I spent years working alongside my father, Jim, before taking on my own role in the practice. He built most of what Legacy Financial is today, and learning the work directly from him, in real client situations with real stakes, gave me a foundation I couldn't have gotten any other way. When I joined formally in 2012, I became the third generation of Startzells to carry this work forward, and I haven't lost sight of what that means.

My work covers both retirement planning and tax preparation. The planning side involves helping clients work through the decisions that carry the most weight at retirement, including how to structure income, when to claim Social Security, how to coordinate Medicare, and how to build a tax strategy that holds up over time rather than just looking good on paper. I'm also the firm's primary tax specialist, which means I prepare client returns directly rather than referring them out. The IRS Enrolled Agent is the highest credential the federal government issues for tax professionals, and holding it alongside the CFP means the planning and the tax work are always happening in the same conversation, with the same person.

I live in Yardley with my wife and daughters. When I'm not at the office, I'm usually with them, whether that's traveling somewhere new or working through whatever's next on the home project list. I also surf whenever I get the chance, which is a good reminder that not everything needs a spreadsheet.

• CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®)
• IRS Enrolled Agent (EA)
• Certified Tax Specialist (CTS™)
• Certified Financial Education Instructor (CFEI®)

Casey and Jim asked me to join the team in 2017 - and before I ever sat across from a client, I spent time learning how this practice worked. That foundation made one thing clear: good advice can truly change the direction of someone's life, and I don't take that lightly.

My unorthodox path to personal finance started in a warehouse. During college, I worked at a global logistics firm - from the forklift to the finance and sales team, all while taking night classes. That experience helped me to understand a juggling of moving parts, and thinking ahead. Those habits followed me here.

Day to day, I work across all aspects of our business: assisting in the financial planning process, handling client relationships and meetings, tax preparation, investment research, and finding ways to improve how we operate internally. The Swiss Army knife of the team, as some would say.

I live in Yardley with my wife, and happy to be part of the same community we serve. I am a Temple graduate, lifelong Philadelphia sports fan, average golfer, and someone who would rather be outside than not.

I came to Legacy through a friendship with Jim Startzell, and when he brought me on in 2000, I didn't expect to still be here 25 years later. The practice has grown and changed quite a bit since then, and through all of it, the firm has stayed true to what made it worth joining in the first place.

My focus is retirement planning. That means spending most of my time with people who are at or approaching a significant shift in their financial lives, helping them think through what comes next and making sure the pieces are in place before they get there. Over the years, I've learned that what matters most to clients in those moments is working with someone who will be straight with them and actually follow through. That's what I show up to do.

I live locally and stay as close to family as I can. My son serves in the Army and my daughter lives out in California, so getting out to see them and spend time with my grandchildren is a priority. At home, I'm usually in the garden, out on the golf course, on the pickleball court, or catching up with old friends.

My connection to Legacy Financial started long before I joined the team. Casey and I have known each other since kindergarten, so I’ve had the chance to watch the practice grow for most of my life. When the opportunity came to join Legacy in 2022, I was looking for a career with long-term growth and meaningful work, and it felt like the right fit from the start. 

Before Legacy, I worked in quality assurance at a behavioral health and substance use treatment facility, analyzing data and medical records. Earlier in my career, I taught cooking classes for kids through summer camps and after-school programs. While those roles were very different, they shared a common thread: helping people in a meaningful way. 

Today, I manage much of the operational side of the practice, including account maintenance, tax preparation, and the coordination that keeps everything running smoothly. I’m also becoming more involved in client meetings, which has been one of the most rewarding parts of the job. I value being able to help clients feel more informed, confident, and at ease about their financial future. 

Outside of work, I enjoy staying active through mountain biking, road biking, and snowboarding. My wife, Melissa, and I were married in May 2025, and we spend as much time as we can at a small cabin in upstate New York. My mom, Randy, is also part of the Legacy team, which makes the office feel a little more like family.

• Series 7 (2025)
• Series 66 (2025)
• PA Notary Public (2026)

I've been with Legacy Financial since 1999, which means I've been here longer than some of our clients have been retired. Over those 26 years, I've watched this firm grow through multiple generations and a lot of changes. Through all of it, the standard here has stayed the same. Every client who calls should feel like they reached someone who actually knows them.

My role is to keep things running smoothly behind the scenes. That means ongoing account maintenance, handling the day-to-day coordination that keeps the practice functioning, and being one of the first people clients hear from when they reach out. I think a lot about what that first interaction feels like, and I try to make it count.

One of the things I love most about being here is that my son Dustin joined the team a few years ago. Watching him grow into this work has been one of the better parts of this chapter.

I live in Yardley with my husband and have been part of this community for a long time. Outside the office, I'm usually moving, whether that's paddleboarding, biking, or hiking the trails around Bucks County. I'm an avid gardener and enjoy experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen. I also travel out to Colorado regularly to see my oldest son and his family and spend time with my grandson.