James R. Hicks CFP

LPL Registered Principal

James R. Hicks received his Certified Financial Planner CFP designation in 1982 from the international Board of Standards and Practices for Certified Financial Planners, after successfully completing his course of study from the College for Financial Planning in Denver, Colorado.

In June of 1985, Jim served as adjunct faculty for the College of Financial Planning. Jim is a veteran and served in the United States Coast Guard, including a tour of duty in Vietnam, and was also a Detroit Police Officer for 5 years while attending college.

Jim is a member and past president of the Detroit chapter of Legatus, is a current member of the Board of Directors for Michigan Catholic Radio and was a past director of the Lennon Pregnancy Center. Jim and his wife Jacqueline are active parishioners of St. Hugo of the Hills, in Bloomfield Hills, MI.

LPL Financial (LPL)

Jim offers clients an unbiased approach to planning and investing through LPL Financial (LPL). The independence of LPL is demonstrated by the fact that LPL does not develop its own investment products enabling Jim to offer truly objective advice.

In providing investment advice and financial services to individuals and businesses in Southeastern Michigan and the surrounding area since 1975, Jim's goal is to build long-term relationships with clients to help them succeed financially.

 

Jeffrey R. Guella MBA, CFP®, CRPS®, AIF®

Advisor

Jeff Guella is one of the two advisors at Trinity Financial Services and also owns Applied Benefit Strategies. He was born on August 16, 1967 in Parma, Ohio. He has been married to Martha Guella for 17 years and currently lives in Lake Orion, Michigan with his two sons Christian, age 14 and Matthew, age 11. In 1989, Jeff graduated from Worcester Polytechnic Institute with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering. Additionally, in 2002 he completed his Masters of Business Administration graduating with High Honors from the Executive program at the University of Houston. Jeff worked for 15 years for Dow Chemical, a Fortune 50 company beginning in engineering and working his way through manufacturing, sales, finance, marketing, global business strategy and business management. Before joining Applied Benefit Strategies he also spent six months at a startup company as an Executive Business Director. Jeff attends St. Joseph’s of Lake Orion and chairs their annual golf outing.

 

Jacqueline A. Hicks

Corporate Secretary and Controller of Trinity Financial Services

Jacqueline A. Hicks is married to James R. Hicks and has been working with Jim in the business since 1990. She had an extensive career in the dental field. First as a chair side assistant, then three years as a Patient Service Coordinator and one year as the Orthodontic Clinic Manager at the University of Detroit Dental School and several more years as a dental claims analyst for a third party administrator.

Jim and Jacqueline have been married for 16 years. They have four children and six grandchildren. She too, is very active in the church. She is a member of the St. Hugo Altar Guild and Funeral Sacristant, the Detroit Chapter of Legatus, a volunteer at American House and a past board member of the Lennon Center and the primary caregiver for her mother who suffers from Alzheimer's disease. Relaxation is best spent with her husband Jim on their sail boat , skiing or with their grandchildren.

 

Helene Guella

Corporate Health Insurance Specialist

Helene Guella, mother of advisor Jeffrey Guella spent 15 years working with her husband Richard Guella to build Applied Benefit Strategies, Inc. which services corporate employee benefit and retirement plans. Helene has over 30 years of experience in employee benefits and is recognized as an expert in our firm. She spends much of her time contacting existing clients with employee benefit questions in the areas of medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance and acting as a subject matter expert to others in our firm in these areas. Helene has had many clients for over a decade and enjoys working with them to solve their problems. She enjoys traveling with her husband, spending time with her family as they are very important to her, and keeping in touch with her three sisters who live in MI, SC, and FL.

Michael Spiro CRPS®

LPL Registered Rep, Sales and Service Support

Mike Spiro graduated from Oakland University in Rochester Hills where he received his BA in Political Science. He is an LPL registered representative and is certified as a Chartered Retirement Plan Specialist. Mike is married, has a daughter, two dogs and lives in Clarkston. In his free time he enjoys spending time with his family, watching Detroit sports teams and golf.

 

 

 

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