About

Meet Our Team

 

As an independent firm, we are able to provide highly customized financial strategies along with personalized attention.

As an accomplished firm in existence for over 25 years, we have achieved a level of stature and substance that garners first rate attention from our service providers.

James J. Terranova, ChFC

Partner

“I am driven by the desire to make a positive impact on my client’s lives by providing highly customized comprehensive financial planning and wealth management services. I thoroughly enjoy helping clients navigate the complex maze of corporate benefits, financial planning decisions, investment options and generational wealth transfer ideas – to arrive at a truly integrated financial strategy.

Jim is a Partner and Co-Founder of Integrated Financial Strategies Inc., established in 1992. Jim and his financial partners have built a strong reputation for providing in depth, highly personalized comprehensive financial planning and investment advisory services to senior executives of major public corporations with a focus in the pharmaceutical industry.

Headquartered in Bala Cynwyd, PA, Jim has been a financial advisor since joining Karr Barth Associates in 1980 after graduating from Millersville University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology. Jim holds Chartered Financial Consultant and Chartered Life Underwriting designations from the American College in Bryn Mawr, PA. Jim and his wife Jill are longtime residents of West Chester, PA.

(610) 660-4122

Alex F. Guidotti, II, ChFC

Partner

“I enjoy helping busy executives navigate through the complex maze of corporate benefit elections they must contend with, not only at retirement, but annually. Having a thorough understanding of their personal goals helps me formulate, implement and address detailed financial planning and investment recommendations.”

Alex and his team provide comprehensive financial planning and wealth management services to corporate executives and other financially successful individuals. Alex’s organization provides financial services to senior executives of major public corporations with a focus in the pharmaceutical industry. After graduating from West Chester University with a BS in Business Administration, Alex joined Karr Barth in 1979. Alex holds Chartered Financial Consultant and Chartered Life Underwriter designations from American College in Bryn Mawr, PA.

(610) 660-4263

Michael W. Norton, ChFC, CLU, RICP

Partner

“My work is focused on intelligent investing of your serious money.  We practice an academic research based approach that captures the dimensions of expected return while keeping costs and taxes in-check.”

“I am passionate about making a difference in the lives of the people I work with.”

Mike and his team provide comprehensive financial planning and wealth management services to corporate executives and other financially successful individuals.

With a degree in Business Administration from Drexel University, Mike was a Human Resources Management practitioner before joining Karr Barth in 1988.

Mike holds Chartered Financial Consultant and Chartered Life Underwriter, and Retirement Income Certified Professional designations from American College in Bryn Mawr, PA, and holds Series 7, Series 63, and Series 65 securities registrations. Retirement Planning Specialist title was awarded by Equitable Advisors, upon completion of a Certificate in Retirement Planning from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Mike and his wife Susan live in Haddonfield, NJ and are the proud parents of a Teacher, a Doctor, and a Sales Representative.

(610) 660-4284

David Kalapos, MBA, AIF®, CPFA

Partner

David joined his current broker-dealer, now Equitable Advisors, in 2000, and later became a partner of Integrated Financial Strategies (IFS) in 2003. David provides broad based financial planning and investment advisory services to senior executives of public corporations and owners of closely held businesses.

He possesses the knowledge and experience in developing and implementing financial plans and core asset allocation strategies coordinated with executive compensation and corporate benefit arrangements.  Prior to joining IFS, David worked at Conrail as the general manager of the coal transportation business unit.

He has an MBA in Management and Marketing (two full programs) from University of Pennsylvania The Wharton School (1978 – 1980), and a B.S. in Mathematics, Magna Cum Laude with Distinction in Major, from Dartmouth College (1974 – 1978).

(610) 660-4022

Michael P. Gainer, AIF®

Partner

“Too often a prospective client expressly asks us to ‘manage their investments.’ In other words, simply pick and monitor investments. Any investment recommendation made without a full understanding of a clients unique financial picture is a recipe for failure. By sitting down to identify and clarify their goals, we guide clients through a thorough review and analysis of their financial structure. We enjoy educating and guiding clients so that they can work toward achieving maximum potential with their assets.”

Mike began his career in financial services at Vanguard in 1997, managing a mutual fund accounting operation that focused on stable value funds for institutional clients with total assets of $13 billion. In 2002, Mike joined his current broker-dealer, now Equitable Advisors a financial consultant, providing financial planning and investment advisory services for high net worth families, business owners, and institutions. In 2015 he became a partner of Integrated Financial Strategies, Inc., a financial services firm established in 1992. His team provides wealth management services for clients throughout the country.

Mike graduated from Bloomsburg University in 1997 with a B.S. in Accounting, and he is FINRA Series 7 and 66 registered. He and his wife Carol live in Ivyland, PA and are the proud parents of Kate, Zach, and Joe.

CA Insurance Lic. # 0N12419

(610) 660-4220

Michael G. McGarry, AIF®

Qualified Retirement Plans

  • Employer Sponsored Qualified Retirement programs and individual clients.
  • Provide employers with consultative approach in:
    • Plan Design & Review
    • Investment Program & Selection
    • Recordkeeping Service Provider
    • Communication / Enrollment Procedures
    • Fiduciary Assistance
  • Spring Garden College-BS, Business Administration
  • University of Pennsylvania, Wharton Business School
  • FINRA Series 6, 7, 63, 65 registrations and PA Life & Health Insurance

(610) 660-4388

      Jim Frank, JD, LLM

      Director of Financial Planning

      Jim is an innovative wealth planning strategist with over 30 years of experience in business and personal estate and gift planning, primarily for high net worth individuals and families with closely-held business interests.

      He has worked with clients and their legal and tax advisers to implement individual and business financial plans. He also has experience in the design and operation of qualified and non-qualified retirement plans. Jim has authored numerous articles and training programs for financial professionals regarding financial, investment, and estate planning.

      He received his B.S. from the Pennsylvania State University, his J.D. and LL.M (taxation) from Temple University School of Law, and is a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association, Philadelphia Estate Planning Council and The Financial Planning Association.

      CA Insurance Lic. # 0E45795

      (610) 660-4378

      Michael Griffin, Financial Advisor

      Financial Advisor

      Mike joined his current broker-dealer, now Equitable Advisors, in 2011. Since that time, he has dedicated his practice to helping successful individuals and business owners with their financial planning needs in all stages of life. More recently, his particular area of focus has been Wealth Management, specifically helping his clients accumulate and distribute their assets in retirement.

      Mike is a graduate of Lehigh University and has earned his Bachelors of Science in Finance from Lehigh’s College of Business and Economics. He holds FINRA Series 7, 65, and 63 registrations, as well as licenses in Life, Health, and Disability Insurance. Mike currently resides in Lower Gwynedd, PA with his wife, 2 children and two dogs. They also enjoy Summers at the beach in NJ.

      (610) 660-4546

      Laurence M. Russell III, MBA

      Financial Planner

      Larry derives deep satisfaction from helping his clients. It is of the utmost importance for him to take time getting to know his clients in order to gain full understanding of their financial situation. Doing so allows him to assist them in creating a financial plan that is truly tailored to meet their specific needs and goals. Armed with the extensive resources of Integrated Financial Strategies, Karr Barth Associates, and Equitable Advisors, Larry is able to provide his clients with the strategies and tools needed to implement their customized financial plan.

      Larry completed his undergraduate studies at Elmira College in 2004 and obtained his Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Rider University in 2007. Larry also holds the Retirement Planning Specialist title from Equitable Advisors based upon receipt of a certificate in Retirement Planning from the Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania. He is FINRA Series 7 and 66 registered. Larry joined Karr Barth Associates in 2008. In the Fall of 2018, Larry was delighted to join Integrated Financial Strategies, a truly client centric firm that embraces his personal philosophies of both client relations and wealth management.

      Larry enjoys spending time with family and friends, fishing, and is an avid sports fan.

      CA Insurance Lic. # 0K06256

      (610) 660-4476

      Integrated Financial Strategies Inc. (IFS)

      Staff Contact

      Stephen Norris, CPA

      Planning Associate

      (610) 660-4121

      Michael McGarry, Jr.

      Paraplanner

      (610) 660-4103

      Michael D. Kalapos

      Planning Coordinator

      (610) 660-4280

      Rebecca (D’Andrea) Russell

      Operations Manager

      (610) 660-4476

      Kristen Yates-krum

      New Business Specialist

      (610) 660-4476

      Lisa M. Brown

      Office Administrator

      (610) 660-4123

      Jeffrey Weiss

      Paraplanner

      (610) 660-4476

      Christopher Gerrard

      Planning Associate

      (610) 660-4178

      Renee Blake

      Client Service Associate

      (610) 660-4285

      Christina Mueller

      Client Service Associate

      (610) 660-4253

      Check the background of this financial professional on FINRA's BrokerCheck
      *Equitable Advisors and its financial professionals do not provide tax or legal advise or services.