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Get to Know David:

What do you love most about being part of Personal Wealth Strategies?

When Personal Wealth Strategies was founded, I wanted to establish a place where clients could go to get independent, objective advice regarding their finances.  At Personal Wealth Strategies we work for our clients, and only our clients.  I love the idea that we are always free to make the best decisions for our clients.

Why do you do what you do?

I have a passion for helping people.  Finance is just the tool I use.  I enjoy when a couple comes to the office stuck in a difficult situation and we are able to put together a plan to achieve their goal.  Its not always easy, but when the work is done, I know they are so much better off for having walked in our doors.

What is the most influential passage you've ever read?

In summing up a passage by Aristotle, Will Durant wrote, “We are what we repeatedly do.  Excellence, then is not an act but a habit.”   I have always prided myself on delivering a superior experience for my clients, making sure to handle every task effectively and efficiently.  Nothing is left to chance.  Excellence is a very high standard.

Professional Biography:

Personal Wealth Strategies was founded by David Bailin in 1996 to help successful individuals and their families accumulate and preserve wealth. The focus of the financial practice has been providing advice to clients and assisting them in making smart decisions about their money.  He is a student of financial research, and his investment strategies are grounded in the Nobel prize-winning principles of Modern Portfolio Theory. 

David is a graduate of Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA.  During his career David has earned the Accredited Investment Fiduciary (AIF®), Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC)® and Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU)® designations.  He has also earned the Certification in Long Term Care (CLTC)®.  David is a member of the Million Dollar Round Table**. and qualifies for the prestigious Top of the Table, the highest tier in the international organization among financial professionals.

Over the years David has spoken on Finance and Employment issues at Rutgers University, McGuire Air Force Base, and the New Jersey Department of Labor.  He has also been a featured speaker at the Small Business Week Conference sponsored by the City of Trenton.  David has been interviewed on radio station WCTC’s You and Your Money, and in local and national periodicals including WealthManagement.com, The Home News, The Asbury Park Press and Advisor Today magazine.

David and his wife Nancy have been married for 37 years. They live in Chesterfield, N.J.  Their son, Arthur, is a Public Defender for Whitfield and Murray Counties in the state of Georgia.  David and Nancy are Founding Members of the Brother Kevin M. Dalmasse, FSC Forum Fund to support the Speech and Debate Program of LaSalle College High School in Wyndmoor, Pa.

Qualifying membership in the MDRT is based on minimum commission and gross business generated within a year and is not based upon performance or returns experienced by any client, or opinions of the advisor's clients or former clients. Third-party rankings and recognitions are no guarantee of future investment success and do not ensure that a client or prospective client will experience a higher level of performance or results.  

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Get to Know Justin:

Why do you do what you do?

Growing up I was always into personal finance and studying how money works. I appreciated the power of compound interest and wanted to take advantage of it early on in life. I opened a Roth IRA when I was 17 with some of the money that I got from my summer job working as a lifeguard at the local swim club. I assumed that everyone else would have this desire to learn about personal finance but I discovered when I was going through my graduate program that this was not the case at all! This is when I started to look into a career where I could help people with this and found financial planning. I started taking courses for the CFP® exam and eventually made the transition to this career in 2015.

What is the best advice you have ever received?

“Be the best you can be!"

Every morning before my mom dropped me and my brother off at school, this would be our chant. Taking turns at saying every other word. My mom would start it off by saying “BE!”, we would respond, “THE!” and so on. It was a daily reminder that we would not be judged in comparison to others but instead to the best we could do. Giving your all and doing the best that you possibly can is all anyone can ask of you.

What would you be doing if you weren’t working with Personal Wealth Strategies?

I have a passion for education and I love teaching. This is something that we do every day with our clients, helping to take the complex and make it understandable. If I weren’t working with Personal Wealth Strategies, I would be a school teacher helping to educate children in high school not only about the usual topics of math and science but also other topics like personal finance & taxes that will actually be useful in their everyday lives.

Professional Biography:

Justin is a graduate of The Catholic University of America, in Washington, DC.  There he majored in Biomedical Engineering.  Continuing his education, Justin attended Rutgers University where he obtained his master’s degree.  During graduate school he began his studies in Finance and earned his Certificate in Financial Planning from Kaplan University.  In March, 2015 he passed the demanding CFP® Certification Examination and after gaining valuable industry experience earned the full CFP® designation in September 2018.

Furthering his education in 2019, he obtained the Certified Student Loan Professional (CSLP®) designation which will allow him to help clients formulate the most efficient strategy to eliminate their student loans.  He has been a sought after industry speaker presenting to several groups, including as an expert appearing before the Financial Planning Association-New Jersey Chapter.

In 2021, Justin earned the Certificate in Blockchain & Digital Assets® from the Digital Asset Council of Financial Professionals & New York Institute of Finance.  He joins an exclusive group of financial advisors with the credentials to properly educate clients curious about this new and evolving technology.

Justin was born in Baltimore, Maryland and currently resides in Cliffside Park, New Jersey with his wife, Suzie, and twins, Izabel & Jackson.

Get to Know Nancy:

What is the best book you’ve ever read?

The General’s Daughter by Nelson DeMille.  I love suspense and mysteries and this book didn’t disappoint.

 What do you love most about being part of Personal Wealth Strategies?

I most value the relationships I’ve developed over the years.  I started with Personal Wealth Strategies in 1996 when the company was founded and since that time I have developed so many meaningful relationships with our clients.  I strive each and every day to not only meet, but exceed their expectations.  I especially enjoy hearing about their life outside of the business of Personal Wealth Strategies.  I love meeting their families and learning about all that is important to them.

Who had the greatest influence in your life, and why?

The values I hold, which have guided me thru both my personal and professional life have come in large part from my parents.  They have been a tremendous influence in my life.  My mother taught me to think of others and put their needs before mine.  She taught me to always look for the good in people.  My father taught me the value of hard work and to never feel a sense of entitlement.  He taught me to always go above and beyond and to strive to exceed expectations.  Service to others was a cornerstone of my upbringing.

 What do you feel most grateful for in your life?

I have many blessings in my life.  I am especially blessed to have a wonderful son, Arthur.  Conventional wisdom suggests a parent imparts their values on their children, and they do, but I can honestly say I have learned so many virtues from Arthur.  I am very grateful to have him in my life.

Professional Biography:

Nancy has worked for Personal Wealth Strategies since its founding in 1996.   Since then Nancy has worked in both an administrative as well as marketing positions.  She currently holds the title of Client Relations Manager.  Prior to working with PWS, Nancy held various positions that have shaped who she is and the values she holds.  Nancy worked as Director of Admissions at a private school in Princeton, New Jersey serving children from the age of Preschool thru Grade 5.  During the early part of Nancy’s career she worked as an Insurance Underwriter for The Prudential Insurance Company.  She was then promoted to a management position in a Prudential field office.  Prior to starting her family, Nancy held the position of Account Executive for Chanel in NYC.  Nancy attended Monmouth College.

Get to Know Denise

What is the best advice you have ever received?

“Surround yourself with people that are smarter than yourself”

A former supervisor once said this to me many years ago. They advised that the others would impart their wisdom to me and lift me up to become the best person that I could be. I have shared this with my children and a few others and it is giving me joy to see them grow as a person.

What do you love most about being a part of Personal Wealth Strategies?

I love being an integral part of a team that emphasizes the importance of client relationships and strives to build secure financial futures.

What do you feel most grateful for?

I am grateful for my family and friends. No matter what I do or say, they are there to support me.  They provide me with encouragement, love and happiness. And of course, the occasional headache!  They also point out my faults and still love me anyway.  I draw my strength from them and I am very thankful for each of them in my life.

Professional Biography

Denise is a graduate of Northeastern University. She has over 25 years of customer service experience with over 15 years in the financial services industry.

Denise enjoys spending time with her 2 children, reading the latest best seller and cooking.

Get to Know Belinda

1. What is the best book you have ever read?
The best book I have ever read is the Pelican Brief published in 1992 by John Grisham. The story is intriguing with a heart racing action coupled with suspense. I love this sort of fiction!

2. Who had the greatest influence in your life?
The person that had the greatest influence in my life is my dad. He taught me to pursue my dreams and in doing that strive to be the best version of myself. He instilled discipline in me and taught me the value of hard work and being kind to people.

3. What would you be doing if you weren’t working at Personal Wealth Strategies?
I enjoy reading and teaching. If I weren’t working with Personal Wealth Strategies, I would teach kids with special needs. Teachings kids with special needs equips you to learn to focus and understand each student’s needs, requiring you to continuously change and adapt. It requires creativity and compassion to reach every student. And overall, it is fulfilling.

Professional Biography:

Belinda began her professional career in the banking industry and later switched to the wealth management industry. She has been a financial professional with over 8 years of experience in building and retaining relationships in an increasingly changing environment. Belinda is enthusiastic about helping people and offering an array of services that meets her client’s needs and objectives. Her passion is providing clients with optimal assistance in retirement planning and overall support managing their finances. Before working for Personal Wealth Strategies, Belinda was an Investment Advisor at SIMS, Ghana.

Belinda is a graduate of University Of Ghana, Legon where she majored in Economics and Philosophy.

Get to Know Jeff:

What is the Best Advice You've Ever Received?

The best advice I ever received was from my parents:  they told me at a young age that nothing truly worthwhile in life comes without hard work.  They also taught me that a person's attitude is the primary driver of success.

What is Your Favorite Book?

My favorite book is The Lord of the Rings.  It shows us the limitless scope of our imaginations.

What Would You Be Doing If You Weren't an Advisor With Personal Wealth Strategies?

If I wasn't working as an advisor (and wasn't working at all) I would be surfing with my kids.

Professional Biography:

Jeff graduated with honors from Boston College and Oxford University in 1997 with a BA in Economics and has been in the financial services industry since then.  He began his employment with a trading firm in Jersey City where he worked as an equity trader for six years. He made the transition to financial planning in 2003 in order to work in a field that enables him to have a substantial impact on people's lives.  In 2003 he attended NYU where he successfully completed his CFP® designation.

In 2018, Jeff and his partners, Steven Curry and Vincent O’Brien, made the decision to move to an independent broker dealer, Woodbury Financial Services, Inc., and join Personal Wealth Strategies.  This move greatly enhanced their ability to serve their clients and enabled them to be truly independent and free from conflicts of interest.

Jeff’s practice focuses on financial planning and portfolio management, and he works primarily with families and individuals who are within several years of or in retirement. 

Jeff currently resides in Sea Girt with his wife Noelle and their four children, Madeline, RJ, Henry and Stella where they enjoy running, surfing and spending time at the shore.

Get to Know Steve:

What is the best advice you have ever received? 

 Don't ever stop growing and learning as a person

Why do you do what you do? 

It’s about relationships. I get to develop relationships with families from different backgrounds and get the opportunity to help improve their overall financial situation. I am very blessed to say that I am passionate about my career.

What do you enjoy doing outside of work?

 I like to fish, golf, cook, spend time with my family and root for Rutgers Athletics.

Professional Biography:

Steven has 14 years of experience in the Financial Services industry. He is a graduate of the Rutgers Business School (New Brunswick, NJ) with a Bachelor’s degree in Finance. He also earned the CFP® (Certified Financial Planner)^TM designation.

Steven's practice focuses on Financial Planning and Asset Management. He enjoys dynamically showing clients what impact different financial decisions they make could have on their personal financial strategy. 

Steven currently resides in West Long Branch with his wife Teri and their three daughters.

Steven holds FINRA series 7, 66, and his Life and Health insurance licenses.

Get to Know Vince:

What is the best advice you have ever received?

If it Sounds Too Good to be True, it Probably isn't"......(.advice received from a client)

Why do you do what you do?

I really enjoy Helping Clients reach their Long-Term Financial Goals......and have been around long enough to see it actually happen.

 What do you feel most grateful for in your life?

 My Family, my Friends, and my Clients.

 What do you love most about being part of Personal Wealth Strategies?

I am part of a Great Team of experienced Financial Professionals who are Positive and Highly Motivated, and whose Integrity continually place the needs of the Clients first in every situation.

 About what are you passionate?

Coaching Clients and Athletes to achieve their Maximum Potential...I have been doing both for over 40 years.

What is the best book you have ever read?

Wow... Too Many but to name a few.... Rich Dad, Poor Dad,  The Millionaire Next Door,   How I Raised Myself from Failure to Success

Who had the greatest influence on your life and why?

The Coaches and Mentors I have had from the early stages of my Life in Athletics and in Business, and who I continue to confide in to this Day.

Professional Biography:

Vince joined the industry in 1979 on a part-time basis, while still involved as a very successful educator and a coach of football and wrestling at Fort Lee High School. He is a member of the Fort Lee High School Athletic Hall of Fame, New Jersey Region II Wrestling Hall of Fame, and a multiyear Coach of the Year in both sports. He was also recently inducted into the NJ Scholastic Coaches Hall of Fame.  In 1980, Vince left education to pursue his financial advising passion on a full-time basis.

Since devoting his time completely to the financial industry, Vince has held several leadership roles.  Vince has received numerous industry awards, including several GAMA National Management Awards (Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze) and National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA) National Quality Awards from 1988-2005 for his successful career in agency management.  Vince is a 37 year Qualifier for the Million Dollar Roundtable*.  Today, Vince dedicates all his time to his existing clients and their referrals.  

Vince's educational background includes a B.A. degree in Business Education and M.A. in Administration. Vince completed his CFP (R) training at the College for Financial Planning in Boulder, CO in 1986.  He has also earned a professional designation as a Chartered Life Underwriter, as well as having completed and taught courses in Estate Planning, Business Insurance, and Investments. Vince currently holds FINRA Series 6, 7, and 24 registrations.

A resident of Spring Lake, New Jersey, Vince and his wife Janis also enjoy spending time in Florida, especially with their two adult children and two grandchildren. His hobbies include motorcycling, animal rescue, travel, charitable endeavors, and continued support of the sport of wrestling.

* Qualifying membership in the Million Dollar Roundtable (MDRT) is based on minimum sales production requirements and gross business generated within a year.  MDRT members must also adhere to strict ethical standards

Get to Know Courtney:

What is the best advice you have ever received?

 Don't forget to look up. 

What is the best book you’ve ever read?

 The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho & Shoe Dog by Phil Knight.   

What has had the greatest influence on your life and why?

 Sports have had the greatest influence on my life.  Life says the odds are against you, Sports say there's always a chance.

Professional Biography:

Courtney Linstra has worked in the investment industry since 1999 including positions held in client service, account transition and trading.  She earned her undergraduate degree in Psychology from Fairfield University in Connecticut.  Courtney holds the FINRA Series 7 and New Jersey Life and Health licenses.  Courtney resides in Brielle, NJ with her husband and two children.  They enjoy an active lifestyle at the Shore.  

Get to Know Bill:

Get to Know Ed:

What is the best advice you have received?

Don’t fall in love with a stock, bond or real estate…. It will never love you back.

Why do you do what you do?

I liked money since I was a young boy. I would always save all my money. When I was twelve I lent money to my parents to buy real estate in Pennsylvania, which they later built a house and we spent a lot of time with plenty of fond memories.  Now I love helping people with their money.  I enjoy teaching them how to save money, minimize taxes, free up cash flow and protect their assets.  I get satisfaction from watching their progress.

 What do you do when you are not working?

I enjoy spending as much time with my family as possible.  You will always find me outside, with my spouse Janet or my kids.  It could be 100 degrees outside or snowing, you will find me out in the yard or on the beach surfing or fishing or snowboarding no matter what the weather, happily unplugged from our constant connected society. I am a volunteer firefighter for the Toms River Fire Department. I am also a board member for a local non-profit charitable organization called a Need We Feed.

How do you define success?

I define success by my children…. So right now I am one of the wealthiest men alive. Move over Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates.

Professional Biography:

Edward Schuler has been a financial advisor for the past 30 years, he is a Chartered Financial Consultant.  Ed has a broad based knowledge in financial, business, and estate planning strategies, as well as retirement plans, IRA’s and employee benefit services.

He has spoken to many groups on topics relating to divorce and finance, special needs planning, investing for the future, the importance of protecting your assets through life and disability insurance strategies. He is also well versed in IRA’s and retirement strategies, which includes, retirement accumulation and distribution phases.

Ed’s practice focuses on working with small to mid-sized companies, numerous associations, as well as retirement and exit strategies for business owners. He also works with special needs groups and their families.

Ed currently holds FINRA Series 7, 66, & 24 registrations. In addition, he has Life & Health Insurance licensure in the states of New Jersey, New York, Florida, California, Pennsylvania, and Missouri.

Specialties include: Comprehensive Financial Strategies, Insurance, Investments, and Retirement Planning Strategies as well as Employee benefits.

Ed is a graduate of Georgian Court College with a major in business and a concentration in marketing. Ed resides in Toms River with his wife and three daughters. Ed enjoys spending as much time with his family as possible.  Ed is a volunteer firefighter for the Toms River Fire Department. He is also a board member for a local non-profit charitable organization called a “Need We Feed.”

Get to Know Denise:

What is the best advice you have ever received?

The best advice I have ever received would have to be from my grandmother, Nora Waters. She was a feisty English born woman who told me NEVER let anyone stand in your way or stop you from pursing what you want in life. Strive to do the very best you can and always be proud of what you have accomplished.

 What is the best book you’ve ever read?

The best book I have ever read was Born to Run, the Autobiography of Bruce Springsteen.  Being a “Bruce” fan since the 1970’s, it was so interesting, heart-warming and sad at times to read about Bruce’s life, from childhood to the present day which includes the good, the bad and the ugly. He supports many charities and foundations and for years has played benefits concerts to support not only our country in times of need but other countries as well. He is certainly a respected humanitarian in my eyes.

Who has had the greatest influence on your life and why? 

I believe my mom had the greatest influence on my life. She taught me to be a strong, independent, and confident woman and to speak your mind when you needed to. She always said stay positive, never give up and whatever you face in this lifetime whether good or bad, there’s always a light at the end of the tunnel. She was right!

Professional Biography:

Denise Lagala is the Client Relations Coordinator for Edward Schuler in our Brick office. Denise has many years of office management and customer service experience. She enjoys working with people and going the extra mile to resolve any issues that arise. Denise loves skiing in Lake Tahoe, traveling and spending time with family and friends. She is married 30 years to Tony a Civil Engineer and has one son Charlie, who also became a Civil Engineer.