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Tom Ruggie, ChFC®, CFP®

Founder & CEO

  • InvestmentNews Awards RIA “Team of the Year” 2024

  • 7x Forbes “Best-In-State Wealth Advisors” – 2024 (#1 N Florida)

  • 12x Barron’s “Top 1200 Financial Advisors” – 2024

  • Forbes “Top 250 RIA Firms” – 2024

  • ThinkAdvisor Luminaries Award Finalist “Thought Leader of the Year” – 2024

  • InvestmentNews “Top 75 Fastest-Growing Fee-Only RIAS” 2023

  • 12x Financial Advisor Magazine “America’s Top RIA’s” – 2024

  • USA Today “Best Financial Advisory Firms” – 2023

  • 3x Family Wealth Report Awards Finalist – 2024

  • Forbes Finance Council Since 2016

A 30+ year veteran of the investment and financial planning industries, Tom Ruggie, ChFC®, CFP® began his career in 1991 and subsequently founded what would become Destiny Wealth Partners, the Central-Florida based independent RIA which manages almost $1.2B in assets. He founded Destiny Family Office in 2017 to help  ultra-high-net-worth individuals and families face head-on the increasing complexities inherent in their business and personal lives, so they can enjoy more time embracing their unique potential, transforming their worlds, and achieving their own destiny.

Capabilities of the firm include privileged access to alternative, direct and co-investment opportunities for Qualified Purchasers, and a deepening prominence in the collectibles space with a unique focus on integrating valuable collectibles – including luxury and classic cars, art, coins and treasure, wines and spirits, sports memorabilia, and more – as an alternative asset into all aspects of a collector/clients’ overall planning.  To expand even further on insights as to what UHNW investors are doing, Tom has joined the Orlando 2 chapter of Tiger 21.

Tom is a passionate collector himself, with a world-class collection of autographed baseball cards that includes multiple sets that sit atop the PSA Registry, as well as an extensive collection of sports memorabilia.

He has become one of the most respected financial advisors in the industry, authoring articles on alternative investments and collectibles which have appeared in Crain Currency, Forbes.com, and PSA Magazine. He has also been selected to be a monthly contributor to Kiplinger. Tom’s perspectives and insights have been sought by leaders in financial news including The Wall Street Journal, New York Times, InvestmentNews, CNN Money, CNBC, Fox Business News, Barron’s Penta, and Family Office Pro. 

The Florida native has served on numerous boards of directors serving for-profit and not-for-profit organizations and foundations. He was appointed by the Governor to the Florida Prepaid College Plan which at the time managed more than $10 billion in assets and served over 80,000 college students annually, and served as its vice-chairman. In 2013, he and wife Kim created the Tom and Kim Ruggie Family Foundation to support projects that strengthen the bond of families, improve the quality of people’s lives and enhance opportunities for access to life-enriching services such as healthcare and education. In 2018, Tom was named to the Orlando Magic Youth Foundation (OMYF) Board, which is committed to helping children in Central Florida, especially those most at risk, realize their full potential.

Tom and his family are all avid CrossFit members, with Tom and his son both holding Level 1 certifications. While passionate about his business and serving his clients, during those rare times Tom is not working he enjoys traveling, refining his memorabilia collection, and sharing great food and wine with family and friends.  

 

Neither rankings nor recognitions by unaffiliated rating services, publications, media, or other organizations,  nor the achievement of any professional designation, certification, degree, or license, membership in any professional organization, or any amount of prior experience or success, should be construed by a client or prospective client as a guarantee that the client will experience a certain level of results if the investment professional or the investment professional’s firm is engaged, or continues to be engaged, to provide investment advisory services. A fee was not paid by either the investment professional or the investment professional’s firm to receive the ranking. The ranking is based upon specific criteria and methodology (see ranking criteria/methodology). No ranking or recognition should be construed as an endorsement by any past or current client of the investment professional or the investment professional’s firm.  Additional information at:  https://destinyfamilyoffice.com/disclosures/

The achievement of any professional designation, certification, degree, or license, recognition by publications, media, or other organizations, membership in any professional organization, or any amount of prior experience or success, should not be construed by a client or prospective client as a guarantee that he/she will experience a certain level of results or satisfaction if Destiny Wealth Partners, LLC is engaged, or continues to be engaged, to provide investment advisory services. Additional information at: https://destinyfamilyoffice.com/disclosures/ 

Audrey Ralicki, CFP®​

Managing Partner

Audrey works alongside Tom to help create holistic plans for our Family Office clients – entrepreneurs, executives and multi-generational families with highly complex needs.

Her vision is to align their financial objectives with the desired impact, legacy and purpose they wish to make as they work to achieve their destiny. She is committed to providing leadership and support to our entire team of family office professionals, and above all, to providing exemplary service to the multiple generations of family office clients we serve.

Audrey’s passion for helping individuals and families pursue their financial goals led her to earn her bachelor’s degree in Finance with a concentration in Financial Planning from the University of North Florida in Jacksonville.  She joined Destiny Wealth Partners in 2011, and has served in various roles within the firm. In 2018, she was named  Managing Partner.

Rob Clark, CFP®​

Partner

Rob Clark has been helping clients work toward long-term financial security for their families and their businesses since 2001. It is his goal to help his clients grow, protect, and manage their assets in the most tax-efficient manner. With attention to detail and organizational skill, Rob effectively manages clients’ portfolios, creating an integrated strategy aimed at meeting their investment and retirement objectives. Rob is a Certified Financial Planner™ and holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Central Florida. He serves on the Orange County Children and Family Services Board, the Orange County Animal Services Classification Board, and is a Leadership Orlando Alumni. He enjoys spending time with his family, golfing and health/fitness. The Florida native was born in Sarasota.

Getting to Know Rob

Bucket List: Cruise to Alaska

Favorite TV Show: The Office

Favorite Food: Sushi

Jorge Romero, CFP®​

Managing Partner

Jorge A. Romero, a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®), serves as the Managing Partner at Destiny Family Office. He began his career in the financial services industry in 2004 after having served honorably in The United States Marine Corps.  Jorge works closely with clients and their families to develop & implement comprehensive wealth management solutions designed to help clients achieve their goals.  His areas of focus include lifestyle funding and cash flow analysis, tax planning, estate planning, risk management, family governance and philanthropic planning.

In addition to working directly with clients & their families, Jorge also leads Destiny Wealth Partners’ Investment Committee, where his responsibilities include shaping the firm’s investment policy formation, asset allocation strategy development, manager research & selection, and portfolio performance monitoring.

Jorge received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, and Pre-Law along with a Minor in Latin American Studies from The University of Central Florida and is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Financial Planning and Taxation along with the Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA®) designation.  He is a member of The CFA Institute & CFA Society of Orlando, The Financial Planning Association of Central Florida, The Investments & Wealth Institute, as well as the Estate Planning Council of The Villages®.

In his spare time, Jorge enjoys learning about Wine, and traveling with his friends & family- which also includes their Coton de Tuléar puppy, RóBear.  Jorge is an avid reader of history, international relations, and linguistics books; he speaks Spanish, some Italian, and French, and is always exploring new languages.  He is also an endurance cyclist, often riding his road bike or Peloton® to raise funds & awareness for charities such as No Kid Hungry®, UNICEF, and The National Multiple Sclerosis Society®.

Chris Nichols

Partner

Chris Nichols has been in the financial services industry for more than two decades and specializes in comprehensive wealth planning for ultra-high-net-worth clients. Through collaboration with these entrepreneurs, intergenerational families, institutions, and their other trusted advisors, he has a long tradition of helping them define their unique wealth management and investment objectives and building customized strategies aimed at achieving their goals. He offers oversight of the family’s overall financial matters, philanthropic strategies, and the development of the human and intellectual capital of the next generations.

He also retains his position as Founder, Managing Partner and Senior Wealth Advisor of Nichols Wealth Partners. Over the years, Chris has been a valued speaker on public and private investment planning. He is also the author of The Real Truth About Your Money: Simple Answers to Smart Financial Questions.
 
A native of South Florida, Chris earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a minor in economics from the University of Florida. He is past President and for 10 years served as a board member of St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Ft. Lauderdale. Currently he serves as investment committee member of the George Snow Scholarship Fund. Chris enjoys driving fast cars, exercising, reading, and watching sporting events. He resides in Boca Raton with his wife and four children.
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Jeremy Wassmer, CFP®

Associate Wealth Advisor

Jeremy is a detailed problem solver who enjoys boiling down complex issues to their simplest form so that clients can understand and make informed decisions.

In 2011 Jeremy began an apprenticeship working for his father’s advisory firm in Kansas City assisting with Medicare, Social Security and retirement income planning. Jeremy graduated from Benedictine College in 2013 with a B.A. in marketing and a minor in finance. He obtained a Series 65 license in 2014, and in 2016 joined a local insurance company in Kansas City to assist small business owners with group employee benefits and business transition planning. Jeremy moved to Orlando in 2017 for a mentorship in comprehensive personal financial planning and wealth management for high net-worth clients while working under a seasoned financial advisor for five years. In 2020, he obtained the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® certification and began working with Ruggie Wealth Management in 2023. He is now studying for the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA®) level I designation.

Jeremy is engaged to be married to his fiancé Ashley, and shares a home with his three dogs. He enjoys time with friends, watching movies and TV shows with Ashley, playing in pick-up games i.e. soccer, golf and tennis, and watching the Kansas City Chiefs and English Premier League soccer.

Getting to Know Jeremy

What’s your favorite food? Lobster Bisque or Mac and Cheese
Best piece of financial advice you received: “Work to learn, don’t work for money.” – Robert T. Kiyosaki
Favorite quote: “The definition of genius is taking the complex and making it simple.” – Albert Einstein
If I could meet anyone, past or present, it would be… Elon Musk, or a close second Patrick Mahomes
Hidden talent/skills: I’m excellent at using two ears and one mouth as I listen twice as much as I speak
Favorite book: First Things First – Stephen Covey
Favorite movie or TV show: Game of Thrones
What motivates you? Becoming the best version of myself.
Favorite holiday: Christmas
Name something on your bucket list: Going to a Chief’s Super Bowl
Place you’d most like to visit: Hawaii
Biggest accomplishment: Proposing to Ashley

Sharon Kolstad

Client Relationship Manager

Providing ongoing service and support that exceeds expectations, to Destiny Wealth Partners’ clients and team members alike, is Sharon’s focus and commitment. Before joining our team, she worked for a Christian non-profit organization, and has a passion to help others succeed both professionally and personally.

Born and raised in a small town in North Central Florida, she has lived in the Orlando area with her husband and children since 2017. Outside the office, she enjoys spending time with her family, paddle boarding and doing CrossFit.

Favorite Holiday: Christmas