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A graduate of New York University in 1978, Charles Hamowy began his career in the accounting profession as a certified public accountant. After a successful decade-long career in accounting, he redirected his passion to help others build their personal financial success. In 1990 he founded the firm which later became Seasons of Advice Wealth Management, LLC. Through its innovative Stewardship Portfolios, SOAWM is committed to socially inspired investing where investors can “do well by doing good.” Charles has consulted and coached other financial services practices for over a decade. A commentator and author, he is a sought-after media expert and public speaker addressing topics from investment portfolio design to planning for life’s uncertainties. Charles is also the editor-in-chief of the Socially Inspired Investor digest and podcast which is thought leadership on Socially Inspired Investing and trends. Lastly, he is also a successful entrepreneur who has started and grown several other businesses in the area of the arts.
Charles is from Brooklyn, and lives and works in New York City.
Chris, a 1993 Hofstra University graduate, has been in the financial services industry for more than 27 years. After stints at Merrill Lynch and Oppenheimer, the Seaford, Long Island, native joined Ameriprise, where he met Charles. In addition to co-authoring Financially SECURE Forever: The Seasons of Advice Solution with Charles, Chris continues leadership roles in both the wealth advisory and consulting practices.
He lives in Bedford, N.Y., with his wife Victoria and their three children. Son Lucca and daughters Alexis and Riley keep him close to home, but he relishes family time and volunteers with the local youth sports leagues. He currently serves as president of girls’ softball for the Armonk Baseball League.
Born and raised in Texas, Mark graduated with honors receiving both his undergraduate degree and MBA from Southern Methodist University. Upon completing his graduate work, he worked in corporate finance at the Robert Zimmer Group, then among the world’s leading hospitality groups.
He never lost his taste for new destinations, especially those involving skiing, hiking, rafting and horseback riding. Along the way, he took a sabbatical and trained at the Culinary Institute of America.
His professional credentials include the pursuit of continuing education as a Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor as well as membership in the Financial Planning Association.
When not serving his clients, Mark collects contemporary artworks and medieval religious icons, displaying them at his homes in Manhattan and Fire Island. He sits on the boards and councils of several contemporary art organizations, including Art21.
While he supports causes related to animal rights and treating dementia, he is also active with the Human Rights Campaign, of which he is a Federal Club member.
Preston, a University of Massachusetts at Amherst alumnus, has been a financial planner since 2002. Before that, he was a reporter with the Enterprise of Brockton, Mass., and the Standard-Times of New Bedford, Mass. He was also an editor with the technology publication Computer Reseller News. He earned the rank of Eagle Scout as a youth.
Since joining Seasons of Advice in 2006, he has pursued continuing education as a CFP and maintains membership in the Financial Planning Association.
As time permits, he enjoys hiking and cooking. Who else brines their own pickles?
A native of Taunton, Mass., Preston has lived for the past 25 years in Forest Hills, Queens, with his wife Tami, daughter Madeline and son Sam.
Laura Hyman has been in the financial services business since 1983. She has a B.A. in philosophy from the University of Maryland, as well as an M.A. and Ph.D. in English literature from New York University.
She has built her career working with individuals and small institutions, assisting them in their wealth management issues and helping them achieve their individual financial goals.
Laura believes that businesses that focus on sustainability will in the long run be rewarded with better business outcomes. She is devoted to such causes as animal rights/rescue and the vegan lifestyle. This is part of her family DNA. After the 1918 flu pandemic claimed his brother, Laura’s father chose a career in medicine. Morris Hyman MD became an early proponent of veganism in America.
One random fact: Laura is an accomplished operatic soprano who has sung, among other venues, at the White House.
A double-barreled Manhattan College alumnus – B.S. and M.B.A. – Steve also holds the lifelong distinction of having earned the rank of Eagle Scout. (Preston shares this distinction.) This is his second career, having capped a successful run in the nascent cell phone industry. He then joined Ameriprise as a financial advisor in 1996, before moving on to Seasons of Advice in 2011.
An avid golfer and fisherman, he has invested in companies that protect the environment by reducing waste streams and commercializing co-generation. Steve is also dedicated to the cause of curing Cooley’s anemia.
The Bronx native has been married to Vickie since 1981 and resides in Yonkers, N.Y. The couple has two daughters, Ashleigh and Johana, and have recently become grandparents for the first time. Steve is active in the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, through which he raises funds and awareness of the fight against cerebral palsy.
Michael Strassmann, CFP® is a Senior Wealth Advisor at Seasons of Advice Wealth Management, LLC. Born in 1989, Michael has over 10 years of professional experience dedicated to advising clients on investments, estate planning, retirement planning and other financial matters.
Michael has a Bachelors of Science degree from Drexel University and is currently enrolled for a Masters in Advanced Financial Planning at Golden Gate University. Michael is also a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™. Prior to joining Seasons of Advice Wealth Management, he was an Advanced Planner at First Republic Bank, as well as a Wealth Strategist at Lenox Wealth Advisors.
Prior to joining Seasons of Advice, Joyce graduated from St. John’s University with an Accounting Degree and worked at JP Morgan for 7 years as a Private Client Advisor. She was an active member of Asians & Pacific Islanders Reaching for Excellence to promote and build diversity and leadership for the Asian community while at JP Morgan.
Growing up in rural Indiana and moving to New York City for college, Joyce enjoys a variety of outdoor activities such as hiking the National Parks and snowboarding on the West Coast. She’s recently picked up biking and hopes to one day be able to participate in the 5 Borough Bike Tour.
Joyce lives in Queens with her adorable Australian Shepherd, Odis.
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