Our Team

Some may find it hard to believe that an executive who launched his career in the trenches of the New York Stock Exchange could build a family-oriented financial planning group based on trust, unparalleled customer service, and a fierce dedication to personal relationships. Those people haven’t met Todd Levine.

You don’t survive on the floor of the Exchange without passion — and purpose. And you don’t build a fast-growing financial planning business without a passion for personal service, expert financial and investment advice, and a deep understanding of your clients’ goals and dreams. Todd began his professional career working for industry leaders like Helfant Group, Jefferies & Co, and Bloomberg Tradebook. The Brooklyn native rose quickly through the trading ranks, holding various leadership roles including equities trader and execution sales trader.

But Todd was missing one critical element on Wall Street — seeing firsthand how his work was making a difference in someone’s life. 

“Too often, we see people focusing solely on the rate of return instead of the bigger picture,” Todd explains. “Our approach is to anticipate and plan for obstacles, giving our clients a solid process for achieving their goals regardless of circumstance. Once that process is in place, they’re well on their way to building wealth that can make a measurable difference for their heirs or charitable interests.”

Todd has earned numerous accolades for his work, placing him among the industry’s elite. He lives in Monmouth County, New Jersey, with his wife, Maria, and two young children. He enjoys traveling with his family and is a frequent guest speaker at investor groups and industry conferences across the U.S. Todd remains committed to his local community and to the community of financial professionals; he is among a select group of senior industry professionals chosen to mentor junior planners around the country.

Clients and colleagues point to Todd’s passion for finance and commitment to personal and professional development as the keys to the Levine Financial Group’s success. “Our job is to help people step back and view the big picture: what they want life to look like, what they need to do to get there, and how they can protect their family in the process,” says Todd. “That, for me and my team, is what success is all about.” 

Check the background of our investment professionals on FINRA’s BrokerCheck.

Dipen Mehta is an AIF®, CIMA®, Lean Six Sigma Blackbelt, focused leader with 15+ years of experience finding innovative ways to grow people, revenue and scale organizations. Well-versed in operations, technology, human resources, budgets, compliance, risk management, portfolio management and building lasting relationships with vendors, team members, clients and partners. Ability to drive growth and opportunity in Registered Investment Advisor space. Dipen strives to help team members grow, develop and perform as high as possible.

Dipen built his own broker-dealer with a joint back office that provided liquidity, proprietary trading, and market-making on exchanges such as the Chicago Board Options Exchange, Chicago Mercantile Exchange, International Securities Exchange, NYSE/ARCA, NASDAQ, and other leading exchanges. He was one of the first persons to trade options electronically.

Dipen has a Master of Science in Financial Mathematics from the University of Chicago as well as three bachelors’ degrees in computer science, economics, and business administration with a concentration in international management from Boston University. Dipen has also completed Executive Education at Yale School of Management. He holds Series 63 and 65 licenses as well as Accredited Investment Fiduciary®, Certified Investment Management Analyst®, & Lean Six Sigma Black Belt.

A former trader on the currency exchange, Mike Karlin is now turning his financial know-how and aversion to risk into success. His goal is to empower people with the ability to understand the types of financial products and services in the marketplace today. 

Mike’s principled approach and well-earned reputation for integrity and trust-building are appreciated by clients and colleagues alike. He explains, “During my career, I worked and traded and created something that worked for me and my family. Now, I work on behalf of individuals and business clients, helping them plan for a safe and secure future, for themselves and their families.”

As a long-time resident of Manalapan, New Jersey, Mike is devoted to serving his community in many ways and works with several local organizations to help give back. 

Check the background of our investment professionals on FINRA’s BrokerCheck.

As Levine Financial Group’s newest Client Relations and New Business Administrator, Jackie provides the highest level of servicing for LFG clients. Her professionalism, dedication, and systematic approach help create a unique and thorough experience for all who engage with her.  

Once she obtained her associates degree at Brookdale Community College, Jackie moved on to Rutgers Business School to complete her undergrad by obtaining a BA in Business Administration. While in school and after, Jackie worked as a Studio Manager for a Branding & Marketing Agency based in NYC; this position allowed her to gain immense experience in working with individuals and business owners from a myriad of industries. There Jackie learned how to effectively and efficiently assist clients, all the while going above and beyond their servicing expectations.

Jackie was born in Brooklyn, NY and currently resides in Freehold, NJ. To her benefit, Jackie comes from a large family where she learned how to thrive in a fast-paced and lively environment. In her spare time, Jackie enjoys being outdoors wherever possible, whether it be walking or biking at the Jersey Shore when the weather permits, as well as taking her dog to the park.

Ben’s commitment and passion is to helping people gain control over their financial futures. He has aligned himself with Levine Financial Group where he has been an advisor over the past seven years. His clients include young professionals, new families, business owners, and near-retirees in a number of different professions. The majority of Ben’s clientele works in law, the medical practice, advertising, tech, fashion, and financial services.

By default, or by design, he recognizes that people already have a plan in place. Often times decisions around group benefits, retirement, auto and home insurance, mortgage selection, properly mitigating against excessive taxation, estate planning, life insurance, etc. are made at the specific time those opportunities or concerns must be handled. This is where Ben comes in. With the understanding that a decision in one area of a financial plan can either enhance or adversely impact another area, Ben assists in co-creating a plan with his clients to construct a plan that simultaneously quells their concerns surrounding their finances and reach their most important financial goals.

Prior to beginning his career, he received an undergraduate degree and MBA from St. John’s University and is a graduate of Bergen Catholic High School, where he was a varsity wrestler and a member of Team New Jersey for the Cadet National Duals and the Cadet National Tournament. Wrestling was and is a huge part of Ben’s life, as it taught him commitment, mental fortitude, and a number of other highly important lessons that translate into professional life. For the past two years, Ben volunteers his time as an assistant wrestling coach at Ocean Township High School.

Ben is a resident of Asbury Park, New Jersey with his dog Kona. In his spare time, Ben can be found spending time with his family, going on hikes with Kona, golfing, volunteering for Surf Rider, seeing live music all across the Jersey Shore, and eating at restaurants throughout the tri-state area. 

Check the background of our investment professionals on FINRA’s BrokerCheck.

Ray Navarrete, a graduate of Seton Hall University, played Division 1 baseball in the Big East Conference. Upon graduation, Ray began a 14-year professional baseball career that included time in the Pittsburgh Pirates, Houston Astros, New York Mets organizations. Career highlights include playing against the New York Yankees in Major League spring training and facing Hall of Fame pitcher, Mariano Rivera.

Following his playing days, Ray founded Digmi, a lifestyle apparel brand that has been sold in national retailers such as Bloomingdales, Tilly’s and Lids.

A Monmouth County native, Ray grew up in Colts Neck, spending time with family and friends down the shore. Now a family man, Ray is married to his wife Nicole and is the proud father to their young daughter Stella Rose. Outside of the office, Ray is committed to giving back to the game he loves, devoting time as a youth baseball instructor and coach.

In his new career position, Ray is utilizing his “team player” approach to provide his clients with comprehensive planning and protection to help ensure a winning future.

Francesca Palmeri, a graduate of East Stroudsburg University, stands out as a diligent and hardworking individual. When she puts her mind to something and believes in herself, she consistently accomplishes the task at hand. 

During her time at University, Francesca actively took the lead in various extracurricular activities. Among her most significant triumphs was spearheading a University-Wide relief effort for the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, showcasing her leadership skills and compassionate nature. 

Francesca’s passion and dedication extend far beyond the boundaries of the university and her local community. She has witnessed how crucial financial decisions can shape destinies, inspiring her to commit herself to assisting individuals in mastering their personal economy. 

Being a part of Levine Financial Group fills Francesca with a sense of immense fortune, as it provides her with an exceptional opportunity to wholeheartedly guide others towards financial security, expertly assisting them in making prudent investments, and ultimately empowering them to achieve their most cherished life goals. Her unwavering passion for helping others and genuine love for aiding people in reaching their full potential truly shine through her dedication to ensuring their success in attaining financial security and fulfilling their dreams. 

Outside of her professional pursuits, Francesca finds joy in spending time with her large family in Monmouth County and exploring the great outdoors. 

An up and coming social media & marketing guru, Dana brings her skills to the LFG team by providing our clients and advisors with the best possible experience and an unparalleled level of diligence and accuracy.

Dana attended Brookdale Community College to begin her undergrad and finished with her Bachelors in Marketing at Monmouth University. Throughout her school career, Dana worked at a privately owned fitness facility, which sparked her passion for fitness and there she learned how to properly service clients.

As Levine Financial Group’s newest Client Relations and New Business Administrator, Nicole provides the highest level of servicing and support for our clients. Nicole’s diligence, dedication, and professionalism creates the most ideal experience for everyone she engages with.  

Nicole graduated magna cum laude from Saint Peter’s University with a BA in Criminal Justice. She minored in Business Law and received The Connolly Medal for excellence in this field throughout her collegiate career. After graduation, Nicole experienced a complete career pivot when she was approached with an opportunity to work in property management. Nicole worked at all levels of this industry until she welcomed the birth of her daughter, Stella Rose, in January of 2020. After a short hiatus, Nicole worked in the banking industry where she advanced her knowledge in the field. Nicole brings a plethora of skills to the team to add to the LFG experience.

 Nicole was born in Hoboken, New Jersey and currently resides in Cream Ridge, New Jersey. She comes from a small, close-knit family who she adores. The joy of Nicole's life is being married to her loving husband, Ray, and being a mother to their precious three-year-old daughter, Stella Rose. 

Dylan Greenblatt, a graduate of American University, played Division 1 soccer while pursuing a film degree in the nation's capital.  You might ask how he stumbled into the world of finance, but he would tell you that he has always had a passion for learning.  Dylan, started as a free lance producer on films for companies such as Apple+ and Netflix.  While navigating through the film industry, he developed a knack for personability and realized his passion for wanting to help people.  

He moved on from film as he decided he wanted to work in a more personable environment.  He then started as a National Account Manager for HMP Global, helping medical professionals access the most up to date knowledge in their respective fields and bringing them together through conferences around the country.  

Dylan is knowledgeable in a variety of areas, which has made his role into LFG a seamless transition. Being a very enthusiastic team player, he is open to taking on new challenges and will always go the extra mile to ensure success.  His commitment to excellence is inspiring and he has become an invaluable part of the Levine Financial Group and the clients we serve. 

Dylan was born and raised on the Jersey Shore and still resides there to this day.  In his free time, you will find him at the gym or playing golf. Dylan, loves to be outdoors as much as possible and stays active. He looks forward to helping and serving many clients to create the best life possible.  

After graduating from the University of Arizona College of Law in 2000, Michael received a Master of Laws in Taxation from New York University in 2001. Michael is a member of the New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania Bars and has extensive knowledge of the estate and gift tax laws.  

Michael has over 20 years of experience in counseling on tax and estate planning matters and developing strategies to create and preserve wealth through generations.  His practices ranges from working as a trusted advisor to high-net worth individuals and successful business owners to helping young families put together their first estate plan.  He was named one of the top Lawyers for Families by New Jersey Family Magazine and teaches classes to other attorneys on estate planning.  Michael reviews and drafts legal documents for clients, educating them on the various options that exist regarding the distribution of their assets.

Michael has appeared on several podcasts and radio shows as an expert in estate planning.  In his spare time, he enjoys travel, sports and spending time with his children, Ozzy and Nate.