Strategic Financial Services

Shannon Cool is a financial advisor at Strategic Financial Services with one year of industry experience. She holds a Series 65 designation and previously worked at Chapter Aesthetic Studio, Mohawk Valley Community College, Hannaford Supermarkets, and Utica University. Strategic Financial Services provides wealth management, institutional advisory, fiduciary retirement plan services, and financial planning to individuals, families, trusts, corporations, not-for-profits, and employer retirement plans. The firm employs model-based investment strategies combined with fundamental analysis and uses digital planning tools to support its client programs.

Justin Hearty is a CFP® professional with five years of experience, currently with Strategic Financial Services. His prior experience includes roles at Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments, Northwestern Mutual, Stewarts Corporation, and Orangetheory Fitness. Strategic Financial Services provides wealth management, institutional advisory, fiduciary retirement plan services, and financial planning to individuals, families, trusts, corporations, not-for-profits, and employer retirement plans. The firm employs model-based investment strategies that integrate quantitative factor tilts, macro and fundamental analysis, and utilizes digital planning tools to support client financial plans.

Judith Vicks Sweet is a CFA® charterholder with four years of industry experience, currently serving at Strategic Financial Services in Utica, NY. She has been with the firm since 1988. Outside of her advisory role, she serves on the governing board of Lifetime Care Companies and participates in finance committees for several nonprofit organizations, including Save the River, ITOG, and the Episcopal Diocese of Central NY. Strategic Financial Services provides wealth management, institutional advisory, fiduciary retirement plan services, and financial planning to individuals, families, trusts, corporations, not-for-profits, and employer retirement plans. The firm employs model-based investment strategies combined with quantitative and fundamental analysis and supplements portfolio management with digital planning tools to support client financial plans.

Matthew Johnson is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with Strategic Financial Services in Utica, NY, bringing two years of industry experience. He previously worked at Grove Point Investments, Cadaret Grant & Co., and several other financial and non-financial organizations. Strategic Financial Services provides wealth management, fiduciary retirement plan services, and institutional advisory to individuals, families, trusts, corporations, not-for-profits, and employer retirement plans. The firm employs a model-based investment approach combining quantitative factor analysis, fundamental research, and the use of sub-advisors, supported by advanced digital planning tools.

Alan Leist is a CFA® charterholder with 29 years of industry experience, currently serving at Strategic Financial Services since 2005. He previously worked at Cadaret, Grant & Co., Inc. for 13 years. Outside of his advisory role, he serves on the board of AAA Northeast, providing strategic guidance and oversight to senior leadership. Strategic Financial Services offers wealth management, institutional advisory, fiduciary retirement plan services, and financial planning to individuals, families, trusts, corporations, not-for-profits, and employer retirement plans. The firm employs model-based investment strategies combining quantitative factor tilts, macro and fundamental analysis, and uses digital planning tools to support client financial plans.

Gregory Tedone is a financial advisor at Strategic Financial Services with 11 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at firms including Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, QCI Asset Management, and TIAA-Cref Individual & Institutional Services. Strategic Financial Services provides wealth management, institutional advisory, fiduciary retirement plan services, and financial planning to individuals, families, trusts, corporations, not-for-profits, and employer retirement plans. The firm employs model-based investment strategies combining quantitative factor tilts, macro and fundamental analysis, and uses digital planning tools to support portfolio management and financial planning.

Alan Leist is a CFP® with 46 years of experience in the financial advisory industry. He has been with Strategic Financial Services since 1989 and previously worked at Cadaret, Grant & Co., Inc. for several decades. Outside of finance, he serves as a director for Indium Corporation of America, a manufacturing company. Strategic Financial Services provides wealth management, institutional advisory, fiduciary retirement plan services, and financial planning to individuals, families, trusts, corporations, nonprofits, and employer retirement plans. The firm employs model-based investment strategies combined with fundamental analysis and utilizes digital planning tools to support financial plans and portfolio management.

Aaron Evans is a CFP® and CFA® with five years of industry experience, currently serving at Strategic Financial Services in Utica, NY. He has been with the firm since 2012. Evans volunteers as a member of the Investment Advisory Group for the Community Foundation of Oneida Herkimer Counties and serves on the Regional Advisory Board for Excellus BCBS in the Central New York region. Strategic Financial Services provides wealth management, institutional advisory, fiduciary retirement plan services, and financial planning to individuals, families, trusts, corporations, not-for-profits, and employer retirement plans. The firm employs model-based investment strategies that integrate quantitative factor tilts, macro and fundamental analysis, and utilizes sub-advisors for specialized needs, supported by digital planning and aggregation tools.

Jacob Storsberg is a financial advisor at Strategic Financial Services with two years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has prior work experience with Michael Collea State Farm and Bank of America Merrill Lynch. Strategic Financial Services provides wealth management, institutional advisory, fiduciary retirement plan services, and financial planning to individuals, families, trusts, corporations, not-for-profits, and employer retirement plans. The firm employs a model-based investment approach that integrates quantitative factor tilts, fundamental analysis, and ETF/mutual fund implementations, supplemented by digital planning tools to support financial plans and portfolio management.

Michael Mcgraw is a CFP® with nine years of industry experience, currently serving at Strategic Financial Services in Utica, NY. He previously worked at Cadaret, Grant & Co., Inc. for six years. Strategic Financial Services provides wealth management, institutional advisory, fiduciary retirement plan services, and financial planning to individuals, families, trusts, corporations, not-for-profits, and employer retirement plans. The firm employs a model-based investment approach that combines quantitative factor tilts, fundamental analysis, and ETF/mutual fund implementations, supported by digital planning tools for scenario analysis and financial projections.

Cody Carnaya is a CFP® professional at Strategic Financial Services with four years of industry experience. He has worked at Strategic Financial Services since 2020 and previously held roles at Equitable Advisors, Wegmans Food Markets, and Central New York Research Corporation. Strategic Financial Services provides wealth management, institutional advisory, fiduciary retirement plan services, and financial planning to individuals, families, trusts, corporations, not-for-profits, and employer retirement plans. The firm employs a model-based investment approach combining quantitative factor tilts, macro and fundamental analysis, and uses digital planning tools to support financial plans and portfolio management.

Benjamin Petell is a financial advisor at Strategic Financial Services with a Series 65 designation and one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Strategic Financial Services in 2023, he worked at Daniel T. Dreimiller, CPA, and has experience at Oak Hill Country Club, St. John Fisher University, and Cedar Lake Country Club. Strategic Financial Services provides wealth management, institutional advisory, fiduciary retirement plan services, and financial planning to a diverse client base including individuals, families, trusts, corporations, not-for-profits, and employer retirement plans. The firm employs a model-based investment approach that integrates quantitative factor tilts, fundamental analysis, and uses sub-advisors for specialized needs, supplemented by digital planning tools for scenario analyses and projections.

Alexys Jacobs is a CFP® professional with one year of experience at Strategic Financial Services. Prior to joining Strategic Financial Services in 2025, Alexys worked at Rockbridge Investment Management and Fust Charles, LLP. Strategic Financial Services provides wealth management, institutional advisory, fiduciary retirement plan services, and financial planning to individuals, families, trusts, corporations, not-for-profits, and employer retirement plans. The firm employs a model-based investment approach that integrates quantitative factor tilts, macro and fundamental analysis, and uses sub-advisors for specialized needs, supplemented by digital planning and aggregation tools.

Sarah Owens is a financial advisor at Strategic Financial Services in Utica, NY. She holds a Series 65 designation and began her advisory career in 2025. Prior to joining the firm, she was affiliated with the University of Manchester and Timperley Altrincham Lacrosse Club and worked at Access Federal Credit Union. Strategic Financial Services serves a diverse client base including individuals, families, trusts, corporations, not-for-profits, and employer retirement plans. The firm employs model-based investment strategies combining quantitative factors, fundamental analysis, and ETF/mutual fund implementations, supported by digital planning tools to assist in financial planning and portfolio management.

Laura Powers is a ChFC® with 12 years of industry experience. She has worked at Strategic Financial Services since 2004 and previously spent nine years at Cadaret, Grant & Co., Inc. Outside of her advisory career, she was involved with Bellavista Restaurant for 16 years. Strategic Financial Services provides wealth management, institutional advisory, fiduciary retirement plan services, and financial planning to a diverse client base including individuals, families, trusts, corporations, nonprofits, and employer retirement plans. The firm employs a model-based investment approach that integrates quantitative factor tilts, macro and fundamental analysis, and uses digital planning tools to support financial plans and portfolio management.