Our Team

Enhancing Financial Decision Making℠

A Professional Team with Real-World Knowledge

The Ascend Planning Team

Strength

Ascend Planning & Consulting, LLC is comprised of a diverse team of top financial professionals aligned with one of the nation’s innovative and financially strong financial companies, Equitable Advisors, LLC.

Meet the Team

Tom Natoli, CFP®, CLU®, ChFC®, AIF®, CPFA

Tom Natoli, CFP®, CLU®, ChFC®, AIF®, CPFA

Executive Vice President

With over 40 years of experience in the financial services & telecommunication industries, I have a proven track record of applying innovative financial management skills in both corporate and individual settings. 

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Mark S. Dolfis, CFP®, AIF®

Mark S. Dolfis, CFP®, AIF®

Executive Vice President

At the core, I’m an analytical person. Data and logic are important to me.  I have an Electrical Engineering degree from Vanderbilt University. But I also really like talking to people and learning about their lives.

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TC Fung, CFP®, CLU®

TC Fung, CFP®, CLU®

Executive Vice President

In my prior career, I had the opportunity to work for a multi-national corporation in three continents around the world. This career provided me a platform to be exposed to several different cultures.

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Jason Crawford, CFP®, RICP®, CLU®

Jason Crawford, CFP®, RICP®, CLU®

Senior Consultant

For 20 years, I’ve worked with our clients as if they were family. I aspire to build lasting personal and professional relationships based on trust, integrity, and experience. As a regular marathoner, I find that the discipline necessary to train for a race carries over into my work with our Ascend Planning & Consulting clients.

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Henry “Hank” J Shields IV, CFP®, AIF®, CPFA

Henry “Hank” J Shields IV, CFP®, AIF®, CPFA

Senior Consultant

I think I have the best career in the world.  It seems hard to believe that I started in this industry over 10 years ago, but when it doesn’t feel like work, the time does seem to fly by you.  

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Tareq Khattar, CFP®, AIF®

Tareq Khattar, CFP®, AIF®

Senior Consultant

I’ve always had an appreciation of team sports, mainly basketball and football. It’s remarkable how similar the dynamic of team sports is to comprehensive financial planning. 

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Doug Menorca, CFP®

Doug Menorca, CFP®

Senior Consultant

I believe in personal responsibility. I worked for and retired from Capitol Hill. I have seen how the Federal Government works and doesn’t work.  Working for Members in charge of financial services, retirement and health care has exposed me to the possibilities and limitations of government.

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Mark Dellosso

Mark Dellosso

Senior Consultant

For over 25 years I have had the pleasure of working in the Financial Services industry as both a Financial Advisor as well as a manager, overseeing the development and mentoring of new financial professionals.  

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Aaron Kniss

Aaron Kniss

Consultant

One of my favorite past-times is watching motor racing.  This mentality is something I try to apply to my practice on a regular basis, helping individuals, families and business strike a balance of risk and reward to meet their financial goals.

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Joseph Staley, RICP®

Joseph Staley, RICP®

Consultant

One of the greatest aspects of this career is that I have the opportunity to learn about people from all walks of life.  Each individual has a different vision of what they would like to achieve, both financially and personally.  I help them navigate how they are going to get there.

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Christopher Weins

Christopher Weins

Consultant

I grew up playing football, basketball and soccer my entire life which helped me understand what a collective team atmosphere can accomplish. Upon graduating from Virginia Tech with a degree in Finance, I decided to explore an area of finance that allowed me to use my knowledge to help clients reach their financial goals. 

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James Frank, JD, LLM

James Frank, JD, LLM

Director of Advanced Planning

In my experience, a consultative approach to planning produces the best results. Successful individuals and families are well served by financial advisors with the listening skills and breadth of subject matter experience to help coordinate the client’s tax, accounting, investment and other professional advisors. Explaining how different planning techniques work enables clients to then make informed decisions.

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Kathy Delaware

Kathy Delaware

Planning Assistant to Tom Natoli

With over 30 years of experience in Human Resources, Tax and Financial Advisory environments, I have developed a focus on accuracy and completeness in areas where regulations and compliance are of such great importance.

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Dan McNulty, CFP®, ChFC®, AIF®

Dan McNulty, CFP®, ChFC®, AIF®

Director of Asset Allocation Strategies

My position provides me the ability to monitor economic and market trends on behalf of our team of financial professionals. I also work closely with team members to assist clients in helping them work toward achieving their business and personal planning goals.

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Consuela D. Brown

Consuela D. Brown

Registered Planning Assistant to Mark Swartz

With over 20 years of experience in the financial service industry, I have developed a results-oriented, high-energy, hands-on approach to client service. My focus is always on the clients first…their needs and overall experience here at Ascend Planning & Consulting, LLC.

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Eleanor Bradford

Eleanor Bradford

Client Relations Coordinator

Having spent several years as a successful sales professional in the luxury retail market, I have learned the importance of providing exceptional service in building strong, lasting client relationships.

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