About Us
Our mission at Northstar is to value and protect, above all things, the trust that our clients have placed in us. We do this by acting with integrity, always being accountable for our actions, and consistently applying and expanding our expertise. Our team of professionals has been dedicated to this mission since our founding in 1996. Everything we do, from financial planning to investment management, is driven by our client’s needs. Helping them to define their most important goals is our main focus.
Our clients often have complex financial lives that require an experienced hand for guidance and execution. They place trust in our entire team because we work as one unit, with the capability to service and support the financial concerns of a variety of clients.
Professionals, executives, and business owners use our services to organize and monitor their financial lives. Our experience with pensions and governmental plans helps us provide planning services to both active and retired military members. And our level of expertise allows us to guide the financial decision making for trusts, qualified plans, and nonprofits.
Steven B. Girard
Principal/CEO
Steven is the CEO and principal of Northstar Financial Companies, Inc. His long-term approach to financial planning and investing has helped numerous clients achieve their goal of a life lived well. As the leader of our firm, Steven is responsible for developing the planning strategies used by our clients as well as our firm’s overall philosophy and guiding initiatives.
Before founding Northstar in 1996, Steven earned a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of New Hampshire and began his financial services career at MetLife. Wishing to provide his clients with independent thinking and personalized strategies, Steven decided to create his own firm focused on delivering tailored financial services in an ethical manner.
He is currently studying and fulfilling requirements for the rigorous Certified Financial Planner™ certification.
Julia Randall
Financial Advisor/Chief Compliance Officer
Julia is a financial planner and a registered Investment Advisor Representative with Northstar, providing clients with day-to-day support and enabling them to maintain or modify their plans as situations dictate. A detail-oriented individual, she guides clients through a high level of active communication. Julia believes that consistent monitoring and making timely adjustments is an important part of a successful plan.
Julia earned a bachelor’s degree in Communication and English from Temple University. A 20+ year veteran of the financial industry, she brings both management experience and hands-on investment knowledge to the Northstar team. She often coordinates with attorneys on complex estate plans and gifting strategies for high level executives. Her goal is to help bring clients confidence in their planning and a greater understanding of the financial system.
Julia lives in Pennsylvania and enjoys cycling, hiking, camping, kayaking and generally spending time outdoors with her husband Jeff, her two grown boys and her friends.
Andre Ratkai, CFA
Consultant
Andre (Andy) Ratkai, CFA is a Consultant with Northstar. He started with Northstar in January 2023.
Andy received his bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Washington in Seattle. He earned his Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation in 1990. He then went on to found Praxis Advisory Group in 1992. He was President, Chief Investment Officer and provided portfolio management and asset allocation services for stock, bond and mutual fund investors.
Alex Bastron, CFP®
Financial Advisor
Alex is a Certified Financial Planner and asset manager with Northstar. He believes that everyone’s situation is unique and requires a customized solution in order to achieve financial independence and other important life goals. Alex strongly feels that effective and ongoing communication is paramount in any relationship. Beyond that basic relationship need, confidence and comfort in an investment plan and investment portfolio can only happen through proper communication.
Alex earned his bachelor’s degree in Finance from the University of Northern Iowa and has been working in the industry for more than 15 years. He and his wife, Tasha, enjoy all the activities that the Colorado mountains offer and love their dogs, Chloe and Titus, more than they should. They also enjoy spending time with family and attending concerts and sporting events.
Thomas Tuskey, CFP®
Financial Advisor
Thomas is registered with Northstar as an Investment Advisor Representative (IAR) and currently serves as an Advisor in the Pennsylvania office. He is a member of our Investment Committee, and has grown further into an Advisory role upon becoming a CFP® Professional in 2022.
After graduating from The Rutgers Business School in New Brunswick, Thomas began his professional career with Northstar in 2018 as a Client Service Specialist. He prides himself on relentless attention to personalized client service. Thomas loves cultivating new relationships so please feel free to say hello!
Currently residing in Pennsylvania, when he is not working you can usually find Thomas back in New Jersey spending time with his family and friends, cooking something delicious, or studying the financial markets.
Melissa Gemmell
Operations Manager
Melissa is the Operations Manager at Northstar and is a member of the Compliance Committee. She is responsible for managing all the day-to-day needs for the office and staff including record keeping, software systems, custodian relationships, vendor management and staff training. Additionally, Melissa works closely with advisors on life insurance cases and is the primary contact for a number of our industry relationships including brokers and general agents.
Melissa graduated from Rivier College in New Hampshire with a bachelor’s degree in Human Development in 2010. She began her career with Northstar shortly after and has been a part of the team since April 2010.
Melissa resides in Pennsylvania with her husband, Rob. She enjoys yoga, going to the beach, walks, and spending time with her husband, friends and family.
Jovante Anderson
Operations and Compliance Coordinator
Jovante is the Operations and Compliance Coordinator at Northstar, and is a member of the Compliance Committee. In this role, he works closely with the Operations Manager to strengthen his understanding of the day-to-day needs of the company, as well as with the Chief Compliance officer to develop a comprehensive understanding of the industry’s many intricacies. As the needs of the company grow by the day, he aims to combine his expanding knowledge of the industry and his strong familiarity with technology to offer new perspectives on operational/compliance processes with the aim of ensuring everything continues to run smoothly.
Jovante joined the Northstar team in 2021 as a Client Service Specialist following his time working at H & R Block. His experience in the tax preparation industry provided him with unique perspectives and problem-solving skills that he utilized during his time as CSS, and he seeks to further hone in his current role.
When he isn’t at work, Jovante can be found biking around his neighborhood, cooking for his family, or playing video games.
Gavin King
Client Service Specialist
Gavin is the Client Service Specialist at Northstar. As the first point of contact, he is responsible for assisting clients with their day-to-day needs, such as managing account paperwork, handling processing delays with our brokerage partners, and ensuring every question the client has is answered.
Before entering the field of finance, Gavin earned a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Temple University, while working as a handyman and performing in an original band. With this diverse background, he brings adaptability and creative problem-solving to the team.
Outside of work, Gavin enjoys spending time with his extended family, songwriting, playing chess, and watching movies.
Our Approach & Process
Our experiences working with clients over the years has taught us that clearly defined goals are the most powerful drivers of success, and that long-term strategies to meet those goals must be what guides day-to-day decision making. At Northstar, we take the time to help you fully articulate your goals and only act once the strategies we choose are mutually understood. We have also learned that over-extending risk can damage even a well-crafted plan, and that risk takes many forms. Inflation, for instance, is one of the most over-looked obstacles to long-term Plans, and so we measure its impact in everything we do. We also consider the tax implications of each strategy we employ, and how best to minimize that expense.
Of course investment risk is measured and monitored, and we take great care to keep our client’s from assuming too much in their portfolios. The biggest risks, however, are those that are most often unexpected – the devastating shock of a long-term disability, or death. We assess the potential economic impact of such an event for our clients, and ensure that the right strategies are in place to protect them. At Northstar, we believe that active and regular communication is a critical element of effectively working towards goals and managing risks, so we take the time to listen to our clients and apprise them of their progress on a regular basis.
Our process begins with the Initial Strategy Session, where we delve into what is most important to you. We seek to understand and define your goals, your worries and your current financial picture, creating the foundation on which to build your planning structure.
Once we have reviewed the Plan together and agree upon the steps to take, our team will build the machinery necessary to achieve each objective. Taking into account current assets, time frame, tolerance for risk, and savings capabilities, we design a Personal Savings and Investment Plan for each goal. We will review those strategies with you prior to implementation, and then monitor your progress.
Our Services
Retirement planning
- Education funding
- Cash flow analysis
- Estate planning
Gifting strategies
Municipal Bond Separately Managed Accounts through A. H. Williams & Company Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary
- Tax planning
Risk management
Business succession planning
- Business retirement plans
- Executive benefit analysis
Northstar Financial Companies Inc. is a Registered Investment Advisor located in the state of Pennsylvania, providing investment advisory and financial planning services for clients nationally. Advisory services are only offered to clients or prospective clients where Northstar and its representatives are properly registered or exempt from registration.
This website is intended to provide general information about Northstar and its services. It is not intended to offer or deliver investment advice in any way. Information regarding investment services are provided strictly as a courtesy to inform potential clients of our investment philosophy, our service model and how best to contact us for further information. Market data, articles and other content on this website are based on generally available information and are believed to be reliable. Northstar does not guarantee the accuracy of the information contained in this website. The information is of a general nature and should not be construed as investment advice.
Northstar Financial Companies – ADV Part 2 Schedule A
Northstar Financial Companies – Wrap Brochure
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