tel: 229-472-8824 | fax: 229-472-8825 | email: juniordees@deeswealthmanagement.com
Junior Dees has served in the financial services industry for over 25 years. He is the branch owner and president of Independent Retirement Professionals of Tifton. As an Investment Advisor Representative with Kovack Advisors, Inc. and a Registered Representative with Kovack Securities, Inc., he holds the Series 6,7, 63, and 66 registrations. Junior takes pride in having a strong work ethic and is dedicated to providing the highest level of customer service to his clients. He is committed to finding and implementing custom solutions for every individual’s unique situation—always with the client’s best interest in mind.
Junior and his wife Traci live in Adel, Georgia. They have three children whom they love very much! In his free time, Junior enjoys fishing, working in the yard, and spending time with his family.
www.deeswealthmanagement.com
Junior Dees is registered with and offers securities through Kovack Securities, Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC. 6451 N. Federal Hwy, Suite 1201, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33308. (954) 782-4771. Advisory services offered through Kovack Advisors, Inc. Independent Retirement Professionals, Inc. and Dees Wealth Management are not affiliated with Kovack Securities, Inc. or Kovack Advisors, Inc.
tel: 800-862-9384 | fax: 229-896-1276 | email: danny.young@iretirementpro.com
Danny Young has served in the financial services industry for over 40 years. He is president and CEO of Independent Retirement Professionals and has trained and mentored countless individuals since the firm’s inception in 1991. As an Investment Advisor Representative with Kovack Advisors, Inc. and a Registered Representative with Kovack Securities, Inc., he holds the Series 6, 7, and 66 registrations.
Danny and his wife Kelly live in Adel, Georgia. They have two married children and six grandchildren. In his free time, Danny enjoys spending time on the lake with his family.
Danny Young is registered with and offers securities through Kovack Securities, Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC. 6451 N. Federal Hwy, Suite 1201, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33308. (954) 782-4771 Advisory services offered through Kovack Advisors, Inc. Independent Retirement Professionals, Inc. is not affiliated with Kovack Securities, Inc. or Kovack Advisors, Inc.
tel: 800-527-1155 | fax: 704-439-2337 | email: dave.jacobs@figmarketing.com
Dave joined Financial Independence Group in 2002. His magnetic personality, passion for the financial services industry, and dedication to customer service has helped to catapult him to the top ranks of marketing consultants. During his tenure at FIG, he has become one of the company’s most productive team members, ranking in the top three percent of annuity consultants every year for the last decade. Having worked in the independent market space for over 17 years, Dave has gained the respect of top insurance carriers and advisors throughout the United States. Whether he is building a complex case design for a particular client or answering intricate product questions. Dave has made it a priority to ensure that he is positioned to offer the best all-around service to his advisors in the field.
Not affiliated with Kovack Securities, Inc. or Kovack Advisors, Inc.
tel: 229-238-0281 | fax: 229-339-8320 | email: ssims@cricpa.com
Sam Sims is a partner at Carr Riggs & Ingram. With more than 31 years of experience, Sam provides audit services and tax compliance and consulting services to clients in various industries throughout the South Georgia area.
Sam advises clients in all aspects of financial business management. Working with company owners and executives, he analyzes financial information, assists in formulating strategic plans, and provides tax planning services with an emphasis on minimizing corporate and personal income taxes.
Sam is very active in the local Tifton, Georgia, community. He serves as member and trustee of the finance committee/board for Tift Regional Medical Center and as board member for Road Less Traveled Ministries. Additionally, Sam is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the Georgia Society of Certified Public Accountants (GSCPA).
Not affiliated with Kovack Securities, Inc. or Kovack Advisors, Inc. Neither Kovack Securities, Inc., Kovack Advisors, Inc., nor its representatives offer tax or legal advice. Please consult with your tax and legal advisors regarding your individual situation.
tel: 229-292-8989 | email: info@legaladviceforseniors.com
Robert L. Lambert, Jr. is a native of Gadsden, Alabama. He received his undergraduate degree in Government and English from the University of Texas at Austin in 1987 where he received recognition for his creative writing ability. He received his law degree from the University of Mississippi School of Law in 1990 graduating fourth in his class. While in law school, Mr. Lambert won several scholarships and received the Moot Court Bench Award for legal writing. He has practiced law for 24 years in South Georgia, practicing principally Elder Law and Estate Planning.
Mr. Lambert is an active member of both the Georgia State Bar and the Texas State Bar. He is a member and active participant in NAELA (National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys); and the Elder Law Section, Workers’ Compensation, Labor and Employment Law Sections, and Environmental Law Section of the Georgia State Bar. He is a member of the Valdosta/Lowndes County Bar Association, the Federal Bar Association, and the American Bar Association. Mr. Lambert is admitted to practice before the Georgia State Board of Workers’ Compensation; the Georgia Supreme Court, the Georgia Court of Appeals, and the United States District Court for the Middle District of Georgia, and all Superior Courts in the State of Georgia. He has been admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of Texas and all Texas Courts.
Mr. Lambert is an accomplished writer and public speaker and frequently speaks to various organizations on Elder Law and Estate Planning issues. He is a motivational speaker and for many years conducted money management seminars.
Mr. Lambert is a registered Georgia General Civil and Domestic Mediator and Arbitrator with expertise in mediating Elder Law issues. He is certified by the Georgia Office of Dispute Resolution, which means he has the requisite training, requirements, and experience as established by the Georgia Supreme Court.
Not affiliated with Kovack Securities, Inc. or Kovack Advisors, Inc. Neither Kovack Securities, Inc., Kovack Advisors, Inc., nor its representatives offer tax or legal advice. Please consult with your tax and legal advisors regarding your individual situation.
tel: 803-779-3684 | fax: 803-779-2049 | email: retirementservicesgroup@gmail.com
Hubert E. “Gene” Rudisill, Jr. is president of Retirement Services Group, LLC, located in Columbia, South Carolina. As a Certified Pension Analyst and Consultant, as well as a Certified Employee Benefit Specialist and Certified Trust Officer, Gene is well versed in the intricacies of retirement planning. With experience ranging from benefit plan design to managing Internal Revenue Service and Department of Labor audits, Gene and his staff possess the wide range of skills necessary to make an employer sponsored retirement program more efficient and benefits more meaningful.
Gene worked as a bank trust officer for almost 20 years and then owned and managed a large multi-state trust company that specialized in plans for professional groups in the Southeast. His background provides a wealth of experience and knowledge of the practical application of trust operations for the employer wanting an effective and compliant retirement program. During his 35-year career he has been involved in designing, implementing, managing, and/or directing over 6,000 employer sponsored retirement plans. His approach implementing, managing, and/or directing over 6,000 employer sponsored retirement plans. His approach to plan services can best be described as “unique and strategic.” His company follows the philosophy of always trying to design a retirement benefit plan that fits the employer’s objectives. Gene is considered a pioneer in the retirement plan industry in the areas of fiduciary management and benchmarking. Through his affiliates and partners he can provide a comprehensive benchmark report on a qualified plan that is second to none in the marketplace. Benchmarking has historically been produced by and associated with investment platform providers who merely compare their retirement investment portfolio to another firm’s product or investment platform. The Retirement Services Group benchmark compares up to 10 investment portfolio providers. The plan is also anonymously shopped with 8 to 10 third-party administrators to thoroughly validate administrative support prices in the market.
While he is not serving his clients, Gene enjoys contributing his time and talents to organizations such as the Boy Scouts of America, Ducks Unlimited, and First Baptist IRMO in Columbia, South Carolina. He has also served in leadership roles on the Governor’s Advisory Board, the National Society of Trustees, the Institution of Financial Education, the American Institute of Banking, the South Carolina Pension Trust Council, and the National Trust Administrators Forum. As a United States Army colonel (retired), Gene is also quite proud of his service to his country.
Not affiliated with Kovack Securities, Inc. or Kovack Advisors, Inc. Hubert E. Rudisill, Jr. offers securities through Lincoln Financial Securities Corporation. Lincoln Financial Securities Corporation is not affiliated with Kovack Securities, Inc. or Kovack Advisors, Inc. Neither Kovack Securities, Inc., Kovack Advisors, Inc., nor its representatives offer tax or legal advice. Please consult with your tax and legal advisors regarding your individual situation.
tel: 213-612-8000 | email: info@marshall-stevens.com
Mr. Santarsiero serves as president and chief executive officer of Marshall & Stevens, an independent valuation services firm based in Los Angeles, California. Founded in 1932, Marshall & Stevens is a recognized leader in valuation services and is one of the oldest and most respected independent multi-disciplinary valuation firms in the U.S.
Prior to his appointment as president and CEO, Mr. Santarsiero served as the corporate controller of a holding company that owned Marshall & Stevens. He also held other prominent roles within two major CPA firms where he worked with many closely-held companies in the area of audit, tax and management advisory services.
Mr. Santarsiero earned an M.B.A. from the University of Southern California and a B.S. in accounting from the University of Scranton. He is a certified public accountant in Pennsylvania and California and is an active member in the AICPA, New Jersey and California CPA societies.
Not affiliated with Kovack Securities, Inc. or Kovack Advisors, Inc.
tel: 800-396-3622 | email: robert.strauss@pinnacleifs.com
Robert Strauss, J.D. is a finance, insurance and technology inventor and entrepreneur. Founder of Disciplined Advisor Network and Co-Founder of NextPoint Solutions, he is the innovator of many life insurance products and strategies, including the industry’s earliest exit strategy premium financing program Self-Financed Insurance (SFI) and the award-winning pension rescue program Family Discount Life. Bob is also the creator and Founder of Lifester.com, an online team-based communication and collaboration platform for professional advisors.
Bob is an honors graduate of the Wharton School of Finance at the University of Pennsylvania and received his Juris Doctor degree at the Boston University School of Law. While still a law student, Bob interned for the Honorable Jacob D. Fuchsberg, Associate Justice of the New York State Court of Appeals. He went on to practice law in New York City at Epstein Becker & Green, PC. Bob is a frequent speaker on industry change and innovation, having presented at dozens of insurance conventions and industry conferences such as the International Forum.
Not affiliated with Kovack Securities, Inc. or Kovack Advisors, Inc.
tel: 800-356-1167 | fax: 904-296-8845 | email: don.rosborough@pinnacleifs.com
Don brings thirty years of experience in insurance planning to Pinnacle’s Advanced Planning Center (APC). He started his career as an advisor before moving into management and then into the corporate marketing department of a major life insurance company.
Prior to joining Pinnacle as Director of Advanced Markets, Don was on the advanced life marketing team where he did case consultation and was responsible for vendor oversight specific to advanced planning tools and software applications. Through the APC, Don works to provide advisors with the necessary advanced planning leverage. His expertise ranges from policy appraisals to business planning and wealth transfer. From split dollar rescue plans to charitable strategies to zero estate tax plans and business exit strategies, Don’s expertise has lent great value to advisors.
As a gatekeeper to the APC, Don is instrumental in starting the case preparation in areas such as premium financing, charitable giving, and business exit strategies.
Not affiliated with Kovack Securities, Inc. or Kovack Advisors, Inc.
tel: 800-356-1167 | fax: 904-296-8845 | email: kent.griffin@pinnacleifs.com
Kent began his insurance career in 1990 as a sales associate with a Jacksonville firm that specialized in estate and business planning. He joined the agency in the fall of 1999 as a case design specialist and is currently in charge of the case design team at Pinnacle. As the Vice President of Case Design, Kent and his team handle all quotes, comparisons and case design needs for Pinnacle producers.
Kent has extensive training and background in estate planning, executive benefits planning and personal financial planning utilizing life insurance. His special expertise is in selection and placement of life insurance within these planning areas.
A 1984 graduate of the University of Wisconsin in Economics, Kent received an MBA from the University of North Florida in 2005.
Not affiliated with Kovack Securities, Inc. or Kovack Advisors, Inc.
tel: 800-423-3113 | email: tom.sellin@pinnacleifs.com
Tom feels most rewarded when he’s helping others, and that’s just what he’s been doing since he entered the financial services industry in 1969. He has been a member of Million Dollar Round Table since 1970 and is a Top of the Table member. Tom now specializes in helping financial professionals organize their businesses for growth. His sales experience, creative approach and personal coaching help producers successfully develop their insurance and financial businesses. Hundreds of producers working with Tom have discovered new markets and learned to set concrete, achievable objectives to penetrate those markets successfully. As a result, they continue to reach milestone goals and greater satisfaction in both their professional and personal lives.
Tom is a seasoned speaker who has traveled throughout the United States to speak extensively in the area of practice-building and all aspects of business, estate, and financial planning. He is a member of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors, the Society of Financial Service Professionals, and The Association for Advanced Life Underwriting. Tom is also the co-owner of American Independent Securities Group, an independent broker-dealer. He holds Series 7, 24, 63 and 65 securities registrations.
Tom has been happily married for 50 years. He has five children, 12 grandchildren and one great grandchild on the way. An avid hunter and fisherman, Tom also enjoys traveling the world with his wife. Passionate about helping military veterans, he invests a lot of his time giving back to those who have served our country. Tom is also a member of Spurwing Country Club, although he is admittedly not much of a golfer.
Please note that American Independent Securities Group, LLC and their representatives do not give legal or tax advice. You are encouraged to consult your tax advisor or attorney.
Not affiliated with Kovack Securities, Inc. or Kovack Advisors, Inc. Tom Sellin offers securities through American Independent Securities Group, LLC. American Independent Securities Group, LLC is not affiliated with Kovack Securities, Inc. or Kovack Advisors, Inc.
tel: 800-356-1167 | fax: 904-296-8845 | email: tom.worthington@pinnacleifs.com
Tom has earned a Business Management degree from Jacksonville University. He entered the life insurance and financial business planning markets in 1976 with FM Financial Services. Tom excelled in this business and was promoted to a management position. He managed a branch office that specialized in financial services for business owners and closely held companies. He joined the Newport Group in 1985, marketing COLI/BOLI plans to finance long-term benefit liabilities for the Fortune 200 marketplace. In November of 1999 Tom was offered a management position with Capitas Financial, which became The Pinnacle Group.
Tom has over 15 years of experience in partnering with banks, national accounts, regional firms, and independent advisors. Tom is a member of the Pinnacle Business Planning Center of Excellence and specializes in providing the best possible consulting services to his clients. He takes pride in offering customers case design, case consultation, and point of sales support. That support includes Informal business valuations, transition and buy-sell planning, and qualified defined benefit plans and non-qualified key executive plans for professional practices and entrepreneurs.
Tom is an affiliated member of the NICEP (National Institute of Certified Estate Planners). He is registered to offer CE and CPE courses for financial advisors, CPAs and independent advisors in long term care plans, retirement, and business planning.
In his spare time, Tom likes to travel with his wife and family and enjoys playing golf.
Not affiliated with Kovack Securities, Inc. or Kovack Advisors, Inc. Tom Worthington offers securities through The Leaders Group, Inc. The Leaders Group, Inc. is not affiliated with Kovack Securities, Inc. or Kovack Advisors, Inc.
tel: 229-333-0860 | fax: 229-333-0926 | email: team@bennetttrust.com
John Bennett is a member of the National Network of Estate Planning Attorneys, The National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, and The Fiduciary Law and the Elder Law Sections of the State Bar of Georgia. Since 1998—after deciding to focus his practice exclusively on estate planning, elder law, and asset protection—John has dedicated his energies to finding more effective ways to serve his estate planning clients’ goals. He is a frequent speaker to insurance professionals, financial planners, estate planning attorneys, and community groups.
John is a graduate of Valdosta State University and the University of Georgia School of Law, and he served in the United States Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps and as the United States Magistrate Judge for the Valdosta and Thomasville Divisions of the Middle District of Georgia. He has served on numerous committees of the State Bar of Georgia and was President of the Valdosta Bar Association.
John is a Georgia Master Gardener and is actively involved in the Valdosta community. He is a current trustee of the Lowndes County Historical Society and treasurer of the Turner Center for the Arts. He has three children and six grandchildren.
Not affiliated with Cetera Advisor Networks LLC. Neither Cetera Advisor Networks LLC. nor its representatives offer tax or legal advice. Please consult with your tax and legal advisors regarding your individual situation.
tel: 229-333-0860 | fax: 229-333-0926 | email: team@bennetttrust.com
Marnie Watson’s passion is to help families and their loved ones in the areas of estate planning and elder law. She is dedicated to the philosophy of getting to know her clients in order to provide thoughtful solutions to their unique situations.
Marnie began working at Bennett Watson Trust in 2007 upon completing her law studies at the University of Florida, where she graduated Cum Laude. Marnie is committed to creating estate plans that work and assisting families with the challenges they often face when dealing with aging and disability.
Marnie serves on the member advisory board for the National Network of Estate Planning Attorneys and is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, Valdosta Chapter of the Georgia Association of Women Lawyers and the Valdosta Bar Association.
Marnie and her husband, Byron, have two sons and are members of the First United Methodist Church of Valdosta. Marnie is licensed to practice law in Georgia and Florida and is a Volunteer for Hospice of South Georgia.
Not affiliated with Cetera Advisor Networks LLC. Neither Cetera Advisor Networks LLC. nor its representatives offer tax or legal advice. Please consult with your tax and legal advisors regarding your individual situation.