About Us
Every member of our team is committed to exceptional client service.
You will notice one of the ways we serve you better as soon as you call one of our offices — when a real person, not an automated attendant, answers your call. You will also have a highly experienced and dedicated financial advisor who gets to know you, your financial situation, and your goals and personal preferences, along with a team of professionals to help with advice about any and every aspect of your financial plan.
Our Advisors
G. Joseph Votava, Jr., CFP®, JD, CPA
Chief Executive Officer
585.203.1211-Ext 106
202.536.2330-Ext 106
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G. Joseph Votava, Jr. serves as Chief Executive Officer for Seneca Financial Advisors LLC. With over 30 years of experience, he provides comprehensive financial planning services with a focus on taxes, investments, employee benefits and estate planning. Until February 2010, he was a partner serving corporate executives and closely held businesses at Nixon Peabody LLP, a law firm with local, national, and international clients. During his tenure, Mr. Votava was the founding president of the law firm’s subsidiary, Nixon Peabody Financial Advisors LLC. Prior to joining Nixon Peabody in 1985, he was a member of the tax department at Coopers & Lybrand, an international accounting and consulting firm. There, he served as a certified public accountant specializing in taxation.
Throughout his career and in his various roles, Mr. Votava has contributed to the growth and development of financial planning as a profession around the world. He was an honorary director of the Japan Academic Society for Financial Planning from 2000 to 2002 and also participated in an international commission to promote the growth and development of financial planning in South America, Europe, Africa, and Asia. Mr. Votava’s testimony before Congress in 1999 was relied upon by lawmakers when they made changes expanding tax deductions for 401(k) and IRA savings accounts commonly known today as “catch‐up” contributions.
Mr. Votava has regularly been interviewed and quoted by the National Financial Press, the ABA journal and has appeared on major network television programs. He continues to lecture frequently on the subjects of individual taxation and financial planning.
Education:
University of Dayton School of Law, J.D.; Siena College, B.B.A.
Certifications & Admissions:
- Admitted to practice law in New York & the District of Columbia
- Licensed for health and life insurance through the New York State Department of Insurance
- Licensed as a Certified Public Accountant by the state of New York
- CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ practitioner
Affiliations:
- Former Board Member for CFP® Board of Standards, Washington, D.C.
- Former Chairman of CFP® Board of Standards’ Public Policy Council
- Member of the District of Columbia Bar Association
- Financial Planning Association, Denver, CO (past chairman, National Board of Directors; former president of the Upstate New York chapter)
- Former chairman of the International Advisory Council
- Delegate to the International Certified Financial Planning Council
- Served as Chairman of the National Endowment for Financial Education’s Board of Trustees
Stephen G. Green
Partner/ Chief Investment Officer
585.203.1211-Ext 104
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Stephen Green is a founding partner of Seneca Financial Advisors which opened in February 2010. Prior to joining Seneca Financial Advisors LLC, Mr. Green spent approximately 14 years at Nixon Peabody LLP/Nixon Peabody Financial Advisors LLC (NPFA) as a senior wealth advisor, investment advisor representative, and financial services manager. At Nixon Peabody, Mr. Green had primary client responsibilities for the firm’s high-net-worth clients, with duties ranging from providing financial planning services to supervising the in-house staff of tax specialists and financial planners. He also served on NPFA’s Investment Committee and was a member of the Board of Managers. Stephen’s responsibilities at Seneca Financial Advisors focus on providing financial planning and wealth advisory services to corporate executives, retirees, and their families. These services include income tax planning and compliance, employee benefits planning, retirement planning, estate planning, investment advisory, and portfolio management. He also chairs the firm’s Investment Committee.
Education:
Le Moyne College, B.A., Economics; College for Financial Planning
Scott M. Lefebre, CPA/PFS
Partner/Senior Wealth Advisor
585.203.1211-Ext 105
202.536.2330-Ext 105
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Scott Lefebre is a founding partner to Seneca Financial Advisors LLC, after nearly 16 years of experience in the financial services industry. Prior to joining Seneca, Mr. Lefebre served with Nixon Peabody LLP as it’s manager of the Partner Services Team, providing tax planning and compliance and, as financial services manager for the law firm’s subsidiary, Nixon Peabody Financial Advisors LLC. As a partner with Seneca Financial Advisors, Mr. Lefebre provides financial planning, income and estate tax planning, and wealth advisory services to a range of the firm’s clients: executives, law firm partners, retirees, and their families. In addition, he also counsels clients on cash flow planning, balance sheet management, education planning, retirement planning, risk management, investment consulting, and portfolio management. Mr. Lefebre is a member of Seneca’s Investment Committee, which directs overall investment policy and manager selection and monitoring, and serves as the chair of the firm’s Tax Department.
Education:
University of Nevada, B.S., Accounting
Certifications:
Certified Public Accountant and Personal Financial Specialist
Affiliations:
- Board of Directors for Heritage Christian Services
- Member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
- Personal Financial Planning Division
- The New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants
- New York State Board for Public Accountancy
- Upstate New York chapter of the Financial Planning Association
Kathy Mezei Raabe, CFP®
Senior Wealth Advisor
720-202-4028
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Kathy Mezei Raabe is a Senior Wealth Advisor with Seneca Financial Advisors LLC. Kathy has over 35 years experience in the Financial Services industry. She began her career with Legg Mason Wood Walker in Washington, DC. She relocated to Denver, CO in 1995 and, most recently, served as a Senior Wealth Advisor for Frontier Wealth Management. Kathy’s focus is on Financial Planning and Wealth Management. She assists her clients in establishing long term financial goals and then helps them realize those goals through continued thoughtful planning and investing. She also helps many divorced and widowed women navigate their unique financial situations. Socially Responsible Investing is another discipline that Kathy has embraced. SRI investing enables her to align her clients’ values with their investments portfolios.
Certification:
CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ practitioner
Zachary R. Erskine, CFP®
Financial Advisor
585.203.1211-Ext 102
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Zachary Erskine serves as a Financial Advisor for Seneca Financial Advisors. Zach began his career at Seneca Financial Advisors as a Financial Analyst. Mr. Erskine provides Financial Planning and Advisory services to emerging professionals and executives. These services include income tax planning and compliance, employee benefits planning, retirement planning, estate planning, investment advisory, and portfolio management. Zach is also responsible for assisting with the development and implementation of the firm’s investment strategy, prepares various financial planning and investment analysis and is a member of the firm’s Investment Committee.
Education:
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Duel Degree in Economics and Management Information Systems, CFP® Professional Education Program
Certification:
CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ practitioner
Aaron J. Hulbert, CFP®
Financial Advisor
585.203.1211-Ext 101
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Aaron Hulbert serves as a Financial Advisor for Seneca Financial Advisors. Aaron began his career at Seneca Financial Advisors as a Financial Analyst. Mr. Hulbert provides Financial Planning and Advisory services to emerging professionals and executives. These services include income tax planning and compliance, employee benefits planning, retirement planning, estate planning, investment advisory, and portfolio management. Aaron is also responsible for assisting with the development and implementation of the firm’s investment strategy, prepares various financial planning and investment analysis and is a member of the firm’s Investment Committee.
Alfred State College with an A.A.S. in Accounting and a B.B.A. in Financial Planning.
Certification:
CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ practitioner
Professional Specialists
Erica L. Bush, EA
Tax Analyst
585.203.1211-Ext 107
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Education:
Houghton College with a BS in Accounting and Business Administration
Certification:
Enrolled Agent
Matthew J. Darcy, CFA
Portfolio Manager
585.203.1211-Ext 118
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Education:
Siena College, B.S., Finance
Certification:
Chartered Financial Analyst® Charterholder
CFA®and Chartered Financial Analyst® are registered trademarks owned by CFA Institute
Shanon Maher Cehaja
Tax Analyst
585.203.1211-Ext 113
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Meghan A. Hinsdale
Operations Manager
585.203.1211-Ext 112
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John G. Klee
Financial Planning Analyst
585.203.1211-Ext 111
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Michael G. McLaren
Financial Planning Analyst
585.203.1211-Ext 116
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Kimberly S. Merry
Business Manager
585.203.1211-Ext 103
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Kimberly Merry serves as Business Manager for Seneca Financial Advisors. Kim joined Seneca Financial Advisors after working at Nixon Peabody LLP for twenty one years in its Private Clients Group and Finance Department. Mrs. Merry is primarily responsible for all general office management including accounting, client billing, and accounts payable. In addition, she serves as Human Resource Manager and assists with the firm’s securities compliance.
Education:
Rochester Institute of Technology, B.S., Business Management
Cheryl L. Perry
Human Resources Manager
585.203.1211-Ext 115
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William L. Sheldon
Investment Operations Associate
585.203.1211-Ext 119
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Mary E. Smith
Client Services Associate
585.203.1211-Ext 120
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Dawn M. Wagner
Client Services Manager
585.203.1211-Ext 100
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Dawn Wagner serves as the Client Services Manager for Seneca Financial Advisors. Dawn joined Seneca Financial Advisors after working at Nixon Peabody LLC for six years. Mrs. Wagner is primarily responsible for delivering outstanding service to our clients. This includes assisting clients with opening and transferring accounts, retirement plan rollovers, and ongoing account maintenance. Mrs. Wagner has a high level of client communication and handles a variety of time-sensitive client issues.
Certification:
Certificate of Secretarial Sciences from McCarthy's Business Institute
Karli A. Wirt
Tax Supervisor
585.203.1211 -Ext 114
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Education:
University of Denver, MT; St. John Fisher College, BS Accounting & Finance