Mainstay Wealth Management at Steward Partners
Tim Burklow, ChFC<sup>®</sup>, CFS<sup>®</sup>
Tim Burklow , ChFC®, CFS®
Partner, Managing Director, Financial Advisor
Tim's Clients
Tim works with busy, successful people who are highly committed to their goals. They appreciate having a seasoned advisor to guide them through the planning process, and he becomes a long-term partner who helps them address the most important objectives in their life. He is especially passionate about helping affluent individuals and couples who are nearing retirement, and he helps them develop sophisticated estate planning strategies that go well beyond financial details. He asks important questions and helps them articulate the kind of legacy they want to leave, from the values they hold to the wisdom they want to pass on to their loved ones.
Advising Approach
When Tim works with clients, he encourages them to temporarily set aside monetary objectives and focus on the things that matter most to them. He recognizes that success is about much more than growth in a portfolio, and he has a talent for helping people open up and address important unresolved issues in their life. He’s passionate about learning peoples’ stories and understanding how their thoughts, fears, and motivations shape who they are. By discovering what drives them and brings them joy, he’s able to create a financial plan full of purpose and meaning.
Education & Designations
Bachelor of Science in Environmental & Business Economics, Rutgers University
Chartered Financial Consultant® (ChFC®)
Certified Fund Specialist® (CFS®)
Awards
Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Advisor New Jersey (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024)
Five Star Wealth Manager (2020 2021 2022 2023 2024)
AdvisorHub’s AdvisorHub's "Advisors to Watch (over $1Bil)" List (2024)
Industry Organizations
Society of Financial Services Professionals – member
Community Involvement
Tim is passionate about giving back, and he devotes both time and resources to various organizations in his community. He is a former elder at his church, The Chapel in Lincoln Park, a former member of Rotary International, where he was honored as a Paul Harris Fellow, and he spent 12 years coaching youth sports.
Today, he focuses on mentoring student athletes at Rutgers University. He is the founder of Life Beyond the Mat, a program that helps young wrestlers discover their identity beyond sports, explore career opportunities, and crystalize their aspirations for the future. Tim is also involved with Athletes in Action, an organization that supports student athletes who are seeking a greater purpose in life.
Personal Life
Tim and his wife Linda live in Pompton Plains, New Jersey, and have three adult children—Timmy, Lauren, and Jason. Despite his efforts to expose them to other industries, both their boys have joined Tim in the practice, and he’s honored they want to follow in his footsteps. Linda and Tim have been together since they were 15, and they’re excited to be entering a season where the many sacrifices they made for their kids and the business are paying off. Together, they enjoy golfing, traveling, and visiting their home in Naples, Florida, to unplug. In 2008, Tim started practicing Judo, and in 2015, he took 2nd place at the U.S. Open Nationals—he’s also a black belt.
A Q&A with Tim
What is your favorite childhood memory?
Winning championships with my father when he was the little league baseball coach.
What fictional character would you choose to spend the day with and why?
Forrest Gump—you could have some great adventures with him.
What’s your favorite part of your day?
Coffee with my wife in the morning.
Matthew Rotella , CFP®, CRPC®, APMA®, CKA®
Partner, Managing Director, Financial Advisor
Matt's Clients
Much like himself, Matt’s clients are genuine, down-to-earth people with a drive to get things done. They’re looking for clarity in their financial worlds, and once he helps them understand their opportunities and options, they’re ready to move forward toward their goals. He especially enjoys working with business owners, admiring their ambition and dedication to growth. He acts as a steadfast partner, helping them create a harmonious balance between their personal and professional financial strategies and move steadily toward their goals.
Advising Approach
Matt is passionate about connecting with people and understanding what drives them. He wants to know his clients on a personal level so he can help them align their wealth with what truly matters to them. As such, he often becomes a close friend and confidant, delving into areas of their lives that go well beyond finances. Through transparent communication, he strives to build strong partnerships that his clients trust and rely on through every season of life.
Education & Designations
Bachelor of Science in Management - United States Military Academy at West Point
Master of Science - Stevens Institute of Technology
CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®)
Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor℠(CRPC®)
Accredited Portfolio Management Advisor℠ (APMA®)
Certified Kingdom Advisor® (CKA®)
Industry Awards
Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisor, New Jersey (2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024)
Five-Star Wealth Manager (2012 - 2015, 2017 - 2024)
Community Involvement
With a heart for serving others, Matt uses his financial acumen and organizational talents in several areas outside the practice. He and his wife Kristine both volunteer at their church, Emergence Church (she in kids ministry, he in finance), and he spent seven years on the board of the local Pregnancy Resource Center, five of which he held leadership positions.
In 2016, Matt and Kristine lost their son Randy to an opioid overdose. Today, Matt is closely involved with two organizations that support others going through the same struggles their son experienced. He and his family support Market Street Mission, a program that helps individuals break free from addiction, and they also sponsor a home for Valentine House, a sober living program that helps individuals transition from a stage of rehabilitation to purposeful living. The home is near their own, and Matt helps manage the property, maintain the grounds, and make sure the tenants and volunteers have everything they need.
Personal Life
Matt and Kristine live in Fayson Lakes, New Jersey, and they’ve been blessed with four adult children and three grandchildren. Nicholas, their youngest son, lives next door with his wife and two boys, and Matt says that pulling into their cul-de-sac and seeing his grandsons and the neighborhood kids playing outside and waving at him is the perfect cure for a bad day.
On the weekends, Matt and Kristine are usually enjoying the outdoors or spending time with their grandkids. Their friends are also very active, and they love hiking, going to the beach, and biking. As avid cyclists, they also enjoy participating in long-distance events and recreational rides throughout the year.
A Q&A with Matt
What’s the best vacation you’ve ever taken?
We toured the Holy Land in Israel, that was really cool.
If you could watch only one movie for the rest of your life, what would it be?
It’s a Wonderful Life.
What are you reading right now?
Grateful American by Gary Sinise.
Christopher Rotella , MBA, CRPC™, ChFC®, CLU®, CDFA®
Partner, Senior Vice President, Financial Advisor
Chris' Clients
Chris’ clients are driven people who want a clear plan for accomplishing their goals. They rely on his guidance to help them make strategic financial decisions, and it’s important to Chris that they fully understand the “why” behind everything they do. Education is a key part of his planning process, and he has a talent for making even the most complex concepts simple and relatable to everyday life. He works with many teachers who are nearing retirement, young professionals and families who want to take advantage of early growth opportunities, and high-net-worth individuals who want to simplify and optimize their financial lives.
Chris is especially passionate about helping divorced couples and single women, knowing from his own experience how complicated and challenging these situations can be. In 2023, he became a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst®, advancing his expertise in this unique area of financial planning.
Advising Approach
Chris has a special passion for helping others see through a lens of opportunity and positivity. In 1992, he was in a near-fatal auto accident that left him hospitalized for six months. He underwent 28 surgeries, spent two years in rehab, and re-learned how to walk, talk, and read. This difficult season taught him hard-won lessons in taking challenges and repositioning them as opportunities for strength and growth. Today, he brings that mindset to his work with clients; he coaches them through life’s ups and downs, helping them see the inevitable good in every situation—knowing that the right perspective can mean the difference in panic and peace of mind, discouragement and optimism.
Education & Designations
Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering - Coast Guard Academy
Master of Business Administration – Seton Hall University
Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor™ (CRPC™)
Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC®)
Chartered Life Underwriter® (CLU®)
Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® (CDFA®)
Industry Awards
Five Star Wealth Manager (2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024)
Community Involvement
Doing good to others is incredibly important to Chris, and he exemplifies this value by volunteering his time, resources, and talents in several ways. On many Friday nights, he works with His Helping Hands to feed the homeless in Patterson, and he supports Lighthouse Pregnancy Resource Center, volunteering at events and contributing to their mission. He also volunteers with the Coast Guard Admissions department, liaising with interested applicants and giving them insights into the life of a Coast Guardsman.
Chris’s faith is incredibly important to him, and he cites his relationship with Jesus as the driving force behind his work. He has a genuine desire to help others live more purposeful lives, and he does so in both his professional and personal life. He is active in New Cannon Society, a men’s Bible study group devoted to helping men be better fathers, husbands, and citizens. He participates in two other Bible studies, as well as the men’s ministry at his church, where he also volunteers as an usher and greeter.
Personal Life
Chris lives in Wyckoff, New Jersey, with his wife Maria and has four children—Francesca, Dominique, Sophia, and Sabrina. He appreciates any opportunity to experience art, and he especially enjoys watching plays and Broadway shows (The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial being one of his favorites), listening to classical music, and on occasion, visiting art museums. He loves a good comeback story in any form, be it a movie, biography, or play. He also enjoys woodworking, an amateur hobby he practices in his spare time.
A Q&A with Chris
What’s something you’ve always wanted to do?
I love local honey, and I want to get involved with beekeeping. I just have to find the time.
What is one item you can’t live without?
I can’t live without reading my Bible, getting into the Word… My faith has gotten me through everything.
What are you reading right now?
Emotional Intelligence Habits by Travis Bradberry—he did a whole chapter on the ill effects of caffeine, and I’ve stopped drinking it.
Bill Lewis , CFP®
Partner, Senior Vice President, Financial Advisor
Bill's Clients
Bill works with driven individuals in all stages of life who want an experienced professional to help them make wise financial decisions. They come to him for advice and guidance, and they appreciate his expertise on a wide range of planning disciplines. Through regular communication and mutual trust, his clients often become like close friends, and he develops personal connections that allow him to help them create highly custom, comprehensive financial plans.
Advising Approach
In his work with clients, Bill positions himself as the copilot to their pilot, providing valuable information to help them make strategic decisions. With his personal and holistic approach, his guidance often extends beyond their portfolio. He becomes a counselor in many facets of life, from legacy planning to decisions about career transitions. He wants to help his clients improve their lives in any way possible and believes he becomes a trusted source of wisdom they often turn to for guidance.
Education & Designations
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Finance – West Virginia University
CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®)
Awards
Five Star Wealth Manager (2012 2013 2023 2024)
Community Involvement
Community is incredibly important to Bill, and one of his goals in life is to make “his little corner” of the world just a little bit better. He and his family are dedicated supporters of the Morris County Interfaith Food Pantry, where Bill volunteers several nights each month, as well as the Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morris Town, New Jersey. His wife Angela also works at Family Promise of Essex County, a not-for-profit dedicated to breaking the cycle of homelessness. In addition to providing financial support to the organization, Bill and Angela also volunteer there occasionally.
Personal Life
Bill grew up in Leonia, New Jersey, and lives in Morris Plains with his wife Angela and their rescue dog Ernie, a beagle mix. They have two sons—Sam, the eldest, is attending American University in Washington, D.C., and Charlie is at Marist College in New York. Recent empty nesters, Bill and Angela enjoy spending their time cooking a nice meal together, working out, or just driving around and exploring. Bill is also a diehard New York sports fan (his one exception being the Chelsea Football Club in London), rooting for the Mets, Jets, Rangers, and Knicks.
A Q&A with Bill
What’s your favorite book or the book that has most impacted your life?
One book I’ve lent to people many times is Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand. It’s fantastic.
If you could eat only one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?
The boys love when I make frutti di mare, which is Italian for “fruits of the sea.” It’s a pasta with shrimp, clams, mussels, and some other stuff, and it’s all mixed together. It’s great with a nice wine.
What or who makes you laugh?
Family game nights—we like to play Yahtzee, and that inevitably leads to a great time. The other would be Jerry Seinfeld; I’ve seen him live three times, and I reference him all the time.
Tim Burklow Jr. , ChFC®, CFP®
Partner, Financial Advisor
Education
BA in Environmental and Business Economics, Rutgers University New Brunswick, 2014-2018
Qualifications
CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® (CFP®)
Series 7 - General Securities Representative Examination
Series 66 - Uniform Combined State Law Examination
Life and Health Insurance
Jason Burklow
Partner, Financial Advisor
Education
Florida Gulf Coast University, Lutgert College of Business, BS Finance
Qualifications
Series 7 - General Securities Representative Examination
Series 66 - Uniform Combined State Law Examination
Life and Health Insurance
John "JJ" Occhipinti , MBA, ChFC®
Partner, Financial Advisor
Education
Bachelors - Finance: Concentration Wealth Management, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Madison, NJ
MBA - Finance, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Madison, New Jersey
Qualifications
ChFC® Chartered Financial Consultant®
Series 7, 66, Life & Health
Nicholas "Nick" Capezzuto
Partner, Financial Advisor
Education
East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania , BA Economics
Qualifications
Series 7 - General Securities Representative Examination
Series 66 - Uniform Combined State Law Examination
Life and Health Insurance
Kelley Trilling
Partner, Financial Advisor
Education
Bachelor’s Degree, Economics Major, University of Alaska, Anchorage, Alaska
Master of Business Administration Degree, Marketing Major, Fordham University, New York, NY
Qualifications
Series 66 - Uniform Combined State Law Examination
Series 7 - General Securities Representative Examination
Life and Health Insurance
Karol Turner
Partner, Financial Advisor
Qualifications
Series 7
Series 63
Series 65
Ruth Occhipinti
Partner, Senior Client Administrative Manager
Roles & Responsibilities
Office Management
Data Gathering & Data Entry
Practice Workflow & Efficiencies
Case Management
Money Movement & Transactions
Maria Machado
Partner, Client Administrative Manager
Roles & Responsibilities
Client Service
Scheduling
Meeting Prep and Follow-Up
Business Processing & Submission
Social Media and Website Management
Natalie Ydo
Partner, Client Administrative Manager
Roles & Responsibilities
Client Service
Business Processing & Submission
Meeting Prep and Follow-Up
Scheduling
Alex Silverstein
Partner, Client Administrative Manager
Roles & Responsibilities
Meeting Prep and Follow-Up
Data Gathering & Data Entry
