Michael has built his wealth management practice on a foundation of holistic financial planning. He is a Certified Financial Planner™ professional with more than a decade of experience developing customized strategies for individuals, families, and business owners.” As a result of his work, Michael was named Financial Planner of the Year fourtimes when he was a representative at MetLife, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2016.A cornerstone of Michael’s practice is his commitment to financial literacy and lifelong learning. Believing that knowledge gives people the power to make important financial decisions with confidence, Michael is a noted educator on financial matters. He is an adjunct professor at the Dolan School of Business at Fairfield University. In addition, he teaches consumer-oriented financial planning courses to employees of Fortune 500 companies as well as government and non-profit organizations and school districts across the greater New York metropolitan area. His dedication to life-long learning extends to his own professional development. In addition to earning the CFP® designation, Michael is a Chartered Financial Consultant® (ChFC®), gaining in-depth knowledge of the key financial planning disciplines including insurance, income taxation, retirement planning, investments and estate planning. He is also a Chartered Life Underwriter® (CLU®), the world’s most respected designation of expertise to meet the insurance needs of individuals, business owners and professional clients. In addition, he is a Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy® (CAP®) and a Chartered Advisor for Senior Living® (CASL®) which prepares financial advisors to lead clients from middle age through retirement and assist them with the management, preservation, and transfer of wealth. A key focus of Michael’s practice is working with families who have dependents with special needs. He is a designated Special Care Planner, having completed extensive training and continuing education to help families through the maze of legal and financial complexities surrounding planning for the future of dependents with special needs. He integrates special needs planning strategies into each family’s overall financial plan to help assure that the needs of all the family members are being addressed. As a result of his work at MetLife, Michael was named to MetLife’s Americas Council (2013-2016) aswell as the Platinum and Leaders Conferences (2004-2012) which recognize the top tiersof financial services representatives in the firm. Michael is actively involved with the Kennedy Center, an educational and support system for families and their children with disabilities. He is also active with the Foundation for Life, Inc., whose mission is to improve the quality of life for the people and families through actions that promote change and deepen connections within the community. Michael has an undergraduate degree in political science from the University of Washington and a master’s in economics from San Francisco State University. He resides in Stratford, Connecticut.