Who We Are

We represent people – not their money

Our Firm

Our obligation to deliver compassionate, caring advice guides
our firm and compels us to help every client feel safe and secure in
their financial future.

Our obligation to deliver compassionate, caring advice guides our firm and helps clients feel more informed and confident about their financial future.

As an independent financial services firm, we are not governed by corporate objectives or sales quotas. We represent people – not their money. This attention to your needs, wants, and values allows us to deliver comprehensive financial planning solutions to individuals and families. Our core values of independence, compassion, and consideration are deeply entrenched in what we do. As fiduciaries, your interests are top priority in all situations.

Our service culture is built on exceeding expectations at every turn. Whenever you call or stop by our office, we treat it as an opportunity to brighten your day and deepen the long-term relationship we seek to build. Our never-ending devotion to quality service includes client appreciation events and multiple one-on-one meetings throughout the year to help clients stay informed of progress made on their financial goals.

As an independent financial services firm, we are not governed by corporate objectives or sales quotas. We represent people – not their money. This attention to your needs, wants, and values allows us to deliver comprehensive financial planning solutions to individuals and families. Our core values of independence, compassion, and consideration are deeply entrenched in what we do. When providing advisory services, we act as fiduciaries and put our clients’ interests first.

Meet the Financial Essentials Team

Our team is committed to helping individuals, families and business owners make informed financial decisions with confidence. Established in Butler, Pennsylvania, Financial Essentials provides financial planning, wealth management, retirement planning, investment and insurance services to clients in Butler County, Cranberry Township and surrounding communities. Meet the people behind Financial Essentials, then click on each book to discover more of their personal story.

Mark Stallsmith

Senior Advisor

Mark Stallsmith is a senior advisor and owner of Financial Essentials. With more than 30 years of experience, Mark provides comprehensive wealth management guidance with a focus on financial planning, business planning, estate analysis, insurance and investment services. Mark holds a Master of Science in Financial Services from The American College and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Clarion University. He is a Chartered Life Underwriter® (CLU®), Chartered Financial Consultant® (ChFC®) and Chartered Special Needs Consultant® (ChSNC®). Mark is a Certified Kingdom Advisor®, and a Ramsey Smartvestor Pro.

Becky Stallsmith

Brokerage Facilitator

Becky Stallsmith works in Medicare and Brokerage Services with Financial Essentials. A licensed life and health professional, she has managed the firm’s insurance division for nearly 20 years and handles long-term care and disability brokerage operations. Becky advises clients on Medicare Advantage plans, Prescription Drug Plans and Medicare Supplements and shares her knowledge through educational events focused on Medicare and health benefits.

Debbie Deal

Accounting Operations Coordinator

Debbie Deal joined Financial Essentials in 2018 and serves as the firm’s Accounting Operations Coordinator. Her work includes bookkeeping, accounting operations, ledgers and spreadsheets, and she stays informed about changing tax rules and regulations. Debbie holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Robert Morris University. Outside the office, she enjoys baking, camping, reading and spending time with her family.

Mary Brewer

PR/Creative Tech

Mary Brewer manages communications and creative technology for Financial Essentials, working across print, digital, audio, video and web projects. She also supports client communications through newsletters, signage and special events. Mary holds an undergraduate degree in communications from Emmanuel College and brings years of experience in graphic design and web development. Outside the office, her creative interests include music, art and design.

Andrea Anderson

Lead Administrative Support

Andrea Anderson brings years of financial-services experience to her role as Lead Administrative Support at Financial Essentials. Her background includes portfolio management, office ethics and business suitability, and she holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Shippensburg University. Andrea has made Butler, Pennsylvania her home for many years and enjoys spending time with her family, biking, hiking, camping and reading.

Josh horstman

Paraplanner Professional

Josh Horstman is a Paraplanner Professional with Financial Essentials. He is licensed in Life, Accident and Health, including Medicare and individual and family health coverage. Josh is also a certified arborist and serves his community as a volunteer firefighter with Penn and Connoquenessing Townships.

Cassie Neel

Client Relation Concierge

Cassie Neel is a Client Relation Concierge with Financial Essentials, helping support the client experience and relationships that are central to the firm. Outside the office, Cassie enjoys an active outdoor lifestyle that includes hiking, biking, running, kayaking and fishing. She is also involved in her church as a youth leader and has participated in local and international mission trips.

Hannah Mohan

First Impression/Admin

Hannah Mohan is the First Impression Coordinator and Office Administrator at Financial Essentials, providing clients with a welcoming environment, while supporting the day-to-day administrative needs of the office.

Alex Cetnar

Administrative Paraplanner

Alex Cetnar serves as an Administrative Paraplanner at Financial Essentials, where he works alongside advisors to help build, optimize and implement financial plans. He brings a strong technical background to the role, and enjoys combining his analytical background with his interest in strategy and working with people.

You

When we talk about our team, we can’t leave out one of our most important team members… You!

You are why we do what we do. We want to help you accomplish your dreams. So… where do you want to go from here?

Our Mission

Our mission is to Educate and Empower our clients to achieve financial Freedom while staying committed to our values and Faith.

Faith, Educate, Freedom, and Empower are words we base our practice on.

We get to know where you are today and where you want to be in the future, and craft all of this knowledge into a highly personalized plan. The planning process is ongoing — as life happens. The goals and situation you are in today aren’t always the same as they are tomorrow. Thus as you change, your plan changes. Annual reviews are an extremely important part of our practice and your complete success.

We understand the challenges families face today. From managing debt, to saving for college, to planning for retirement, personal finance challenges can be overwhelming. Our commitment is to utilize all of our resources to help you pursue your goals. We are not afraid to challenge conventional wisdom in our approach to investing and preserving wealth. All of our energy, commitment, and efforts are focused on you and your satisfaction.

Licensing

We have individuals who are licensed to sell insurance in the following jurisdiction:

We have individuals who are licensed to sell securities in the following jurisdiction:

Please note that Financial Planning cannot communicate with, nor respond to requests from users who reside in jurisdictions where Mark G. Stallsmith is not licensed to conduct insurance and/or securities business.