Jennifer Hatch, CFP^®

President & senior financial advisor

jhatch@christopherstreet.com
(212) 405-1605

If you met Jen at a community event, it’s unlikely that you would peg her as the president of 40+ year-old wealth management firm.  Her warmth, curiosity, and compassion encourage people to settle in and tell their stories. 

Before Jen bought Christopher Street Financial in 1997, she advised portfolio managers at JP Morgan and then Bear Stearns.  But, she found deeper meaning when she applied her investment experience and wisdom to personal financial planning.  Jen believes that each individual who walks through the door has a unique financial journey.  “Coaching people to make sound life decisions in order to live their very best life is my calling.”

Jen believes that it is the duty of Christopher Street Financial to be both an activist and major donor in the LGBTQ+ community. In addition to contributions to dozens of LGBTQ+ causes, she holds leadership positions in several not-for-profit organizations.  Currently those include the Board of Directors of the Rockland Pride Center and Making Gay History, as well as SAGE’s National Leadership Committee.  Jen was a passionate proponent of marriage equality and still loves to volunteer her time speaking to groups and couples.  The name of her presentation has evolved in recent years from What Happens When You Say ‘I Do’ to What Did ‘I Do’?!?

In addition to her work at Christopher Street, Jen and her life partner of almost three decades, own and manage commercial and residential rental properties. They love the design challenges of renovating historical buildings. They reside in Nyack, NY, a small, diverse community on the Hudson River, just 20 miles north of Manhattan.

• BA, Political Science, State University of New York, Purchase

Shannon Clark, CFP^®

Senior Financial Advisor | Head of Financial Planning

sclark@christopherstreet.com
(212) 405-1618

With skills garnered over decades of experience, Shannon helps clients connect their financial “big picture” to what lies ahead. She enjoys finding ways to make dreams happen and creating plans to protect families and financial futures. She believes that everyone deserves access to good quality, holistic financial advice. Having experienced firsthand the discrimination that can happen to women and the LGBTQ+ community, she is proud to be part of a firm that provides a safe space for people to explore their futures and gain an understanding of their options as it applies to their personal stories. 

Her experience in the industry has taken Shannon coast-to-coast, working with financial planning firms, trust companies, and money managers. This diverse experience has given her a broad view of the financial planning industry, its strengths and weaknesses, and a means to better serve our clients. For Shannon, the best part of being a planner is the moment when she sees a client’s shoulders relax because they understand the choices they have ahead, knowing they have a partner to help guide the way. 

While she currently lives in Minnesota (just outside of Minneapolis), she is enjoying the chance to be part of the New York scene from afar. She graduated from Carleton College in southern Minnesota, then struck off to live in California and Colorado before returning to her home state back in 2000. And yes, she has seen Fargo.

Outside of the office, Shannon holds the full-time job of being a single mom to school-age twins. While she studied hard to get the position, her two children continually teach her that mommyhood is a fluid job, and sometimes you just have to stop and smell the roses. Minnesota offers so many opportunities to be outdoors with hiking, camping and cross-country skiing topping the family’s list. She is dedicated to locally sourced food, growing vegetables, canning and supporting the community to create clean, local food sources.

• BA, Psychology, Carleton College, MN

Jamie McGill, CFP^®

Senior Financial Advisor

jmcgill@christopherstreet.com
(212) 405-1601

As a Financial Advisor, Jamie guides clients to identify and prioritize what is important to them, plan for their goals, and help them navigate stressful markets and life changes. Jamie also partners with tax, legal, and trust professionals to coordinate and customize plans to the unique needs of a highly diverse client base. 

Jamie’s career at Christopher Street Financial helps him live his values in ways he never experienced in other work environments. He believes that financial education and empowerment are forms of social justice. Jamie is proud to work with very successful people who, like himself, once believed that things like financial abundance weren’t available to them because of their sexual orientation. 

Jamie held various roles in banking and financial services before joining Christopher Street Financial. The role of Retirement Counselor for a major health network brought Jamie to NYC in 2010. This was his first experience working with clients to achieve a financial goal and inspired him to earn his CFP^® designation.  

Jamie enjoys exploring, which ranges from various neighborhoods of the five boroughs to international travel, hiking and biking. An avid history nerd, Jamie is always in the middle of a good non-fiction book. Jamie lives in Astoria, Queens, and enjoys the best of both worlds by spending time with his family in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania. 

• BS, Finance, Pennsylvania State University

Anthony Lam

Financial Advisor

alam@christopherstreet.com
(212) 405-1603

Anthony is Christopher Street’s international transplant, having lived and worked in two other countries before relocating to New York City. 

Starting his career in London, UK, Anthony obtained his Chartered Accountant designation at KPMG. After more than a decade of corporate experience across a range of sectors he moved down under to Sydney, Australia. Doubling down on life changes, he began exploring alternative careers that leveraged his existing experience and skills but provided a greater sense of purpose, which led him to earn his Australian CFP® designation. 

With five years experience as a Board Director of an Australian LGBTQ+ charity, joining Christopher Street aligned to Anthony’s desire to continue his service within a purpose-driven community. While Anthony didn’t feel excluded in his previous workplaces as an LGBTQ+ person, he felt there was an unspoken barrier in his workplace and didn’t see himself represented in his clients. Being at Christopher Street enables Anthony to leverage his diverse experiences across geographies, industries and professions to be an empathetic ear to his clients. He enjoys helping them to discover their “What, Why, and Where,” and creating a plan to achieve these – for all clients, not just the most visible.

With the relocation to NYC with his husband, Ben, and fur-child, Piper the American Shorthair (how appropriate!), Anthony is enjoying exploring the boroughs for their diversity of food, people and experiences. When not helping Christopher Street clients, he can be found in the gym or at Barry’s Bootcamp counterbalancing the bottomless brunch with friends, the latest Broadway show, or gallery exhibit. Having visited 23 countries across 4 continents so far, he’s an avid traveler who combines a passion for experiencing new places and cultures with his love of photography, documenting moments in time on his beloved Leica camera.  

• BA, Accounting and Law, The University of Manchester, United Kingdom

Brandyn Shetler, CFP^®

Associate financial advisor

bshetler@christopherstreet.com
(212) 269.2968

Brandyn was born and raised in Charlotte, NC, but most of his family lived in Ohio or Canada. He has two sisters and two very sweet nieces who mean the world to him. His younger twin sister is the reason for his name being spelled with a “Y”. His mom’s fifth grade class at the time gave her the idea to spell the last part of his name the same as his twin’s, Kaitlyn.

Starting his career off at Vanguard, Brandyn, obtained his CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® certification after close to four years with the company. He held many different roles during his time there, but the most meaningful were his roles as a financial advisor, followed by a high-net-worth financial advisor. As a high-net-worth financial advisor, he worked with 150 different households as their sole advisor on many different financial planning topics.

He has family that has fought against discrimination all their lives in the LGBTQ+ community, and it made financial planning for them much tougher.  This made joining Christopher Street an easy choice as it aligns with his belief that everyone should have a decision-making partner that makes them feel heard and meets them where they are.

When he’s not thinking about or reading up on the latest retirement planning and tax strategies, he is trying to recreate a dish from the last restaurant he went to. He enjoys most things sports, travelling, wine, food, and hosting friends and family with a beautiful charcuterie board. Most Sundays, you can find him laying out at a park before football starts. He also likes to get in touch with his creative side from time to time by making his own bracelets with metal and stone beads. 

• BA, Economics, University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Keith Roberts

Financial Planning Associate

kroberts@christopherstreet.com
(212) 405-1608  

As a former Principal Dancer with American Ballet Theatre and a Tony-nominated Broadway performer, Keith entered the world of finance as the second act in his career. His passion was ignited from the financial course work at business school. Wealth management combined his business acumen with his desire to connect with people and became the balance he was looking for in the new chapter in his life.

Christopher Street Financial is the perfect place to work and provides the opportunity to learn and grow within a community that means so much to him. As an Associate, Keith assists the Financial Advisors in preparing for the clients’ needs. The best part of his day is meeting people and hearing their unique life stories.

Keith volunteers at the non-profit mentorship network, Second Act, as a board advisor. He is committed to helping dancers navigate their way into higher education. He lives in Battery Park City with his partner, Joseph, and two long-haired chihuahuas, Spark and Ember. On weekends, you might catch him riding his bike with his dogs in their backpacks around the island of Manhattan.

• BA, Economics & Philosophy, Columbia University
• MBA, Finance, Columbia Business School

Andrew Pollack

FINANCIAL PLANNING ASSOCIATE

apollack@christopherstreet.com
(212) 405-1611

Andrew brings over five years of financial planning experience to Christopher Street Financial. His passion for finance began in college at Northwestern University, where he recognized the vital need for financial literacy among his peers. This drive led him to pursue a career where he could make a meaningful impact on others' financial well-being.

Before joining Christopher Street Financial, Andrew honed his skills at two other firms. He began his career at Tortoise Investment Management, where he not only worked with a diverse range of clients but also played a key role in developing a program aimed at educating younger clients about the importance of financial planning. His comprehensive experience has equipped him with the ability to address a wide array of financial needs and objectives.

Andrew is enthusiastic about continuing his journey with Christopher Street Financial, where he looks forward to contributing his expertise and collaborating with a team committed to delivering exceptional financial guidance.

A proud native of Westchester, New York, Andrew now lives in Manhattan with his fiancé, Zach, and their beloved orange cat, Pumpkin. In their free time, the couple enjoys exploring the city’s dynamic restaurant scene and savoring a glass of Sauvignon Blanc at their favorite wine bar. Outside of work, Andrew keeps busy by running along the West Side Highway, immersing himself in a good book, or enjoying karaoke nights with friends—a nod to his college a cappella days.

• BS, Learning & Organizational Change, Northwestern University

Sara Doroodian

Paraplanner

sdoroodian@christopherstreet.com
(212) 405-1619  

Sara is a small-town girl from Ohio whose dream was always to live in a big city.  She finally was able to do so two years ago when she decided to go to graduate school in Boston, and finally moving to New York City, shortly after graduating.

Sara is the proud daughter of two Iranian immigrants, making it essential for her to work for a company like Christopher Street that showed the importance of diversity and inclusion. Growing up, her dad would always tell her how important it is to manage your money and expressed the need to start investing early for retirement. After taking a course in financial planning during undergrad where she got a glimpse of the life of a financial advisor, she knew that she wanted to eventually help people reach their financial goals.

In her free time, Sara loves trying new cuisines, exploring the city with friends, and trying the new items at Trader Joes. She’s also a huge dog lover and wants to adopt one in the near future. 

• BBA, Finance, Ohio University
• MS, International Business, Hult International Business School

Timothy Kim

Business analyst & Paraplanner

tkim@christopherstreet.com
(212) 405-1615  

From beginning his career by implementing paid search ads to finding Christopher Street Financial through a fateful Google search, Tim never expected to have found a firm that was equally warm and down-to-earth as the firm was talented and progressive.

Tim is a recent career changer, but personal finance and financial literacy have always been core values to him as he was growing up. His parents would always encourage him to be a good steward with his money and reminded him daily it was never too early to start saving for retirement, even when he was only a high school sophomore at the time. However, being from a first-generation immigrant household, he noticed that money could often be the elephant in the room which led to financial negligence and second guessing the future.

So, it seemed like a match made in heaven when he found Christopher Street Financial, a firm whose pride is the work they produce and the empathy they have for serving a demographic that has been underrepresented for generations. As a paraplanner, he is proud to say that he assists advisors and is one of the many hands behind the scenes of all the meticulous planning. Even in another life, Tim wouldn’t have been able to pick a better place than Christopher Street Financial.

Outside of work where Tim is not obsessively creating Excel worksheets for the team, he enjoys learning all things health and fitness, discovering new music, and watching movies with his wife, Jenny.

• BS, Psychology, Syracuse University

Rick de Beauclair

Director of Client Services

rdebeauclair@christopherstreet.com
(212) 405-1613

As Director of Client Services, Rick leads the people responsible for making the magic happen behind the scenes. His team handles our clients’ accounts with personalized care to ensure their administrative needs are met efficiently, and money gets to where it needs to be on time. Our clients often hear from Rick, not only to confirm trades or distribution requests, but remember personal details like birthdays, grandkids, and definitely a pet or two!   

Rick served in the Air Force for 20 years in healthcare management and joined Christopher Street Financial in 2003 where he has found fulfillment from hearing clients’ stories and watching their goals being achieved over the years.  

Outside of Christopher Street Financial, Rick enjoys hiking, bike riding, snow skiing and especially traveling. He lives in Northern New Jersey with his miniature Dachshund, Oliver. 

• BS, Management Studies, University of Maryland Global Campus

Concetta Gioeli

Client Service Specialist

cgioeli@christopherstreet.com
(212) 405-1614

As a Client Service Specialist at Christopher Street Financial, Concetta brings over 5 years of client service experience to the team. Her primary goal is building strong relationships as she ensures all service needs are taken care of thoroughly, accurately, and efficiently.  

Concetta began her career as a Registered Client Service Associate at Morgan Stanley. While at Morgan Stanley, she developed a strong understanding of the financial services industry and became fully licensed with her Series 7 and 66. Currently, Concetta is enrolled at the Zicklin School of Business at Baruch College, pursuing a Master of Business Administration degree. 

This past year, Concetta, and her long-time partner, Sydney, bought and renovated their first home in Long Beach, NY. As avid animal lovers, they have fostered multiple dogs and recently adopted their Great Pyrenees Mix, Oslo. While their 18-year-old cat, Autumn, wasn't too keen of him at first, they now play together and play tricks on each other. Outside of work, Concetta also loves hiking, watching documentaries, and experiencing new things. 

Jennifer Date

Client Service Specialist

jdate@christopherstreet.com
(212) 379-4054

Jennifer has a passion for social justice issues and is proud to be a part of a firm that values diversity and equity. She has seen firsthand the inequities that exist in marginalized communities and is a strong advocate in closing these gaps and ensuring that all have equal access to resources. With a strong interest in financial literacy, she enjoys working behind the scenes to ensure clients receive excellent service. 

Prior to joining Christopher Street Financial, Jennifer has experience in the banking and finance industry, working closely with clients to create and achieve their financial goals. She believes that it is important to actively listen to clients' needs, get to know one another and build trust to best support them.  

Jennifer is a city girl, living in New York her whole life. She is a first-generation college student. Her values and beliefs stem from her parents who immigrated to America from the Caribbean. Jennifer enjoys spending quality time with her family, listening to stories about life in the Caribbean.  

• BS, Information Systems Management, CUNY SPS
• BA, Accounting, Berkeley College

Mark Franczyk, CFP^®

Chief Executive Officer

mfranczyk@christopherstreet.com
(917) 573-1749

As Chief Executive Officer, Mark leads the tremendous team that is Christopher Street Financial. In this role, he ensures the Company stays true to providing relationship-based financial planning to the diverse LGBTQ+ community and those who share our values. Mark also oversees the daily operations of the company, coordinating the Advisor, Client Services, and Administrative teams in service of our clients and community.

Mark began his career in finance as an Investment Banker at JP Morgan where he worked in various capacities across Credit Risk, Syndicated & Leveraged Finance, and Mergers & Acquisitions. His last role at the firm was as a VP in Equity Capital Markets where he covered financial institutions, including financial planning firms.

Despite a genuine passion for working in finance, Mark’s dedication to family is unequaled. After nearly a decade, Mark stepped back from banking in anticipation of the birth of his son via surrogacy. This hiatus from finance presented two opportunities of a lifetime. First, he enrolled in the French Culinary Institute’s Professional Pastry Arts Program, graduating with distinction before working for a year in New York City with a Michelin-starred restaurant group. Second, and best of all, was the long-awaited birth of his son, which brought him the equally rewarding and challenging role of stay-at-home dad until Gavin started school.

Returning to the working world with Christopher Street Financial has been an unparalleled experience. Mark is able to combine his love of family and finance in ways he never imagined possible. Every day, he feels lucky to work with a caring, collaborative, and dedicated team of distinct individuals who share a common vision: to create opportunities for our clients in an environment that recognizes and values each person’s unique perspectives, needs, and goals. We are here for our clients, our community, and one another.

After more than 20 years in New York City, Mark and his family moved to the suburbs. He now lives in Montclair, NJ with Gavin and his husband, Joe, who he met during freshman year at Columbia University. Now, Mark and Joe enjoy nothing more than rediscovering the world through their son’s eyes.

• BA, Economics & Philosophy, Columbia University

Mark Lingenfelter, SHRM-CP

director of employee & client experience

mlingenfelter@christopherstreet.com
(212) 405-1604

As Director of Employee and Client Experience, Mark spends his days answering the questions: “What does it mean to be an employee at Christopher Street Financial?” and “What does it mean to be a client at Christopher Street Financial?”   He oversees the lifecycle of both employees and clients, and feels the relationship between the two is integral to the success of the firm.  Mark handles recruiting strategy, employee development, and does his best to ensure everyone gets cupcakes when a co-worker has a birthday.  Mark is also responsible for Christopher Street’s charitable giving and marketing and branding strategies.  

Previously, Mark served as the secretary and recruiting committee co-chair on the Leadership Council for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, the philanthropic heart of Broadway providing groceries, medication, healthcare and hope to those affected by life-threatening illnesses. Since 2017, Mark has volunteered his time emceeing the annual gala for Camp Koala, whose mission is to provide healthy support and tools for children experiencing grief from the loss of a sibling, parent or primary caregiver.  

Mark pivoted to the world of finance after many years of working in the theatre.   He is the creator and host of The Buggytown Repository, a variety show that he began in 2022 and is performed in his hometown, in smalltown, rural, central Pennsylvania.  After hours and between shows, Mark can sometimes be found standing at a mic, telling a story.  His desire to collect and create experiences is not just a "9 to 5".

• BA, Musical Theatre, Catawba College

Cathy Marino-Thomas

Executive Assistant

cmarinothomas@christopherstreet.com
(212) 405-1612

Cathy comes to Christopher Street Financial with over 30 years of experience as an Executive Assistant. Previously, she spent 26 years at Price Waterhouse Cooper as an EA to multiple Advisory Services Partners. While there, she helped organize a group of LGBT employees to form an LGBT+ diversity circle which is now part of the larger empowerment programs of the firm.

Cathy’s passion is activism. She spent many years as a Buddy in the Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC) Buddy Program visiting people afflicted with HIV/AIDS and assisting them with daily chores, advocacy, and information.

Since 1998, Cathy has worked on the issue of marriage equality, serving as Executive Director of Marriage Equality NY and Board President. After New York State successfully passed marriage equality in 2011, she served as Co-President of Marriage Equality USA until retiring from the role in 2015, once the movement won marriage nationally in the Supreme Court decision, Obergefell v Hodges. Cathy has spoken all over the country about the rights, privileges, and obligations that protect families only through the right to civil marriage. Today Cathy continues her fight for marriage equality by working on the Respect for Marriage Act. “The fight is not over!”

Cathy served as Steering Committee member and organizer for Gays Against Guns, connecting with likeminded activists across the country on the issue of gun control.  Most recently, Cathy served as the Board Chair of Equality New York’s 501(c)(3), an organization that works to elect representatives that will seek equality in the law.

In addition to her dedication to activism, Cathy enjoys spending time with her wife Sheila, grown daughter Jacqueline, and her dog, Luna, who all reside in Queens.  

Cathy will also tell you she is Elton John’s number one fan.

Claudine Desire

Office Manager | Receptionist

cdesire@christopherstreet.com
(212) 405-1600

With 10+ years of administrative experience, Claudine has always loved being part of a team. Knowing that others can trust her to provide the best support possible is uplifting for her. 

Claudine has worked in the technology, legal, hospitality, nonprofit and retail fields. She believes Christopher Street Financial provides an important platform to the LGBTQ+ community, bringing authenticity, acceptance, and a personal touch to their partnerships with clients. As a minority, Claudine has firsthand knowledge of what it is to be marginalized. This personal experience helps her to be an ally and a supporter of the LGBTQ+ community who understands the importance of being seen, heard, and accepted. 

Claudine enjoys weightlifting, spending time with family and friends, and binge-watching TV shows. She was a classically trained ballerina and violinist, spending 10yrs+ in each studying those arts.