Planning With Purpose

Your financial life and retirement deserve a thoughtful, well-organized process instilling confidence in the opportunities that lie ahead.

Your wealth, your values
1

Your wealth, your values

Financial advice is about more than numbers, which is why we start by listening to your story, goals, and experiences that shape how you view money. With that understanding, we build a plan that aligns your finances with the life you want to live.

Why Your Financial Advisor Requests Your Tax Return: A Deeper Look at the Benefits

Read more

Why Your Financial Advisor Requests Your Tax Return: A Deeper Look at the Benefits

2

Get organized

A solid retirement plan begins with a clear picture of where you stand today — what you own, the risks you carry, and the decisions ahead. By understanding and bringing structure to your financial needs now, we build a framework for your future together.

Retirement Plans and Strategies Explained: How to Build a Financially Secure Future

Read more

Retirement Plans and Strategies Explained: How to Build a Financially Secure Future

Household Income
Your household income strategy determines when and how money flows into your life—both now and in retirement. We start by mapping your projected income to see if adjustments are needed, considering factors like how long you plan to work, when to claim Social Security, and which pension or equity options best fit your goals. Working longer, retiring early, or even working part-time each changes the rhythm of your income and savings. The goal is to use every resource efficiently to create opportunities that lie ahead.
Expenses
Expense planning in retirement starts with understanding both your baseline budget and your margin of safety—the balance between what’s predictable and what life surprises you with. Once you know the true cost of maintaining your lifestyle, we can model different scenarios to ensure unexpected expenses, like home repairs or family needs, don’t disrupt your peace of mind. Most people’s spending habits stay fairly consistent, but life rarely does. With the right margin of safety, you can weather the unexpected and still say yes to the opportunities that make retirement meaningful.
Allocation
Your investment portfolio is your nest egg, built with care and intention. Managing it in retirement requires a new kind of strategy, one that balances stability, income, and long-term growth. We help you evaluate where your wealth is concentrated, how much risk you’re taking, and whether your accounts are working efficiently together. By simplifying and aligning your investments, you know that your portfolio is working for you to support the retirement you’ve worked so hard to build.
Longevity
Longevity planning helps ensure your wealth lasts as long as you do—and beyond. We build flexibility into your financial plan so it can adapt to changing health, market, or life circumstances over decades of retirement. And by organizing accounts, documentation, and family responsibilities, we help your plan continue smoothly if someone else needs to step in.
Taxes
Tax planning is about managing your lifetime tax picture, not just minimizing what you owe this year. We model different strategies to help you decide when and how to recognize income, take distributions, and realize gains in the most efficient way possible. By placing the right investments in the right accounts and coordinating across income sources, we help your wealth work harder and last longer.
Healthcare
Healthcare planning in retirement happens in three stages: before 65, during Medicare, and through potential long-term care. Each stage comes with its own costs, coverage options, and decisions that can shape your financial future. We help you understand what to expect, evaluate your options, and build a plan that keeps your care and your finances aligned through every phase of retirement.
3

Create a plan, then test it

Every family’s financial situation is unique, so we focus on the decisions that will make the greatest impact on your future. Using our proprietary Retirement H.E.A.L.T.H. Stress-test™, we create a clear, customized plan that shows how each choice fits into the bigger picture and stands up to life’s uncertainties.

Test your retirement H.E.A.L.T.H.™

Take action

Commitment is the bridge between intention and achievement.

— Matt Gulbransen

4

Take action

Even the best financial plans aren’t static. Life evolves, and your strategy should too. The key to long-term independence is following through on today’s action items, knowing that each step prepares you for whatever tomorrow brings.

What Are Annuities? Everything You Need to Know Before You Retire

Read more

What Are Annuities? Everything You Need to Know Before You Retire

5

Review & refine

A financial plan is not “set it and forget it.” Regular reviews keep you aligned with your goals as life unfolds. Together, we’ll measure progress, adjust for changes, and ensure your plan stays on track.

See if you’re a good fit

Hear more from our advisors

Meet the team

Hear more from our clients

Thomas Bianchi profile picture
Thomas Bianchi
15:04 15 May 26
Long Before we were ready to retire, we took a retirement class offered by Pine Grove. Not only did it help us realize that we needed to define what retirement looked like for us (because we had very different ideas), it also gave us a chance to meet with Matt who assessed our current investments and offered suggestions on what we could do to be in the best position to confidently retire early and enjoy our retirement plans.
Talking about money is uncomfortable and scary. We felt incredibly comfortable with Matt and he put us at ease. We were so impressed with the way we were listened to, the in-depth analysis of our existing investments that was provided, and the educated but no pressure conversation we had about how to maximize our investments that we moved everything over to Pine Grove. We have never regretted that decision.
We were able to retire earlier than anticipated and feel incredibly confident in our financial health.

Tom and Deb Bianchi
Victor Demers profile picture
Victor Demers
14:22 11 May 26
The responsiveness, friendly and "you first" approach, the wealth of knowledge and simple step by step financial direction has really helped put my family on the right path! Would highly recommend Mike Babicz and the team at Pine Grove Financial Group. - Victor
Mark Seliga profile picture
Mark Seliga
15:19 08 May 26
Would and have recommended to family and friends. For years I managed our financial future out of fear of letting someone else do it. Mike and his team have gained our trust and are doing an amazing job. One of the few companies that welcome any questions you have and respond back in a way that makes you feel heard.
Jolene Burton profile picture
Jolene Burton
14:00 28 Apr 26
Working with Joel B. has been heaven-sent. We were referred to him from my brother. My husband and I are new to the wealth/financial advisor world and felt it was time to get our stuff in line for the dream of retirement one day. The very first meeting with Joel and Lauren was extremely eye opening. I went in for retirement/financial guidance and was enlightened to find out they help out with so much more! The knowledge they both have and the professional teamwork/relationship they have together is refreshing. I always feel so blessed when we leave, they have given me a peace of mind for our future years. Pine Grove definitely is the best decisions we made in our future.
Andy Woodard profile picture
Andy Woodard
04:08 09 Apr 26
I met Joel at a Retirement planning class and liked his approach to retiring as early as possible. I had him come up with a plan based on my individual situation and was very pleased with the outcome and his personal approach to investing during retirement.

I would highly recommend Joel for anyone who wishes to explore how to make the best use of your retirement savings and breathe a sigh of relief that there are financial experts who care about your success.
Dawn Francis profile picture
Dawn Francis
16:40 04 Mar 26
We have had a very positive experience with Pine Grove Financial Group and our advisor, Mike Babicz. Mike guided us in organizing our finances, referred us to an excellent lawyer for estate planning, connected us with a skilled tax accountant, and assisted in consolidating and managing our retirement accounts. He explains complex financial concepts clearly and is a joy to work with. Together with the team at Pine Grove, Mike has given us real confidence in our financial situation and future outlook.
Wendy Miller profile picture
Wendy Miller
20:40 02 Mar 26
My experience with Pine Grove Financial Group and my advisor, Joel Baumgarten, has been outstanding. I worked with Joel when he was at a larger corporate firm and was impressed, so when I heard he left the other firm, I contacted him and switched to Pine Grove (our relationship goes back at least 10 years). Their personalized strategy model complemented by tax support is so much better.
Joel has vast industry knowledge and uses a very personal & caring approach. He prioritizes getting to truly know you so the right investment and tax strategy can be put in place.
I've always been very conservative & emotional about investing. Because of the time Joel & his team have spent educating me, my approach has changed and my portfolio has improved significantly. I am happily retired and living life!
If you want a financial team with great experience & knowledge along with a personalized approach, I highly recommend Joel and Pine Grove Group!
Kennedy A.B. Chiglo profile picture
Kennedy A.B. Chiglo
16:17 01 Mar 26
I can’t say enough great things about Mike at Pine Grove Financial Group. He is patient, knowledgeable, and explains financial strategies in a way that’s easy to understand. He genuinely cares about helping his clients feel secure and prepared for the future. Working with him has been such a positive experience, and I would highly recommend Mike to anyone looking for thoughtful, reliable financial guidance.
Joseph Vandelac profile picture
Joseph Vandelac
02:24 28 Feb 26
We had been through a few financial advisors before finding Pinegrove. This is where we’ll stay through retirement and into the later years. Jeff and Dean have been amazing. We always feel great after our time spent with them.
Steven Pierpaoli profile picture
Steven Pierpaoli
14:04 26 Feb 26
I hands down recommend the services provided in regards to wealth management. They have access to all financial products and services for their clients. Mike Babicz's services are amazing. He is genuinely interested in helping and teaching his clients about financial matters . Fee structure very fair. Mike goes above and beyond with services no other firm would perform. I highly recommend Mike and the entire team at Pinegrove.