Biography

curriculum vitae in PDF format updated January 2016

Career

1987-current Accountant serving individual and small business clients. Developed the online financial management and advisory services offered through OnlineAdviser, OnlineNavigator and Freedom Benefits.

2013-2014 Auditor with the Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission.

1995-2008 Founder of MedSave, a first generation insurance exchange.

1986-1987 Account Executive with Drexel Burnham Lambert in the Jenkintown, PA office, focusing on pension plan sales to self-employed individuals and small business owners

1985-1986 Pension Accountant with Pension Plan Services Inc. in Philadelphia, PA, preparing financial statements for IRS Form 5500 filings

Education

Academic credentials are expanded here

Masters in Taxation from Villanova University School of Law, 1995, with a focus of study in compensation planning

Master in Business Administration from Temple University Fox School of Business, 1985, with a focus of study on finance and accounting

Bachelor of Science degree from Delaware Valley College, 1982, served as resident dormitory adviser, editor of the student newspaper and an Academic All-American

Methacton High School, Fairview Village, PA, 1978, National Honor Society

Licenses, Registrations, Certifications

Certified Public Accountant, State of Delaware license #CC-0009369 and #CC-0003632.

National Association of Health Underwriters certification in Consumer Driven Healthcare, 2011.

Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor, recertified in 2015.

Formerly a Registered Investment Adviser with the Securities Exchange Commission in 1983-1997, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 1985-1998, and the State of New Jersey 2002-2007. (Now Inactive)

Licensed life, accident & health insurance producer in all 50 states and the District of Columbia

National Association of Securities Dealers licensing certification, 1985-1986 for series 3, 6, 7, 15, 22, 26, 63, 65, encompassing licensing for securities, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, options, commodities and foreign currency options

Completed IRS administered course on individual income tax preparation, 1995

Management

Recruited and trained more than 25 independent agents as producers for Fortis Financial Group 1993-1995 building agency premium volume approaching $1 million in 1995

Operated an independent financial planning office with a staff of 2-4 from 1987 through 2001 focusing on employee benefits for building contractors

Teaching

Instructor for "Current Events in Employee Benefits" a professional continuing education course offered through a non-profit affiliate organization. The course was approved for CE credits in Pennsylvania for accountants, attorneys and financial planners, 1997-2000

Former adjunct faculty at Delaware Valley College teaching financial planning and professional continuing education programs

Host of public radio show featuring call-in questions on various financial planning topics; host or guest on various Internet Web-casts including a featured interview by "Financial Planning Online” in 2000

Publications

"Health Savings Accounts: How to Implement and Administer an HSA in Your Organization", National Seminars Group/ Padgett-Thompson, 2006

"Employer's Guide to Health Reimbursement Arrangements", 2004, 2005,2006, self-published

"Small Business Owners Guide to Employee Benefit Plans" 1986, self-published

Writer and Publisher of "Novak's Money Minute" (2006), "OnlineAdviser Topics" (2003-2006), and "State Street Journal" (1987-1996).   These Web publications and e-mail subscriptions are read by financial professionals and consumers with an interest in financial planning topics

A contributor to dozens of business and tax-related publications including NY Enterprise Report, Insight into 90's Living, Life Insurance Magazine, Financial Planning Magazine, Opticourier, Life Association News and others

Internet-based Activity

Former discussion host for AdvisorMax.com, an industry-leading service for professional financial advisers

Volunteer adviser for OnlineAdviser and Allexperts.com providing advice in tax and benefits law issues to the public, 1998-2004

Former discussion moderator at "Financial Planning Interactive" 1997-2006, the nation's largest online resource for financial planners at www.financial-planning.com published by Securities Data Publishing Inc., NY, a division of Thompson Publishing

 Family

Married with two children and four step-children ranging in age from 17 to 26. Money Island Marina and Nantuxent Seafood are family projects operated on natural lands in rural New Jersey owned by BaySave Foundation

Current and Former Affiliations

Founder and executive of BaySave Foundation, a privately-funded environmental advocacy project based in Newport NJ

Member of Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia

Former member of Toastmasters International

Former member of the Rotary Club of Ardmore, Youth Programs Liaison

Member of the New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants

Former accredited business member of the Greater Philadelphia Better Business Bureau.

Former member of America's Health Insurance Plans

Former member of the Brain Injury Association of New Jersey.

Former Board Member of the Somers Point Jazz Society, founding co-chairman of "Brown Bag It with the Arts" for the Central Bucks Chamber of Commerce and  a "Producer" level sponsor for WXPN

Former discussion group facilitator for a community-based support group for religious discussions interfaith couples hosted by the United Association of Associated Hebrew Congregations

Past President of the Bucks/Mont Chapter of the National Association of Remodeling Industry (NARI)

Former coach of the Main Line Wrestling Club,  Warrington A.A.U. Wrestling Club and Upper Merion Wrestling Club. Former assistant coach at Delaware Valley College, Central Bucks High School, Archbishop Wood High School and Friends Central High School

Former member of the Money Island Improvement Association, now active in promoting the launch of a new Money Island Property Owners Association