Meet The Team
The team behind Blackston Financial Group is made up of qualified financial professionals who are passionate about helping individuals and families achieve their ideal retirements.
DAVID BLACKSTON, CEP®, RFC®, CSA® Founder and CEO, Your Total Advisor
david.blackston@blackstonfinancialgroup.com
David is focused on helping clients work toward their retirement dreams through a well-thought-out financial strategy for retirement. He offers investment advisory services, tax forecasting and estate planning, all working together to provide a comprehensive financial strategy for clients — and a confident retirement outlook.
David began his career in the banking industry and worked his way up to senior vice president of a regional bank in central Kentucky. After realizing his passion was in serving the needs of individuals and families, David founded Blackston Financial Advisory Group, LLC in 1998. His steadfast dedication to client needs and financial expertise has helped him build a financial firm grounded in excellent client service and family-oriented values.
David has passed the Series 65 securities exam and holds licenses in life and health insurance and annuities in Florida, Kentucky, Virginia and several other states. He is registered as an Investment Advisor Representative and is a Certified Estate Planner® (CEP®), a Registered Financial Consultant (RFC®), a Certified Senior Advisor® (CSA®) and a member of Ed Slott’s Elite IRA Advisor Group.* David and his son, Drew Blackston, wrote the recently published book “Have You Ever Been Bitten by an Elephant? The Definitive Guide for Retiring Well.”
David is married to Andrea Blackston and has two children: Drew & Kyle, both Financial Advisors as well. In his free time, David is active in his church and partners with various ministries around the globe. David also enjoys playing golf and spending time with his grandchildren Brooklyn, Brightyn, Bennett and Baylor.
*Ed Slott’s Elite IRA Advisor Group (“Ed Slott”) is a membership organization. Qualifying criteria includes payment of annual dues and attendance of workshops. Membership with Ed Slott in no way implies that David Blackston is an IRA distribution expert. Ed Slott is not affiliated with Blackston Financial Advisory Group.
Kyle Blackston, RFC®COO, Your Total Advisor
kyle.blackston@blackstonfinancialgroup.com
Kyle is a Registered Investment Advisor, a Registered Financial Consultant and a licensed agent for health and life insurance in the state of Florida. A graduate of Troy University, Kyle graduated with a degree in broadcast journalism. Communicating effectively and efficiently with prospects and clients allows Kyle to excel in his ability to create and design complete comprehensive retirement plans that best fit the client’s financial goals. When sitting down with prospects, Kyle quickly builds strong relationships because of his personality and tenacity to help others. Honor, integrity and a strong work ethic were instilled in him by his parents at a very young age.
A native of Elizabethtown, Kentucky, Kyle is married to Kim Blackston. They have two boys, Bennett Cole and Baylor Brooks Blackston. After work or on weekends, you can find Kyle with his boys outside playing or working on their golfing skills. His boys keep him busy, and he loves every minute of watching them grow up.
Kyle spends his free time giving back to the community by serving on the board for Lake Cares Food Pantry in Mt. Dora. Lake Cares reaches a multitude of families in need; you can find Kyle giving out food or making someone smile when he senses they are having a rough day.
TRAVIS BENDER Your Total Advisor
travis.bender@blackstonfinancialgroup.com
Born and raised in Michigan, Travis’ dedication to family and meaningful work are the result of his tight-knit family upbringing. His sense of honor, integrity and a strong work ethic were instilled in him by his parents and are themes that run deep in his personal and professional life. He truly enjoys helping retirees and pre-retirees develop comprehensive retirement strategies and is committed to developing long-term relationships with all his clients.
Travis got his start in the financial services industry in 1997. His areas of focus include estate planning, rollovers, retirement income strategies, Social Security strategies, asset preservation and tax minimization. He also has experience in investment strategies, stock market analysis and asset preservation.
Travis has passed the Series 63 and 65 securities exams and is registered as an Investment Advisor Representative. He also holds licenses in life and health insurance and annuities in Florida and Michigan. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in management and economics from Western Michigan University.
COLIN BARRETT Your Total Advisor
colin.barrett@blackstonfinancialgroup.com
Colin has built strong, effective relationships throughout his professional career and brings those skills when creating comprehensive plans that fits his clients’ needs. His passion for doing what is in his clients’ best interests makes him a great fit for Blackston Financial. His integrity and strong work ethic, instilled in him by his upbringing in Ocala, Florida, help him build lifelong relationships with the clients he serves.
Colin is registered as an Investment Advisor Representative, is a Registered Financial Consultant, and holds the Florida license for life, health, and annuities. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Florida.
Colin married his high school sweetheart, Stacey. They have two children, Alison and Jackson. Aside from attending Florida football games on Saturdays, the family loves to go on cruises together along with the grandparents. Jackson and Colin love to fish together as well and are always willing to show a picture of their latest catch. Colin and Stacey spend time volunteering with their local church and with Forest High School’s athletic programs.
ANDREA BLACKSTON Senior Vice President
As Senior Vice President, Andrea uses her knowledge of sales, marketing and management to oversee all aspects of Blackston Financial.
Andrea and David enjoy playing golf and spending time with their sons and their families.
KIM BLACKSTON
Director of Marketing
A native of St. Louis, Missouri, Kim graduated from the University of Louisville where she was Captain and a 4-time National Champion cheerleader. Kim was also on the Student Athletic Council board and was voted Miss Cardinal by her fellow student-athletes.
After college, Kim worked in the marketing department for the University of Louisville Athletics. Interacting with the coaches and student-athletes on a daily basis was one of her favorite parts of the job. Recently, Kim worked in sales for a direct marketing company, where she implemented campaigns for automotive dealerships.
She is the daughter of Lou and Debbie Callen and sister to Keith Callen of St. Louis, Missouri. In her free time, she enjoys cheering on both the Louisville Cardinals and St. Louis Cardinals, hanging out with family and friends as well as traveling. Kim is married to Kyle and they have one son, Bennett. They adopted two rescue puppies, Blanton and Woodford.
Samantha Stocksett
Associate Financial Advisor
As a Associate Financial Advisor, Samantha works closely with advisors to ensure smooth transitions to Blackston Financial Group. She assists with client paperwork and maintains open communication with clients by answering any questions or concerns. Samantha is also
the in-house Medicare specialist, helping clients annually select and review their Medicare planning.
Samantha has a bachelor's degree in finance from The University of Central Florida. She joined the Blackston team in 2015 as an intern, putting her education and experience into practice to become a full advisor. She has passed the Series 65 securities exam and holds health and life insurance licenses in Florida.
Samantha’s favorite part about working at Blackston Financial Group is the familial quality of the office and the meaningful relationships she builds with clients.
Samantha is a native of Lake County, Florida, and currently resides in Eustis, Florida, with her husband, Brock, and their two dogs Raya and Moose. In her free time, Samantha enjoys exploring the outdoors, watching car races and trying different cuisines.
Jose Ruiz Associate Financial Advisor
Jose is most passionate about helping others understand and solve their financial problems in a comfortable, client-focused atmosphere.
Coming from a service-oriented household, Jose takes helping clients of Blackston Financial Group seriously. From working to create a comfortable office environment, to ensuring a seamless planning experience, Jose works tirelessly to make clients feel more like family — not customers.
Jose started as an intern with Blackston Financial in 2018, he earned his Bachelors in finance from the University of Central Florida. Jose has his Florida 2-15 Life, Health and Variable Annuities Agent License and has passed the Series 65 Securities License.
Jose resides in Inverness, Florida, with his girlfriend, Sheyene, and their little boy, Julian. In his free time, Jose enjoys playing racquetball and spending time with friends and family.
Micah Spence
New Business Associate
Micah's passionate about empowering clients
to feel confident with their financial decisions. Her knack for sharing innovative ideas and learning from others has helped her provide exceptional service to clients and her colleagues.
Micah graduated summa cum laude with a 4.0 GPA from Colorado State University Global with a bachelor’s degree in business management. She holds her life, health and annuity license. She is an alumnus of the National Charity League and a member of the Junior League of Ocala.
Micah is an animal lover and enjoys entering her horse in hunter/jumper competitions and her dog in agility and scent work competitions. Micah also loves reading, road trips and getting out in nature.
Laura Brummett New Business Associate
Laura works to make sure that the business process runs smoothly and efficiently. She assists with client paperwork and communicates with clients to answer their questions and concerns by working hand-in-hand with the advisors and director of client operations.
Laura has several years of management experience in customer service and administration, as well as tax preparation. She takes great pride in her profession and dedication to clients’ needs.
Born in Connecticut and raised in Central Florida, Laura currently resides in Fruitland Park with her three children, Victoria, Courtney and Brandon. When she’s not working, Laura enjoys spending her time outdoors with her children.
Ivan Plante
New Business Associate
Ivan’s desire to help others, his quest for knowledge and passion for working with numbers are all on full display as he performs a variety of tasks to help deliver exceptional experiences to our Blackston Financial Advisory Group clients.
As a new business associate, Ivan is responsible for entering data, consolidating records, ensuring accuracy of information and trades, assisting with distribution of funds, collaborating with co-workers and more.
He was raised in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania before moving to Eustis, Florida, and later graduating from Saint Leo University with a bachelor’s degree in political science. A devout follower of Jesus Christ, Ivan enjoys watching TV, reading the news and continuing to learn and develop personally when he isn’t assisting his clients or teammates.
Katie Walters
Client Services Administrator
Katie was born in Colorado but raised in Nebraska by parents with strong Christian values. Working alongside her parents at an early age in the family’s business, Katie was instilled with a strong moral work ethic. She continued to work in the family’s business until she moved to Florida.
Katie has over 20 years in the retail industry, 15 of which were in a management position due to her capable organizational skills and ability to lead a team. Katie takes pride in developing strong client relationships through the precision of detail, it is what makes her strive every day to do her best. Katie’s mantra is “Even the smallest job done correctly can make a big difference.”
Her hobbies include spending time with her daughters, Alexandra and Arianna, at their favorite places like Disney World and the beach.
Scott Taylor
Client Services Administrator
With a deep commitment to excellence and history of customer service experience, Scott is perfectly suited to help clients seamlessly pursue their goals, access resources and conduct business.
Scott has spent much of his life working in customer service, including as a supermarket manager and in the banking industry for more than five years, two of which were spent as a trust administrator. At Blackston Financial Advisory Group, he assists clients with an array of needs and paperwork issues while also helping advisors with trades and other tasks.
“Customer service is my expertise!” Scott says proudly.
A Florida native, Scott graduated from Seminole State College with a degree in criminal justice technology. He also has been honored for his service in the United States Marine Corps and holds his State of Florida Police Officer certification.
When he’s not helping clients or co-workers, Scott loves spending time with his wife, Lorena, and daughter, Cheyanne. He also enjoys playing billiards, riding his motorcycle, going to the beach and shooting at the range.
Mark Ferrar
Client Services Administrator
Mark’s passion for customer service shines as he takes immense pride in building strong relationships with his clients and going the extra mile to ensure their needs are met.
Before joining Blackston Financial Advisory Group in 2023, Mark honed his financial and investment skills during a 14-year stint at JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s investing accounting department.
Mark holds an associate degree in security administration from Community College of the Air Force. He is a proud member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and his exemplary service in the Air Force earned him several accolades, including two Air Force Achievement Medals, an Air Force Good Conduct Medal and a Southwest Asia Service Medal.
Now residing in Wildwood, Florida, after relocating from Clearwater, Mark comes from a large Italian family and is the proud father of two daughters. Away from the office, he enjoys a range of hobbies including golfing, biking, watching football and spending quality time with his family.
Tonya Mercier
Director of Communications
Tonya is committed to keeping clients happy, informed and confident on their paths toward financial security in retirement. She enjoys the feeling of being part of something extraordinary and truly making a difference in clients’ lives.
Tonya’s previously role at Blackston Financial Group as a client relations manager helps her better connect with clients as the firm’s director of communications. Additionally, she pulls from her background of working at a tax advisory firm to more deeply understand clients’ needs.
Originally from Ocala, Florida, Tonya now lives in Oxford and spends her free time on the beach or practicing yoga or Zumba. She has two daughters and three grandchildren.
Peach Simms
Marketing & Communications Assistant
Peach loves putting her passion for people and experiences in visual marketing and sales to work for a company that shares her Christian values and cares about its clients, team and community as much as she does.
Peach joined Blackston Financial Group in February 2020 as a client services administrator before transitioning to her role in marketing and communications. In her current position, she helps analyze and plan marketing strategies by collaborating with team members on sales, marketing and advertising initiatives as well as product design and development. She also helps adjust strategies and create new concepts designed to achieve specific goals.
Before coming to Blackston, Peach spent more than 15 years working as a retail store manager, helping several stores erase financial deficits and rise to the upper tiers in their districts. She studied at Valencia Community College and Palm Beach Atlantic University.
Peach is the mother of an adult son, Wyatt, and is engaged to Robert Clark. During her free time, she enjoys fishing, riding roller coasters and spending time at the beach.
Jennifer Lourenco
Marketing & Communications Assistant
Jennifer joined Blackston Financial in September of 2023 as a Marketing & Communications Assistant.
Jennifer grew up in Northeastern Ohio and graduated from Malone University, in Canton, Ohio, with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and Broadcasting.
Jennifer worked at numerous FM & AM radio stations in Ohio, Rhode Island and Massachusetts and held several positions including News Director, News Anchor, Production Director, Talk Show Host and Morning Show Co-Host. She has received several prestigious awards from the Associated Press for her work in that field.
Prior to joining Blackston Financial, Jennifer worked as the Communications Director for the second largest Chamber of Commerce in Massachusetts. She has a passion for marketing and communications and enjoys helping small businesses grow and connect with their respective clients.
Jennifer is married to her husband and best friend of 18 years, Steve, and resides in The Villages with her two rescue dogs, Puffy and Oscar and her rescue kitty, Tova.
Deanna Mangiardi
Marketing and Communications Assistant
Driven to go above and beyond, Deanna has spent her career prioritizing clients and delivering exceptional service. She joined Blackston Financial Advisory Group in 2023 to assist with scheduling and communication initiatives for both clients and staff.
Deanna brings more than two decades of decorated and diverse professional experiences to the firm. Not only has she served as an advisor licensed in insurance and securities, but she was recognized as a Million Dollar Producer with Century 21. She also spent much of her career working for Hilton Hotels & Resorts where she helped open three new hotels, provided elite hospitality, and was awarded the company’s prestigious Spirit Award.
Deanna attended both SUNY Geneseo and Vista College while pursuing a degree in elementary education, and she was a business law student while attending Eldorado College.
A resident of Leesburg, Florida, Deanna and her husband, Nick, love spending time with their three children and grandchildren. Deanna also enjoys golfing, baking, cooking, gardening and reading.
Giving Back
"At Blackston Financial, we are all about giving back to the community. Each year, we donate to numerous charitable organizations in the area, as well as our time to different causes."
Ready to Take The Next Step?
For more information about any of the products and services listed here, schedule a visit today or register to attend a seminar.
