Originally born and raised in the Chicago area, Jim and his family relocated to Tampa in 2005. Jim has longstanding ties to the region, with relatives from Sicily who settled there in the late 1800s.
During his early twenties (over 35 years ago), Jim worked part-time at an Italian restaurant where he had a regular patron known as “Splash,” who was an undercover narcotics detective. One evening, Splash posed a question that caught Jim off guard: he asked him if he was actively planning and saving for his future. Reflecting on this question, Jim realized he hadn’t given it much thought at all. When he confessed that he hadn’t, Splash handed him a flyer advertising an educational seminar on retirement planning, which Jim decided to attend.
Led by a gentleman named Harry Scroggins, the seminar became a pivotal moment for Jim. Despite his lack of financial resources, Mr. Scroggins graciously took him on as a client and helped him initiate an account with only a modest initial contribution. Jim has continued to contribute to that account over the years, eventually converting it into a Roth IRA. He’s immensely grateful to Splash and Harry for setting him on the path to financial security.
In 2004, Jim was a partner in a real estate investment company based in Colorado Springs. A visit to relatives in Tampa during that time highlighted the stark contrast in climate—shorts and sandals in Florida versus a blizzard upon their return. Although they loved the mountains, the beach weather was calling them and it spurred a decision to relocate to Florida, which came to fruition after a buyout from the company.
Just before the move, a dear family friend named Randy tragically passed away at the age of 54 from cancer, leaving behind his wife and children. Randy’s untimely death served as a sobering reminder of the importance of financial preparedness. With no life insurance or significant savings, and only minimal contributions to an IRA, his family faced considerable financial hardship. Moved by their plight, Jim resolved to pursue a business where he could assist families in planning for their futures and offer expert guidance on fortifying and safeguarding people’s retirement accounts and assets.
Jim and his wife, Rossana, live in Tampa, FL. with their three children, Giovanna, Francesco and Elisa. The family also includes their dog, Cookie and two playful cats, Zina and Taco.