A short list of professionals I'd send my own family to.
There are thousands of advisors, brokers, and agents out there. Most are fine. A few are exceptional. This page is reserved for the small handful I've personally watched take care of clients the way I'd want my mom, my kids, or my closest friends taken care of.
No paid placements. No referral kickbacks driving the list. Just people who answer their phone, do what they say, and put your family ahead of their commission.
My one rule for this list
"Would I send my mom to them — and would I be proud of how she was treated?"
If the answer isn't an immediate yes, they don't get added. That's the entire filter.
Curated
Hand-picked
Compensation
No kickbacks
Standard
Family-level
Why I keep this list small.
The fastest way to lose a client's trust is to send them to the wrong person. A great insurance plan can be undone by a mortgage broker who overcharges, an attorney who ghosts, or a CPA who misses a deduction. So I'd rather have three names I'd stake my reputation on than thirty I sort of remember.
NewMark Home Mortgage
Marlton, NJ · Mortgage Broker · Licensed in multiple states
Greg, Michael, and the NewMark team have built something rare: a mortgage shop where the client always knows where they stand. Wholesale rates, a no-lender-fee option, and a process that feels like a friend walking you through it — not a call center.
They handle purchases, refinances, pre-approvals, and — important for the families I serve in retirement — reverse mortgages done the right way.
- Wholesale broker pricing — they shop dozens of lenders, you get the best fit
- A no-lender-fee option that can save thousands at closing
- Seamless, communicative process from application to keys
- Reverse mortgage specialists for homeowners 62+
- Real, responsive humans — not a 1-800 black hole
Tell them Michael Fox sent you
Call
(856) 797-3434
WeCare@NewMarkHomeMortgage.com
Office
1 Eves Drive, Suite 111, Marlton, NJ 08053
Website
newmarkhomemortgage.com
Your home isn't just where you live. It can be where your retirement income lives, too.
For most American retirees, the single largest asset on their balance sheet isn't their 401(k). It's their home. And yet — for decades — financial planning has treated home equity as a "do not touch" asset, sitting frozen while retirees draw down their investment accounts in down markets and pay more in taxes than they need to.
A properly structured reverse mortgage (a HECM — Home Equity Conversion Mortgage, insured by the FHA) can change that. Used correctly, it's one of the most powerful — and most misunderstood — tools in retirement income planning.
The retirement game-changer most people never hear about
Picture a retiree pulling $5,000/month from a market-based account. The market drops 25% the year they retire. Every dollar they withdraw locks in losses and shortens how long the portfolio will last. This is called sequence-of-returns risk— and it is the silent killer of retirement plans.
A reverse-mortgage line of credit lets that retiree pull tax-free cash from the home in down years and let the portfolio recover. Years of academic research from Texas Tech, Boston College, and the Journal of Financial Planning have shown this single move can extend a portfolio's life by 10+ years in many scenarios. That's not a sales pitch. That's math.
What could a reverse mortgage pay you for life?
Move the sliders. This is an educational estimate — not a quote. Actual numbers depend on rates, your exact age, and your home. For real numbers, that's what NewMark is for.
Youngest borrower age
72
Home value
$550,000
Remaining mortgage balance
$40,000
Tax-free income, for life
$1,273
per month
Net cash available
$207,000
after payoff + costs
Principal limit
$264,000
est. closing costs $17,000
Illustrative only. Assumes tenure-payment structure and the borrower remaining in the home. Not a loan estimate.
What you've been told vs. what's actually true
Reverse mortgages have a reputation problem — earned in the 1980s and 90s before federal reforms cleaned the product up. Today's HECM is a different animal. Here's the honest scorecard.
The myth
The bank will own my house.
The truth
False. Title stays in your name. The lender places a lien — just like any other mortgage — but you remain the owner.
The myth
My kids will be stuck with the bill.
The truth
A HECM is non-recourse. Your heirs can sell the home and keep any remaining equity, walk away with no liability, or refinance and keep the house. They never owe more than the home is worth.
The myth
I could be kicked out of my home.
The truth
As long as you keep up property taxes, homeowners insurance, and basic maintenance, you cannot be forced out. The loan isn't due until the last borrower permanently leaves.
The myth
These loans are only for people who are desperate.
The truth
Modern HECMs are a planning tool used by financially secure retirees to reduce taxes, protect portfolios in down markets, and create lifetime tax-free income.
The myth
The fees are outrageous.
The truth
Closing costs exist (and we show them above), but they're typically rolled into the loan — meaning you pay nothing out of pocket. A good broker like NewMark will show you the all-in math first.
Real Estate · South Jersey & Greater Philadelphia
Amy Rossano
The Amy Rossano Group · "Relationships First. Results Always."
Amy is one of the few people in real estate I'd put on the phone with my own mother. She listens before she sells, she protects her clients like family, and she keeps her word — every single time. If you're buying or selling in South Jersey, you're in the safest hands I know.
— Michael Fox
Buying or selling a home is the largest financial decision most families ever make. The realtor you pick can cost you — or save you — tens of thousands of dollars, and months of stress. Amy and her team have built a reputation for doing it the right way: real market data, real negotiation, real follow-through.
- Top 1% of real estate agents — proven across hundreds of transactions
- 102% average sale-to-list price (homes sell ABOVE asking)
- 18 days average on market — vs. 40+ days for the typical agent
- Local Cherry Hill, Burlington, Camden & Gloucester County expertise
- Real pricing strategy — not lazy online estimates
- Family-team approach: Amy, Charles, and Michelle answer the phone
Tell her Michael Fox sent you
Call
(856) 912-4192
Amy@amyrossano.com
Office
28 Valley Rd., Montclair, NJ 07042
Website
amyrossano.com
Top 1%
Agents
102%
Sale / List
18 days
On market
If you're selling
- A real, defensible pricing range based on your home and neighborhood
- Pro photography, staging guidance, and a marketing plan that actually moves homes
- Offer strategy that has historically delivered ABOVE-list results
- A team that returns calls — fast — through closing
If you're buying
- Block-by-block knowledge of Burlington, Camden, and Gloucester Counties
- Honest guidance — including when NOT to buy a specific home
- A trusted lender introduction (NewMark, naturally) for a smooth financing process
- Negotiation focused on protecting YOUR wallet, not closing the deal fastest
Why the wrong realtor can cost you a retirement
On a $500,000 home, a single percent of price is $5,000. Mispricing by 3% — common with agents who pull a Zillow number and call it a day — quietly costs sellers $15,000. Buyers who overpay by 3% silently finance that $15,000 with 30 years of interest on top. That's why "any agent will do" is one of the most expensive assumptions a family can make.
Mispriced by 3%
$15,000 lost on a $500k home
Extra 22 days on market
≈ $4,000 in carrying costs
Weak negotiation
Thousands in inspection credits given away
Amy's 102% sale-to-list ratio and 18-day average aren't marketing fluff — they're the difference between an okay closing and a great one. That's exactly why she's on this list.
Automotive · West Chester, PA · Ships Nationwide
Sky Motor Cars
Brett & the Sky Motor Cars team · "The car you actually want — sourced honestly."
I've personally bought multiple cars through Brett. He's fair, he's straight with you on price, and if there's a specific car you want — make, model, color, spec — he can find it. No pressure, no games, and he ships anywhere in the country. That's exactly why he's on this list.
— Michael Fox
A car purchase is one of the largest checks most families write outside of a home — and the dealer you choose decides whether you overpay, get the wrong vehicle, or get stuck with surprises. Brett built Sky Motor Cars on the opposite philosophy: a curated inventory of clean, properly inspected vehicles, transparent pricing, and a concierge approach to sourcing the exact car you're after.
- Curated pre-owned inventory — luxury, performance, SUVs, and daily drivers
- Concierge sourcing — tell Brett the car you want and he'll go find it
- Nationwide delivery — Brett can do business with you anywhere in the U.S.
- Transparent, fair pricing — no four-square games or hidden add-ons
- Trade-in valuations done honestly (and competitively)
- Financing help across credit tiers, plus easy out-of-state titling
Tell him Michael Fox sent you
Call / text
(610) 918-7225
Showroom
969 S Matlack Street, West Chester, PA 19382
Inventory
skymotorcars.com
Delivery
Anywhere in the United States
Curated
Inventory
50 states
Delivery
Fair
Pricing
If you're buying
- Browse the curated lot — or send Brett a wish list and let him hunt
- Honest inspection notes, real photos, and full vehicle history
- Financing options across credit tiers — including specialty lenders
- Door-to-door delivery anywhere in the U.S.
If you're selling or trading
- A real, defensible trade or buy-out number — not a lowball
- Often pays MORE than the franchise dealer down the road
- Buys outright (you don't have to roll into a purchase)
- Handles payoff and title work on his side — no headaches for you
Why the wrong dealer quietly costs you thousands
On a $55,000 vehicle, a "small" $2,000 dealer markup, a packed monthly payment, and a lowballed trade can quietly add $6,000–$10,000 to the real cost — financed over six years on top. Most buyers never see it because the conversation lives inside the payment, not the price. Brett does it the other way: numbers first, payment last.
Marked-up rate
≈ $3,200 over a 6-yr loan
Lowballed trade
$2,000–$4,000 left at the curb
Padded add-ons
$1,500+ in junk fees & coverage
That's why I send people to Brett. Same car, same financing — fewer surprises and usually a meaningfully better bottom line.
Auto, Home & Personal Insurance · Cherry Hill, NJ · Coast to Coast
Jeff Drozen
Insurance Agent · Head of East Coast Branch, Gaspar Insurance Services
When someone asks me where to go for car insurance — anywhere in the country — I send them to Jeff. He shops every carrier, explains it in plain English, and he actually picks up the phone when you need him. That's rare in this business.
— Michael Fox
Most people get one quote, pay it, and never look again. Jeff is an independent broker — meaning he works for you, not a single carrier. He shops your auto, home, umbrella, and business policies across dozens of A-rated insurers, then walks you through the tradeoffs so you actually understand what you're buying.
- Auto insurance — personal vehicles, multi-car households, classic & exotic
- Homeowners, renters, condo, and high-value home coverage
- Umbrella policies — protect everything you've worked to build
- Commercial lines — apartment buildings, HOAs, tech, professional offices
- Life insurance and personal lines coordinated with your full plan
- Licensed in multiple states — can help families coast to coast
Tell him Michael Fox sent you
Call / text
(818) 306-9200
jeff.drozen@gasparinsurance.com
East Coast HQ
Cherry Hill, New Jersey
Service area
Multiple states — coast to coast
Agency
gasparinsurance.com
Shops all
Carriers
Same-day
Response
Multi-state
Licensed
Personal lines
- Auto — sedans, SUVs, trucks, multi-car, teen drivers, classics & exotics
- Homeowners, renters, condo & high-value homes
- Personal umbrella — $1M to $10M+ liability layered over auto + home
- Life, motorcycle, RV, boat & watercraft coordinated under one agent
Business & commercial
- Apartment buildings & HOA / condo associations
- Technology companies — E&O, cyber, GL packages
- Professional offices — physicians, attorneys, accountants, consultants
- Workers' comp, commercial auto, BOP & umbrella for small business
Why the wrong auto policy can wreck a family's finances
One serious accident with the wrong limits can wipe out everything you've built. State-minimum auto coverage (often as low as 25/50/25) is almost never enough — a single ER visit blows past it in an afternoon. After that, the injured party's attorney looks at your house, your savings, and your future wages. Jeff's job is to make sure that conversation never happens.
State-minimum liability
Often $25K — gone in one ER visit
No umbrella
$1M+ exposure left wide open
Wrong UM/UIM limits
You absorb the other driver's fault
Jeff prices it properly — usually for less than the captive carrier is charging today — and you walk away with coverage that actually protects what you've built.
One last thing
When you reach out, tell Jeff that Michael Fox sent you. You'll go straight to the top of his desk — and you'll get the same family-level treatment I'd expect for my own.
Medicare Planning · Freehold, NJ · Serving the Tri-State Area
James Blumetti
Medicare Planning Producer · First Jersey Insurance Agency, Inc.
James is an incredibly good friend of mine, and I trust him completely. I sent my own father to him for Medicare. That's the highest endorsement I can give anyone. I focus on disability, life, and annuities — for Medicare, James is who I send you to.
— Michael Fox
Medicare is not one decision — it's four or five intertwined decisions that affect your premiums, your doctors, your prescriptions, and your out-of-pocket exposure for the rest of your life. James walks every client through it slowly, in plain English, with no pressure and no sales gimmicks.
- Original Medicare (Parts A & B) — what it covers and where it leaves you exposed
- Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plans — picking the right letter plan for your health and budget
- Medicare Advantage (Part C) — when it's a great fit and when it isn't
- Part D prescription drug plans — matched to your actual medication list
- Annual review of your plan vs. new options during AEP (Oct 15 – Dec 7)
- Coordinating Medicare with employer coverage, COBRA, VA, and spouse plans
Tell him Michael Fox sent you
Main office
(800) 435-4765
After hours
(866) 731-8912
Office
54 Jerseyville Ave, Freehold, NJ 07728
Service area
NJ, NY, PA & the Tri-State Area
Agency
fjins.net
Independent
All carriers
No pressure
Plain English
Since 1985
First Jersey
The four Medicare decisions James walks you through
Most people are handed a Medicare card and told "good luck." These are the choices that actually determine what you pay and which doctors you see.
Original Medicare vs. Medicare Advantage
Two completely different roads. One uses a Supplement + Part D; the other bundles everything but limits you to a network. The wrong choice locks you in later.
Which Medigap letter plan
Plan G, Plan N, high-deductible G — they look similar on paper but vary by hundreds per month. James matches the plan to your health pattern, not the brochure.
Part D drug plan match
Every Part D plan has a different formulary. The cheapest premium can become the most expensive plan if your meds aren't on it. James runs the actual numbers against your drug list.
Enrollment timing
IEP, SEP, AEP, Medigap underwriting windows — miss them and you pay lifetime penalties or get declined. James protects you from the deadlines you didn't know existed.
Why getting Medicare wrong is so expensive
Medicare mistakes compound. A missed enrollment window can mean a lifetime Part B penalty. The wrong Advantage plan can lock you out of your specialist. The wrong Part D plan can mean paying full retail for a drug that should cost $10. James prevents all of it on the way in.
Late Part B penalty
10% extra premium — for life
Late Part D penalty
1% per month, permanent
Wrong plan = wrong doctors
Network lock-outs mid-year
Independent Medicare brokers like James cost you nothing extra — premiums are set by Medicare and the carriers, not the agent. You get expert guidance at the same price as fumbling through it alone.
Turning 65 soon
- Start the conversation 3–6 months before your 65th birthday
- Coordinate with employer coverage, COBRA, or spouse's plan
- Lock in your Medigap during open enrollment — no medical questions
- Avoid lifetime late-enrollment penalties
Already on Medicare
- Annual plan review against your current meds and doctors
- AEP shopping (Oct 15 – Dec 7) for next year's plan
- Switch from Advantage back to Original Medicare (if eligible)
- Help when a drug gets dropped from your formulary
One last thing
When you reach out, tell James that Michael Fox sent you. You'll get the same patient, family-level treatment I trusted with my own father.
Ready to talk to someone who'll treat you like family?
Whether you're buying your first home, refinancing to lower your payment, or exploring how a reverse mortgage could fit your retirement income plan — Greg, Michael, and the NewMark team will give you straight answers and real numbers.
Mention that Michael Fox sent you — they'll take great care of you.
Not sure if it fits your plan?
Let's map your full retirement income picture first.
A reverse mortgage is one tool. Social Security timing, annuity income, IUL distributions, and tax planning all play together. Start with a no-pressure conversation.
Talk to MichaelKeep exploring
Related resources worth your time
Reverse mortgages work best as one piece of a coordinated retirement income plan. Keep exploring.
Sequence of Returns risk
Why the order of returns in your first 5 retirement years matters more than the average.
Read moreUnderstanding Retirement Income
The plain-English playbook for turning a nest egg into a paycheck for life.
Read moreLifetime Paychecks (Annuities)
How guaranteed income works alongside Social Security and home equity.
Read moreThe Planning Process
The 7-step roadmap that ties protection, income, taxes, and legacy together.
Read more