Edward Sokolowski, CFP®, AIF®, CLU®, ChFC®
Managing Partner and Wealth Advisor, Edward “Ed” Sokolowski is a lifelong resident of Western MA. He graduated from the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in 1992 with a Bachelor of Science in Finance. As a child he remembers visiting his older sister at her office in downtown Springfield, mesmerized by the sounds and sights of the stock market tickers, Ed knew finance was in his future. In college Ed’s Economics Professor instilled in him the value of investments, explaining that when you lose money it takes twice as much effort to earn it back. It was then he chose to steer clear of quick fix stock trading and pave a career path applying the conservative philosophy of long-term investing.
Ed began the licensing process before graduation and promptly joined EQ Financial Consultants out of college. Within two years, Ed’s hard work and dedication propelled him into management. While Ed always valued slow and steady investments, he thrives under the pressure of risky and challenging environments. In 1995 Ed moved his family to New York, seeking a fast-paced setting to push him out of his comfort zone.
Armed with valuable experience, Ed was recruited back to Western MA in 1999 to work for Palmer Goodell Financial Group, LLC. Ed witnessed the corporate sale of Palmer Goodell to TD Bank and quickly realized the need to provide a local, relationship-focused, comprehensive approach to financial planning. Together with business partners Joseph Leonczyk and Charles Myers, Pioneer Valley Financial Group, LLC opened their doors in March 2002.
President’s Club Advisors benefit from an intensive learning and networking experience designed to help them hone their expertise, share best practices, and provide higher levels of service, education, and leadership to their clients.
Ed joyfully spends time with his two adult sons, Ryan and Carter. Having spent much of their youth coaching football, basketball and baseball, Ed values the development of future generations through education, community support, and outdoor play. On April 10th, 2020, Ryan and his wife Victoria welcomed a happy and healthy baby boy into the world, making Ed a first-time grandfather to his smiley grandson, Chatham Sokolowski.As PV Financial Group has grown, so has their level of involvement in the community. Ed believes it is his social responsibility to give back to the community and support local children so that they can be successful one day, too. You’ll often find him volunteering at local events, coffee in hand, leading his team by example. Check the background of this investment professional on FINRA’s BrokerCheck.
(Managing Partner, Wealth Advisor)
Kelly Haber, IACCP®
Chief Operating Officer, Kelly Haber, was born and raised in Ludlow, MA. Born into a Portuguese family, Kelly’s parents immigrated to the United States before starting a family. They desired to give Kelly and her brother a life full of opportunity. Guided by the dedicated work ethic of her parents, Kelly vividly remembers going to work at her local bakery at 16, upholding her commitment to the tennis team and still maintaining excellent grades in preparation for college. Kelly’s acute attention to detail drove her success then, as it does now.
Kelly went on to attend Western New England University where a career in finance first piqued her interest. Out of school Kelly got her first taste of the Financial Planning industry while working at Northwestern Mutual in Pittsfield, MA as a Sales Assistant. The independent, fast-paced environment prepared her for her subsequent move to MassMutual in Springfield, where she accepted a position as an Investment Analyst in the Operations division. Kelly’s dedicated work ethic and ability to manage and resolve complex problems with efficiency and empathy, quickly identified her as an integral part of the organization. Within a short time, she was promoted into the role of Regulatory Operations Consultant, auditing operations and developing supervisory procedures. During this time, Kelly worked for MassMutual’s broker dealer before accepting another promotion within their Compliance department working as a Compliance Consultant. In this role, she handled various regulatory inquiries and drove changes that positively influenced client experience. The 9 years that Kelly spent working at MassMutual made her well-equipped for the next step in her career.
From regulatory inspections to internal audits, to research and resolution, Kelly’s ability to comb through fine details with precision and accuracy makes her an invaluable asset to our team. Kelly joined PVFG as the Director of Compliance and Operations in early 2016. Armed with her FINRA Series 7 and 24 licenses through Commonwealth Financial Network®, and guided by her caring and personal approach, Kelly has become a dynamic asset to our growing firm. Within six months, Kelly passed the Uniform Combined State Law Examination (also called the “Series 66”), promoting her to Chief Operating Officer. As regulations become increasingly more complex, compliance is one of the most critical functions in any firm. With her new registration, Kelly has become PV’s OSJ Delegate and a registered Investment Advisor Representative. A role well suited for Kelly’s area of expertise, she is now responsible for the general supervision and compliance of the firm and all activities of registered employees.
Because she is a tireless worker who is dedicated to giving back to the community, Kelly has immersed herself in several different civic engagement initiatives. Recently, she has been heavily involved as a volunteer at Rick’s Place, an organization that supports grieving children, teens and their families through facilitated peer activities, school-based programs and community outreach. Kelly also spends time volunteering in Wilbraham schools, and serves on the board of the Wilbraham-Hampden Scholarship Foundation.
When not in the office or sorting through hundreds of scholarships, Kelly and her husband Barry enjoy time with their family at home in Wilbraham. Labeled as a “tree guy”, you might find Barry around the local area fearlessly climbing and removing trees while also working at Smith and Wesson.
Kelly and Barry are loving parents to their two adorable sons, Ryan and Gavin. After enjoying a trip down to Disney and a cultural experience in Portugal, the Haber family got the travel bug and are now looking into exploring new places around the world. When she’s not cheering Ryan on at his football games or rooting for Gavin to score a goal in soccer, you’ll often find Kelly in the kitchen trying a new recipe, watching HGTV, enjoying a glass of wine with friends or curling up with a good book.
(Partner, Chief Operating Officer)
Karen Nogueira
Director of Client Relations Karen Nogueira is a natural people-person with a caring heart, and impeccable customer service skills. Karen’s philosophy of treating others the way she hopes to be treated allowed her to quickly move through the ranks. Karen began her career as a Bank Teller at West Bank. From there she moved to Luso Federal Credit Union where she was promoted from Teller to head Teller and finally to Branch Manager before joining our team in 2006. At first, Karen came on board as a part-time Sales Assistant. As her children got older Karen’s innate sense of loyalty to the client experience carved out her full-time niche position where she now works as Director of Client Relations. Today, Karen’s devotion to customer service proves to be an invaluable asset to the team. Now in her 15th year with the company, Karen has enjoyed expanding her knowledge on the finance world and building close professional relationships with our clients.
When she’s not working, you’ll find Karen spending most of her free time with her family and two children, Ava and Joseph. Growing up in a Portuguese home, Karen vividly remembers dancing on her father’s toes while listening to Portuguese folk music. Karen passed on her love of music and dance to her daughter Ava, 17, by nurturing Ava’s love of music and encouraging her natural abilities when playing both the acoustic and electric guitar. Ava has also picked up cross country, an activity that’s allowed her to spend time with her friends while exercising her competitive spirit. During soccer season, you can’t miss Karen screaming from the sideline “Go Bubba!” while Joseph, 13, is on the field. Whatever the sport, Karen makes sure to support and cheer him on at every game and practice. In recent years, Karen has discovered a love for running. You’ll mostly see her running around the neighborhood while she trains for the Annual Run for Rick’s Place, which she’ll be running with fellow PV team member Kelly Haber. Karen loves to stay active with her kids and is often outside playing soccer and basketball with Joseph, Ava and their two playful dogs, Lulu and Oliver. Karen is also committed to giving back to the community she grew up in, working as a volunteer for Rick’s Place and serving as a committee member for the Fall Festival at the Ludlow Boys and Girls Club.
During the summer Karen also enjoys spending time planting in her garden; pink Hydrangeas are her favorite. Throughout the year she loves to travel, and always tries to bring her children. She believes in the importance of education happening outside of the classroom, and seeks to expose them to different places, food and culture whenever the opportunity arises. Karen was able to visit her homeland for the first time, taking the kids on a trip to Portugal where she grew an appreciation for their heritage and humble beginnings.
(Partner, Director of Client Relations)
Peter Leonczyk, AIF®
Financial Advisor Peter Leonczyk is a lifelong resident of Ludlow, MA. He attended Westfield State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Management. Peter sought a career that would allow him to impact people’s lives on a deeper level. With a strong desire to serve within the community, coupled with his interest in economics and finance, Peter joined PV Financial in early 2013.
Since joining the firm, Peter has earned his AIF® Designation, expanding his knowledge and expertise in retirement planning and management. Peter is committed to providing quality financial planning and guidance to hardworking individuals, families and businesses throughout all stages of their financial journey. With his genuine sense of humor, grounded in trust and friendship, Peter has a natural ability to develop a strong connection with each one of his clients. Peter has fostered these relationships in the community through his work as a member of the Rotary Club of Ludlow and dedicated volunteer with organizations such as Junior Achievement. Acting on his commitment to support the youth in our community, Peter coached the Ludlow Lions Youth football team. After leading the team to an undefeated championship, Coach Pete stepped down (for now) but remains invested in his players lives both on and off the field. Now Peter serves as an advisory board member and volunteer with the Ludlow Cares Coalition.
Growing alongside his community, Peter was an honoree of the 2020 Business West 40 under Forty Award- a program that recognizes individuals within western mass who have excelled professionally, but also in their services to the community. Now, Peter actively serves on the Michael J. Dias Foundation board and was most recently named a Ludlow Boys and Girls Club – Club Ambassador.
Today, Peter and his wife Jessica reside in Ludlow with their daughter Emma and son Parker. In his free time, you may find Peter combining his love for the outdoors and athletics by playing a round of golf or fishing at a local pond. As a family, they enjoy spending time on the Connecticut River where they fish, paddle board, and barbecue. Displaying his love for cooking, you’ll likely find Peter with a spatula in hand while manning the grill, serving his friends and family.
(Financial Advisor)
Antonio Bastos
Financial Advisor Antonio Bastos was born and raised in Ludlow, Massachusetts to Portuguese and Italian parents. Growing up, he attended Veteran’s Park Elementary School, Paul R Baird Middle School, and Ludlow High School. As a kid, Antonio played every sport you can imagine, with his true passion lying in soccer. Actively playing basketball, baseball, and soccer throughout middle school, he then turned his focus on solely playing soccer during high school with hopes of playing in college. If he wasn’t playing sports, Antonio and his friends from the neighborhood loved to build and make bike trails in the woods and ride through them. Attached to their bikes, they’d ride them all over town, including to the soccer fields and basketball courts to meet everyone and play for hours!
All of the time spent on soccer paid off, as Antonio went on to play on the soccer team for Nichols College in Dudley, Massachusetts where he obtained a degree in Business Management. He spent most of his time at practice, playing intramural basketball or pond hockey continuing his passion for staying active through competitive sports. Upon graduating, Antonio took a position with MassMutual Retirement Services, where he obtained his Series 6 and Series 63 licenses. His role there was to represent and sell MassMutual’s qualified retirement plan platform to small and mid-sized businesses in a specified geographical area.
Working there for just over 5 years, Antonio was able to gain very important and useful knowledge and experience within qualified retirement plans. Through these experiences, he learned how important retirement planning is and how important a qualified retirement plan is to a company and its employees. Seeing how much PV Financial has done in the community over years, Antonio wanted to join the hard work and dedication of everyone at PV Financial and apply his Qualified Retirement Plan experience to PV clients to drive positive retirement outcomes for Businesses and their employees.
At PV Financial, Antonio’s role is to manage all of the Qualified Retirement Plan clients. From day-to-day servicing and fielding all inquiries from retirement plan participants and plan trustees, he will also maintain relationships with all retirement plan providers in the industry while staying connected and up to date on new products, services, and ERISA compliance regulations to properly and confidently serve all of PV Financials’ Retirement plan clients/participants.
Today, Antonio and his girlfriend, Carly, love to stay active when they can. They enjoy doing projects around the house, hiking, skiing in the winter, playing sports, and hanging out with family and friends. When they finally sit down to relax, they’re most likely watching shows on Netflix, but always make time to watch sports games too! In the past, Antonio has done work with the YMCA of Central Massachusetts, where he volunteered his time to help out with fundraisers and after-school events that targeted community engagement and safety. He’s most looking forward to participating and volunteering his time around the community more in 2021.
(Financial Advisor)
P.J. Gagne
P.J. Gagne grew up in South Hadley, MA with his parents and five older sisters. As a child, P.J. enjoyed playing sports and spending time outside swimming, fishing, and camping with his family. His father owned a package store, Gagne’s Package Store, that was in the family for more than 40 years. P.J. and his sisters all worked at the family business growing up. P.J. also worked in construction during school breaks throughout high school and college.
P.J. attended college at Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecticut, where he became interested in finance. He graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics in 2007, and began his career in the finance industry working with Commonwealth Financial Network. During his eleven years at Commonwealth, P.J. held multiple roles within the new accounts department, and worked as a Practice Management Consultant helping advisors with their most pertinent business issues. He also obtained his Series 7 and Series 66 registrations through Commonwealth Financial NetworkⓇ, while gaining strong industry and product knowledge. In 2019, P.J. joined MassMutual as an Advisor Transition Support Consultant. During his time at MassMutual, P.J. gained more experience within the financial service industry and had the opportunity to construct portfolios.
P.J.’s desire to learn more about financial planning led him to his current role at PV Financial, a firm in which he personally feels upholds the service levels and values instilled in him during his time working at Commonwealth. He is excited to work with the PV team while continuing to learn more about the industry and grow professionally.
Outside of the office, P.J. spends as much time as he can with his wife, Jess and their children, Joey, Mae and Jake. As a family, they enjoy going to the park, apple and pumpkin picking in the fall, and making visits to see friends and family. Each summer, they vacation to the beaches of Cape Cod. In his free time, P.J. likes to hike, camp, cook, golf, sample craft beers, and work on home improvement projects. He is also a talented guitarist and singer and will sometimes even perform at local open mic nights!
(Financial Advisor)
Ryan Sokolowski, CCFS®
Ryan Sokolowski grew up in Belchertown, Massachusetts, and is a current resident of York, Pennsylvania. After completing High School in Massachusetts, Ryan attended Penn State University and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree of Science in Recreation. He also completed a double minor concentration in Business Management and Economics. Following college, Ryan began a five-year journey working in the Country Club industry. He held various positions at a variety of clubs including managing a two-course golf and tennis complex as the General Manager.
In early 2020, Ryan decided to make a career change and follow his passion for finance. He joined Merrill Lynch and trained for a year getting fully licensed through their Financial Development Program. In joining PV Financial, Ryan is excited to work for the company that his father and the partners created in 2002. He will put to good use his years of hospitality experience by building strong client relationships and creating personalized plans for his clients. As an advisor, Ryan believes in creating a fan base of clients that appreciate a servitude approach to financial planning.
When not at the office, Ryan loves to spend time with his beautiful wife, Victoria, and son, Chatham. Ryan and Victoria recently celebrated Chatham’s first birthday. The family loves to take walks to the park together and visit Chatham’s grandparents. Ryan and Victoria love to play cards, golf, and watch shows together on Netflix. In 2021, Ryan is most looking forward to growing PV Navigator and financial awareness among millennials.
(Financial Advisor)
Kevin Sylvester, AIF®, CPFA®
Investment Planner, Kevin Sylvester, grew up in Enfield, Connecticut and graduated from Enrico Fermi High School. His very first job was working at his family’s store, Caronna’s Market in Enfield, which is still owned and operated by his family to this day. After studying graphics in high school, Kevin started working at a local print shop, quickly moving up the ranks and becoming a manager by 18 years old.
Kevin moved in with his wife Beth in Springfield, Massachusetts and opened his own print shop, making banners and posters for other businesses. He enjoyed the benefit of large scale clientele like Frito-Lay and working as a wholesale printer for local businesses. At this time, Kevin and Beth started a young family raising two boys, Evan and Braidyn. Looking for a career change, Kevin went back to school in 2011 attending the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Kevin worked long days consisting of going into work third shift, bringing his kids to school in Enfield in the morning, and finally finished his day by rushing over to school. Kevin obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mathematics with a concentration in Actuarial Science in 2018, and coupled with his experience, quickly found work in wealth management beginning his career with Edward Jones. His desire to engage clients on a concentrated and intimate role with future wealth needs ultimately led him to his current role with Pioneer Valley Financial Group, a firm he personally feels gives him the ability to center his skills on client satisfaction.
When not in the office, Kevin spends as much time as he can with his family. Kevin spends time on the sidelines of a soccer field, clipboard in hand as he coaches Evan and Braidyn’s soccer teams. At night, you might find them gazing up at the night sky while Kevin jumps at the opportunity to teach the kids all about the wonders of astronomy. His family spends summers at the shore camping in Rhode Island near Mystic and Misquamicut Beach. A man of many talents, Kevin’s hobbies include playing chess, playing the guitar and has been a published writer. He also enjoys the technology sector and tries to find spare time to write code and keep up on computing subjects.
(Investment Planner)
Tiffany Lyman
Client Relationship Manager, Tiffany Lyman, was born in Springfield, MA and attended Springfield Central High School. As a child, Tiffany enjoyed taking dance lessons and playing tennis. Following graduation, Tiffany furthered her education at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
Upon earning a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality and Tourism Management, Tiffany immediately started her career at Enterprise Holdings as a Customer Experience Representative. After two short years, she moved up the ranks and was promoted to Branch Manager, where she learned and developed a strong sense of exceptional customer service. Tiffany later took her customer service skills to the airport operation, a fast-paced environment, assisting deplaning customers get to their final destinations.
Tiffany’s desire to create and foster a positive client experience is what led her to PV Financial, a firm in which she believes takes immense pride in both their clients and community. Within her role, Tiffany looks forward to gaining knowledge within the financial services industry!
Outside of the office, Tiffany loves spending time with her husband, Peter, and two children, Kaylee and Cameron. As a family, they can be found playing tennis, or soaking up the summer sun in Narragansett and the Outer Banks. Most recently, Tiffany and her family adopted a rescue dog from Oklahoma named Winnie and she has added so much joy to their lives! In addition, Tiffany tries to help her local community by volunteering for the Ludlow Basket Booster Club and Wreaths Across America.
(Client Relationship Manager)
Meghan Monaghan
Client Relationship Manager, Meghan Monaghan, was born in Monson, MA and attended Monson High School. Beginning from a young age, Meghan developed a passion for soccer, playing all year-round from kindergarten throughout high school. Following graduation, Meghan furthered her education at Bentley University in Waltham, MA.
As a former finance intern at PV Financial, Meghan was excited to rejoin our team full- time after earning a bachelor’s degree in finance with a concentration in financial planning. Within her role, Meghan is eager to learn more about the financial service industry and the various layers of planning we provide to our clients.
Outside of the office, Meghan loves spending her free time at the gym or hiking.
She also enjoys going on vacation with her family and taking trips to the White Mountains with her boyfriend, Chris.
(Client Relationship Manager)
Fatima Tavares
Relationship Manager, Fatima Tavares, joined our team in 2014 bringing an exceptional range of customer service skills. Fatima grew up in Portugal, inspired by her hardworking parents who moved to the United States before Fatima finished school in order to give Fatima and her sister the opportunity to match their potential. Fatima moved to Ludlow, MA at age 21, where she took a position at Ludlow Textiles. Fatima worked with dedication for 17 years until the business sold. Her hard work and organizational skills propelled her forward; before the Mills closed, her responsibilities included payroll, human resource functions, and reporting and inventory control. While her position as Administrative Assistant was demanding, Fatima generously carved out time for her unpaid position, where she utilized her trilingual abilities (English, Spanish and Portuguese) to help bridge the language gap for many of her coworkers, scheduling doctor appointments, helping pay bills, and much more.
Fatima went on to further her education in Office Systems Technology and found her next position as a Banker at Admirals Bank. Her professionalism and attention to detail quickly identified her as an integral member of the bank and her community. Additionally, Fatima spends time working at Primavera Restaurant in Ludlow, where she previously worked as the manager. Now, you might catch her behind the bar or waitressing, where she delights her customers with a warm greeting and superb customer service.
When not working, Fatima enjoys spending time with her husband and two sons Nick and Fabio, 21 and 24. Fatima proudly describes her hardworking children who are High Honors and Dean’s List students. Her oldest son Fabio graduated from Westfield State College, with a degree in Business Management and Accounting. Nick is attending STCC and has dreams of becoming an interior designer. You’ll often find both of her boys at home, enjoying Fatima’s evening meals. She loves to cook and tries to prepare a homemade meal every day, other the occasional family movie night or shopping trip. Fatima is also the loving owner of two Yorkshire Terriers Bella and Mila, who are best friends with one another and like to play in the backyard.
(Relationship Manager)
Andrea Santos
Client Experience Specialist, Andrea Santos was born and raised in Belchertown, MA. Growing up, she attended Jabish Brook Middle School and Belchertown Highschool, graduating alongside her twin brother, Joshua. As a child, Andrea spent a lot of her time at a nearby horse farm, both riding and caring for the horses. It was there that she developed a love and talent for competitive showjumping. Andrea’s passion for the sport inspired her to partner with the Pioneer Valley Therapeutic Riding Association, where she has served as a volunteer and instructor for the last 16 years. Outside of the barn, Andrea also spent her youth on the softball field, playing third base throughout middle school and high school.
Upon graduating high school, Andrea first received her A.S in Business Administration from Holyoke Community College, while working as a waitress and sales intern at the Log Cabin. Andrea went on to further her education at Elm’s College, receiving her B.A. in Business Management and Marketing. During her time at Elms, Andrea worked as a Banquet and Operations Manager at Wyckoff Country Club, where she learned how to manage financials within multiple departments in a high-demand industry.
After graduating college, Andrea leveraged her work experience and education into a position at Northwestern Mutual as the Director of Client Services. During her four years with the company, she obtained her Life and Disability Insurance certifications, while also gaining strong knowledge and experience within the financial services industry. Following the launch of Navigator, Andrea was eager to join the PV team and help fulfill today’s market need for financial planning among young professionals. With that career goal in mind, Andrea joined PV financial, taking on a role in the PV Navigator program as a jack of all trades- including digital marketing, program support, and client service needs.
Today, Andrea and her fiancé Shawn reside in Ludlow, MA. where they spend their free time golfing or hosting family card night. In addition to volunteering for the Pioneer Valley Therapeutic Riding Association, Andrea is an active supporter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation since being diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at age 13. In 2023, she looks forward to participating and volunteering alongside her team in the community we live and work in.
(Client Experience Specialist)
Marcin Mruk
Director Of Operations Marcin Mruk was born in Chicopee, Massachusetts, and grew up in Hadley, where he graduated from Hopkins Academy. Marcin and his two older sisters are first-generation Polish, as both of his parents grew up in Southern Poland before deciding to move to the U.S. to find work and start a family. Because Polish was his first language, Marcin had to spend extra time learning English throughout elementary school. Growing up, he and his family often went on camping trips together, as they were cost-effective and allowed for quality family time in the great outdoors.
In high school, Ma
rcin became heavily involved with sports, playing baseball and soccer all four years he attended. He was also a member of the ski club, a hobby that has followed him to this day. He and his friends ski throughout the season, hitting the trails around Killington and Mount Snow. Marcin was diagnosed with Diabetes as a sophomore, and actively supported the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation throughout his high school years. Before attending college, Marcin weighed the possibility of becoming a state trooper, but eventually found a home in finance. The financial world appealed to him not only because of his strength in mathematics but also because it would allow him to help people reach their financial goals.
Marcin attended Framingham State University, graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in finance in the Spring of 2019. Throughout college, Marcin continued his interests in athletics, participating in numerous intramural sports. To help pay for school, Marcin took on a variety of jobs, including working as a school bus driver, a server at a restaurant, and manager a liquor store his junior and senior years. His last year in school, Marcin was a member of Framingham State’s entrepreneur program, where he had the opportunity to intern for a startup clothing company. At PV Financial, Marcin is working on becoming a financial advisor.
(Director Of Operations)
Kelly Outhuse
Operations Coordinator Kelly Outhuse has been working in the Financial Services industry for more than 13 years. She knows firsthand the meaning of hard work. Kelly’s parents immigrated from Portugal to the United States as a young couple. Kelly vividly recalls watching her parents work tirelessly to create the American Dream for their family. From factory worker to real estate buyers, landlords to small business owners, Kelly’s parents imparted a hearty work ethic and customer service standard that has proven to be intricately woven throughout Kelly’s personal ideals and professional demeanor.
Kelly graduated from Westfield State University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Management. While studying finance she was struck to understand the impact of every day events on the stock market. Learning how financial planning can provide individuals with security amidst the chaos of the economy, Kelly soon discovered her future career path. Kelly’s acute attention to detail and passion for the financial services industry made for a perfect fit in her position in the Retirement Services department at MassMutual in Springfield, MA. Kelly spent nearly four years servicing professional employer organizations, transferring new business, coordinating enrollment meetings and assisting new clients transitioning to 401(k)s. Kelly went on to gain invaluable experience in compliance and account management at the United Health Group in Hartford, CT and Northwestern Mutual in Springfield, MA.
In a recent role as Compliance Specialist at Professional Investors in South Windsor, CT, Kelly realized an inclination towards working directly with financial representatives. Responsible for the processing of new accounts and customer orders for nearly 120 Financial Advisors, Kelly further developed her capacity to carefully review every fine detail while simultaneously managing multiples tasks. Seeking an opportunity closer to home, Kelly joined the PV Financial Group team in early 2017. A self-proclaimed “chatter box” with a sincere sense of community, Kelly rounds out our Operations Department and Relationship Management team with her Life Insurance and Series 7 registrations (through Commonwealth Financial Network). Kelly’s hearty work ethic, genuine enthusiasm and dedication to customer service make for a natural fit within our team.
When not at the office Kelly spends much of her time creating meaningful memories with her husband Jeremy and their three children Mason, Mila, and the newest addition to the family, Brady. Both Mason and Mila have laced up their cleats and hit the soccer field, while Mila has also taken up gymnastics and dance. Jeremy proudly co-owns and operates his family’s locksmith business, often dedicating long hours and overnight visits to service emergency calls. To balance their dynamic work schedules, the family enjoys escaping to Cape Cod, exploring local beaches or frequenting Boston for fun family adventures. This year, her and her family are looking forward to an exciting first trip to Disney World. When not discovering new sights, the Outhuse family often entertains family and friends in their Ludlow home. A loyal friend, dedicated Mom and proud community supporter, Kelly’s natural warmth and friendly personality helps to make everyone she meets feel welcome and engaged.
(Operations Coordinator)
Linda Martins
Director of Marketing and Community Outreach Linda Martins was born and raised in Ludlow, Massachusetts, but her family immigrated from Portugal before she was born. The first language she learned was Portuguese. At Ludlow High School, Linda and was very involved in extracurriculars like writing for the school paper, yearbook and serving in the student government where she successfully helped bring back homecoming, which she credits for her current love of project management and event planning. Linda graduated from Westfield State University with a degree in Graphic Design, finishing her last two years while working full-time and going to school at night. While in college, Linda married her husband Gene and they are now going on 19 years of marriage.
Linda’s first taste of professional success came in college, where she worked for Tyco Medical Supplies in the call center and was quickly promoted to team lead at just 21 years old. Upon graduating, Linda took a job with Concentra Medical Center working in sales and running education seminars for companies on Workers Comp. The year she was married Linda’s father had a stroke, prompting her to take a job that was near and dear to her heart at the American Heart Association, where she worked as the Director of Development in Western Massachusetts. She enjoyed putting on events like Heart Walks, Heart Balls and the Go Red For Women luncheon, doing work within the community to raise money for the AHA. During her time in this role, Linda helped raise substantial donations for the organization through large corporate donations and events.
After her husband took a job with Apple, Linda and her family moved down to Florida where she continued her work with the AHA in West Palm Beach. One of her favorite work memories was getting to meet all of the eccentric Palm Beachers. In 2013, Gene earned the opportunity to open the very first Apple store in South America, so the family packed up shop and moved to Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. Unable to work due to her tourist visa, Linda volunteered daily at the American School of Rio De Janeiro, where her son Dominic attended school. Linda worked as the PTA president of the school, which was assembled almost entirely of expats, and Dominic got the experience of making friends with children from all over the world. After Gene completed the project in Rio, Linda and her family moved back to Western Massachusetts where Linda started working as Project Coordinator at Gibraltar Ventures. When Prudential absorbed Gibraltar Ventures, Linda was 7 months pregnant with her daughter Addison. With Gene’s extensive travel for work and with a son already at home, Linda knew that it wasn’t realistic to travel back and forth from Hartford every day, landing her here at Pioneer Valley Financial Group where she is able to work and spend time with her family.
During their free time, Linda and Gene do as much as they can to get involved with activities with their kids. Linda volunteers at the school as a member of the PTA and the Book Fair Co-Chairperson for the elementary schools in Ludlow. At just 5 years old, Addison runs the house and has no problem keeping up with Dominic. Linda and her family love to travel, and try to see a different country every year, most recently getting to visit Aruba. The fifth and sixth members of the Martins family are their beloved dogs Manuela Maria DeBarra Martins known for short as Nella, that they brought home from Brazil and their very playful Boston Terrier, Rocco Roland.
(Director of Marketing and Community Outreach)
Kathy Houle
Kathy Houle was born and raised right here in Ludlow, and graduated from Ludlow High School before going on to get a degree in Education and English from Annhurst College, a small Connecticut-based Catholic women’s college that ceased operation in the 1980’s After graduating, Kathy realized that she did not want to become a teacher (she hated teaching, actually), so she took a position at Merchants Bank in Boston. After spending a year in Allston, Kathy wanted to be back in the community she grew up in, so she moved back to Ludlow to take a job with the Building Department. Passionate for serving her community, Kathy worked in the Building Department for 24 years before becoming Town Treasure of Ludlow for 3 years. Kathy and her beloved late husband enjoyed several years of the retired life together, and after he passed she desired to get back into the workforce. Kathy saw Pioneer Valley Financial Group as a perfect opportunity, a job that would provide a flexible schedule with a community-oriented, supporting work environment that also happened to be across the street from her home.
Growing up in Ludlow, Kathy adored going on walks and hikes through the woods behind the country club, knowing she wasn’t supposed to but doing it anyways. She’s continued her love of nature walks, but has instead swapped out the woods for the Ludlow Reservoir. Kathy biggest passion is reading, a hobby that started as early as she can remember. When she was 2 years old, she didn’t want anyone touching her books because her brother would keep eating them. From elementary school on, Kathy and her brother practically lived at the library. Not confining herself to one genre, Kathy goes through phases in the types of novels she reads. At one point, all she would read was South American novels, now you can find her reading authors such as Terry Pratchett and Douglas Adams.
Kathy’s husband provided her with two step-daughters, and now two step-grandchildren who all live down in Raleigh, North Carolina. Kathy enjoys getting to take trips and visit them, and was delighted to see her step-granddaughter get married last year. In her free time, Kathy volunteers at Christ the King Church and the Polish Club in Ludlow. Her mantra is that if someone needs you to do something, you do it, especially if it benefits the community.
(Operations Assistant)
Joseph Leonczyk
Joe Leonczyk is a lifelong resident of Ludlow, Massachusetts. He graduated from the University of Massachusetts Amherst with a BS in nursing. His innate desire to help people and his thirst for learning led him to his initial career as an RN. Working in the cardiac care unit of Wing Memorial Hospital proved to be rewarding and undoubtedly meaningful when he met his future wife, Maryann, in that very hospital. They have now been married 41 years.
Inspired by his father, a master electrician with hands of steel, Joe built his own home and discovered his love of crafting. With a wife to support and three small mouths to feed, Joe took a risk and started his own bathroom remodeling business while he continued to work part-time as an RN. As a small business owner, Joe began to realize the importance of financial planning and developed a passion for the stock market. Ten years later, he put down his tools, closed his home office, and transitioned one last time to financial advisor. Joe’s ability to wear several hats as nurse, small business owner, and family man demonstrated his innate entrepreneurial yet compassionate spirit
at his daughter’s wedding in 2013. Reliving the years of wedding band bliss.
From there, Joe joined EQ Financial Consultants in 1997 and shifted to Palmer Goodell Financial Group, LLC, in 1999 with Ed Sokolowski and Chuck Myers. Together, they quickly realized the need to provide a truly comprehensive approach to financial planning and opened the doors of Pioneer Valley Financial Group, LLC, in March 2002.
Check the background of this investment professional on FINRA’s BrokerCheck.
(Founding Partner)
Charles Myers, AIF®
Founding Partner Charles “Chuck” Myers was raised in a Boston suburb, relocating to Western MA for college. He graduated from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst in 1981 with a Bachelor’s of Science in Public Health. At age eleven, Chuck vividly remembers his first volunteer experience when he signed up to help a disabled peer labor through a physical therapy obstacle course. It was from this point forward that his instinctive desire to help others began to blossom, mapping a natural progression towards his major in Public Health. Upon graduation Chuck took a direct service position at the Department of Mental Retardation; his servant’s heart proved invaluable as he was promoted to supervisor within six months. Chuck’s service minded leadership style gracefully led him through a successful twelve-year career at the DMR.
With two small children now in the mix, Chuck opened a local Belchertown Pet Shop while he remained part time at DMR. Having worked with veterinarians and humane societies throughout high school and college, Chuck had developed a devout love of animals. It was Chuck’s hard work and wide smile that turned his shoestring shop into a success. Once he moved to the Pet Shop full time, he spent 10 years helping customers solve problems and earnestly care for their pets. As a small business owner Chuck recognized the need for employee retention and long term financial planning. Once it came time to close his shop Chuck found himself answering Ed Sokolowski’s call for new team members and joined EQ Financial Consultants in 1997. In 1999 he moved to Palmer Goodell Financial Group, LLC with Ed Sokolowski and Joseph Leonczyk; together they realized the need to provide a truly comprehensive approach to financial planning. The doors of Pioneer Valley Financial Group, LLC, opened in March 2002 where Chuck currently manages the Operations Department. When Chuck’s son went off to college at UVM and joined the rowing team, Dad, Dan’s number one fan, decided he needed a high-tech camera to capture the priceless memories of his son’s team. It became evident that Chuck’s natural artistic ability translated behind the lens and he quickly transformed into an avid photographer. Today Chuck most enjoys capturing candid portraits, landscape and wildlife. Look for his favorite photograph of the Dog Tag Garden Memorial in Boston hanging in our office to see just how talented Chuck’s photography eye truly is.
Chuck’s artistic flare doesn’t end at photography; he is also a singing, songwriting and guitar playing extraordinaire. Ask him to play for you his favorite song, “Through A Window,” an easy listen rock single that he has effortlessly layered his voice, guitar, bass and keyboard with other instrumentals. Chuck is very active at his church, where he and his wife are involved in all aspects of serving their greater community. Chuck works to ensure his church is reaching the public through various programs, including their local food pantry and Springfield food kitchen services. A place near and dear to his heart, Chuck met his wife, Christine, at this very church. Christine is a published author and substitute school nurse. The pair have been married for over 8 years, and love to travel together when given the opportunity. Most recently, they ventured out to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, and then to Niagara Falls.
When not busy dabbling in his art or serving his church, Chuck and his wife frequently run local races for various charity organizations. They also like to get involved in charitable causes in other ways, like sponsoring a child named Hairath from Tanzania through the Compassion International program or serving as chaperones at the “A Night To Shine” prom for developmentally disabled kids. As of July 1, 2022, Chuck has decided to take a step back and retire to be able to enjoy more of his hobbies and spend time traveling with his family. Above all, Chuck loves spending time with his 4-year-old granddaughter, Rory Jean Myers!