Rochelle came into the world of financial planning in a roundabout way, yet it’s no mystery about why it became her calling.

From an early age, Rochelle understood the value of a dollar. Born and raised just three blocks from Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, Rochelle grew up with working class people, many of whom lived paycheck to paycheck and were likely in some form of debt. Her mother was a firm believer in unions and civil service who worked for New York City, and her father was a hard-working cab driver with his own NYC taxi medallion. Recognized for her book smarts in elementary school, Rochelle was placed in an accelerated academic program and graduated two years ahead of her class. By 20, she’d already earned a bachelor’s degree from City College of New York, and she earned her MA from DePaul University four years later.

Though the pressure was on to live up to “being that smart,” Rochelle took a different path, embarking on a career as an elementary school teacher. “I loved teaching and working with my students. I loved learning that there is no such thing as one-size-fits-all.” And while the shrinking population resulted in a lay off and no new prospects, her passion for education had taken its roots. Working at an advertising firm, she realized that helping clients solve problems was her greatest strength. When an opportunity dropped in her lap to train as a financial planner, she knew she was on the right path after all. “Suddenly I had an opportunity to fold everything together: education, helping people, and offering solutions to help people like my parents leverage their hard-earned dollars into greater financial security. Voila! I had found my calling.”

She became a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) in 1987 and holds securities and insurance licenses in multiple states. She became an independent financial planner in 1992, working for notable companies such as IDS Financial Services (now Ameriprise), UNUM, and Ernst & Young where she focused on advising employees of the State of Florida regarding the changing pension system and employee options, as well as with employees at Pfizer, NYSUT, and Phillips Electronics.

Rochelle joined the team at Madison Planning in 2006. In her role as Vice President, she continues to help individuals and families plan for the future, manage debt, handle complex family situations, and more. “I enjoy people, and people enjoy working with me because I understand and empathize with them. If someone is experiencing a financial issue, I may have experienced it myself or worked with someone who has. And I love to share real-world stories—they’re often the best way to illustrate a fact of life and provide perspective. The best part of my day is when someone tells me I’ve helped them feel understood and comfortable, and that I’m helping them take a step forward.”

Married to her high school sweetheart, Rochelle and her husband have three grown children and live in Westchester.

As Gary’s son, it’s easy to assume that he always knew he was destined to be part of the team at Madison Planning, but it wasn’t always clear to Andrew.

In high school, Andrew played football, and was the enthusiastic manager of the school business club which produced tee shirts and screen-printed clothing for school teams and events. He began his post high school education by attending Landmark College, a small college in South Vermont that features a highly innovative educational model. “The curriculum at Landmark changed everything for me,” says Andrew. “I learned a whole new way to learn—to ask the right questions, to really understand the content, and to solve problems in an entirely new way.” He earned his AA degree, made the Dean’s List, and went on to University of Denver where he earned his bachelor’s degree in marketing, focusing on finance and management.

But after graduating, Andrew still wasn’t ready to jump into working with his father. “By the time I graduated, I knew financial services and helping people was where I wanted to be. Not only did I love the pure financial aspects of it, but I’d seen first hand the impact Gary’s work had on his clients’ lives. But I wanted to learn more about the business first.” He joined Royal Alliance, Madison Planning’s broker-dealer, working in advisory services where he supported the firm’s independent advisors. The role taught him how to be a problem solver for the advisors and their clients. After two years, he’d earned the respect of both his colleagues and the advisors he served, and had learned the back office side of the business inside and out. Recognizing his growth and knowledge, Gary asked him to join the firm. “Madison Planning was growing fast, and Gary really needed my help, so the timing was perfect. I guess it was all part of the master plan.”

Today, Andrew supports Gary’s clients by providing policy analysis to ensure every policy is appropriate, and accurate, as well as tends to all areas of their financial planning. He is also working to meet the needs of the next generation of Madison Planning’s clients— the adult children of Gary’s existing clients. “I’m proud to say that we’re ‘a family helping families.’ I don’t know many people who get as much personal satisfaction out of providing support and solutions to their clients. I’m happy to be one of the few.”

When he’s not busy helping his clients with their financial planning needs, Andrew enjoys snowboarding, camping, hiking, and listening to great live music (jazz, blues, and classic rock top the list), and spending time with friends and family.

Jan has been with Madison Planning Group since 2008. Jan's approach is to work closely with clients and coordinate all aspects of their financial planning. He believes that gaining an understanding of a client’s wants or needs is only half of the equation. Understanding what has been overlooked—and how to plan for it—is the key to building an optimal path forward.

Jan has been in the financial services industry since 2002. A licensed CPA since 2001, his background in taxation and financial services allows him to gain a broader understanding of financial decisions and their effects on each client’s long-term plan.

Jan holds a Bachelors Degree from Virginia Wesleyan College in Virginia Beach, VA.

For most people, solving word problems isn’t something to look forward to. For Andrew Federico, Madison Panning Group’s Director of Planning, it’s what makes him tick. While earning his bachelor’s degree in economics at American University, he learned a lot of theory about how economics works and how why markets and finance work the way they do—or at least how they should work. When he started working at Madison Planning in 2005, he got a fast lesson in real-world challenges.

“I came to Madison straight out of college, so it was eye opening,” says Andrew. “I started in a client service role, and after just three months, the perfect opportunity opened up in planning. Once I started working with Gary, I learned that helping a client get from point A to point B was about more than theory. Our recommendations are based on each client’s personal preferences and changing circumstances as well, so the path isn’t always a straight line. It’s a creative process, and that’s what I love about my job.”

A problem solver to the core, Andrew likes that things are always changing in financial services. New rules. New regulations. New products. New solutions. To be sure he’s on top of it all, he earned his Certified Financial Planner^® (CFP^®) designation in 2014, and he’s currently working on becoming a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charter holder. “In college, finance was very black and white. In the real world, there are many different routes, tools, and processes to get to the same outcome. It really is like one never-ending word problem, and the more knowledge and information I have, the more effective I can be at helping our clients reach their goals.”

In addition to the work he does for clients, Andrew also loves the atmosphere at Madison. “It’s great to work in an environment where we’re all like family. We’re relaxed and have a lot of fun, but we’re serious and professional at the same time.” Just like an equation, it’s the perfect balance.

When he’s not in the office, Andrew loves to travel, ski, and snowboard, and watch soccer with his wife, Frances, and their new daughter, Alessandra (skiing and snowboarding are clearly in her future!).

When Nina finished an 18-month program in business administration back in 2003, she had no idea her next step would put her on a path toward her dream job. “I originally wanted to be a chef, but when I decided to take a more practical path, I was pretty sure I’d find myself number crunching in a job that didn’t bring me a whole lot of fulfillment.”

That all changed when Nina replied to a job posting at her college for Madison Planning Group and came on board to do what she’d expected: crunching numbers. But when an assistant position opened up 10 months later, a door opened. She was soon managing Gary’s schedule—and she began learning about new business management.

“Gary has always been there to guide me and help me find my path,” says Nina. “The fact is, everybody who’s here is here because of Gary and the fact that he treats us like family. We all joke around with each other, but we also have high respect for each other, and we know we all have each others’ backs.”  That sense of family has had a huge impact on her career. “Gary pushed me to be where I am today, and now I’m studying for the Life and Health Insurance exam.” It’s one more ‘next step’ in what’s become Nina’s dream career at Madison Planning Group. Currently Director of New Business, she is responsible for new and existing business for all advisors, processing applications, and servicing existing accounts and policies. Once she has her new license, she’ll be taking on life insurance responsibilities for the firm.

That’s a far cry from number crunching, and Nina couldn’t be happier.

Nina Occhino-Melito is not registered with Royal Alliance Associates, Inc.

While everyone at Madison Planning Group talks about the company feeling like family, for Julie, it feels even more so. Gary has known Julie and her family for over 10 years, and their friendship has grown so much that it has now created an ultimate team to upkeep his growing book of business. “As Gary’s assistant, there’s always the possibility for chaos,” says Julie. “Of course, that’s true for any office, but when Gary offered me a position in 2014, I didn’t realize how much chaos I was actually leaving behind at my prior job at a local car dealership.”

Julie was happy to escape the noise of her old job. Since the start of her journey with Gary and his team, she’s proud to say she has a career that amplifies her true skills. Although she is the newest hire at Madison Planning Group, it wasn’t long before she really understood her new role and just how well she fit into the team. “I love coming to work in a happy environment – the atmosphere, my co-workers, the aura; it all comes together to make Madison Planning Group a great place to be.”

Julie Abato is not registered with Royal Alliance Associates, Inc.