Our Team

For nearly 35 years, Jim has provided comprehensive advice to individuals and businesses in the areas of asset management, retirement planning, estate planning, and employer-sponsored retirement plan consulting.

Jim earned his bachelor’s degree from Shippensburg University. In recognized the benefit of being an independent financial advisor and joined a local firm. In 1997, he establish an independent wealth management firm focused on providing objective advice to his clients as an alternative to the large brokerage firms. As his practice grew, Jim expanded his firm adding service specialists, advisors and analysts to his team.

In 2018, Jim restructured and rebranded his practice under the new firm name Align. As a managing partner, Jim provides leadership to the firm’s two divisions.

In 2007, she made the bold decision to establish her own firm focused on addressing the need for financial literacy and guidance for Lancaster’s workforce. She launched Align Financial Services Group just months before the Financial Crisis began.

Her success in the face of hard times comes from understanding how it feels to be afraid and unsure. Even in less turbulent times, folks are worried and uncertain. This understanding and her dedication to impacting the lives of hard-working men and women are at the heart of everything she does.

Her honesty, empathy, and ability to connect are powerful but Janel also believes that knowledge and expertise are central to doing what’s best for clients.

She is involved in multiple community projects and is often at the center of “getting things done.”  Janel’s most involved, and most rewarding, community endeavor is chairing the steering committee for Lancaster’s MFG DAY, a community-wide celebration to introduce students to the high-demand, high-paying careers in Lancaster’s manufacturing companies.

Jesse joined Align’s team in 2010. After a decade of exceptional performance and skill development, Jesse joined our management team. In his current role, he is responsible for managing retirement plan relationships and ensuring the execution of our “high touch, white glove” service to both plan sponsors and participants. He also supports your advisors by preparing the reports and data we use to execute your plan’s investment and education strategies.

Jesse is your go-to resource for all things related to the operation of your plan. He works diligently to ensure the most timely, efficient, and effective support for questions or situations that arise in your day-to-day plan administration.

When your concern requires advice or recommendations, Jesse is quick to assemble your complete service team to identify and execute a quick and accurate resolution. He is never afraid to get his hands dirty or go the extra mile for his plan clients. His proudest moments are when he can make things easier for you!

Tom brings valuable diversity of expertise to Align’s retirement plans team. With 25 years’ experience with leading retirement plan recordkeepersMerrill Lynch, Lincoln, Ascensus, and Empower, he knows how to get things done with our client’s service providers. With experience that spans recordkeeping and plan administration to client relationship management and participant support, Tom has a practical understanding of how your plan functions at every level.

Tom has his Series 6,7, 63, and 66 securities registration and state insurance license.

Tom’s efforts are concentrated on connecting with plan participants. Whether that means presenting a group session on the value of participation, conducting a workshop on using the plan’s website or meeting 1:1 to help employees enroll, Tom focuses on delivering effective financial education that positively affects employee productivity and engagement

Tyler joined Align in October of 2021, making the transition over from retail banking. He held several different positions at Citizens Bank assisting personal and business clients alike. During the peak of Covid, Tyler was a primary contact for Citizens Business Clients in Lancaster assisting in the Payroll Protection Program. He also held the position of Acting Branch Manager and Licensed Banker during his 4 years with Citizens.

It was during Tyler’s time as a Licensed Banker that he discovered his true passion, helping put clients’ minds at ease planning for retirement. This led him to search for a company and position where he could have a greater impact on clients ultimately leading him to Align. This experience in the retail banking industry set him up to have an immediate impact on client relationships at Align taking on the role of Service Advisor.

Tyler has his series 6 and 63 registrations as well as PA Life and Health.

Originally from Washington, D.C., Erik joined Align in 2016 as an analyst leading our research efforts and overseeing portfolio construction, trading, and planning. “I do my best to help advisors bridge the gap between the black and white world of financial data and the grey world of client goals and objectives,” he says.

Erik leads investment processes across both divisions of Align. Erikleadsdue diligence efforts on investments and allocation strategies, designs and tests portfolio models, and assesses and reports on market activities and economic conditions.

Erik received his MBA from Penn State and his Bachelor of Business Administration from Concordia College, NY. He is a registered staff member, holding securities licenses through Commonwealth Financial Network.

Prior to relocating to Lancaster, Erik served the United States government for 10 years as a civilian and contractor. His professional experience encompasses investigative due diligence, operational risk management, and strategic planning.

Emily joined Align as an intern during the peak of the pandemic, gaining immediate experience of managing risk in volatile times. Upon graduating from Millersville University (degree in Business Administration, concentration in Finance and Economics), she joined Align permanently as an analyst on the investment team.

She discovered her interest in portfolio construction and investment management during her experience with the Marauder Fund Student Investment Association.  Emily was elected for senior leadership roles including CEO and senior analyst of the portfolio. From this invaluable experience, Emily was exposed to various investment strategies, learned securities research techniques, collaborated on research teams, and presented investment recommendations to the Board.  She also led a Women in Business group where she organized professional events and promoted networking opportunities for young females looking to enter the “male-dominated” finance industry.

Emily has her Series 7 securities registration, PA insurance state license, and a Microsoft certification in Excel.

Kathy joined Align as an administrative assistant in 2017, after working in positions with a similar scope.

Her interest in this type of role began after her graduation from Houghton College.  She became proficient with a variety of proprietary office software and different phone systems and even took a medical terminology course as part of a previous job that required transcribing medical dictation.   She has worked for both large and small organizations and has found her own niche here at Align.

Kathy is the first person you are likely to hear when you call our office phone number, and she is always ready and willing to assist and/or connect our clients to the right Align team member.  She also greets our incoming clients when they arrive at the office door, ready with a smile, inquiring about our clients’ needs as they enter the reception area.  She operates with a client-first focus and is always on the lookout for new ways to assist.

Dave seems to have taken the quote “A jack of all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one.” as a blueprint for his life.

With experience in physical therapy, construction, website development, sales, management, operations, and a powerful drive for personal development Dave was a rare job candidate who could fill several roles at once.

Dave joined the Align team in August of 2021 starting out working heavily in client services but has been able to migrate more into a management position as our team has grown.

While it is not uncommon for Dave to answer the phone and help our clients, his primary role is keeping Align running smoothly and in compliance.  No matter what our team is doing for you it is likely that the blog post, form, presentation, or video has crossed his desk at some point.