Top financial advisors working with faith-focused clients in Connecticut

Richard Kos is a CFA® charterholder with six years of industry experience and is the principal advisor at Sursum Financial LLC in Madison, CT. He has previously worked at Merrill and Carolina Capital Markets, Inc., and has led Kos Consultants, an educational institutional consulting and marketing firm, since 2007. Sursum Financial is an independent registered investment adviser serving individuals, trusts, estates, business owners, family offices, and institutional and charitable clients. The firm employs a proprietary research-driven approach with a long-term orientation while incorporating shorter-term strategies and third-party manager relationships tailored to client objectives.

Elaine Biersack is a financial advisor with Round Rock Advisors LLC, holding a Series 65 designation and five years of industry experience. She previously worked for Greenwich Investment Management, Inc. for ten years before joining Round Rock Advisors in 2023. Round Rock Advisors serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, retirement plans, trusts, and institutional investors with investment management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services. The firm employs multiple internal teams using fundamental, long-term analysis and offers access to independent sub-advisors and specialized investment strategies, including management of an Australian-registered micro-cap fund.

Ronald Dragotta is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, where he specializes in retirement benefit consulting and personalized wealth management strategies. With over 27 years of industry experience, he adopts a goals-based approach to help clients pursue their long-term financial objectives by utilizing professional asset managers and investment platforms. Ronald focuses on Merrill's 401(k) Retirement Plan platform and provides services to local communities and organizations. He works closely with a team within his office and leverages the resources of Bank of America and Merrill Lynch Wealth Management to deliver active and dedicated service. His areas of expertise include corporate benefits, divorce transition planning, employee benefits planning, employee financial health, personal retirement planning, and individual and corporate investment strategy. He holds a Bachelor's Degree from Hofstra University and professional designations including Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Benefits Consultant (RBC). Outside of work, Ronald spends time with his wife Linda, an elementary school teacher, and their two daughters, Catherine and Caroline. They enjoy outdoor activities such as running, hiking, and kayaking on the Long Island Sound. Ronald is also involved in volunteering with community organizations.

Clifford Straub is a CFP® and Series 66 credentialed financial advisor with 20 years of industry experience. He is the sole advisor at Lifestyle Financial Strategies, LLC, where he has worked since 2006. Prior to that, he was with WRP Investments Inc for two years. Straub serves as a trustee of the Middletown Rotary Club Scholarship Trust and is on the Board of Directors, including the Executive and Finance Committees, of Middlesex United Way. Lifestyle Financial Strategies provides holistic financial planning and investment advisory services to individuals, families, and not-for-profit organizations. The firm emphasizes disciplined asset allocation and non-discretionary advisory relationships, with a notable client focus on charitable and not-for-profit entities.

Angelo Pietri is a Series 66 credentialed financial advisor with 11 years of industry experience, currently affiliated with OSAIC Institutions, Inc. He has been with infinex Investments, Inc. since 2015. Outside of his advisory work, he assists with a photography business co-founded by his spouse and owns a financial education seminar business. OSAIC Institutions, Inc. is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, ERISA plans, trusts, estates, and corporate clients through a large network of representatives. The firm offers customized advisory services, financial planning, ERISA plan services, and access to alternative investments, operating with a hybrid adviser and broker-dealer structure.

Kurt Supe is a financial advisor with Creative Financial Designs, Inc. in Kokomo, IN, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 25 years of industry experience. He has been involved with Supe Culpepper Inc DBA Creative Financial Group and related entities since 2006, focusing on insurance, tax planning, and financial services. Outside of advisory work, Supe is involved in tax planning and preparation, online retail sales, and authoring tax-related content for Amazon. Creative Financial Designs serves individual clients, charitable organizations, corporate and business clients, and employer retirement plans with a range of investment management and financial planning services. The firm uses a model-driven investment approach informed by third-party research and offers various strategies including Biblical Responsible Investing, with flexible billing and execution options.

Owen Freel is a financial advisor at Christy Capital Management, Inc. in Macon, GA, holding a Series 65 designation with four years of industry experience. He has been with Christy Capital Management since 2018 and previously worked for Fountain Car Wash from 2016 to 2018. Christy Capital Management serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, and retirement plans by providing investment advisory, wealth management, financial planning, and related services. The firm uses a client profile and risk-tolerance questionnaire to tailor recommendations and implements discretionary management through a subadvisor program, offering values- or faith-based model portfolios managed by EverSource Wealth Advisors.

Benjamin Nunn is a CFP® and Series 65-licensed financial advisor with 11 years of industry experience. He has been with Values First Advisors, Inc. since 2014. In addition to his advisory role, he is licensed to sell insurance and may receive commissions on insurance product sales. Values First Advisors, Inc. is an independent SEC-registered firm serving individuals, trusts, estates, retirement plans, and charitable organizations. The firm employs Biblically Responsible Investing principles and uses long-term equity and fixed-income strategies, managing approximately $215 million for nearly 1,000 clients through a team of seven advisors.

Robert Barber is a financial advisor with Christian Financial Advisors in New Braunfels, TX, holding a Series 63 license and bringing 32 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Cetera Advisor Networks LLC and Girard Securities, Inc. He is also the author of a book titled *7 Pillars of Biblical Stewardship*. Christian Financial Advisors is a team of five advisors managing approximately $187.7 million, serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and broker/dealers. The firm offers discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement-plan services, employing a long-term, customized investment approach that incorporates a Biblically Responsible Investing overlay.

Andrew Halbrook is a financial advisor at Edward Jones with a Series 66 credential and one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Edward Jones, he worked for the City of Ruston for nine years. Outside of his advisory role, he co-manages a family-owned LLC involved in rental property. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving individual and institutional clients, offering a range of investment strategies and advisory services supported by a nationwide network of over 23,700 financial advisors.