Mission


At Palm Beach Associates, our mission is to help families achieve lasting financial security, independence, and purpose. We provide comprehensive financial planning and advanced wealth management designed to grow and preserve wealth across generations through coordination of tax, legal, insurance, and investment advisors.


Vision


Our vision is to empower financial advisors to deliver exceptional advice to successful families. We strive to be a dependable partner in helping families achieve financial independence, preserve generational wealth, and create lasting impact in their communities. We envision a private wealth advisory firm built on faith, virtue, reason, integrity, and collaboration.



Core Values


Faith, Virtue, Reason, Integrity, Collaboration, Choice, Innovation

West Palm Beach Office

John Leavitt

John Leavitt

CPWA®

Experience:

20 years with Thrivent.


Education:

B.S., Marketing - Florida Southern College

M.S. FP, Executive & Organizational Leadership - The American College (2026-2027)

Executive Education/Postgraduate:

Yale School of Management - Wealth Management

University of Chicago Booth School of Business - Investment Management

Georgetown Family Center/Bowen Center - Human Functioning & Family Systems


Licenses/Certifications/Awards:

215 - Life, Health & VA

Series 7 - General Securities Representative

Series 66 - Uniform Combined State Law

Certified Private Wealth Advisor®

Fraternal Insurance Counselor®

MDRT (Million Dollar Round Table) - Top of the Table 2024


Specialties:

Family Wealth Planning


Interests:

Spending time with his family, traveling to new places, and tennis.


Community Involvement:

International Habitat for Humanity volunteer with service experience in North America, Asia, and Africa; Board Member of the TennisNRG Charitable Organization.

Title

Financial Consultant

State(s) Licensed
AL , CA Insurance Lic. #0H60417 , CT , DC , FL , GA , IA , ID , IN , MD , MI , NC , NJ , NM , NY , OR , PA , SC , TX , VA
Website
https://connect.thrivent.com/john-leavitt
Email
john.leavitt@thrivent.com
Phone
561-207-2408
Fax

561-207-2001

    James Pace

    James Pace

    MBA, ChFC®, LUTCF®, FIC, RICP®

    Experience: 15 years with Thrivent. Prior to Thrivent, Jim was an executive with the federal government in Washington, D.C. for 32 years. Served as a congressional fellow on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee for the Departments of Interior and Agriculture. Jim owned two small businesses with his wife, Nancy, in Northern Virginia.


    Licenses and Awards: FINRA Series 7 and 66 licenses. Master’s degree in Business Administration, Chartered Financial Consultant, Retirement Income Certified Planner, and Life Underwriter Training Council Fellow designations. During his time with the federal government, he received the Department of the Interior Meritorious Service Award, which is one of the highest civilian awards granted by the secretary of the interior.


    Specialties: Principal to the team, providing consultation and guidance. Estate strategies, retirement income strategies, investments, life insurance, solutions for businesses, education funding planning and savings strategies.


    Interests: Genealogy, playing golf, spending time with his family, and playing the guitar.


    Community Involvement: Member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Delray Beach, where he currently serves on the Board and serves as elder. Currently serves on Board of Governors at the Delray Beach Club. Volunteers for Habitat for Humanity and the Red Cross pheresis donor program.

    Title

    Associate

    State(s) Licensed
    AL , DC , FL , GA , IA , MD , TX , VA
    Website
    https://connect.thrivent.com/james-pace
    Email
    james.pace@thrivent.com
    Phone
    703-975-4796
    Kristi Clark

    Kristi Clark

    MSFS, ChFC®, CLU®, CAP®, FIC

    Experience: 17 years at Thrivent. 21 years of experience in the financial services industry.


    Licenses and Awards: FINRA Series 7 and 66 licenses. Master’s degree in Financial Services, Chartered Financial Consultant, Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy, and Certified Life Underwriter designations. Served as president of the West Georgia National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (2007–2011). Received the NAIFA quality award in 2005, 2007 and 2014. The NAIFA Quality Award provides financial professionals the opportunity to demonstrate a commitment to excellence through performance, professional education, and industry service.

    More information about this recognition can be found at www.naifa.org/membership/awards/quality-award.


    Specialties: Retirement income strategies, retirement accumulation, investments and estate strategies.


    Interests: Spending time with her family and giving back to the community.


    Community Involvement: Member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Boca Raton and volunteer with Habitat for Humanity. Member of the planned giving council of Broward and Palm Beach Counties, and Women in Financial Services.

    Title

    Associate

    State(s) Licensed
    CA Insurance Lic. #0F96013 , FL , GA , IN , OH
    Website
    https://connect.thrivent.com/kristi-clark
    Email
    kristi.clark@thrivent.com
    Phone
    561-465-7477
    Rose Pagan

    Rose Pagan

    FIC, BFA™

    Education and Experience:

    Bachelor of Arts Degree in Finance

    Studying at American College of Financial Services

    8 years of Financial Advising experience with Thrivent.


    Licenses and Awards:

    FINRA Series 7 – General Securities Regulation

    FINRA Series 66 – Uniformed Combined State Law

    BFA™ – Behavioral Financial Advisor

    FIC – Fraternal Insurance Counselor


    Specialties: 

    Retirement Income Planning

    Behavioral Finance

    Life Insurance as an Asset


    Interests: 

    Spending time family and participating with almost anything outdoors – sometimes that’s just watching, listening, and smiling, and being swallowed up by His immense wonders.


    Community Involvement:

    Member of Lakes Church – Auburndale.

    Volunteers with Habitat for Humanity, local Non-profits (AmeriCorps, FAMA, IAMWOMAN, and others) and several of my Church’s domestic and International Ministries.


    Title

    Financial Advisor

    State(s) Licensed
    CA Insurance Lic. #4486223 , FL , GA , LA , NC , NJ , TX
    Website
    https://connect.thrivent.com/rose-pagan
    Email
    rose.pagan@thrivent.com
    Phone
    863-325-6529
    Harry Robinson

    Harry Robinson

    LUTCF®, FIC

    Experience:

    32 years with Thrivent Financial.


    Education:

    Bachelor of Science - Central Michigan University - 1981


    Licenses:

    215 - Life, Health & VA

    Series 7 - General Securities Representative

    Series 66 - Uniform Combined State Law

    Series 63 - Uniform Securities Agent State Law

    Series 6 - Investment Company/Variable Products Limited Representative


    Certifications:

    Life Underwriter Training Council FellowSM®

    Fraternal Insurance Counselor®


    Awards:

    National Association of Insurance & Financial Advisors - National Quality Award


    Specialties:

    Estate Strategies, Investments, Life Insurance, Retirement Planning



    Title

    Financial Consultant

    State(s) Licensed
    AK , AL , AZ , CO , FL , GA , IL , MI , MN , NC , NV , OH , SC , TX , WI
    Website
    https://connect.thrivent.com/harry-robinson
    Email
    harry.robinson@thrivent.com
    Phone
    954-675-7397
      Marc Slama

      Marc Slama

      Licenses:

      215 - Life, Health & VA

      Series 7 - General Securities Representative

      Series 66 - Uniform Combined State Law


      Specialties:

      Investment and Risk Management


      Interests: Spending time with family. Enjoys traveling and tennis.


      Community Involvement: Part of the founding team of TennisNRG Charitable; a not-for-profit charity with a mission to help players and tennis growth in Florida.

      Title

      Insurance Associate

        Carlos Perez

        Carlos Perez

        Experience:

        Over 20 years of marketing experience across diverse industries, including non-profits and universities. With 12 years as a Marketing Specialist, expertise in graphic design and media creation.


        Licenses:

        215 - Life, Health & VA


        Specialties:

        Insurance Planning, Marketing Strategy, Branding, Digital Media, Graphic Design, Content Creation.


        Interests:

        Passionate about spending time with my family—wife, son, and dog. Enjoys traveling and playing tennis around the world.


        Community Involvement: 

        One of the founders of TennisNRG Charitable; a not-for-profit charity with a mission to help players and tennis growth in Florida.

        Title

        Marketing Specialist

        Michele Smith

        Michele Smith

        Experience: Michele has over 25 years of customer service experience, 8 years at Thrivent as a licensed Office Professional, and 2 years as a Practice Support Specialist.

         

        Specialties: Supports all product related service work and tasks to help leverage workload. She is well versed in marketing, office management, and fraternal programs.

         

        Interests: Michele enjoys gardening, volunteering, and home remodel projects.

        Title

        Senior Practice Support Specialist LIC

        Location

        Remote

          Dusti Napiwocki

          Dusti Napiwocki

          Experience: Dusti has been at Thrivent for 6 years, 3 years in the Annuities Center and 3 years as a Adv. Field Practice Solutions Specialist LIC.

           

          Specialties: Applications, investment research and service work, and analysis tools.

           

          Interests: Dusti enjoys outdoor concerts when weather permits and tabletop games when it doesn't.

          Title

          Adv. Field Practice Solutions Specialist LIC

          Location

          Remote

            Leighann Lagana

            Leighann Lagana

            Experience: Leighann is a new Field Practice Solutions Specialist LIC

             

            Specialties: Applications, investment research and service work, and analysis tools.

             

            Interests: 

            Title

            Field Practice Solutions Specialist LIC

            Location

            Remote

              Mandi Williams

              Mandi Williams

              Experience: Mandi has over 13 years of customer service experience, 2 years of which were specialized in annuities and life insurance products.


              Specialties: Applications, investment research and service work, and analysis tools.


              Interests: Mandi enjoys spending time with friends and family, listening to audiobooks, and traveling to new places.

              Title

              Field Practice Solutions Specialist LIC

              Location

              Remote

                Melissa Bobka

                Melissa Bobka

                Title

                Field Practice Solutions Specialist LIC

                Location

                Remote