More than half of our clients have been with us for 10 years or longer, and we attribute that longevity to the personal relationships and business partnerships that our team cultivates with you and your employees, becoming a trusted partner. Through listening, we go beyond being your benefits broker to serving as your business partner, becoming an extension of your own management and support staff. Our personalized service is priceless and rare, particularly in an era of voice mail, email and auto-attended phone calls. As diligent as we are in selecting, delivering and supporting the plans we customize for you, we are equally committed to getting to know you and making sure that you and your employees are greeted personally and attentively whenever you need us. “We work for you” is more that a slogan, it's what we do every day. EFG Employee Education & Information SessionsSmall business owners and individual clients applaud our proactive approach and appreciate our ability to communicate complex ideas in simple terms. Minimizing anxiety over plan changes, and making sure that employees understand their benefit and retirement plans, is part of our mission. Our on-site Employee Education and Information Sessions are value-added services that we are proud to offer to every EFG client, as often as you'd like.
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Our Team
| John Ernst
John Ernst founded Ernst Financial Group in 1990, based on providing sound benefits planning strategies to businesses throughout Western Massachusetts and Northern Connecticut. John is a Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) and a Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC), and completed his undergraduate degree at Hamilton College. John also practices giving back to the community. Recently, he helped establish the Longmeadow Educational Excellence Foundation (LEEF) to raise funds for school enrichment programs. He participates in the "Read Aloud" program at Liberty Elementary School in Springfield. For close to 20 years, John has volunteered with the Community United Way of the Pioneer Valley and has been associated with Human Resources Unlimited, a social services non-profit, as a board member. He has also served as a board member and President of the Community Music School of Springfield. In his spare time, John enjoys any sport that allows him to be outdoors - golf, skiing, tennis - as well as singing in the Springfield Symphony Chorus. | | | |
| Michael T. Welnicki
Employee Benefits Sales & Retention
mwelnicki@ernstfinancial.com Michael has been working in various areas of the Employee Benefits practice since graduating from Springfield College in 1999, where he excelled in both hockey and golf. During this time, Michael's key focus has been on business development as well as client relationship management. Outside of EFG, Michael is still involved in athletics, often coaching youth ice hockey and learn-to-skate programs. He lives in South Windsor, CT with his wife Melinda who is a School Psychologist for the Town of Tolland, Connecticut. | | | |
| Gretchen M. Collins
Employee Benefits Coordinator
gcollins@ernstfinancial.com With over 20 years of employee benefit experience, Gretchen works closely with Michael to manage the employee benefits division and also serve EFG's key COBRA administrator. She worked for MassMutual in pensions and employee benefits services prior to joining EFG. Gretchen enjoys spending her time with family and cheering on all of the New England sports teams, year-round. She resides in Westfield with her husband and two children. | | | |
| Renee J. White
Account Service Coordinator
rwhite@ernstfinancial.com Renee is a Chartered Retirement Plans Specialist who also specializes in individual insurances. She completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Massachusetts and earned her Masters Degree from Boston University. Renee joined Ernst Financial Group in 2005. An avid athlete, Renee competes in several triathlons each year and enjoys hiking and camping. She also volunteers for the New England district of Little People of America. She resides in Southampton with her two children. | | | |
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