Our Team
Enhancing Financial Decision Making℠
A Professional Team with Real-World Knowledge
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
Mark Swartz, JD, CLU®, ChFC®, CFP®, AIF®, CPFA
President and CEO
President & CEO With my background in Law and Business, I have worked with businesses, business owners and professionals for over 30 years.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Consuela D. Brown
Registered Planning Assistant to Mark Swartz
With over 30 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.
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.
Shawn Freshley
Planning Coordinator
As a dynamic professional who joined Ascend Planning & Consulting, LLC in May 2023 as a planning assistant. I grew up in Gaithersburg, MD and pursued an education at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU), where I studied Music Business and Business Administration. During my time at MTSU, I developed a keen interest in the stock market, digital assets, and mortgages.
Scott Swartz
Planning Coordinator
After studying and earning my degree at the University of Miami in Florida, I spent a decade working in Los Angeles in the film and commercial space. I have since taken my economic acumen from balancing film budgets to working with financial planning professionals. As someone who grew up and around the industry, I understand that each and every business and individual has a different situation that is unique to them.
Connor Williams
Marketing & Media Coordinator
As the social media and marketing coordinator I proudly lead our digital presence and marketing initiatives. With a degree in Graphic design and a concentration in business from James Madison University, I excel in content creation, branding, and leveraging data analytics with the objective of enhancing our clients experience and understanding their financial picture.