About Us

Our mission is to help you feel more in control of your money and your life and to make informed decisions that will allow you to achieve your goals.
We believe that financial planning should be accessible to everyone. Most people will be able to meet their financial goals if they are guided by sound advice. The future is shaped by the advice you receive and the steps you take along the way. It's not just about making money, it's about achieving a balance in your life, so that you can find more time to do the things that matter most to you.
Our Comprehensive Approach
As Financial Planners it's our mission to help you achieve your financial objectives. We design a customized plan to help you meet your unique needs, both today and tomorrow. We develop strategies to help achieve your goals like buying a home or condo, retiring early, financing your child's education and more.
Your Present Situation
- Knowing your current net worth
- Tracking your current income and expenses, and projecting your future
Having Adequate Protection
- Providing for dependents in case of death
- Replacing earning power if disabled
- Planning for business continuation
Accumulating Wealth
- Buying a house or vacation home
- Ensuring adequate education funding
- Reviewing your investment portfolio
Managing Income Taxes
- Projecting your federal and state income taxes
- Analyzing how your business affects your taxes
Planning for Retirement
- Ensuring adequate retirement income
- Managing pension distributions
- Using business assets for retirement
- Projecting earlier or later retirement age
Preserving Wealth
- Managing excessive estate settlement costs and inheritance taxes
- Continue or transfer ownership of personal and/or business assets
- Using estate planning vehicles
Financial Planning Process
Your concerns are our concerns, let's make a plan.
Step 6: Update as Needed
Change is one constant in life. Your income, investments, assumptions and objectives will change. This is why we stand ready to update your plan as needed. Financial Planning Services are offered by Michael Werfel and Gary Bonavita. Registered Representatives, Investment Advisory Representatives and Financial Planners of MML Investors Services, LLC.
Our Strategic Services
We work with you and your tax and legal advisors to help you select appropriate product solutions that suit your needs and circumstances.
Retirement Planning
- Helps prepare the estimated retirement needs and expenses at a specified retirement date.
- The analysis may be focused on accumulation as well as distribution for retirement, estimated social security benefits and other funding sources, such as employer pension plans.
- Illustrations provide the client with various alternatives available, based upon factors such as different retirement dates, additional or alternative savings and investment strategies, and risk tolerance.
Retirement Distribution Planning
- Focuses solely on the distribution of retirement assets and not on accumulation.
- The analysis projects the estimated distribution of retirement income for a specific period of time for clients who are at or near retirement.
- The analysis considers current assets designated for retirement, estimated social security benefits, and other funding sources such as employer pension plans.
- Illustrations provide the client with various alternatives available, based upon factors such as different retirement dates, additional or alternative savings and investment strategies, and risk tolerance.
- The Retirement Distribution Plan is available only as a stand-alone ProAdvice Select/Situational plan and may not be combined with other situational modules.
Investment Planning
- Includes an examination of the client's current goals and objectives for the distribution of their property.
- This analysis includes an examination of the client's gross estate and the distribition of property based upon the client's current estate plan.
- Projected estate taxes and related settlement costs based upon various assumptions are considered.
- The analysis explores alternatives for mimimizing settlement costs such as titling assets, using trusts, gifting strategies and charitable planning.
- An examination of possible finding sources for providing liquidity may also be included.
Estate Planning
- Involves an analysis of a client's goals and objectives for the distribution of their property.
- This analysis includes an examination of the client's gross estate and the distribution of property based upon the client's current estate plan.
- Projected estate taxes and related settlement costs based upon various assumptions are considered.
- The analysis explores alternatives for minimizing settlement costs such as titling assets, using trusts, gifting strategies and charitable planning.
- An examination of possible funding sources for providing liquidity may also be included.
Business Continuity Planning
- Incorporates an analysis of the available methods of transferring ownership and operational control of a closely held business based upon various assumptions.
- This analysis examines the client's current business objectives while minimizing transition costs (e.g., using trusts, gifting strategies, buy-sell agreements).
- An examination of possible funding sources to facilitate the transfer of the business and provide liquidity to meet related estate planning objectives may also be included.
Employee Benefits Planning
- May include an analysis of both nonqualified and qualified (i.e. tax sheltered) retirement plans for businesses and other employee benefits such as group insurance policies, bonus plans, and split dollar arrangements.
- Analysis of nonqualified employee benefits plans include a review of available methods for providing nonqualified retirement, death and/or disability benefits of key employees based upon various assumptions.
- Review of qualified employee benefits plans provides an analysis of the tax sheltered retirement arrangements available under current tax law. This analysis examines available options based upon factors such as corporate demographics and the client's objectives.
- Finding sources such as life insurance and investment products may be examined for the purpose of providing benefits to employees. This plan does not provide an analysis of, or advice on, the underlying investments held within qualified plans.
Our Team of Professionals
Our team of experts consists of Certified Financial Planners®, Chartered Financial Consultants, and Investment Advisors to help you reach your goals throughout your life and retirement.

Gary Bonavita, CLU, ChFC®
Financial Planner | Investment Advisor Representative | Financial Services Representative
(201) 712-0383

Michael Werfel
Financial Planner | Investment Advisor Representative | Financial Services Representative
(201) 712-0383

Jason Braunstein
Financial Planner | Investment Advisor Representative | Financial Services Representative
(201) 712-0383
jbraunstein@financialguide.com


To Our Clients
Our first priority is helping you take care of yourself and your family. We want to learn more about your personal situation, identify your dreams and goals, and understand your tolerance for risk. Long-term relationships that encourage open and honest communication have been the cornerstone of our foundation of success.
We believe to build long-lasting relationships with our clients, we also have to provide knowledge and empower them. Our working environment is characterized by teamwork, trust and cooperation. We work together to serve you. We honor our commitments and hold ourselves, and each other, accountable. We support the best in each other and know we can be the best financial services organization in the area. We are determined to succeed.
CRN202102-244092