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.

Specialist Consulting Group chart

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®

Director, Wealth Strategist

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

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

Ruben Gonzalez, CPFA

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

Investment Specialists

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 Specialist

Michael McNurney

Executive Director, Investment Specialist

Roberto Langstroth

Director, Investment Specialist

SMA Model Specialists

Expertise on separately managed accounts and model portfolio capabilities.

Kirk Leslie

Director, SMA & Models Portfolio Specialist

ETF Specialists

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

Daniel Aronson, CFA

Managing Director, ETF Client Product Specialist

Craig Dehner

Executive Director, ETF Client Product Specialist

Lee Gross, CFA

Executive Director, ETF Client Product Specialist

Michael Laughlin, CFA, FRM

Executive Director, ETF Client Product Strategist

Jake Kreiter

Associate Director, ETF Client Product Specialist

Annuity Specialists

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

Sheila Jelinek

Executive Director, Variable Annuities & Insurance

Portfolio Construction and Strategy

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

Lara Castleton, CFA

US Head of Portfolio Construction and Strategy

Peter Harrington-Howes

Senior Portfolio Strategist

Andrew Molinet, CFA

Senior Portfolio Strategist

CJ Van Dyke

Portfolio Strategist

Insights

Trump’s tax plan: First draft takeaways

An overview of House Republicans’ extensive draft provisions to Trump’s tax bill.

How to use SSA.gov to take control of your Social Security benefits

How retirees and pre-retirees can take full advantage of the resources available on the Social Security Administration’s website.

Five wealth management strategies for down markets

While market volatility can be hard to stomach, it also presents opportunities to set various wealth planning strategies into action.

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