Our Team

Don Richards, CFP®, CPFA® has been a financial advisor and an independent insurance broker since 1984. He earned his BS in Civil Engineering from the University of Colorado in 1978, his MBA in Finance from the University of Denver in 1983, his CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ designation in 1989, and his Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor designation in 2021. Don currently holds FINRA Series 7, 63 and 65 registrations and provides investment products through Cetera Advisor Networks, LLC. He is the founder of The Richards Financial Group, Inc. and is an associate with The Benefit Team, LLC, an employee benefits consulting and brokerage firm.

Don is involved in numerous community and professional organizations and has served on the boards and advisory councils of several charitable foundations, including the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, Colorado Farm Bureau, Colorado FFA Foundation, Young Americans Education Foundation and Junior Achievement of Metro Denver. He served on the Chamber's Executive Committee from 2008 through 2009.  Don is an active member and volunteer with the Denver Chamber, is a graduate of the 2007 class of Leadership Denver, an eight-time delegate in the Leadership Exchange program and a six-time delegate in Colorado Experience. He is a 2011 graduate of Leadership Program of the Rockies, a member the American Enterprise Institute Leadership Network, and a chapter officer of the Vino & Veritas Society. Don serves on the steering committee of the Dean’s Society at the Daniels College of Business and has served as a mentor in the Daniels Scholars program. Don is an active member of the Western Stock Show Association and the Silver Spur Club at the National Western Stock Show & Rodeo.

Distinctions:

• Daniels College of Business Outstanding Alumnus of the Year – 2015
• Robert Blankenship Heart Award (Denver Chamber) – 2014
• Reiman School of Finance Distinguished Alumni Award – 2013
• David E. Bailey Small-Business Advocate Award – 2008
• Four-time recipient of the Chamber Champion Award

Don has climbed all of Colorado’s Fourteeners and is a regular participant in long-distance cycling events. He is a pen-and-ink artist whose work has been published since 1972. Don is a frequent speaker at various events and programs within the Denver business, civic and academic communities.

Compliance disclosure: Daniels College of Business Outstanding Alumnus of the Year – 2015: appreciation of his community involvement, Robert Blankenship Heart Award (Denver Chamber) – 2014 : awarded for being a long term chamber member and having an entrepreneurial spirit, Reiman School of Finance Distinguished Alumni Award - 2013 appreciation of his community involvement, David E. Bailey Small-Business Advocate Award – 2008, and four-time recipient of the Chamber Champion Award: for being a vital member of the Chamber for years. Listing in this publication and/or award is not a guarantee of future investment success. This recognition should not be construed as an endorsement of the advisor by any client.

  Full Bio Here 

Keith Brownrigg is a veteran Employee Benefits Consultant with The Benefit Team, LLC, one of our partner companies. Keith serves our clients in the areas of employee benefits (group health, dental, life and disability insurance) for small and medium-sized businesses. He is exceptionally knowledgeable with benefit plan strategies, insurance products and regulatory matters (including the Affordable Care Act.) Keith provides clear and unbiased explanations of concepts and solutions to benefits managers as well as employees. Keith was President of the Metro Denver Health Underwriters Association (MDAHU) for two terms from 2012 – 2014, and he was Co-Legislative Chair of MDAHU form 2008 – 2012. Keith continues to represent the employee benefits aspect of our business, often meeting with legislators and insurance industry leaders. (Keith Brownrigg of The Benefit Team, LLC is not affiliated or registered with Cetera Advisor Networks LLC. Advice provided by Keith is made on behalf of The Richards Financial Group, Inc. and The Benefit Team, LLC and is not related to Cetera Advisor Networks LLC or its registered representatives.)

Rachelle Brownrigg is an Employee Benefits Consultant with The Benefit Team, LLC, one of our partner companies. Rachelle serves our clients in the areas of employee benefits (group health, dental, life and disability insurance) for small and medium-sized businesses. She is deeply knowledgeable with benefit plan strategies, insurance products and regulatory matters (including the Affordable Care Act.) Rachelle provides clear and unbiased explanations of concepts and solutions to benefits managers as well as employees and provides exemplary ongoing service to our clients. (Rachelle is not affiliated or registered with Cetera Advisor Networks LLC. Advice provided by her is made on behalf of The Richards Financial Group, Inc. and The Benefit Team, LLC and is not related to Cetera Advisor Networks LLC or its registered representatives.)

As Senior Vice President of Cetera's Advanced Planning Group, Stan Smiley is responsible for the development and implementation of advanced planning strategies for Cetera Financial Group.

Using more than 30 years of legal and estate business planning experience, Stan and his team provide consultative services for select financial professionals, who are focused on tax planning for highly compensated individuals, and estate planning and wealth preservation strategies for high-net-worth clients and family wealth transfers.

He is also a member of the Real Property, Probate and Trusts Section and the Taxation Section of the American Bar Association, serves on its committee of Tax Standards and Exempt Organizations and is admitted to the United States Tax Court. He also maintains memberships in the Los Angeles and San Francisco Bar Associations. He currently serves on the CFP Board's Business Model Council.

Stan was previously senior vice president, advanced markets for ING Advisors Network. A former partner of a Los Angeles-based law firm, Stan served as counsel for small and multibillion qualified pension and welfare benefit plans, private trusts and foundations. He also held positions within the Office of Chief Counsel of the Internal Revenue Service in New Jersey and California.

He was a part-time instructor of business law at the University of Maryland and an adjunct professor for Golden Gate University's Masters of Taxation Program. He also had the opportunity to serve as a judge advocate in the U.S. Air Force and has been a featured lecturer and commentator for various legal subjects on the Armed Forces Radio Network. Stan has been a platform speaker at several events in his areas of expertise.

Stan earned a bachelor's degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo, and was a Dean's List honoree and law review associate editor while earning a law degree from St. John's University School of Law in New York. He is licensed to practice law in New York and California, maintains an insurance license and holds Series 7, 24 and 63 securities registrations.

v Sullivan is a Senior Advanced Planning consultant with Cetera's Advanced Planning Group who provides consultation, advice, and support in technical areas of financial planning.

Zarina consults with advisors on complex topics such as wealth transfer, estate planning and business succession planning, retirement planning, charitable giving, and tax issues, among others.

She also writes publications and white papers on topics of taxation, estate and financial planning.

Before coming to Cetera, Zarina worked in advisory and consulting roles with Fidelity Investments and worked as a financial planning analyst for an RIA in Pasadena, Calif.

Originally from Belarus, Zarina moved to the United States to pursue her MBA with minor in finance, which she earned from Tarleton State University, part of A&M System in Texas. She has been a CFP since 2013 and holds Certified Financial Divorce Analyst® designation. She holds Series 7 and 65 securities registrations as well as insurance license.

Robert Pothier is an Advanced Planning Analyst in the advanced planning group for Cetera Financial Group. Robert is responsible for providing specialized advice and support to financial professionals. His area of expertise include: retirement planning, estate planning, charitable planning, and federal income taxation.

Prior to joining Cetera, Robert was an advanced planning attorney with Pacific Life and John Hancock Financial. He is known for his industry expertise, communication skills and his ability to develop relationships with financial professionals and clients alike. He has traveled extensively with field wholesalers, delivered seminars and presentations for financial professionals and their clients.

Robert holds a J.D. from Suffolk University Law School, and a B.A. from Boston College majoring in political science, both located in Massachusetts. He is a CFP® and a member of the Massachusetts Bar Association.

Jeff Bjornson is a Senior Advanced Planning Consultant with Cetera's Advanced Planning Group and is responsible for providing advice and support for financial professionals on numerous complex financial planning subjects. His range of expertise includes areas such as retirement and education saving strategies, charitable giving planning issues, estate planning and wealth transfer, and tax issues, to name a few.

Prior to joining Cetera, Jeff led the Financial Planning and Alternative Investments team with HD Vest Financial Services and worked as the Vice President of Operations and Technology for an RIA in St. Louis, MO. He has been in the financial industry for over 24 years.

Jeff obtained his BBA in Banking and Finance from Mississippi State University and his MS in Data Analytics from Maryville University.

He has been a CFP® professional since 2003 and holds the CLU® designation. He holds Series 7, 66, 24 and 4 securities registrations, as well as Missouri Insurance license.

Colin O. Anderson, AIF® is a retirement plan specialist with our affiliate Vantage Financial Group Inc. For our retirement plan clients, Colin consults on plan design, fiduciary compliance and regulatory issues. He develops investment policies for our clients’ retirement plans, conducts due diligence monitoring of investment managers, facilitates investment committee meetings, benchmarks plan costs and services, and assists with fund selection.

He joined the firm in 2009 as an employee benefits consultant specializing in employer-sponsored qualified retirement plans. Prior to joining Vantage, Colin spent the previous eight years in Eastern Pennsylvania working with employers in the design, implementation and ongoing support of complex employee retirement programs. Colin’s unique capabilities include implementing useful techniques for employers to obtain more satisfactory participation levels in 401(k) plans and the understanding that participants have of the value of their plans. Colin earned the AIF® Designation from the Center for Fiduciary Studies in 2012. The AIF Designation certifies he has specialized knowledge of fiduciary standards of care and their application to the investment management process. Colin currently holds FINRA Series 7, 63 and 65 registrations and Life, A&H and VA licenses and is a Representative of Cetera Advisor Networks LLC. Colin is a cum laude graduate of Colby-Sawyer College in New London, NH with a B.A. in Business Administration.

Michael T. Bearducci, AIF® is a principal and retirement plan specialist with our affiliate Vantage Financial Group, Inc. He specializes in plan design and consulting and managing plan risks and fiduciary responsibilities.

Michael is a Registered Representative of Cetera Advisor Networks LLC and is a member of Cetera’s Retirement Plan Advisory Board. His is also a member of the National Association of Plan Advisors. In 2012, Michael earned the AIF® Designation from the Center for Fiduciary Studies, certifying that he has specialized knowledge of fiduciary standards of care and their application to the investment management process. Michael currently holds FINRA Series 7 and 63 registrations along with Life, A&H, VA licenses. He graduated from Baldwin-Wallace College.

Justin Pagnard joined Vantage Financial Group in January 2011. Justin strives to provide sound financial advice to clients, while helping them develop a plan for both their short- and long-term financial needs. Justin has been working in the financial services industry since 2004.

A 2004 graduate of Bowling Green State University’s College of Business, Justin has experience in unsecured credit underwriting, unsecured credit risk management, retail banking, and investment management.

Currently, Justin is President for the Cleveland chapter of the National Association of Insurance & Financial Advisors (NAIFA) and a former trustees for the Rotary Club of Cleveland.

Justin holds his Series 6, 7, 63 & 65 securities registrations as well as Life, Accident & Health insurance licenses.