Richard A. Brownstein

Richard Brownstein is a highly regarded wealth counselor and estate planning specialist. Using the Guided Discovery Process™, he assists families in creating their Vision Statement and a Values Based Legacy Plan. The process continues with a family retreat which establishes a governance structure to communicate the family's values, philanthropy and their legacy. He is recognized today for his mastery at facilitating the process and having families achieve personal significance as a result of implementing their plans.

His background is quite colorful. He attended the University of Miami School of Music and Engineering, graduating with a double major, music and electrical engineering. As a recording engineer, his creative talents earned him gold and platinum albums with superstar rock musicians The Rolling Stones and Kool and the Gang. As an entrepreneur, he has bought and sold several companies, most notably Americas oldest engraving and printing firm to a national legal supply company.

His formal education continued with graduate studies at Fairleigh Dickinson University in finance and economics which lead to his Certified Financial Planning designation. He earned his Certified Wealth Counselor designation as a result of continued studies at The Heritage Institute.

Richard is a member of The Heritage Institute, Advisors In Philanthropy, The National Counsel of Planned Giving and is a board member of several non-profit institutions. He is also the board president of the Tri-Town Chamber of Commerce.

Mark J. Butler

Mark Butler is a Certified Public Accountant with extensive experience in investment planning, asset allocation, accounting, tax services and advice and estate planning. Mr. Butler has over 25 years of financial services experience, the last 20 years working with high net worth families and family-owned businesses.

Mr. Butler is a former Partner, Managing Director and Chief Financial Officer for William E. Simon & Sons, LLC, a merchant bank and Family Office formed by the prominent entrepreneur and former United States Secretary of Treasury, William E. Simon. Mr. Butler served on the firm’s Executive and Investment Committees and was a director of many of the firm’s affiliated entities. He was instrumental in establishing the firm’s policies and procedures and formulating future goals. His background includes involvement with philanthropic enterprises gaining much of his experience from the extensive philanthropies of the William Simon family.

The first five years of Mr. Butler’s career were spent with Price Waterhouse. This included an assignment in Zurich, Switzerland where he supervised federal, state and international tax affairs for U.S. expatriates of Fortune 500 companies stationed in Europe and Africa.

Mr. Butler received his Masters Degree in Taxation and a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration and Accounting from Seton Hall University. He is a Certified Public Accountant and a member of the American Institute of CPAs and the New Jersey Society of CPAs. He is a member of the Board of Advisors of Good Counsel Homes, a non-profit organization that provides shelter to unwed mothers and their children. He currently coaches youth and high school sports including football and basketball and is a member of the New Jersey Football Officials Association

Mark Wallace

Mark Wallace is a Registered Representative of SII Investments and holds the NASD Series 7 and 63 licenses for investments.  He holds additional licenses to provide life, health, disability, long term care and variable insurance products.

Mark received his Bachelors Degree from Rutgers University in 1984 and has invested 24 years in the financial industry. The first 10 years were with Paine Webber of New York as an institutional bond trader. He did research and analysis in providing liquidity for specific mortgage-backed securities.

In 1994 Mr. Wallace redirected his talents to the financial services industry where his knowledge and trading expertise has been able to help clients avoid common mistakes associated with planning and investing.

Valerie Harrs

With a background in accounting, Valerie is a Chartered Financial Consultant and Chartered Life Underwriter with 20 years experience in helping people work toward financial independence.  Services include asset management, retirement planning, higher education funding strategies and financial risk management.  She holds the NASD Series 6, 7, 63 and 65 licenses.  She also is licensed to provide life, disability, long-term care, and variable insurance products.

Valerie recently earned the Chartered Advisor for Senior Living ("CASL") designation from The American College in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania  The designation indicates that the bearer has completed the most comprehensive education available for professionals who work with mature clients.  In addition to financial considerations, CASL teaches advisors how to assist their clients with many important lifestyle issues.  The American College awards this designation to those who complete the rigorous educational curriculum and meet the necessary experience and ethics requirements.  Valerie has also received the the designation "Certified in Long-Term Care" from the Board of Directors of the Corporation for Long-Term Care Certification.  (http://www.ltc-cltc.com)

Valerie is a member of the Tri-Town Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors and a Board Member of the Society of Financial Services Professionals. She and her husband and three daughters live in Boonton Township, New Jersey, where she is actively involved in her community.