Meet Our Financial Advisors

Jeff Buonforte has been with Lakeland Bank since 1999 and has over 35 years of experience in the financial services industry, having worked for National Community Bank and its successor The Bank of New York, Merrill Lynch and Price Waterhouse Coopers.

Jeff holds the professional designation of CFP® Professional and is registered with Series 7 and Series 66 licenses. He earned his B.S.B.A.degree in Economics from Nichols College in Dudley, Massachusetts and a graduate degree from the Stonier Graduate School of Banking at the University of Delaware.

He is the author of several newspaper articles on financial planning and wealth management, and has appeared on News12 New Jersey and WWOR to discuss financial planning. Jeff is currently a trustee for the Passaic County 200 Club, an advisory board member of William Paterson University’s College of Business and a fund raiser for the Boys and Girls Club of Paterson and Passaic.

Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks CFP^(R), CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER^(tm) and federally registered CFP flame design logo in the U.S., which it awards to individuals who successfully complete CFP Board's initial and ongoing certification requirements.

Tim Van Slooten has more than 25 years of experience managing bank investment programs, and was most recently a Vice President, Regional Sales Manager for M&T Securities with M&T Bank serving Connecticut, New Jersey, the Hudson Valley and Long Island regions in New York. He holds Series 7, 24, 66 and NJ Life and Health licenses and earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Marist College.  Tim is involved in the community and donates his time as a 6^th grade girls’ basketball coach.

Jeff Beebe brings many years of client relationship management experience to Lakeland Financial Services. Prior experience includes Merrill Lynch and Smith Barney in their wealth management divisions. His many registrations include Series 7, 63, 65, Life, Health and Disability Insurance. He is is currently a board member of Pass It Along, as well as an instructor at the East West Karate Academy in Sparta. Beebe holds a BA from Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, PA.

Joseph Dolan joined Lakeland Financial Services in 2001. He previously worked at Merrill Lynch. Dolan holds Series 6, 7, 66, Life and Health registrations in NJ. Joe is an avid community supporter and serves on the Board and is a coach of the Sussex Wantage Little League, and is also involved with the Boys Brigade at Lafayette Federated Church. Joe earned his BBA in Finance from Iona College.

Neal Gordon, ChFC®, CLTC, CRPC® is a Financial Planner & Financial Advisor with Lakeland Financial Services. His advisory practice centers on Retirement Planning, Wealth Management and Asset Protection for Individuals, Families and Business Owners. Neal’s true mission is to ensure that his clients have the information and knowledge necessary to make sound financial decisions; both for themselves and their families, by providing suitable planning to avoid making costly mistakes. Being committed to financial literacy and awareness, Neal presents educational programs to non-profit groups and charitable organizations, as well as providing Continuing Professional Education (CPE) Credits for CPA’s.

Neal holds the professional designation of Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC®), Certified Long Term Care (CLTC), and Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC®). He is registered with Series 7 & 66 securities licenses and holds Life & Health and Property & Casualty insurance licenses. Neal is in partnership with Ottilia Stura, who is a VP and Financial Advisor with LFS.  Their practice is dedicated to helping clients become financially secure and confident as a result of implementing personalized financial plans.

Timothy Mol brings 12 years of wealth management experience to Lakeland Financial Services. Tim’s prior experience includes Merrill Lynch and Wachovia in their wealth management and private banking divisions, respectively. He holds the professional designation of CFP® Professional and is registered with Series 7,6,63,66, and Life/Health insurance licenses. Tim loves to sit down with his clients and assist them in the various steps of the Financial Planning process, and focuses on a keen attention to detail and a great client experience from the start and in continuance.

Tim is currently a school board member and Education and Personnel chairmen, for a private school in Morris County, NJ. Tim earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration with concentrations in finance and marketing from Montclair State University, graduating Magna Cum Laude. He also is a member of the Golden Key National Honor Society.

Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks CFP^(R), CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER^(tm) and federally registered CFP flame design logo in the U.S., which it awards to individuals who successfully complete CFP Board's initial and ongoing certification requirements.

Michael Niro brings over 30 years of investment experience from Merrill Lynch’s Wealth Management and Private Client divisions. Mike’s prior experience includes being a Vice President/Senior Financial Advisor and Portfolio Investment Advisor, as well as the branch mutual fund coordinator. His focus is to build longstanding relationships with clients, develop tailored investment strategies, while providing liability management techniques. Mike works with a client’s accountant, estate attorney and other professionals to ensure the recommended solutions are not only tailored to the client’s goals, but are cohesive and fully integrated. He holds the Series 7, 63, 66 and Life/Health insurance licenses.

Mike has previously volunteered as a travel baseball coach, umpire-in-chief, and board member for 13 years with the Mt. Olive Junior Baseball Association and has served as vice president for the Mt. Olive Diamond Club. Mike earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Albright College. He has also donated his time to Habitat for Humanity and is an active member of the Albright Alumni Association.

David Rothberg brings over twenty years of wealth management and financial planning experience to Lakeland Financial Services.  He has Series 7, 63, 66 licenses as well as Life and Health licenses. Rothberg earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration and holds a juris doctorate.

Robert Siegler has more than nine years of investment management experience and, most recently, was a Financial Advisor with JPMorgan Securities. Siegler earned a bachelor’s degree from Ramapo College and has earned the CRPC® from the College for Financial Planning. He has Series 7 and 66 licenses as well as NJ and NY Life and Health Insurance licenses.

Matthew Stanek has seven years of investment management experience and, most recently, was a Private Client Banker with JPMorgan Chase Bank’s Wealth Management group. He earned a bachelor’s degree from West Virginia University and has Series 7, 6, 63 and 66 licenses as well as a NJ Life and Health Insurance license.

Ottilia Stura is a Vice President and Financial Advisor with Lakeland Financial Services.  With over 20 years of experience, Ottilia works with her clients to help them reach their various financial goals throughout their lives.  By taking an objective and transparent approach, she focuses on providing clients the necessary facts, advice and guidance for them to make informed decisions.  Her wealth of knowledge of both wealth management and protection strategies ensures that clients are provided a broad spectrum of choices when developing financial and long-term solutions.  Ottilia has attained her FINRA Series 7 and 66 and maintains her Life & Health and Property & Casualty licenses.  She is also fluent in three languages (English, Portuguese and Spanish).  Ottilia is in partnership with Neal Gordon, ChFC, CLT and CRPC, who is a VP and Financial Planner with LFS.  Their practice is dedicated to helping clients become financially secure and confident as a result of implementing personalized financial plans.