Customer Relationship Summary Broker Check by Finra

Our Team

Team Members

portrait of Paul Karlitz

Paul Karlitz

Chief Executive Officer

CLU®, ChFC®, CLTC®, LUTCF®, BFA™
CA Insurance Lic #: 0C16829
Domicile in CA
portrait of Paul Karlitz

Paul Karlitz

Chief Executive Officer

CLU®, ChFC®, CLTC®, LUTCF®, BFA™
CA Insurance Lic #: 0C16829
Domicile in CA

Paul Karlitz is the Chief Executive Officer of Sagient, an independent financial advisory firm whose roots trace back to 1905. Sagient serves individuals, families, and business owners from offices throughout California and Hawaii, with headquarters in El Segundo. 

Paul entered the financial services industry in 1995 and has more than three decades of experience in holistic financial planning. He took over leadership of the firm in 2023 and renamed it Sagient to reflect its commitment to comprehensive planning. As CEO, he sets the firm’s strategic direction and leads its growth, while staying closely involved in client relationships and developing Sagient’s team. Sagient’s advisors help clients create, grow, and protect their wealth, and then build distribution and legacy strategies that are risk-adjusted and tax-efficient. 

Paul holds the Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU®), Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC®), Behavioral Financial Advisor (BFA™) designations. He also supports the broader industry as an Ambassador for FINSECA.  

A native New Yorker and a graduate of Syracuse University, Paul moved to California in 2014 with his wife, Jeannie, and their sons, Lane and Jackson. 
Advisor Resource Group             logo
Baroldi Gundersen Ins & Financial Serv      logo
Hanasab Insurance logo
Jones/Halder & Associates                                         logo
Wilshire Financial                          logo
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portrait of Bryan Dayleg, CPA

Bryan Dayleg, CPA

Director of Finance

CPA Lic #: 151550
California Board of Accountancy
portrait of Bryan Dayleg, CPA

Bryan Dayleg, CPA

Director of Finance

CPA Lic #: 151550
California Board of Accountancy
portrait of Melanie Yates

Melanie Yates

Director of Operations

CA Insurance Lic # : 0L71284
Domicile in CA
portrait of Melanie Yates

Melanie Yates

Director of Operations

CA Insurance Lic # : 0L71284
Domicile in CA

Kathleen Adams

Financial Advisor

CFP, CLTC, CFBS
CA Insurance Lic #: 0733257
Domicile in CA

Lisbeth Arcienega

Financial Services Professional

CA Insurance Lic #: 4036781
Domicile in HI

Tiffany Arntzen

Executive Assistant to the CEO

Staff member since: 2025

Lirongzi “Bella” Bai

Financial Professional

CA Insurance Lic # : 0I37012
Domicile in CA

Antonio K. Bale, Jr.

Financial Advisor

CA Insurance Lic #:4071194
Domicile in HI

Tanya Jalil Blomquist

Financial Services Professional

CA Insurance Lic #: 4270390
Domicile in CA

Ariel Bowie

Insurance and Investment Strategies

BFA
CA Insurance Lic # : 4240598
Domicile in CA

Andrea Burnside

Financial Services Professional

CA Insurance Lic # : 4102738
Domicile in CA

Jazmine Capulong

Financial Services Professional

CA Insurance Lic # : 4566882
Domicile in CA

Robert Carty

Financial Advisor

CA Insurance Lic #: 0A72428
Domicile in CA

Liane Chong

Financial Planner

CLU®, ChSNC®
CA Insurance Lic #: 1873478
Domicile in HI

Ben David

Financial Services Professional

FSCP®
CA Insurance Lic #: 0J09379
Domicile in CA

John Dellaporta

Financial Professional

CA Insurance Lic # : 4409759
Domicile in CA

Chandler Dennen

Financial Professional

CA Insurance Lic # : 4505550
Domicile in CA

Jay Weichen Ding

Financial Services Professional

CA Insurance Lic #: 0E51431
Domicile in CA
portrait of Erin Donovan, Ph.D.

Erin Donovan, Ph.D.

Director of Training & Advisor Experience

portrait of Erin Donovan, Ph.D.

Erin Donovan, Ph.D.

Director of Training & Advisor Experience

Erin Donovan, Ph.D., is the Director of Training & Advisor Experience at Sagient, where she leads advisor onboarding, development, coaching, and the Sagient Academy experience. A MassMutual alum and former Home Office Field Training Consultant, Erin brings deep experience in financial services, adult learning, and advisor development.
She holds a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction and has worked as an educator, writer and speaker, literacy specialist, and university professor. Erin is also the founder of Fuel Training Consultants, a global learning solutions firm serving organizations across industries.
Her focus at Sagient is practical and people-centered: helping advisors build confidence, grow their businesses, and access the tools and support they need to succeed.
portrait of Michael Dub

Michael Dub

Growth and Digital Enablement Specialist

NJ Insurance Lic # : 3004339807
Domicile in NJ
portrait of Michael Dub

Michael Dub

Growth and Digital Enablement Specialist

NJ Insurance Lic # : 3004339807
Domicile in NJ

Claudette Egan

Brokerage & New Business Coordinator

Staff member since: 2017
CA Insurance Lic #: 577644 Domicile in NV

Deryck Eubanks

Financial Services Professional

CA Insurance Lic # : 0L28213
Domicile in CA

Peter R. Fong

Financial Services Professional

CA Insurance Lic #: 0772288
Domicile in CA

Reece Fowler

Financial Advisor

CA Insurance Lic # : 4392512
Domicile in CA

Steven Gasparian

Financial Advisor

BFA
CA Insurance Lic #: 0J13588
Domicile in CA

Yechiel Shalom Goldberg

Certified Financial Planner Professional
Special Care Planner

Ph.D., CFP, ChSNC, BFA
CA Insurance Lic #: 0G70107
Domicile in CA

Paul Grande

Financial Advisor

CA Insurance Lic #: 0J01488
Domicile in CA
portrait of Richard Halloran

Richard Halloran

New Business Director

CA Insurance Lic #: 0C50198
Domicile in CA
portrait of Richard Halloran

Richard Halloran

New Business Director

CA Insurance Lic #: 0C50198
Domicile in CA

Rich graduated from the University of Southern California in 1992 with a B.S. in business administration. After a brief start in the business as a health insurance claims administrator, he joined the firm in 1994.

He is the New Business Director for the firm. As such, he manages a team of professionals dedicated to processing the submitted insurance business with our carriers. Rich is a key member of the management team and teaches classes on underwriting life, disability, and long-term care insurance—and on creating client illustrations. 

Rich is married to Kim, and he is an avid sports fan living in South Bay.

 

Raffi H. Hamassian

Financial Services Professional

CPA
CA Insurance Lic #: 4136632
Domicile in CA

Harutune Hamassian

Financial Advisor

CPA
CA Insurance Lic #: 0D20691
Domicile in CA

Don Harrington

Financial Advisor

CFP, CLU, ChFC
CA Insurance Lic #: 0C34404
Domicile in CA

Bruce Hayes

Financial Professional

CA Insurance Lic # : 0B99924
Domicile in CA

Saeed Kahrobai

Financial Services Professional

CA Insurance Lic #: 0D43608
Domicile in CA

Paul Kaye

Financial Advisor

CA Insurance Lic #: 4063616
Domicile in CA

Helen Hyoyoung Kim

Financial Advisor

FSCP, FSS, LUTCF, CLTC, CFBS
CA Insurance Lic#: 0B89287
Domicile in CA

Matt T. Kokkonen

Financial Planner

CLU, ChFC, MSFS, MSM
CA Insurance Lic #: 0387736
Domicile in CA

Hayk Korkotyan

Financial Professional

CA Insurance Lic # : 0J23022
Domicile in CA

Samuel Lau

Financial Professional

CA Insurance Lic #: 0E23335
Domicile in CA
portrait of Kenneth Paul Lee

Kenneth Paul Lee

Vice President- Sales
Irvine

CA Insurance Lic #: 0M66641
Domicile in CA
portrait of Kenneth Paul Lee

Kenneth Paul Lee

Vice President- Sales
Irvine

CA Insurance Lic #: 0M66641
Domicile in CA

Ken grew up in the small college town of Amherst, MA—the youngest of four boys. When he wasn’t around the neighborhood playing backyard football/baseball/basketball, he was playing tennis. He attended Tufts University in Boston, where he graduated with a BA in economics/business. After spending 15 years in banking in and around the five boroughs of NYC—where he was a branch manager, private client officer, and commercial real Estate lender—he gave up the corporate world to be an entrepreneur. 

For the next 20 years, his business endeavors took him across the country to San Diego, CA and then over to Singapore, providing him the opportunity to gain experience in retail, accounting/finance, management, training, recruiting, and restaurant operations. When both of his children decided to come back to California for college, he gladly returned to the West Coast. Restaurant consulting and owning/operating his own restaurant occupied his time for a few years, then he decided to get back into the world of personal finance.

As a leader of sales teams for a major mutual insurance company, Ken has employed a blend of management systems, training, and connection with individuals to develop a creative, client-centric team.

Mei Li Lee

Financial Planner
Registered Representative

ChFC
CA Insurance Lic #: 0G89865
Domicile in HI

Jeffrey Ling

Financial Advisor

CFP
CA Insurance Lic #: 0175755
Domicile in HI
portrait of Vance Litchfield

Vance Litchfield

Director of Wealth Management & Financial Planning

CFP®, CLU®, ChFC®, CASL®, BFA™
CA Insurance Lic # : 0E98585
Domicile in CA
portrait of Vance Litchfield

Vance Litchfield

Director of Wealth Management & Financial Planning

CFP®, CLU®, ChFC®, CASL®, BFA™
CA Insurance Lic # : 0E98585
Domicile in CA

Vance is a Certified Financial Planner with more than 20 years of experience developing high performance teams. He holds CFP, ChFC, CLU, CASL, and BFA designations and is dedicated to helping you achieve financial success. “Our ability to deliver exceptional, holistic advice to our clients is strengthened with the addition of Vance to our team,” said Paul Karlitz, CEO. “His expertise reinforces our commitment to equipping our advisors with the best possible resources.”

Michael Lubrani

Financial Services Professional

CA Insurance Lic #: 4169108
Domicile in CA
portrait of Andrew Vincent Marin

Andrew Vincent Marin

Director of Advanced Planning

J.D.*
CA Insurance Lic #: 0I26458
Domicile in CA
portrait of Andrew Vincent Marin

Andrew Vincent Marin

Director of Advanced Planning

J.D.*
CA Insurance Lic #: 0I26458
Domicile in CA

Andrew V. Marin serves as director of advanced planning. Andrew partners with closely held business owners, professionals, families, and their advice-givers to plan for overall success. He is outcome-oriented with a focus on efficiency and clarity. 

Andrew’s immigrant grandparents and their imparted love of country started him on the way to helping others protect their American dream: transferring estates and businesses—intact—from one generation to the next. He is also a national educator on advanced planning topics for continuing education and continuing legal education. 

An active board member of his church, he is a lifelong resident of Southern California. Andrew is a member of the California State Bar, U.S. District Court, Southern and Central District of California Bar Associations, and FINSECA. Andrew enjoys traveling, music, the outdoors, volunteering, and being with his wonderful family.

*Andrew is licensed but not practicing on behalf of MML Investor Services, LLC or its affiliated companies.

Jack Mavyan

Financial Advisor

CEPA®, BFA
CA Insurance Lic # : 0F55266
Domicile in CA

Chad Maxie

Financial Services Professional

CA Insurance Lic # : 4491835
Domicile in CA

Darlene McCrary

Financial Services Professional

CA Insurance Lic # : 0600968
Domicile in CA

Shawna Melville

Recruiting Manager

Staff member since: 2026

Lily Mercado

Operations Specialist

Staff member since: 1999

Kim Mosley

Financial Services Professional

CA Insurance Lic # : 4244327
Domicile in CA

Edward T. Motley

Financial Planner
Investment Advisor Representative
Insurance Agent

CLU®, ChFC®, TPCP®, CPFA®, BFA
CA Insurance Lic #: 0D32089
Domicile in CA

Lexi Oliver

Communications & Marketing Coordinator

Staff member since: 2025

Amir Ouranus

Director of Technology Support

Staff member since: 2020

Justin Peña

Financial Professional

CA Insurance Lic # : 4507403
Domicile in CA

Amir Jovani Pouri

Financial Professional

CA Insurance Lic #: 0809071
Domicile in CA

Sean Rho

Financial Services Professional

CA Insurance Lic #: 0C92817
Domicile in CA

Jodi P. Rosenbloom

Financial Advisor

CLU®, ChFC®, CLTC
CA Insurance Lic #: 0685612
Domicile in CA

Mina Salahshoury

Financial Professional

CA Insurance Lic # : 4380217
Domicile in CA
portrait of Eugene M. Santiago

Eugene M. Santiago

Director of Marketing & Creative Strategy

CA Insurance Lic #: 4230428
Domicile in CA
portrait of Eugene M. Santiago

Eugene M. Santiago

Director of Marketing & Creative Strategy

CA Insurance Lic #: 4230428
Domicile in CA

Robert Sarkissian

Financial Advisor

CA Insurance Lic #: 0D24415
Domicile in CA
portrait of Tucker Savoye

Tucker Savoye

Director of Recruiting

portrait of Tucker Savoye

Tucker Savoye

Director of Recruiting

Candace Seto

Financial Planner
Honolulu

ChFC, CLU,
CA Insurance Lic #: 0816168
Domicile in CA

Benny Smith

Financial Advisor

CA Insurance Lic #: 0K89893
Domicile in CA
portrait of Robert M. Smith

Robert M. Smith

Financial Services Professional
Disability Income Specialist

CLU®, ChFC®, CLTC®, RICP®
CA Insurance Lic #: 0741819
Domicile in CA
portrait of Robert M. Smith

Robert M. Smith

Financial Services Professional
Disability Income Specialist

CLU®, ChFC®, CLTC®, RICP®
CA Insurance Lic #: 0741819
Domicile in CA

Sarah Spalding

Financial Professional

CA Insurance Lic # : 4330285
Domicile in CA

Maxwell Stanley

Financial Professional

CA 4370721
Domicile in CA

Thomas Stift

Financial Professional

CA Insurance Lic # : 4546961
Domicile in CA

Wayne Y. Tanaka

Financial Planning Consultant

CA Insurance Lic #: 4108229
Domicile in HI

Cela Tarver

Financial Advisor

QPFC
CA Insurance Lic # : 4104238
Domicile in CA
portrait of Arturo Unzueta

Arturo Unzueta

Compliance Officer

portrait of Arturo Unzueta

Arturo Unzueta

Compliance Officer

Art has been working in the financial services industry since 1996. He has worked with CitiGroup, Morgan Stanley, Smith Barney, Transamerica, and Ameriprise prior to joining our agency in 2012 as our agency compliance officer.

He was a mathematics major in school and holds an AA degree. He currently holds securities licenses from FINRA for Series 7, 9, 10, 24, 53, 63, 65.

Art is married and has five children (three boys and two girls). His hobbies are basketball, racquetball, and weightlifting. His passions are his family and friends, and he enjoys supporting the advisors and co-workers in the agency.

Sandra Valenzuela

Case Manager

Staff member since: 2015

Nicola Vincent

Financial Professional

CA Insurance Lic # : 4366482
Domicile in CA

Sherryl Wong

Operations Specialist- Honolulu

Staff member since: 2001

Jonathan Yang

Financial Services Professional

LUTCF