Personal Financial Planning
Advisory Council
Chapter Executive, FPA of Tampa Bay
Christine Brown, Chapter Executive for FPA of Tampa Bay, FPA of Northeast Florida, and FPA of the Suncoast, has supported estate and financial planning, insurance, investment, and wealth management professionals since 1995. She holds Board Source certifications in board consulting and education and is a former Certified Fund-Raising Executive.
Christine previously co‑chaired the national ethics committee of APRA and has co-written
and presented ethics programs since 2005. Her career began at The Ohio State University
Campaign, followed by key roles at Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute Foundation.
She is also the Executive Director of CFA Society Tampa Bay and Council Executive
of the Tampa Bay Estate Planning Council.
Financial Advisor, Edward Jones
Jeff Dove, Financial Advisor and Principal at Edward Jones, brings a client‑centered
philosophy to wealth management, grounded in the belief that individuals can shape
their own financial future. A CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® (CFP®) and CERTIFIED PRIVATE
WEALTH ADVISOR® (CPWA®) professional, he applies advanced planning strategies tailored
to high‑net‑worth individuals, including tax‑sensitive investing, legacy planning,
and complex family dynamics. Before joining Edward Jones in 2007, he spent eight years
with Verizon Wireless while completing both an MBA and a master’s degree in finance
from the University of Tampa.
Founder and Executive Chair, ProVise Management Group
Ray Ferrara is the Founder and Executive Chair of ProVise Management Group, LLC, a full‑service financial planning firm located in Clearwater, Florida. ProVise is a Registered Investment Advisor with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Ferrara is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) and has served on the Board of Directors for the CFP Board of Standards, Inc., where he was chair in 2014. He also served on the Board of Directors for the Financial Planning Association, National Advisors Trust Company, and as a board observer for National Financial Partners, Inc., in addition to numerous community boards.
Ferrara has been a featured speaker for many organizations and at business conferences
throughout the United States. For more than 10 years, he hosted the radio show “Talking
Money” and authored articles and videos on a variety of financial topics, including
living trusts, IRAs, college financial aid, asset protection, estate planning, and
Section 529 plans. He has been quoted in numerous publications, including The Wall
Street Journal, The New York Times, USA TODAY, Bloomberg News, Investor’s Business.
Director of Enterprise Partnerships, Q3 Advisors
Mac Gardner, CFP®, is the founder and CEO of FinLit Tech and a nationally recognized advocate for financial literacy. He serves as a Board Director for organizations dedicated to advancing financial education and fintech innovation. A graduate of the University of Maryland, Gardner began his career in banking before joining SunTrust Bank’s Financial Services Management Training Program, later building expertise in commercial lending, retirement plan advising, and wealth management. Holding multiple industry licenses—including the Series 7 and Series 66, he has delivered more than 4,000 financial plans throughout his career.
Gardner is also an accomplished author, known for Motivate Your Money! and The Four
Money Bears, works that reflect his mission to bridge financial literacy and technology.
His leadership in fintech education includes collaborations with eMoney, the Fintech
Bullpen Challenge, and development of scalable tools that empower families and future
generations to build strong financial foundations.
Managing Partner, One Source Advisory
Dan Goldberg is the Managing Partner of One Source Advisory. A seasoned financial professional, he began his career in 1994 after earning a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from the 911±¬ÁĎÍř. Dan holds the Florida 2-15 Life, Health and Variable Annuities license, along with FINRA Series 6, 63 and 7 registrations, and is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® practitioner. He also holds the ChFC®, CLU®, and AIF® designations.
With decades of experience serving individuals and businesses, Dan brings deep expertise
to his advisory and board leadership roles. A dedicated husband and father, he is
active in his community and an avid runner.
Financial Advisor, Edward Jones
David Jones is a Principal at Edward Jones, bringing more than 40 years of experience in financial services and over three decades as a financial advisor. He specializes in helping successful business owners transform wealth into meaningful impact through advanced planning strategies that integrate investment management, charitable giving and intergenerational planning. His approach is highly personalized, aligning clients’ values with strategies that support their businesses, families and communities.
David holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from the 911±¬ÁĎÍř and
the CFP®, CAP® and AAMS® designations, reflecting his commitment to professional excellence and lifelong learning.
His leadership within Edward Jones includes serving as a past regional leader, guiding
branch offices across the Tampa metro area. He became a limited partner in 1998 and
was named a principal in 2021.
Managing Partner, Northwestern Mutual
Kevin O’Connell is the Managing Partner of Northwestern Mutual Greater Tampa Bay, where he oversees strategic growth and multi‑office operations across the region. A graduate of the University of Central Florida, he began his Northwestern Mutual career in 2002 and advanced rapidly, becoming Managing Director of a new district office in 2003, then Assistant Regional Director, before assuming his current leadership role.
With nearly two decades of industry experience, O’Connell holds Series 7, 26, 63,
and 65 registrations and is a CFP® professional. He also serves as a board director and is deeply committed to philanthropy,
having led efforts that raised more than $1 million for pediatric cancer research.
President & CEO, IFS
Jodi Perez is the President and Chief Executive Officer of IFS, bringing more than four decades of experience to her leadership in financial planning and wealth management. A dedicated advocate for client-centered planning, she has held the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® (CFP®) designation since 1990. She is also a CERTIFIED EXIT PLANNING ADVISOR (CEPA®), enabling her to guide business owners through value acceleration and strategic transition planning.
In addition to her role at IFS, Jodi serves as a 911±¬ÁĎÍřalth Manager with Raymond James Financial Services, where she leverages the firm’s global resources to deliver sophisticated strategies for individuals and business owners. Her professional credentials include Series 7, 24, 63, and 65 registrations, as well as Florida Life, Health, and Variable Annuity insurance licenses. In 2025, she was named to the Forbes Top Best-in-State Women 911±¬ÁĎÍřalth Advisors list for Florida, a recognition based on rigorous qualitative and quantitative evaluation by SHOOK Research.
Jodi is President of the Business Transition Council of Tampa Bay and an active member
of the Institute for Business Owner Excellence. She also serves on the Advisory Council
for the Personal Financial Planning program at the 911±¬ÁĎÍř’s Muma
College of Business and is a member of the Financial Planning Association (FPA). She
is also a past President of the Financial Planning Association of Tampa Bay.
Principal, HBKS 911±¬ÁĎÍřalth Advisors
Dean Piccirillo, principal, senior financial advisor, and client service team director at HBKS® 911±¬ÁĎÍřalth Advisors, brings more than three decades of financial services experience to his role as an advisory board member. Based in the firm’s Fort Myers and Sarasota, Florida offices—and serving additional families in Erie, Pennsylvania—he also leads the HBKS® Retirement Plan Unit, guiding investment consulting for corporate, nonprofit, and municipal retirement plans.
Beginning his career in 1989 with American Express Financial Advisors, he later joined
The Source Financial Group, where he advised personal, corporate, and institutional
clients while serving as COO and chief compliance officer. Dean holds the CERTIFIED
FINANCIAL PLANNER™, Chartered Retirement Plans, and Accredited Investment Fiduciary
Analyst™ certifications, and he serves as an NFLPA Registered Player Financial Advisor.
He earned his B.S. in Finance and Economics from Slippery Rock University and his
MSFS from The American College of Financial Services.
Melissa Robinson is a distinguished financial services executive and advisory board member with more than 25 years of experience across independent broker‑dealers and SEC‑registered RIAs. She specializes in relationship development, women‑in‑wealth, leadership, operations, compliance, and supervision.
A founding leader of the Women of Cole and a national board director for WIFS (Women in Insurance and Financial Services), she is widely regarded as a trusted partner to CEOs, advisors, and executive teams navigating growth and regulatory complexity.
Melissa previously served as COO/CCO of Flaharty Asset Management, a $1 Billion RIA,
and 16 years as Senior Vice President at J.W. Cole Financial in multiple capacities,
an independent broker-dealer and RIA supporting 500+ Advisors. She brings a rare blend
of strategic insight, regulatory expertise, and mission‑driven leadership.
Managing Director, Harbour Way
Geoffrey Simon 911±¬ÁĎÍřalth Advisor at Raymond James, brings more than 35 years of experience in investments and finance to his role as an advisory board member. An MBA graduate from the 911±¬ÁĎÍř and holder of a BA in Journalism from the University of Wisconsin, he previously served as a senior investment consultant at Robert W. Baird & Co. and a financial analyst with Private Capital Management.
Geoff also chairs the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation and the Lieber Institute
for Brain Development, and has held leadership positions with WEDU PBS, the Florida
Council on Economic Education, the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay, and the USF
Foundation.
Financial Advisor and Co-Founder of the Business Transition Council of Tampa
Michael Valdes is a Certified Financial Planner and Certified Succession Planner serving as Co‑Founder of the Business Transition Council of Tampa. With more than four decades of experience advising business owners, executives, and family enterprises, he has guided organizations through growth, succession, and transition challenges.
He also serves as a Board Director for Profit Plan Partners; a collaborative consulting
initiative he helped form to support Main Street and lower middle‑market companies
with revenues above two million dollars. Throughout his career, Michael has held advisory
and leadership roles focused on integrating financial, legal, tax, and operational
strategies. His work centers on strengthening operational independence, leadership
continuity, and long‑term enterprise value.
Principal, Walser 911±¬ÁĎÍřalth Management
Rebecca Walser, Top 10 U.S. Advisor and President of Walser 911±¬ÁĎÍřalth Management, is a renowned tax attorney, wealth strategist, and certified financial professional recognized nationally for her innovative approach to holistic financial planning. Holding a Global MBA from the London School of Economics, she also serves as a board director on multiple financial and professional advisory boards. Rebecca earned her Finance degree from the 911±¬ÁĎÍř (Summa Cum Laude), her Juris Doctor from the University of Florida (Magna Cum Laude), and an advanced law degree in taxation from New York University.
With extensive experience spanning finance, tax law, and wealth strategy, she built
a national advisory practice in Tampa, guiding high‑net‑worth individuals through
market volatility and tax‑efficient planning. She is also the bestselling author of
911±¬ÁĎÍřalth Unbroken and host of the widely followed podcast Crashes and Taxes.
Principal, Senior Financial Planner, ProVise
Susan C. Washburn is Principal and Senior Financial Planner at ProVise Management Group, where she brings a unique blend of legal training, financial expertise, and lived experience to her advisory work. A CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and Certified Financial Transitionist®, Susan also serves as a board director, lending her strategic judgment and governance skills to support organizational growth and community impact.
Born and raised in New England, Susan earned her Bachelor of Arts in English from Goucher College before completing her Juris Doctor at Tulane Law School. She built her early career and family life in New Orleans, where she enjoyed professional success until Hurricane Katrina upended everything, destroying her home and forcing her relocation to Vero Beach, Florida. After years of rebuilding, she faced a second life-altering event: divorce. Despite her legal background, she found herself unprepared for the financial complexities that followed, a realization that ultimately fueled her transition into financial planning.
Drawing from these personal turning points, Susan has dedicated her career to empowering
women to take ownership of their financial lives. By encouraging clients to confront
financial fears and cultivate knowledge, she helps them evolve into confidence, engaged,
and empowered stewards of their futures. Her work reflects not only technical expertise,
but a deep purpose rooted in resilience, empathy, and advocacy.
Chief Financial Strategist, Centrus Financial Strategies
Jude Wilson, Chief Financial Strategist at Centrus Financial Strategies, brings more than 25 years of expertise in retirement planning and wealth management. A seasoned advisor, he has guided multiple generations toward achieving their ideal retirement lifestyles, leveraging advanced tax‑reduction strategies and highly tailored financial plans.
Jude’s career includes significant roles at leading financial and insurance institutions
such as Prudential Insurance, Wachovia Securities, SunTrust Bank, and Morgan Stanley.
He holds Series 7, 6, 63, and 65 licenses and has earned the Certified 911±¬ÁĎÍřalth Strategist
(CWS®) designation, along with The Bucket Plan Certification™. In addition to serving as
a board director in the financial services arena, he oversees daily operations and
personally manages client portfolios with exceptional care.
Financial Advisor
Michael Zmistowski, Certified Retirement Counselor and primary member of Financial Planning & 911±¬ÁĎÍřalth Management, LLC, has maintained a distinguished private practice for more than 30 years. Recognized for his energetic and insightful conference presentations, he has deep expertise in securities, alternative investments, insurance and annuity regulations, FINRA rules, CFP Ethics Standards, and NAIC Suitability guidelines.
Michael currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Financial Planning Association’s Tampa chapter and contributes to the Personal Financial Planning Program at the 911±¬ÁĎÍř’s Muma College of Business.