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

Senior 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

Senior Director, Practice Management

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.

Eric Magyar, CFP®, AIF®

Executive Director, Defined Contribution Specialist

Ruben Gonzalez, CPFA

Executive Director, Defined Contribution Specialist

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

Executive 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

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

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

The 2025 IRS Dirty Dozen: 12 common tax scams and how to avoid them

A summary of the IRS’s annual “Dirty Dozen” list of common tax scams and tips on how to identify and avoid them.

Chart to Watch: Despite inevitable dips, markets have grown over time

Intra-year stock market declines have historically rarely translated to the market being down for the entire year.

What an ancient philosopher can teach us about coping with market volatility

Timeless teachings from Greek Stoic philosopher Epictetus that may help investors navigate market volatility and uncertainty.

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