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    Meet Our Team of Certified Divorce Financial Analysts

    Our team of specialists has completed their designation with the Institute for Divorce Financial Analysts. The role of a CDFA® is to assist clients and their lawyers in understanding the financial decisions made during a divorce that will impact a client's financial future. We hope that our team can be of service to you during this challenging process and guide you to an independent financial future. 

    Alisa Garnek
    Alisa Garnek, CFP®, CDFA®, MSTFP
    Financial Planner

    Alisa Garnek holds the Certified Financial Planner™ designation as well as the Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA®) designation and is responsible for working with the firm’s clients to determine the best strategies to meet their financial goals. Alisa brings 20 years of experience in financial planning, wealth management, financial services, tax preparation, accounting services, and retirement planning strategies. Alisa graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Delaware. She also holds a Master of Science in Taxation and Financial Planning from Widener University.

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    Andrew Hoang, CDFA®, CFP®
    Senior Financial Planner

    Andrew Hoang is a Senior Financial Planner at Beacon Pointe Advisors and is responsible for helping clients develop, execute, and maintain a strategic financial plan in order to achieve their personal and financial goals. Andrew holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®) designation, the Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA®) designation, and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Finance with a concentration in Financial Planning from California State University, Fullerton. Prior to Beacon Pointe, he worked at Wells Fargo Bank for over eight years where he was responsible for helping affluent and business clients meet their banking and cash flow needs. Outside of work, Andrew enjoys attending music events, traveling abroad, and various outdoor activities. He currently resides in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA with his wife and two children.

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    Cassandra Thornock, CFP®, CDFA® 
    Wealth Advisor

    Cassandra (Cass) is a Wealth Advisor at Beacon Pointe and is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional. She is responsible for providing clients with a comprehensive financial planning experience including estate, retirement, tax, and risk management planning, along with investment management. Cass is passionate about building relationships with her clients and works to help them achieve their life goals and develop a successful long-term financial plan. Cass has been in the financial services industry for over a decade and has previously worked for Stoker Ostler Wealth Advisors, Edelman Financial Services, and Vanguard. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Finance, alongside an International Business Certificate from Arizona State University’s W.P. Carey School of Business, and also holds the Certified Financial Divorce Analyst designation. In her free time, she enjoys volunteering in the community and being active with her husband, son, and chocolate lab.

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    Callie Renner, CFP®, CDFA®
    Wealth Advisor

    Callie is responsible for partnering with Beacon Pointe’s investment and financial planning teams to deliver the firm’s clients a personalized wealth management experience. Her primary responsibilities include analyzing client financial pictures and preparing analyses and recommendations. Previously, Callie was an Economic Research Associate at a registered investment advisory firm in northern New Jersey, where she provided macroeconomic research to clients and traded in investment portfolios. Callie is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and earned her B.A. in Economics with a minor in Global Business from Mount Holyoke College, graduating Magna Cum Laude. Callie also holds the Certified Divorce Financial Analyst designation. Callie resides in San Diego, CA, and enjoys hiking, snowboarding, and spending time with her family.

    Hal Smith
    Hal Smith, CDFA®, CFP®, LTCP, NSSA
    Senior Wealth Advisor

    Hal Smith is a Senior Wealth Advisor at Beacon Pointe and is responsible for partnering with the Beacon Pointe investment and financial planning teams to provide customized solutions that help clients meet their financial goals. Hal started his career in the financial services industry in 1985 with Charles Schwab & Co., managing branches and regions for over two decades. After spending 30 years in management supporting financial advisors, Hal became an advisor and joined Bridge Advisory, which later joined forces with Beacon Pointe in 2024. Given Hal’s years of experience, he has deep insight into investing, financial planning, real estate, and tax-efficient strategies. Hal has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics with a Minor in Psychology from the University of Georgia and a graduate certificate from the Bryant University financial planning program. Hal is also a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA®), a National Social Security Advisor (NSSA), holds the Long-Term Care Professional (LTCP) designation, and has his California Health and Life Insurance license. Outside of the office, Hal enjoys spending time with his three adult sons, hiking with his dog, swimming, yoga, reading, and traveling.

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    Julie Johnson, CDFA®
    Senior Wealth Advisor

    Julie is responsible for client servicing and management in the Private Client Services Group at Beacon Pointe. Prior to joining Beacon Pointe Advisors, she was a Retirement Income Specialist with AIG Sun America and prior to that with MetLife. She is very focused on helping clients meet their retirement goals and working through major life transitions. Julie earned her BS in Marketing from San Diego State University. She is a founding member of the Beacon Pointe Women’s Advisory Institute and co-authored Your Dollars, Our Sense: A Fun and Simple Guide to Money Matters, an international best-selling book that has ranked #1 in six different business/finance categories. Julie also received the Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA®) designation. Outside of work she enjoys running, playing golf, and spending time with family. Julie and her husband live with their two children in Ladera Ranch, California.

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    Jill Steinberg, CDFA®, MBA
    Partner, Managing Director

    Jill Steinberg brings over 30 years of investment advisory and banking experience and joined Beacon Pointe Advisors as a Managing Director and Partner.  Prior to joining Beacon Pointe, Jill founded Walden Capital Advisors in 2006 to provide high-net-worth women and men comprehensive investment advice to help them achieve their financial and life goals. She is very passionate about empowering women both personally and professionally and is an active member of Beacon Pointe’s Women’s Advisory Institute. Jill serves on boards and investment committees for several local Philadelphia non-profits (including Live Like Blaine, a nonprofit founded in her daughter’s honor). Jill graduated cum laude from Princeton University with a degree in Economics and earned an MBA with distinction in Finance and Real Estate from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and holds a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA®) designation.

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    Lexi Schmidt, CDFA®
    Senior Associate Wealth Advisor

    Lexi is a Senior Associate Wealth Advisor within the Beacon Pointe Denver office and is involved with all aspects of client service, financial planning, and account management. Lexi’s responsibilities include opening new accounts, money transfers, and other administrative requests. Lexi began her career in product marketing before entering the financial services industry. Prior to joining Beacon Pointe, she was a Client Service Associate for Northstar Investment Advisors. Lexi holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Florida State University and holds the Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® (CDFA®) designation from the Institute for Divorce Financial Analyst. In her spare time, she enjoys skiing, hiking with her dog, traveling with family, and creating art and culinary masterpieces.

    Melisa Dobraca
    Melisa Dobraca, CDFA®
    Senior Associate Wealth Advisor 

    Melisa is a Senior Associate Wealth Advisor in the Beacon Pointe Boston office and is responsible for helping clients determine and achieve their financial goals. Melisa works with the wealth advisory team to provide customized solutions for clients through financial planning, investment management, investment strategy implementation, asset allocation modeling, and client servicing. Prior to joining Beacon Pointe Advisors, Melisa worked for Windrose Advisors as an operations associate. She graduated from the University of Vermont, majoring in Finance, and minoring in Spanish.  Melisa has also completed the educational requirements for the CFP® certification through Boston University and holds the Certified Divorce Financial Analyst designation. In her free time, Melisa enjoys running and spending time with family and friends.

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    Melissa Gerckens, CFP®, CDFA®
    Wealth Advisor

    As a Wealth Advisor at the New Jersey Tri-State Office, Mel partners with Beacon Pointe’s investment and financial planning teams to deliver the firm’s clients a personalized wealth management experience. Mel strives to help her clients meet their personal financial goals by aligning their life and wealth through customized integration of portfolio management and comprehensive financial planning. Mel is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®), Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA®), and holds her NY Life and NJ Life and Accident & Health licenses and is a member of the New Jersey Pride Chamber of Commerce. She earned a B.S. in Business Administration from the Sigmund Weis School of Business at Susquehanna University. She currently resides in Cranford, New Jersey with her wife, their two sons, and Shiba Inu. She enjoys hiking, cooking, and taking trips to her family’s lake house in the Pocono Mountains.

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    Merriweather Mulé, CFP®, CDFA®
    Senior Wealth Advisor

    Merriweather Mulé is a Senior Wealth Advisor for Beacon Pointe’s South Carolina office and is passionate about providing holistic goals-based financial planning to help individuals and families achieve their wealth aspirations. She focuses on custom investment management and tax planning strategies for her clients and is experienced in helping individuals going through a divorce to confidently transition into their next phase of life post-settlement. Prior to joining Beacon Pointe, Merriweather served as a Wealth Strategist for CornerCap Wealth Advisors. She graduated from the College of Charleston with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance. She holds the Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®) and Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® (CDFA®) designations.  Outside of the office, Merriweather enjoys spending time with her husband and two children.

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