Susan is a private wealth specialist creating customized solutions for high-net-worth individuals and families. Susan's extensive estate, insurance, and tax planning expertise is the basis for the comprehensive, multi-generational plans that she develops for her clientele and family offices.

Susan’s expertise in the life and long-term care insurance area comes from her work as a Senior Manager at Price Waterhouse and the many years that followed working with the industry’s brightest minds as an independent broker and consultant. Susan is the driving force behind the AICPA’s risk management track at Engage, the annual Advanced Personal Financial Planning conference, and currently chairs the conference subcommittee.

Susan is also actively involved in women's empowerment to help women take charge of their finances, especially before any of the 6Ds occur: Death, Divorce, Disability, Disaster, Dementia, and Debt. Be Prepared Not Scared® is her motto. She runs an annual women’s panel at Engage to help women share experiences, fears, and best practices to increase gender equality in the industry.

Susan carries numerous professional certifications and designations and is recognized among her peers for her leadership, advocacy, and philanthropy, and is a frequent speaker at industry events. Much of Susan's expertise was acquired while she was a senior tax manager at PriceWaterhouse, LLC (1987- 1992), and as a senior tax consultant with Deloitte, Haskins & Sells (1984-1987). She founded her firm in 1992.

Susan graduated magna cum laude from Fairfield University in 1984 with a BS in Accounting and lives with her husband in Naples, Florida. She enjoys photography, painting, and traveling. She is a proud member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She is most proud of launching her two adult children!

Susan has earned the right to use the Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Personal Financial Specialist (CFS), and Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation.

Martin M. Shenkman, CPA, MBA, PFS, AEP (distinguished), JD, is an attorney in private practice in Fort Lee, New Jersey, and New York City, New York, with Shenkman Law. His practice focuses on estate and tax planning as well as planning for closely-held businesses and estate administration. Throughout his career, Mr. Shenkman received awards and acknowledgments from the New Jersey Bar Association, Worth Magazine, CPA Magazine, the American Cancer Society, and the AICPA. Mr. Shenkman holds a Bachelor of Science from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, an MBA from the University of Michigan, a law degree from Fordham University School of Law. He is admitted to the bar in New York, New Jersey, and Washington D.C.

Lisa is the head of Legacy and Wealth Planning at Abbot Downing. She is responsible for a comprehensive suite of services, including the Abbot Downing Clarity signature service, customized financial and wealth transfer planning, and planning for business transitions. She leads a team of experienced and credentialed professionals who provide traditional planning in a unique way to align with family governance, history, and education programs that reflect clients’ values, priorities, and goals. Lisa’s team of professionals are integral members of the Abbot Downing client team, providing ongoing advice to clients and coordinating with their other trusted advisors to ensure planning goals and communication plans are incorporated into banking, asset management, and fiduciary services.

Lisa has provided tax and financial planning services to affluent clients and families for almost 30 years. She previously was regional managing director for Wachovia’s Financial Planning Group, a predecessor firm of Wells Fargo, and spent the first 11 years of her career with Arthur Andersen where she was a senior manager of the personal financial planning and family wealth planning group.

After receiving a bachelor's degree in accounting from George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, Lisa became a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) (not currently practicing) and a CFP® professional.

As a member of the American Institute of CPAs, Lisa has served on several committees and is currently a member of the Personal Financial Planning Executive and Advanced Estate Planning Conference committees. She is also a member of the Novant Health Foundation Clemmons Medical Center and Davie Community Foundation boards. Lisa was named to Private Asset Management’s “50 Most Influential Women in Private Wealth”* in 2016 and 2015 and George Mason University’s “Prominent Patriots” in 2015.