Specialist Consulting Group

Our Specialists

Advisors at the center

Whether you’re seeking technical guidance or trying to build skills and implement better processes, our Specialist Consulting Group is here to support you. With more than 20 dedicated specialists and consultants, we strive to help you tackle challenges and implement solutions across key practice areas.

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Working together for optimal outcomes


Hear from Matt Sommer, Managing Director, Head of Specialist Consulting Group, as he shares his journey from intern to industry leader, and how his team of specialists deliver differentiated insights to help advisors and clients achieve optimal outcomes.

Practice Management Consultants


Insights on client engagement, team performance, and the management and governance of your practice.

Bryan Powell, PCC, CPBA, CPMA

Executive Director, Practice Management Consultant

Marquette Payton, CRPS®, CDFA®

Director, Practice Management Consultant

Monika Mikiciuk, PCC

Director, Practice Management Consultant

Wealth Strategists


Expertise in wealth transfer, family governance, business succession, philanthropy and charitable planning and tax strategies.

Jeffrey R. Brooks, JD

Executive Director, Wealth Strategist

Ben Rizzuto, CFP®, CRPS®, CPWA®

Director, Wealth Strategist

Equity and Fixed Income Investment Strategists


Differentiated perspectives on macroeconomic issues and insights on asset classes and sub-asset classes.

Amer Hasan, CFA

Director, Investment Specialist

Erika Oquist

Executive Director, Investment Strategist

Michael McNurney

Executive Director, Investment Strategist

Sarah Mnushkin

Director, Investment Strategist

Portfolio Construction and Strategy Team


Expert strategists that deliver custom portfolio insights and risk-modeling to help you meet your clients’ needs.

Peter Harrington-Howes

Senior Portfolio Strategist

Andrew Molinet, CFA

Senior Portfolio Strategist

CJ Van Dyke, CFA

Portfolio Strategist

Model Specialists


Terrance Ober

Managing Director, SMA Model Specialist

Bob Tisler

Director, SMA Model Specialist

Evan Zlotnick

Director, SMA Model Specialist

Justin Laurienzo

Director, SMA Model Specialist

Patrick Murray

Senior Associate Director, SMA Model Specialist

Sean Gillooley, AIF®, CIMA®

Director, SMA Model Specialist

Tim Kuhn

Director, SMA Model Specialist

ETF Specialists


Deep understanding of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and strategic guidance on implementation and portfolio construction.

Daniel Aronson, CFA

Head of Specialized Investment Solutions

Craig Dehner

Executive Director, ETF Client Product Specialist

Lee Gross, CFA

Executive Director, ETF Client Product Specialist

Mike Laughlin, CFA, FRM

Executive Director, ETF Client Product Specialist

Jake Kreiter

Senior Associate Director, ETF Client Product Specialist

Annuity and Insurance Specialists


Insurance and annuities expertise and how to best leverage these products in a portfolio.

Sheila Jelinek

Executive Director, Variable Annuities & Insurance

Ryan Burcham, CIMA®, QPFC

Director, Variable Annuities & Insurance

Defined Contribution Specialists


ERISA expertise, thorough knowledge of plan design and implementation, and partners in plan sponsor engagement.

Taylor Pluss, CFP®, CRPS®, APMA®, CDFA®

Executive Director, Defined Contribution Specialist

Eric Magyar, CFP®, AIF®

Executive Director, Defined Contribution Specialist

Jennifer Brockwell

Director, Defined Contribution Specialist

Tony Nikaj

Director, Defined Contribution Specialist

John Uricchio, AIF®, CRPS®, iC(k)P®

Director, Defined Contribution Specialist

Insights


EQ vs. AI: Why emotional intelligence matters more than ever in the age of AI

As AI reshapes the financial planning industry, emotional intelligence is becoming a critical differentiator for advisors.

Investor Survey: How do investors feel about advisors using AI?

A closer look at one of the key findings from Janus Henderson’s 2026 Investor Survey, which sought to gauge investor sentiment around AI.

2026 Investor Survey: Perspectives on AI

How investors are thinking about AI in terms of financial guidance, advisor use, and as a long-term investment theme.

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