The IFC Advisory Team
Heath Biddlecome is principal at IFC Advisory and a member of the investment policy committee. He specializes in retirement strategies that enable women who are recently divorced, widowed, or retired to realize their dreams, free from financial worries.
Heath’s clients are retirees and those approaching retirement, including business owners and managers, successful professionals, educators, doctors, attorneys, and government employees. He is well known in southern California as a financial educator, and his retirement seminars have been attended by employees and retirees of the Walt Disney Company, CBS, Stanford University faculty, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Hughes Aircraft Company, Metro Transit Authority, and City of Los Angeles.
After attending Cambridge University and graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from the University of Southern California, Heath is now a Certified Fund Specialist and a member of the Financial Planning Association. Recognized by Wealth Manager magazine1 as one of the nation’s top wealth managers, he is co-author of the book Retirement Investing, as well as Annuity Owners’ Mistakes, an educational booklet for annuity owners and people considering the purchase of annuities.
Heath contributes to the community of Santa Barbara through the Wildlife Care Network. He is married and has one daughter. In his spare time, he enjoys traveling, fine art, gardening, and tennis.
Anthony Diaz, CFA is vice president of investments at IFC Advisory. He provides client service, conducts investment research and analysis, and supervises client operations. He is also a member of the investment policy committee.
While serving in the U.S. military, Anthony earned his undergraduate degree in finance with highest honors from the University of Southern Mississippi. After being honorably discharged, he worked in marketing research before pursuing a career in investment management. He was accepted to the UCLA Anderson School of Management, earning his MBA in finance and completing a ten-month internship at Wedbush Morgan Securities where he conducted primary research and prepared research reports. After graduation, he joined Odyssey Advisors as an equity research analyst, conducting independent research on companies and industries across multiple sectors including alternative energy.
Anthony’s article “Value Investors Never Pay Retail”2 has appeared in the West L.A. Business Monthly. As a holder of the Chartered Financial Analyst® designation, he is a member of the CFA Institute and the CFA Society of Los Angeles where he serves as a CFA Review Program coordinator and mentor. He is also a member of the Financial Planning Association.
Anthony enjoys reading, music, inline skating, and spending time with friends. He has been a volunteer for the Make-A-Wish Foundation for over 15 years.
CFA® and Chartered Financial Analyst® are trademarks owned by the CFA Institute.
Kelly Smith, AAMS is vice president at IFC Advisory and a member of the investment policy committee. He specializes in retirement and financial planning for individuals that have retired or will soon retire. He also works closely with many small business owners. He uses a conservative approach with clients, allowing for a “margin of safety” when market conditions are not as favorable as history has proven. His goal is for all IFC Advisory clients to live the lifestyle of their dreams.
Kelly began his career in the financial services industry in 1994. He joined IFC Advisory in November 2005, bringing extensive experience and knowledge to the firm. Prior to that, he was a financial advisor for Edward Jones Investments for 6 years. He graduated from California Polytechnic State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in social sciences. He holds the Accredited Asset Management Specialist designation which he received from the College for Financial Planning. He also attended the University of California, Santa Barbara where he received his certificate of completion for all of the course work necessary to successfully take and pass the Certified Financial Planner examination. He expects to receive his CFP credential in December 2009. He is also a registered representative of Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments.
Kelly contributes to the communities of Santa Maria and San Luis Obispo through his involvement as a Rotarian in the Santa Maria Breakfast Rotary Club, an affiliate of Rotary International. He has been married for 14 years, and enjoys playing golf, basketball, and spending time with family and friends.
Securities offered through Pursche Kaplan Sterling Investments. Member FINRA/SIPC. Headquartered at 18 Corporate Woods Blvd., Albany, NY 12211. www.finra.org.
William Tak is senior vice president at IFC Advisory. He specializes in retirement strategies for individuals that have retired or will soon retire. His core client base consists of current and former teachers, engineers, doctors, and attorneys that prefer risk management over significantly increasing their wealth.
William has been a licensed registered representative in the financial services industry for over 20 years. He was senior vice president at Chase Financial Services, Wachovia Securities, and UBS Financial Services. Each of the three firms recognized him for consistently delivering outstanding service to his clientele. He joined IFC Advisory in September 2006, bringing a wide range of expertise and skills.
William graduated from the University of Missouri with a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics. He holds the Series 7, 22, and 63 securities licenses, as well as a California State Insurance License, and a Life and Variable Insurance License. He is also a registered representative of Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments.
William volunteers his time with numerous charities in Orange County including the Boys & Girls Club. He enjoys spending time with his son and daughter, and coaches their hockey, baseball, basketball, and soccer teams.
Securities offered through Pursche Kaplan Sterling Investments. Member FINRA/SIPC. Headquartered at 18 Corporate Woods Blvd., Albany, NY 12211. www.finra.org.
Richard Skolnick, J.D. is director of trusts and wills at IFC Advisory. He provides legal counsel and guidance to our clients in numerous areas of estate planning.
Richard has been in the field of wills, trusts, and probate law since 1969 and is a certified specialist in taxation. He was formerly a professor at the Northrop University of Law, teaching courses at the law school and the masters of taxation program, including legal research and writing, individual income taxation, capital gains and losses, tax research and writing, partnership taxation, estate and gift tax, income taxation of estates and trusts, and tax-exempt organizations.
Richard received a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from the University of California, Berkley and a Master of Laws degree in taxation from New York University.
Richard is an avid supporter of the athletic department at the University of California, Berkley. He is married with three children and enjoys hiking as well as other outdoor activities.
Arlene Sheller is client relations manager at IFC Advisory. She brings to the firm over 30 years of client service and asset management experience in the financial services industry.
Arlene worked at Wells Fargo Bank for over 15 years as a banking services officer, overseeing the consumer loan department. Prior to joining IFC Advisory in October 2005, she was a branch office manager with Edward Jones Investments for over ten years. In addition to providing office support for the financial advisors, she was also one of Edward Jones Investments’ California regional coordinators, providing training and mentoring for new employees of all 35 Edward Jones Investments office locations at or near the central coast.
Arlene is active with the Santa Maria Noontime Kiwanis and serves on their board of directors. She has raised two sons, the oldest of which graduated from Fresno State University and has recently married. Her youngest recently graduated from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and now works as an industrial engineer. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, gardening, spending time with her two Labrador Retrievers, and making custom jewelry for family and friends.
Jacqueline Samayoa is client relations manager at IFC Advisory. She began working with IFC Advisory in March 2007.
Prior to IFC Advisory, Jacqueline attended Long Beach City College and worked as an assistant at Avante Garde Appraisal in Downey, California. Since she started at IFC Advisory, she’s developed a passion for helping others achieve financial stability. Every day, she learns something new and puts in extra hours to ensure client needs are met.
Jacqueline’s sunny disposition and approachable attitude make clients feel as if they can ask her anything and know she will be there for them. She has a bright future ahead of her and wants to be part of the IFC Advisory family for a long time. It is her goal to someday become a financial advisor herself.
Jacqueline contributes to her community by preparing and distributing monthly meals for the homeless in Los Angeles. In her free time, she enjoys shopping, swimming, and going to the spa with family and friends. She is fluent in Spanish.
Melanie Buck is client relations manager at IFC Advisory, joining the firm in July 2009 with over 15 years of experience in the financial services industry.
Melanie worked as a customer service manager for Bankers Pension Services for three years and then with CNA Trust for five years as a manager in their 401(k) retirement plan department. Just prior to joining IFC Advisory, she was assistant vice president for Union Bank of California, managing the distribution department in their retirement plan division.
Melanie supports her local Long Beach community though her work with Goodwill Industries. She also supports a Dachshund rescue organization, resulting in the adoption of her pet, a Dachshund named Ruby. She is married and has two sons. She enjoys cooking, traveling, and entertaining at home.
Left to Right: Anthony Diaz, Kelly Smith, Arlene Sheller, Heath Biddlecome,
Jacqueline Samayoa, Melanie Buck, William Tak, Richard Skolnick