About Third Coast Group
Third Coast Group is a team of Financial Professionals who are willing and able to help you with all your personal financial planning and dedicated planning needs. Most of the time, it is difficult and overwhelming to handle or search for Financial Guidance, Strategies and Clarity by yourself. Sometimes, even with the help of the internet, it can even be very stressful and overwhelming!
Now it is time to put that all behind you! With our team, whether it's assisting you in wealth accumulation, wealth management, or wealth transfer strategies, we focus on the client as a whole! We take the time to get to know you, understand your personal financial goals, and educate before any decisions or actions are taken. We want you to feel comfortable to leave your worries in our hands!
We are a group of individuals who provide personalized financial guidance to people at all stages of life. Each of us is a qualified and licensed professional in our field and can help provide top notch service and advice through a process not a product.
During this process, we are here to answer any and all questions that you may have along the way. These questions may be, “How much do I need to retire?” Or “How much Life insurance do I Need?” or maybe even “What is the Difference between a Fixed Annuity and a Variable Annuity?" Don’t worry! We are here to help clear up your questions and provide you with the Advice, Knowledge and products that you need to achieve Financial Clarity.
Impacting Lives Near and Far
- Operation Care, a ministry of Family Christian Center in Munster, Indiana
- Annual Valentine's Day Widows' and Widowers' Brunch
- Thrivent Action Teams
- Thrivent Communities - Document Sheading Event
- Thrivent Communities - Salvation Army Packing
- Lansing Lions Club
- St. Paul Lutheran Church in Munster, IN.
- St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Lansing, IL.
- Humane Indiana, Dyer IN
- Love INC of Greater Hammond
- PASS, Lansing & Tinley Park
- Welcome Network, Hammond, IN
Meet Our Team
Saint John Office
Eric Himmel
MBA, FIC, CLTC®
Eric graduated from the University of Arizona in 2005 with a major in Communication and a minor in General Business Administration. Prior to starting his business with Thrivent, Eric received his M.B.A. from Governors State University in 2011. He has been with Thrivent since 2012. Eric specializes in wealth accumulation, wealth management, & wealth transfer strategies. When working with Eric, he customizes solutions for clients that emphasize minimizing taxes and maximizing protection. In his time away from the business, Eric is an active member of his Lions Club board, and he enjoys golfing, playing basketball, and spending time with his wife, Jasmin.
- Title
Financial Consultant
- State(s) Licensed
- AK , AZ , CA Insurance Lic. #0I11525 , CO , IA , IL , IN , MI , MO , NC , NJ , NV , OH , PA , SC , TN , TX , WI
- Website
- https://connect.thrivent.com/eric-himmel
- Phone
- 219-627-3371
Doug Horne
RICP®, CLTC®, BFA™
Doug brings a lifetime of experience in helping and educating people. Prior to joining Third Coast Group of Thrivent in 2015, he was a band director in public and private schools. He also owned a tutoring company for 10 years, assisting students through the No Child Left Behind program. Doug holds a diploma from Moody Bible Institute, Chicago, and a BA from Cedarville University, OH. He is also the Music and Missions Director at Family of Faith Church in Monee, IL. In his spare time, Doug enjoys music, outdoor activities, and his family. Doug is married to Margaret, and they have 4 children. Doug's specialty is working with educators, small to mid-size businesses, and young families.
- Title
Financial Consultant
- State(s) Licensed
- IL , IN , MI , NE , WI
- Website
- https://connect.thrivent.com/doug-horne
- Phone
- 708-474-6015
Jason Gena
FIC, RICP®
Through his experiences working with professionals, individuals in and approaching retirement, and young families, Jason has learned that the word "money" has different meanings for different people. One thing that Jason has found, however, is that there is one commonality for everyone when it comes to money: being intentional when it comes to money can have a life changing impact for them, their future, and family. When working with clients, Jason uses an effective three step process: Goal Understanding, Cooperative Plan Collaboration, and Strategy Implementation. In his spare time, Jason enjoys spending time with his wife and two daughters, coaching his daughters' basketball and softball teams, and being an active member of his church. Jason has been working for Thrivent since 2016.
- Title
Financial Advisor
- State(s) Licensed
- AK , IL , IN , MO , OH , SC
- Website
- https://connect.thrivent.com/jason-gena
- Phone
- 708-474-6015
Alan Moravec
FIC
Alan's experience in the financial services industry started 17 years ago. He has spent his career with Thrivent assisting his clients with asset management strategies, retirement income strategies, and risk protection solutions. Alan believes that the best way to guide his clients is through a hands-on approach and truly getting to know them, their family, their goals, and what makes them tick.
Prior to his work with Thrivent, Al was a teacher of religion and music education at Lutheran South High School in Chicago, IL.
He is married to Kathy, for 30 years and has 3 children: Emily, Megan and Andrew.
In his spare time, Alan enjoys biking, swimming, golfing, and being involved at his church.
- Title
Financial Consultant
- State(s) Licensed
- AZ , FL , IL , IN , MI , WI
- Website
- https://connect.thrivent.com/alan-moravec
- Phone
- 773-550-1378
Gavin Gescheidler
Gavin graduated from Indiana University Northwest in 2022 with a bachelor’s in Business Administration, and a minor in marketing. He comes to TCG with a sales background, where he worked for a local KIA dealership selling vehicles. Due to this experience, Gavin loves working with people. Putting a smile on everyone’s face is one of his goal’s when talking with others.
Gavin is a licensed life insurance representative, with a purpose to assist the advisors on the team, to ensure that clients receive the best possible experience. He is currently studying to become a fully licensed financial advisor here at Thrivent Third Coast Group. Gavin’s great time management skills, in and out of the office, is another strength he brings to our group.
In his free time, Gavin loves to golf, workout, go to sporting events, and spend time with his family and friends. Especially, hanging out with his Girlfriend, Ariana.
- Title
Financial Planning & Advice Analyst
- Location
Saint John Office
- Phone
- 219-627-3371
Margaret Horne
Prior to joining the Third Coast Group in 2017, Margaret raised and home schooled her four children; as well as spent fifteen years in the trading and cashiering department of an investment firm. Margaret's role is to ensure that TCG's clients get the best service possible. Margaret is married to Doug. In her spare time, she is an active member of the Monee Historical Society, and she enjoys knitting, walking, reading, and working out.
- Title
Office Professional
- Location
Lansing Office
- Phone
- (708) 474-6015
Ashley Richy
Ashley graduated from Benedictine University, Lisle IL in 2008 with a bachelor’s in Psychology and Art. Most of her work experience has been in the retail setting with her focus being on customer service.
Ashley Is a highly organized and friendly individual who brings a new perspective to the group. Her purpose with the team is to oversee our systems, marketing and social media to ensure that our clients are getting the best experience possible, as well as to stay connected with us in creative and fun ways. She has been with The Third Coast Group since 2020.
Being a daughter of a Lutheran Pastor, she believes that love and respect is something everyone is entitled to. She hopes to bring that into her work with the Third Coast Group.
In her free time, she loves to Craft (Knit, Crochet, Sew, Scrapbook), learn about languages and cultures, takes Belly Dancing lessons, and has an extensive Doll Collection. She also loves to play with her 2 Fur-children: a Dachshund, Suzu, and a Pastel Orange cat, Yume.
- Title
Office Professional
- Location
Saint John Office
- Phone
- 219-627-3371
- Fax
219-558-0903
Brianna Goudzwaard
Brianna came to join Thrivent though her family’s friends, Doug and Margaret Horne. She is new to the world of financial planning but loves to learn new skills and create new experiences.
Brianna also enjoys helping people. Her kind and friendly demeanor brings a fresh glow of positivity to any room. She uses that joy of helping people and her love to learn new things to bring a positive experience to anyone she interacts with.
In her free time, she enjoys painting, reading, going on walks, and spending time with her family and friends. She is the 5th child of 6 other siblings, and has a rescue dog named Taffy. She is also active in her church, Family of Faith Church, Monee, IL. Where she sings and volunteers to help at church game and fellowship nights.
You may talk to her on Mondays-Wednesdays at the Lansing office.
- Title
Office Professional
- Location
Lansing Office
- Phone
- 708-474-6015
Dawn Czarnik
Dawn comes to the Third Coast Group after spending many years in the nonprofit world, working in programming, marketing, events, and fundraising. She started her career at Prevent Blindness Indiana, and then moved onto the National Multiple Sclerosis Society before becoming a stay-at-home mom for her four children. She returned to the workforce as the event coordinator for St. John the Evangelist Parish, which is where she encountered Thrivent as an event sponsor. She admired Thrivent’s mission and values-driven service to its clients and was welcomed to the Third Coast Group in June 2023. Dawn thrives on interacting with people and is thrilled to be working so closely with clients.
In her free time, Dawn spends time with friends and family, plays and coaches volleyball, participates in a bowling league, volunteers, and plays her viola weekly at church and other occasions when possible.
- Title
Office Professional
- Location
Saint John Office
- Phone
- 219-627-3371