Meet our team

Who we are and why we have a burning passion to serve those who serve us.

Our story

At The 457 Plan Service Group, we have been dedicated to supporting New York municipal employees in securing their financial futures for over 35 years. As pioneers in the field, we played a pivotal role in establishing 457 retirement plans for many New York municipalities in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

 

Today, we continue to uphold our commitment to delivering exceptional service and personalized guidance to public employees across the state.

 

Whether you are just beginning your career or planning for retirement, we are committed to being your trusted partner, helping you make informed decisions that will positively impact your financial future. Join the thousands of New York municipal employees who have trusted The 457 Plan Service Group to guide them towards a secure and fulfilling retirement.

Pension Planning

Our mission

Our mission is to empower municipal employees:

  • Firefighters
  • Police officers
  • Teachers
  • All other municipal employees

By providing comprehensive financial planning, tailored education, and ongoing support that extends beyond retirement.

 

We understand the unique financial challenges faced by those in public service, and we are here to help you navigate your options, optimize your savings, and achieve your financial goals.

 

What sets us apart is our unwavering dedication to the communities we serve. We don’t just manage retirement plans; we build lasting relationships with our clients, offering expert guidance and support through every stage of their careers and into retirement.

 

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Meet our team

Christian Sparacino
Financial Advisor, CPFA, MBA
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Gary Stirk
Financial Advisor, OSJ
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Cathy Elia
Financial Advisor
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Joe Elia
Financial Advisor
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Ben Rossi
Office Manager
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meet the team

Christian Sparacino
Financial Advisor

Christian Sparacino has been involved in the financial industry since 2010. His focus has been primarily in the service and guidance of Public Sector employees/ retirees participating in governmental 457(b) Plans but he is also a personal financial advisor to individual clients as well. 


Christian has a strong commitment to helping clients make wise choices and investments for their financial future. Whether it is with plan participants or individuals, he provides sound financial advice that helps individuals manage risk, plan for the future, and retire comfortably. 


Christian graduated with a Master’s in Business Administration from the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) and a Bachelor’s in Finance from the SUNY Brockport. He holds a general securities license (Series 7), an Investment Adviser Representative securities license (Series 66), and a Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA) designation as well. 


Christian enjoys spending his free time with Family, Golfing, and cheering on the Buffalo Bills.

meet the team

Gary Stirk
Financial Advisor

Gary began his financial career in 1991 in the operations department of a local Broker/Dealer. In 1999 he obtained his Series 7 General Securities Representative license and began helping clients with their investments. Gary has been a personal financial advisor since 1999 but joined the 457 Plan Group in 2019 to get more involved in helping Government workers achieve their retirement goals.


Gary is also Series 24 licensed (General Securities Principal Examination) which enables him to supervise other financial advisors. In 2009 he started an OSJ (Office of Supervisory Jurisdiction) where he now supervises and monitors compliance for 25 Financial Advisors.


In his free time, Gary enjoys spending time with four-legged family, traveling, gardening and bowling. Gary also volunteers at the local Auditorium where they host Broadway Touring Shows.

meet the team

Cathy Elia
Financial Advisor

Cathy began her career in 1993 in analytical research. There she began researching individual publicly traded companies, wrote and published stock market commentaries. In 1997, due to her love for people, she decided to move to the retail side of the business helping individuals obtain their financial goals. 


In 2020 she joined the 457 Plan Group, expanding into the service and guidance of Public Sector employees/ retirees participating in governmental 457(b) Plans.  In addition to the 457 Plan Group role, Cathy has both individual investment and Medicare clients. Cathy is series 7, series 63, Accident & Health licensed and is a Certified Medicare Representative.


In her free time, Cathy enjoys spending time with her family, traveling to the ocean, photography, gardening and watching soccer.

meet the team

Joe Elia
Financial Advisor

Since joining the 457 Plan Group in 2022, I’ve dedicated my career to helping individuals achieve financial security, especially through 457(b) deferred compensation plans.

 

With a B.S. in Business Administration and Finance from the University at Buffalo, I’m passionate about translating complex financial concepts into actionable strategies.

 

In 2024, I earned my Security Industry Essentials, Series 7, Series 66, Life, Accident & Health licenses, and became a NABIP Certified Medicare Representative, giving me the tools to offer holistic financial and healthcare guidance. 

 

Beyond work, I love spending time with my family, exploring the outdoors, and cheering on the Buffalo Bills. My goal is to create lasting client relationships by offering personalized service and financial clarity every step of the way.

meet the team

Ben Rossi
Office Manager

Ben is a native of Rochester, NY and has a bachelor’s degree from SUNY Geneseo. He is the newest member of the 457 Plan Group and started in March 2022. He has a strong math and computer science background. He has a wealth of experience in the customer service industry ranging from for-profit and not-for-profit work. 

 

His main focus at the 457 Plan Group is to assist with running the day-to-day operations in the office as well as assisting participants with navigating their 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan either over the phone, on-line or in-person.

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