Support Team

Sarah is responsible for overseeing the operations of the practice. She created and executes a methodic process that keeps Mike on track so he can keep our clients on track to achieving their financial goals. Her in-depth knowledge of marketing, processing, and resource management, she continuously ensures the practice delivers the first-in-class experience our clients have come to except.

Sarah graduated with a Bachelors in Communications from Southern Connecticut State University. She also frequently takes part in community service of St. Francis Church in Naugatuck. Her hobbies include spending time with family, kickboxing, dance, and Zumba.

With nearly a decade of experience in the financial service industry, Gorete is responsible for managing the service work of the financial planning process for the practice. Gorete manages more than a hundred financial plans and plan updates for clients each year. She works closely with Mike and his clients to ensure all financial information is accurate and properly implemented for efficient processing.

Gorete’s commitment to her work has given her in-depth understanding on how to manage the financial planning process, which allows Michael more time to interact face to face with clients and provide the personalized guidance and solutions they deserve.

Gorete graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Technology from the University of Connecticut, as well as receiving her MBA in Finance from Post University. Gorete lives in Ansonia, Connecticut with her husband Davidson. She enjoys spending time with her family at the beach, exercising, and visiting local breweries.

Steve brings over 25 years of experience of financial services industry experience to the team. He has worked in a variety of roles in those years, including sales, operations and compliance. He was previously with Barnum Financial Group from 2004 through 2015 as a financial planner and worked with Mike many times. He came back in 2018 to work for the team. Steve is responsible for financial planning analysis, product analysis and research. Steve holds FINRA Series 7, 24, 63 and 66 registrations.

Tom assists Mike in managing the investments, portfolios, trading, new accounts, and transactions. Tom is licensed Series 7 and Series 66. Prior to joining Team Lynch, Tom received a Bachelor’s degree in Business from the University of Connecticut. Immediately following undergrad, he enrolled in Western New England University where he earned a joint degree, a Juris Doctor with a concentration in Business Law and a Master’s in Business Administration. Before starting with Mike’s team, Tom was a clerk in the New Haven Superior Court and then practiced law for three years. Tom is a fully licensed attorney in Connecticut but does not currently practice.

Alisa Olsen is a Certified Financial Planner professional focusing on bringing Mike’s Simple and Big message to generations Y and Z. She is passionate about the promise of using financial planning to help clients build and protect to live their best lives.  Alisa has 16 years of industry experience working with clients to create financial success. She’s spent the last eight years has been creating customized financial plans.  Alisa holds a bachelor’s in finance from Sacred Heart University.  She lives in Trumbull, CT with her husband and two young children.

Joe is responsible for assisting with the back-office functions of the practice. He opens new accounts, transfers money, generates investment reports, and does anything that Mike needs to be done in order to facilitate excellent client service.

Joe is new to the team. He graduated from Clemson University with a BA in Economics in May 2021. While working at Barnum, he is also still in school working on his MA in Economics as well as his Certified Financial Planner designation. In his limited spare time, he likes hanging out with his fiancé, competing in triathlons, and watching Star Wars.

Kate provides case design support in the areas of estate and business planning helping to create sophisticated personalized strategies for individuals, families, and businesses. Prior to joining Barnum, Kate was an estate planning, probate and elder law associate with the law firm of Bishop, Jackson & Kelly, LLC in Milford, Connecticut. She assisted with legacy planning and estate administrations as well as public benefits and special needs planning. Kate is admitted to the Connecticut Bar and is a member of the Connecticut Bar Association’s Estates and Probate and Elder Law sections.

*Licensed but not practicing. 

John works with us to develop and implement investment strategies tailored to meet each client’s personal needs, opportunities and goals. John earned an undergraduate degree in economics from Hartwick College and a MBA with a focus on entrepreneurship and international management from the University of New Hampshire. John also earned his Certified Investment Analyst® (CIMA®) designation, which represents the Investment Management Consultants Association’s highest standards of excellence for investment management consulting and wealth advising services.

I am licensed and registered to offer products and services in CT. Licenses and registrations will vary.  Domiciled in CT.

Matthew Teel is a highly valued resource in complex life, disability, and long term care insurance plan design and sales. His career has evolved from his roots as an intern at a major wire house to running his own financial advisory practice to his current role as Agency Director of Protection Products for Barnum Financial Group the #1 Firm at MetLife for 2012. Today, he leads a team that supports the consulting and sales efforts of nearly 300 financial services representatives, focusing on life, disability income, and long term care insurance.

Matthew’s emphasis is on the utilization of insurance from a holistic wealth management perspective. His work focuses on using life insurance as a key retirement planning tool, most notably in the areas of income replacement, estate planning, business succession planning, and retirement and executive benefits. He is well versed in both basic and advanced business and estate planning concepts and is effective at taking complex topics and making them understandable to both advisors and their clients. As a result, he has given numerous seminars and main stage presentations, as well as conducting small group and individual consultations. A major component of his work is to gain an understanding of each client’s needs and opportunities and to present complex strategies in the context of their overall wealth management strategy. Of critical importance, Matthew scours the available universe of product solutions to identify the ideal combination of carrier and policy design to meet those needs. It is this ability that has made him a key resource to help enhance the client/advisor relationship for the many financial services representatives he and his team support.

I am licensed and registered to offer products and services in CT Licenses and registrations will vary. Domiciled in CT. CA Insurance License # 0K13627  AR Insurance License #8321960

Recognizing the transformation in the financial services industry as it evolved from transaction-based to holistic financial planning, Jeremy developed Barnum Financial Group’s initiative to provide comprehensive advice and innovative solutions to its clients. Today, as the Director of Financial Planning, he oversees a team of consultants who provide in-depth analysis and thoughtful creative strategies to help Barnum’s clients meet their personal short and long-term goals. He also consults with attorneys and accountants on complex cases on behalf of the firm’s clients.He and his team serve as a valuable resource to the firm’s advisors, providing insights and support in all areas of wealth management. Jeremy has developed the firm’s financial planning training curriculum and leads a number of educational programs each year. In addition, he is a noted speaker and topic expert in the areas of Social Security, advanced IRA strategies, and estate planning.

A life-long learner, Jeremy has earned numerous industry designations in areas key to the development of an effective financial plan. He is a Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®), the recognized standard of excellence for competent and ethical personal financial planning. Jeremy also earned the Chartered Financial Consultant® (ChFC®), whose recipients gain in-depth knowledge of the key financial planning disciplines including insurance, income taxation, retirement planning, investments and estate planning. He is both a designated 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, as well as 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. Jeremy also holds his Life and Health Insurance license and Series 6, 7, 24, 63, and 65 securities registrations.

I am licensed and registered to offer products and services in CT. Licenses and registrations will vary.  Domiciled in CT.

For over five years, Greg has helped clients plan for retirement and other goals utilizing forward thinking strategies that target their specific objectives. A key area of focus during his career as a financial services representative was providing risk management solutions including life and disability income insurance. Today, he leverages that experience to support the consulting and sales efforts of over 350 financial planners and advisors serving the protection and risk management needs of clients in all fifty states.

Greg’s approach is to make insurance an integral component of each client’s comprehensive wealth management plan. He provides strategies that leverage insurance for wealth preservation, wealth accumulation, wealth transfer planning and access to liquidity. He has a broad and deep understanding of the various insurance products available and works to find the best solution for each situation.