A Wealth Management Team that works for YOU!
Stonegate Wealth Management, LLC is a fee-only wealth management firm. We do not receive payments from any third parties--we only work for you.
We are committed to providing you with the most comprehensive wealth planning services. Thus we will review all aspects of your financial circumstance including but not limited to: insurance, estate planning, retirement planning, education planning, etc.
We provide asset management services with portfolios designed to match your particular needs, goals and risk tolerance. We spend a great deal of time understanding your unique needs and tailoring the portfolio to greatly increase the odds you will meet all your goals. Since our selection of investment vehicles is unencumbered by the influence of commissions we can choose the best vehicles available from the thousands of options. We actively work to minimize the costs to our clients and act as your advocate.
Please note that our wealth management services are most appropriate for those with over $1,000,000 in invested assets.
Few firms have a team with our depth of knowledge and experience. Our team, headed by our founders includes CPA’s, Certified Financial Planners (CFP), and Chartered Financial Analyst Charter holders (CFA) and an attorney (JD). We also have advanced degrees in Finance (MBA) and Financial Planning (MS in Financial Planning).
We invite you to review this web site. Please pay particular attention to the page that describes our services in detail and how they may benefit you. Also take a look at the page titled “Frequently asked Questions,” and the page describing how our services benefited some of our clients,
Case Studies.
If you'd like to see a detailed presentation that describes our philosophy go to the page titled Client Forms (under Client service Center) for the presentation.
Your Team
Thomas J. Geraghty, Jr. CPA, CFP®, CDFA, CRPC, (
tomg@stonegatewealth.com), is a Principal and Partner and Senior Wealth Manager with Stonegate Wealth Management LLC.
Tom Geraghty is a graduate of Seton Hall University New Jersey with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting. He currently holds the professional designations of Certified Financial Planner, Certified Divorce Financial Analyst, Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), and is a licensed Certified Public Accountant.
He is a member of numerous professional organizations including the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), the New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants (NJSCPA), and the Florida Institute of CPAs. He is also a trained Ed Slott IRA Elite Advisor, a member of the Financial Planners Association, and he was an active board member of The Northern New Jersey Society of the Institute of Certified Financial Planners.
In addition to being a practicing Certified Public Accountant in the State of New Jersey for more than twenty-five years and a principal in his own accounting firm for nineteen years, Tom Geraghty was the Chief Financial Officer of the Township of Berkeley Heights for eleven years
The breadth and depth of knowledge and professional experience makes Tom uniquely qualified as a Comprehensive Financial, Estate and Investment planner. His thirst for knowledge and high energy level keeps him on the cutting-edge of the financial planning profession. He is often asked to lecture to professional organizations, employee groups and civic associations on topics such as financial planning, estate planning, risk management, employee benefits and other related areas. He is often quoted in publications including Kipplinger's and the NJCPA magazine
Tom Geraghty is dedicated to “holistic” financial, estate and investment planning and, together with his professional staff, will successfully integrate and manage the material areas of a client’s finances by identifying deficiencies, recommending changes, and facilitating the achievement of financial goals through both short-term and long-term strategies. Tom takes great pride in Stonegate’s ability to provide quality comprehensive financial planning and sound advice to each and every client.
Tom Geraghty is married and has four children.
Stephen C. Craffen, B.E., MBA, M.S., CFA, ChFC, CLU, CDFA, NAPFA - Registered Financial Advisor, (
stevec@stonegatewealth.com)
, is an Principal and Partner and Senior Wealth Manager with Stonegate Wealth Management.
He is a graduate of Stevens Institute of Technology (Engineering), Rutgers University (Business), and the College for Financial Planning. He has received a Masters in Business Administration with a concentration in investments and finance and a Masters of Science in financial planning with concentrations in estate planning and retirement planning. Steve is a Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU), Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA), and is a CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) charter holder.
The CFA is recognized as a hallmark of excellence in securities analysis throughout the United States and the World. Achieving this designation requires passing three sequential examinations over a minimum of three years, having worked in the investment profession analyzing or managing investments for over three years, and agreeing to abide by the CFA Institute's code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct.
Steve has an extensive background in retirement planning, estate, and tax issues that greatly benefits clients. He had a prior career as an electrical engineer. Steve founded Stonegate Wealth Management (formerly known as the Baron Financial Group) in 1993. Stonegate Wealth Management became fee-only in 1998 so the firm could provide its clients with the highest level of financial planning and investment advisory services on a cost-effective basis and without bias.
Steve is a member of the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors, (NAPFA). He is a member of NAPFA's board of directors for the Eastern Region. NAPFA is the nation's premier organization of Fee-Only financial advisors. NAPFA members adhere to a strict code of ethics and sign an oath stating they will not accept compensation from any third party and will not accept commissions of any kind. He is also a member of the CFA Institute (formerly the Association for Investment Management Research. (AIMR)), and the New York Society of Securities Analysts (NYSSA).
He has held many workshops for the public and charitable organizations over the years on a variety of financial planning and investment topics. Steve has been a regular guest and occasional guest host for a radio show devoted to financial planning for consumers. He is often quoted by local and national publications including Investors Business Daily, Bloomberg Personal, Business Week Online, the Chicago Tribune, the Associated Press, the Bergen Record , Investment News, Financial Advisor Magazine, the Newark Star Ledger, the Daily Record, the Smart Money Guide to Real Estate, (Gerri Willis, author) and the Physician's Personal Advisory. He has written articles for the American Association of Individual Investors, the NAPFA Advisor and the Bergen Record.
Steve appeared on CNNfn's show "Open House," hosted by Gerri Willis. Steve discussed real estate including home ownership and owning investment properties.
Steve has been named by Worth Magazine (October 2008) as one of the top advisors in the United States
He is married and has one child. His hobbies include reading, photography, sports cars, and karate.
Craig R. Marson JD, CPA (
craigm@stonegatewealth.com), is a Principal and Partner and Senior Wealth manager with Stonegate Wealth Management.
Craig joined Stonegate during 2007 and brings over two decades of experience in the wealth management and tax planning fields.
From 2003 through 2007 Craig worked for two Registered Investment Advisors, Gerstein Fisher and American Economic Planning Group, in roles ranging from Financial Planner/Wealth Manager to Chief Compliance Officer. Prior to that, he spent five and one-half years with Sontag Advisory, a Registered Investment Advisor located in New York City. There he was a member of the investment policy committee and was directly responsible for the analysis and allocation of client investment portfolios. He also managed the firm’s compliance and administrative functions.
Craig was previously a tax manager for TAG, a wealth management concern located in New York City. He was responsible for the tax compliance, estate planning, research and projections for a prominent family within New York’s investment and philanthropic community. In this role, Craig was the primary tax contact for over 80 entities ranging from corporations to complex trusts.
From 1991 through 1994, Craig was a member of the Rockefeller Group, Inc. tax department where he was responsible for consolidated corporate compliance, budgeting and various Federal and State and Local Audits. Prior to this, he spent over five years with the tax department of two Big Six accounting firms, with responsibility for a wide variety of research and compliance issues for corporate and individual clients.
Craig is a New York State licensed Attorney and CPA. He received his undergraduate degree in accounting from SUNY @ Albany and his JD from St. John’s University. He previously served on the SUNY @ Albany Dean’s Advisory Board and is a member of various professional organizations.
During the last decade, Craig replaced his passion for competing in marathons and triathlons with any even greater obsession for golf.
Craig resides in Fort Lee, New Jersey with his wife Kerry and daughter Lindsay.
Peggy came to Stonegate with 15 years experience in client relations for DMAC Financial Services. She has been involved in every facet of Financial Planning as well. Prior to that, she worked for AT&T for ten years in both client relations and Marketing as an Account Representative in their Major Accounts Division servicing the larger pharmaceutical clients such as American Cyanamid, Union Carbide and Johnson & Johnson. She was responsible for designing and implementing their telecommunications systems.
Peggy’s greatest asset is her communication skills. She has an excellent rapport with her clients. Peggy’s dedication to her work and her unparalleled organizational skills are both an asset to Stonegate Wealth Management as well as our clients.
In addition to her professional expertise and dedication, Peggy has donated her time and efforts to many charitable organizations including the Saint Cecilia’s Shelter for the Homeless, Human Concerns committees and numerous Breast Cancer events. Throughout the years she has held volunteer positions on several boards at her children’s schools as well coordinating their fund raising events.
Peggy is married and has three daughters. Her hobbies include cooking, entertaining, traveling and spending time with her family.
