Strategic Partners

Anne Buzby-Walt is a shareholder in the law firm of Fisher, Tousey, Leas and Ball. Her law practice is based in Jacksonville, Ponte Vedra and St. Augustine, Florida.  She specializes in wills, trusts and estates and is board certified by the Florida Bar in wills, trusts and estates (since 1992).  Ms. Buzby-Walt is a graduate of Duke University (B.A. 1982) and Wake Forest University (J.D. 1985).  Ms. Buzby-Walt is a Fellow in the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel.  She is a member of the Executive Council of the Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section of the Florida Bar, Co-Vice Chair of the Probate Law and Procedure Committee and a member of the IRA and Employee Benefits Committee of the Section. She was selected for inclusion in the “Florida Super Lawyers”, which profiles the “top 5 percent of Florida lawyers” based on peer review surveys and advisory boards.  Ms. Buzby-Walt is co-author of Chapter 14 on Final Distribution and Discharge in Practice under the Florida Probate Code (Fla. Bar 6th Edition, 2010).

Chris Veenstra is the owner of GFDIC (Genesis Financial DI Center), a wholesale company helping Agents, Agencies, Banks and Broker Dealers with the sale of Disability Income Insurance, Business Overhead Expense Insurance, Life Insurance and Long Term Care Insurance all over the United States. Chris has been in the industry for over 20 years gaining experience with companies such as Genworth and John Hancock. He is currently serving as the President of NAIFA- Jacksonville (National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors).

John R. Crawford, Esquire, is a Board Certified Tax Lawyer under the Florida Bar's Certification Program. He represents numerous individuals in estate, tax-planning and business matters. Mr. Crawford is an expert in preparing living trusts, wills, powers of attorney and health-care directives, and he has a deep understanding of the use of trusts to shelter assets from claims and taxation, charitable giving planning and succession planning. His practice also includes substantial probate matters as well as formation and representation of business entities. He was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1976 and to the Georgia Bar in 1994. 

Mike Jorgensen is the managing partner of Senior Counsel, Attorneys at Law, PA, located in the historic 5 Points area in Jacksonville. He was admitted to the Florida bar in 1987 and earned his masters degree (LL.M) in taxation from the University of Florida. Mike started his career with the Internal Revenue Service in 1986 and represented the IRS in both the Tax and Bankruptcy courts. After leaving the IRS, he entered private practice in 1990 and represented taxpayers before the IRS and helped businesses and individuals in commercial and tax matters. In 1997, he founded a legal clinic for the elderly in Jacksonville. Today, Mike represents clients by assisting them with estate and transitional planning, asset positioning, obtaining public benefits including Medicaid, business entity choices and succession, guardianships, and probates.

Nicholas T. Simonic is the President and C.E.O of Simonic, Simonic,Ratnecht & Associates, Inc. His experience spans all phases of corporate and personal taxes. Nick’s expertise in auditing has taken him into working with charter schools, health care agencies, network marketers, churches and other not-for-profit organizations. He also conducts financial, retirement and estate planning for individuals. Nick’s guidance in business development plans and financial counseling are a large asset to owners of businesses, both large and small. He works extensively with attorneys, doctors, realtors, other business owners, ministers, and churches throughout the world.

Nick has used his extensive knowledge of taxes and accounting to publish numerous articles and produce audiotapes covering various topics. He has been invited, quite often, to speak for both public and private business organizations, including non-profit organizations.

Nick’s educational background includes two Bachelor Degrees. One is in economics and the other is in accounting. He also holds a Masters Degree in accounting and is licensed as a Certified Public Accountant. He is a member of the AICPA and of the FICPA. Nick is also a Vietnam War veteran and a recipient of the Purple Heart.

Ryan M. Payne is a leading registered investment advisor based in New York City. His firm, Payne Capital Management, specializes in goal based investment strategies for individuals and intuitions. Ryan’s Firm focuses on helping his clients achieve the four great financial goals in life, which consist of: creating a lifetime of income, preserving wealth by minimizing volatility and risk, transferring wealth to family and cherished institutions, and lastly accomplishing these objectives with the least amount of government partnership. Mr. Payne spent 7 years as a top financial advisor at Merrill Lynch in the World Financial Center, New York. Ryan graduated from Villanova University in 2000 with a Bachelor of Arts degree.