Five new members were added to the distinguished professionals who are honored to be among those recognized by receiving the NTSA Elite Advisor Award. They were named at the Feb. 27 luncheon held at the 2023 NTSA Summit in Tampa, FL.
Kelly Larkin, CFP®, whose practice is in Seattle, WA, serves 586 participants in seven school districts and has more than $134 million in retirement assets under management. “Kelly has successfully enabled many educators in the 403(b) sector to retire well. At the same time, she helped several school districts by educating their staff,” says her supervisor. “I credit her with one of the best changes I made in my professional career” regarding making financial decisions about funds, said Jody Detillier, himself a 2015 Elite Advisor winner. He continues that Larkin asked him, “Do you want to manage money, or do you want to help your clients?”
“I have been able to ‘pay it forward’ by mentoring young advisors and hope that my help feels as meaningful to them as the mentorship of others has been to me,” says Larkin.
Mitch Melan of Melan Financial serves 3,400 participants in five school districts and has $250 million in retirement assets under management. For 27 years he has served clients as a “pro’s pro, with a deep belief in the power of financial advice” who “relishes helping people save as he is relentless in the pursuit of excellence.” Melan also is active in his community, often engaging with middle school and high school students on the importance of financial literacy and investing.
“Both my parents were educators. Watching what they did and how they lived gives me unique insight into working with this target niche,” says Melan.
Jennifer Prosise, CFP®, CRES®, of The Voyager Group, Ltd. serves 804 participants in 50 school districts and has more than $50
million in retirement assets under management. She has more than 15 years’ experience and is regarded as “a community-involved professional who actively participates in e retirement plan space” and “helps all sectors and has the heart for the non-profit and public school 403(b) spaces” and has educated school business officials on the benefits of CRES and providing financial literacy education.
“What you bring to the table is why they work with you. The legacy that I am leaving behind is that this is not a sales job, and it is not a relationship management job. We are here to help people. I’m also leaving behind a legacy of partnership. They are not clients, but friends.”
Rian Steinbiss, AIF®, CRES®, of Clearpath Wealth Partners, serves more than 1,000 participants in more than 20 school districts and has more than $100 million in retirement assets under management. “Rian’s accomplishments are a testament to her hard work and dedication,” says her nominator. She also is active with the Women’s Impact Network and the ARA Third Thursday Committee of its Council for Women.
“I am now in a position to mentor and empower other young female advisors,” says Steinbiss. “Giving back is something huge to talk to new advisors about,” she told attendees.
Donald Wade, CFP®, CRES®, of The Legend Group, serves 753 participants in more than 25 school districts and has $112 million in retirement assets under
management. With 42 years of experience in the industry, Wade has diverse, vast, and successful experience with school districts, hospitals, colleges, and non-profits. He became active with the NTSA in 1990, served on the Leadership Council for three years, and was NTSA President in 1998. He also has initiated an Illinois CRES consortium with Lincoln and Omni Advisors.
“Strive for knowledge and honesty,” Wade told attendees, adding, “We can be assured that we are helping others so that their resources las for generations.”
About the Elite Advisor Award
Established in 2014, the NTSA Elite Advisor Award recognizes the contributions of advisors who, by their actions and example, have advanced best practice standards in the 403(b) and/or 457 retirement industry — and, in so doing, have improved the ability of American workers to build a successful retirement.
Additional information about the Elite Advisor Award is available here.
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