risk and achieve their financial and retirement goals utilizing cutting edge insurance concepts. Using these strategies, Matt has been able to help his clients eliminate all the guesswork.
Matt is a National Social Security Advisor Certificate holder, NSSA® and has his life, health and accident insurance licenses. He is also the host of Safe Money Radio on WHO radio. Outside of work, Matt enjoys spending time with his family, his wife and their 4 children, which usually consists of kids’ games and activities. He also enjoys working out, bicycling, and being outdoors. He and his wife Megan also enjoy going out to dinner, golfing, meeting up with friends and vacationing.
Matt Richman, Certified Financial Fiduciary®, NSSA
Derrick is a native of Kansas City, KS, where most of his family still resides. He attended Highland Community College on a football scholarship before receiving another scholarship to attend Southwestern Oklahoma State University, where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration.
During his college years, Derrick played Defensive End and Outside Linebacker. He has also served as a team captain on multiple football teams in the past and was a member of the Players Association in college. After returning to Kansas City, he became a member of the advisory board for Black Excellence of Kansas City, a nonprofit organization focused on connecting, developing, and retaining talent in the city. He was also part of a select group called the Loop of KC, which aimed to connect unique minds that are professionally driven and build genuine friendships to positively impact Kansas City. Derrick's passion for helping people has led him to Greater St. Louis, where he hopes to make a significant impact on the community's lives.
Derrick's finance and sports backgrounds provide him with a unique perspective and skill set in the financial industry. He stated, "I genuinely believe that my purpose is to assist others in understanding how to utilize their money to empower their goals." In his spare time, he enjoys reading, sports, and spending time with his family, especially his daughter, Londyn.
Helping people is an integral part of who God created me to be. Whether it's through volunteering with various organizations or working with retirees and pre-retirees. I find great joy in supporting and guiding individuals through processes and learning about their life stories. As a Certified Financial Fiduciary, I am committed to going above and beyond what is in the best interest of each and every one of our clients. I take a holistic approach to financial education and planning, meaning our team and I want to look at every aspect of a person's financial situation and makeup.
We specialize in working with older, Conservative-minded Investors who wish to enjoy their retirement without the stress and worries of market volatility. My holistic approach aims to truly understand each client's financial knowlede, risk tolerance, and retirement goals and dreams, in order to safeguard their retirement income and lifestyle. Our team aims to exceed our client's expectations and always put their best interests first, with full transparency. We want to understand your passions, your concerns, and your dreams... for your future, this is what drives us.
Daniel J. Goldstone has been a financial planner for over 40 years.
Mr. Goldstone received his Bachelors Degree in Economics from Oakland University. Mr. Goldstone is a Certified Financial Fiduciary which means he agrees to abide by the code of conduct and the fiduciary pledge of Good faith, care and loyalty to our clients best interest.
He has also attended the Tax institute at Purdue University. He believes in the safe money concept and that retirement should be stress free and how not to outlive your money.
One of his proudest achievement in life is how he cured his own cancer with holistic medicine and published a book that has helped people Globally.
He has raised two children, one is a MD Physician in internal medicine.
Evan Sussman is honored to serve as Senior Vice President for IFW. Evan has been a successful financial professional for over 17 years. On December 24th 2019, Evan was diagnosed with Stage 3 cancer, and is currently on the road to full recovery. He is forever indebted to the doctors, nurses, and staff that took care of him. Evan has dedicated his career to helping people secure their financial health and well-being.
Prior to IFW, Evan was an Agency Sales Director at MassMutual South Florida from 2012 to 2019. Evan began his financial services career in 2003 with AXA Advisors in Los Angeles, CA. He immediately became a role model and leader in helping his clients effectively meet their financial goals for retirement, college and insurance planning. In 2006, he moved to South Florida and joined John Hancock in Miami as one of their top financial advisors and later transitioned to Mass Mutual.
Evan attended Bernard E. Baruch College in New York where he studied finance. His licenses include FINRA series 6, 63, and a 2-15 (life, health and annuities). He was raised in Huntington, New York, with his twin sister and two older brothers. He has lived in several cities but South Florida is truly his home. “Family is extremely important and I am grateful to have them all here living in Florida so close to me".
Evan's main charitable focus is now supporting other cancer patients and survivors. Additionally, he is an active volunteer and business partner in the Dade and Broward County Schools. An outdoor enthusiast and traveler, Evan spends his free time enjoying boating, wakeboarding, tennis, mountain biking, and skiing. His greatest joy is spending time with his two nieces, Sophia and Olivia, and nephew Asher. He recently has added a new member to the family. A Miniature Schnauzer named Mia.
Cristian Nicolescu is a seasoned financial services professional who has been dedicated to this industry for the past 15 years. He has an impressive track record of success and has achieved the prestigious Chairman's Club award for six consecutive years. Cristian holds the title of Certified Financial Fiduciary and is also certified in Long Term Care.
As the founder of Sunstone Financial, Cristian's firm specializes in providing comprehensive retirement planning, asset preservation, social security planning, and long-term care strategies to his clients. He strongly believes in educating and guiding his clients with compassion and integrity, always putting their best interests first.
Cristian's commitment to client education is further exemplified by Sunstone's educational workshops for retirees, aimed at helping them make informed decisions about their financial future. With Cristian's expertise and personalized approach, his clients can rest assured that their financial goals and aspirations are in good hands.
Communicating with and helping others have always been major points of emphasis for Craig Barnwell. With A Bachelor of Science in Education from Emporia University in 1984, Craig honed these skills by teaching for five years and coaching for 15 years before starting in the insurance business in 1991. He earned his LUTCF designation and brgan his own practice as an independent financial advisor in 2004. He just earned his Certified Financial Fiduciary® designation in March of this year.
At CB Financial, Craig works primarily with pre and post-retirementclients, growing their portfolios, but especially, protecting their assets. He knows from experience that economic uncertainty is a certainty. "It's funny", says Craig, "but people generally ask me the same three questions, more or less: 1. Have I saved enough money to retire? 2. Will my savings last my whole lifetime? 3. By the way, how much is enough? I am able to give them solid numbers as answers but then help them achieve their goals- that's the part of my job that is really satisfying to me."
CB Financial will never engage in the high-pressure sales that some firms employ. Craig's philosophy is to never take the trust of his clients lightly and to serve as the alternative to higher-risk-taking money managers, to be the "safe-money guy". This is why a lot of his business comes from repeat and referral clients. He now has even begun to work with the offspring of his former clients, who recomment him to their children. He makes house calls upon request and is always available to his clients, not just when they are doing business.
"My philosophy is that it's what you do for people after the transition that shows what kind of advisor you are", says Craig. "I haven't worked for Prudential since 2004, but I just helped a woman i worked with back in those days who recently showed up at my office. She tried to pay me and I said, 'No Ma'am, my mother nad grandmother would be highly upset with me.' So yes, I make myself available to my clients, sometimes even after they're no longer my clients!"
The area of focus at CB Financial will always be income planning. Craig believes in treating clients as the unique and individual people that they are. This is why he designs retirement plans specific to each client. Each case presents unique challenges, and he enjoys strategizing with clients to overcome them.
In his free time, Craig is an avid golfer and reader. A former college basketball player, he jokes that in his mature years he's joined the "dark side" as a college basketball referee. He and his wife have two grown sons and daughters, and seven grandchildren. They both love ocean beaches and enjoy visiting the Caribbean at least once a year. They are also very active in their church. And, as a former teacher, Craig has never lost his passion for helping children- he and his wife recently hosted the Third Annual Fun Day for Foster Kids and thier church.