Testimonials

"I met Rick almost 20 years ago as he was starting his own business after leaving a former employer who was retiring. At the time, my business partner and I were just starting our own medical practice. We engaged Rick to start a 401K for our employees and begin to manage our personal retirement plans. It was stressful, challenging and exciting to be practicing medicine and running a business at the same time.

Rick helped us get things started on the right foot and has continued to be a source of information and counsel for all of my personal and business financial concerns. Rick's personal approach to developing and meeting our financial goals in the present and future have helped my wife and I secure a comfortable life together as well as plan our after-work future.

Over the years, the financial environment has been challenging but Rick has proven to be a trustworthy advisor, always offering information and guidance through regular personal communications. Today, my wife and I are truly living our best lives, confident that our financial security is in good hands."

"I’ve been working with my advisor Kevin for nearly 2 years now and I cannot say enough positive things about him and his company. He is incredibly professional, informative, and thorough. He always takes the time to explain my options clearly, and it’s obvious that they truly have my best interests in mind. They have earned my complete trust since the start, which is so important when an institution is handling your financials. Additionally, Nikki their office manager could not be nicer and helps me with everything I need in a timely and professional manner. I recommend Kevin and his team to anyone looking for financial independence!"

"I highly recommend Financial Independence. My experiences with Mark and his team have proven to me that they all work together very well and are extremely helpful. Mark is so knowledgeable, empathetic, and sincere in his goal of doing what is best for his clients. The whole team at Financial Independence sincerely wants to help and do what is best for us. I have learned so much from Mark over the years and continue to learn something new every time I meet with him. They always provide advice based upon client best interest and long term goals.

Kevin has been extremely helpful also. Mark and Kevin together use a comprehensive approach, providing advice regarding other aspects of your life that can potentially affect your financial future. They always take the extra time to make sure that I fully understand and agree, based upon my own personal interests and priorities. They are always available to make the appropriate changes to my plan as needed, always in my best interest.

Nikki the office manager is also so helpful, so knowledgeable, and helps everything proceed so smoothly.
They are the best."

"We have been with Financial Independence for many years. I remember our very first meeting, when Rick advised us not to make a decision on working with him until we have gone home and given it some thought, and then we'll meet again. We had already made our mind up before leaving but did as he asked.

From day one, we believed that Rick was a person that is trustworthy and sincere. From our experience, he is just the same as the first day we met. Along with Rick, all his entire team is available to assist us and go the extra yard. We have always been grateful that we made a great choice and would surely recommend anyone looking for an advisor to have a meeting with Financial Independence."

"My wife and I made the switch to Financial Independence a few years ago, and have never felt more at peace with our retirement, kids college funds, and overall financial planning. Kevin in particular has been awesome to work with, and I strongly recommend him and Financial Independence to friends and family on a regular basis. I really can't say enough good things about these folks!"

"In 2007, our financial circumstances changed significantly. My wife was working as a Registered Nurse, and I was a Senior Manager at a privately held global security firm that was being acquired by a large publicly traded company. The sale resulted in a substantial financial payout that would have a meaningful impact on our future. While we both had investment accounts through our employers and I had a military pension, we knew that we needed expert guidance to help us plan wisely. 

A trusted attorney and friend recommended Rick at Financial Independence. From our very first meeting, Rick was cordial, friendly, and without any sales pressure. We discussed our family backgrounds, professional experiences, and long-term goals. By the end of that conversation, we knew we wanted to work with Rick and his team to develop a plan tailored to our needs and values.

Since that time, Financial Independence has helped us develop a diversified investment strategy designed to evolve with our changing circumstances. As our lives and goals have shifted, their advice has adapted along with us. They also connected us with trusted tax and legal professionals, creating a coordinated approach to our overall planning.

What stands out most about Financial Independence is their integrity, professionalism, and genuine care. Every member of the team demonstrates sincerity, personal attention, and a deep commitment to doing what’s right for their clients. We value the trust and long-term relationship we’ve built with them, and we appreciate knowing we can rely on their thoughtful guidance through both calm and uncertain times."

"About nine years ago, I found myself in a position where I was being phased out of my job – a situation that left me worried about the security of my pension and my 403B retirement fund. Thankfully, I relied on the counsel of friends who advised me to seek help with Financial Independence – an institution that had taken such good care of them.

Since 2017, I have been in the reliable and credible financial care of Mark Lavallee and Kevin Pierro. They were instrumental in navigating the transfer of my retirement funds as well as establishing a retirement plan specific to my needs. They listened, they explained, and they counseled me on my future goals…but also paid attention to my concerns and what my hopes for the future were. Their experience, guidance and expertise in their field have given me peace of mind moving forward in my retirement plans.

When I look back, I remember myself as being worried, scared and uncertain about my future… today, I feel safe, confident and secure of what lies ahead! Financial Independence has my “back”! So glad I listened to those friends of mine back then."

"I have been a client of Rick’s and the Financial Independence team for over 20 years. During that period, Rick’s integrity, expertise and professionalism have consistently exceeded my expectations. His thoughtful guidance and personalized approach have helped my wife and me navigate financial decisions with confidence. Thanks to the entire team’s dedication, we have achieved greater financial stability and peace of mind.

What impresses me most about Rick is his adherence to high ethical standards which in turn extend throughout the entire organization. He sets the bar high not only for himself, but for the entire team. In addition to being our trusted advisor, he is a dear friend."