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About Us

Choosing your financial advisor

Black Diamond believes better-trained planners create better outcomes for the firms’ clients. We require our advisors to pursue advanced credentialing with the eventual goal of completing CFP ® certification. You deserve a holistic financial roadmap. Only CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professionals are rigorously trained in 72 areas of financial expertise and must accrue thousands of hours of experience prior to earning their certification. With a CFP® professional, you get a financial planner partner committed to working in your best interest and the confidence that comes with building a comprehensive plan.
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Meet Our Team

Black Diamond Financial Services

Jeffrey Puglia

CFP®, AIF®, ChSNC® | FOUNDER

“I WANTED A FIRM WITHOUT THE SALES CULTURE, AND I HAVE THAT WITH BLACK DIAMOND FINANCIAL SOLUTIONS.”

Black Diamond Financial Services

Kenneth Reese

MSFS, CPWA® CFP®, CLU®, ChFC®, EA, AEP®, PARTNER

“CONSISTENTLY BETTERING MYSELF THROUGH FINANCIAL EDUCATION SHOWS MY CLIENTS HOW MUCH THEIR SITUATION MEANS TO ME”

Kenneth Reese graduated from Penn State University in 2008 where he enjoyed studies in finance and law. He graduated with a bachelor degree in Political Science with a Business minor but decided to pursue a career as a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER practitioner incorporating his passion for finance into his career path. His ten years of wealth management experience come from both a bank and a boutique planning environment. Ken continued to deepen his financial planning knowledge by earning several designations including becoming a ChFC (Chartered Financial Consultant), a CLU (Chartered Life Underwriter), which are both awarded by the American College and an Enrolled Agent, awarded by the Internal Revenue Service acknowledging his in-depth knowledge of individual taxation, corporate and partnership taxation and Circular 230 regulations, the ethics and rules governing the IRS practices. Ken is now working on obtaining his Master’s Degree in Financial Services.

Ken works with business owners, professionals, retirees, and pre-retirees to develop tax centered financial planning strategies that incorporate cash flow analysis, portfolio management, and risk management into one comprehensive plan that is easy to understand and implement. This process requires closely working with his clients’ other trusted accounting, banking, and legal advisors. Ken transitioned to Black Diamond Financial Solutions because of the firm’s long term vision which is centered on comprehensive planning and truly being a family’s trusted lifetime advisor. Ken appreciates that the planners at Black Diamond Financial Solutions are not looking for clients right now; instead, they are looking for clients for life. The most important thing to Ken is making sure his clients are confident, comfortable, and in control of their finances.

He currently resides in Lewes, Delaware with his wife, Hilary, and young daughters, Jane and Carys. He is an enthusiastic sports fan who enjoys any and all types of athletic competition. Ken is a founding father of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity at Penn State University and is currently developing ways to influence policymakers to better prepare incoming college student about the cost of education. He believes student loan debt is the number one problem for his generation and is vehemently committed to being an agent of change for that cause. Ken also serves in various philanthropic roles in Sussex County, Delaware.

Black Diamond Financial Services

Cameron Fitzgerald

CFP®, CRPC®, PARTNER

“WEALTH MANAGEMENT IS MORE THAN STOCKS AND BONDS. IT’S ABOUT HELPING MY CLIENTS USE THEIR RESOURCES TO LIVE THE LIFE THEY WANT TO LIVE.”

Cameron Fitzgerald joined Black Diamond Financial Solutions in May of 2013. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance from the University of Tennessee in 2005. Since then, he has earned the CFP® and CRPC® credentials. In July of 2020, Cameron became a partner of Black Diamond Financial Solutions.

Attention to detail, good listening skills, excellent service, and exceptional communication are just a few of the traits that characterize Cameron. Working in a team atmosphere allows him to focus his time on his clients and their financial needs. Realizing that each client has unique financial needs, Cameron works with each individual to create effective and customized financial plans to address their goals.

Born and raised in Sussex County, Delaware, Cameron currently resides in Lewes, DE with his wife, Casey, their son, Teigen, and their daughter, Thea.

Black Diamond Financial Services

Bethany Lewis

CRPC®

“A CAREER IN BANKING SHOWED ME THE CLIENT ALWAYS COMES FIRST, AND BLACK DIAMOND BELIEVES THAT AS FIRMLY AS I DO”

Bethany comes to us with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, with a concentration in Financial Management from Goldey-Beacom College.  Bethany is a Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor and holds various FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority) licenses. During her eight years of experience as an advisor, she has learned to place an emphasis on the individual clients’ needs. 

Her focus is to know her clients and build an understanding of their personal goals.  The complete understanding of her clients’ needs, wants, and goals enable her to paint the way to success in achieving those goals.  Bethany believes understanding clients on a personal and individual level is the way to achieve the best possible financial plan by prioritizing the appropriate objectives.  

Bethany lives in Magnolia, DE with her husband, Chip, and their two sons. When she is not working or cheering on her sons during their soccer games and wrestling matches, you can find her and the family surf fishing in the summer and rooting for those Philadelphia Eagles in the fall. 

Black Diamond Financial Services

Mark Nehra

CFP® | CHIEF COMPLIANCE OFFICER

“YEARS OF PRACTICING AS A FINANCIAL PLANNER HELPS MY CLIENTS PREPARE FOR A FUTURE THEY’VE YET TO EXPERIENCE”

Mark is a graduate of the University of Detroit where he received his Bachelor Degree in Chemical Engineering and a minor in Economics, then continued his education obtaining his MBA from SUNY Buffalo.  He spent thirty two years in the chemical industry in a variety of roles in New York and Delaware.  He decided on a career change upon “retiring” in 2008 and pursued a career as a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ practitioner, satisfying a long-time interest in investing and helping others with financial planning. Mark has been involved in wealth management since 2008 and transitioned to Black Diamond Financial Solutions in 2017 because of the firm’s long-term vision which is centered on comprehensive planning and truly being a trusted lifetime advisor.  He is also a past President and a long-time Board member of the Delaware chapter of the Society of Financial Service Professionals.  

Mark works with individuals, families and closely held business owners to build their financial freedom. He follows the seven steps of the financial planning process: 

  1. Understanding the Client’s Personal and Financial Circumstances
  2. Identifying and Selecting Goals
  3. Analyzing the Client’s Current Course of Action and Potential Alternative Course(s) of Action
  4. Developing the Financial Planning Recommendation(s)
  5. Presenting the Financial Planning Recommendation(s)
  6. Implementing the Financial Planning Recommendation(s)
  7. Monitoring Progress and Updating.

The process maps out where the client is headed and establishes a commitment between the client and Mark showing clear and concise steps to be taken on the journey. 

Mark resides in Felton, DE with his wife, Sally.  They have three adult sons.  He is a competitive Bridge player, enjoying playing in regional tournaments.  When their schedule allow, Sally and he are avid travelers.

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Nate Kibler

MSFS, CAP®, RICP®, ChFC®

“Affiliated Advisor with BDFS Capital” 

“Planning is a process, refinement is critical, adjustments are necessary, education is everything.”

Nate completed his undergrad at Millersville University, majoring in business finance and minoring in mathematics, and completed his Masters in Financial Services with the American College of Financial Services. Shortly after completing his undergrad, Nate pursued a career in corporate finance and changed his career focus to personal finance after finding his grandfather was a victim of financial malpractice.

Nate started his career with a firm in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, which operated through Mass Mutual. After five years with Mass Mutual, he decided that he wanted his independence from the corporate restraints that Mass Mutual and its affiliates forced upon him. Thus, he found his home with Black Diamond Financial solutions.

Nate focuses on efficiency and purpose. Removing financial opportunity costs and reducing risk exposure, all while generating results his clients are after. He is constantly enrolled in higher education programs and is always in pursuit of refining his skills.

Currently, Nate lives in Lancaster, Pennsylvania; he is a business partner in a consulting business. He is the primary owner of three other start-up operations spanning from insurance to blockchain technology.

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Jennifer Satchell

ChFC®, FPQP®

Director of Operations

“I take great joy in implementing new processes and overseeing our staff to create a streamlined and thorough experience for our clients.”

As the newest member to Black Diamond, Jennifer joins our team with an extensive background in the financial planning industry. Jennifer longs to bring peace to clients who are facing a challenge on their path of life or who are simply ready to make a step in a new direction.  As the Director of Operations for Black Diamond Financial Services, Jennifer will advocate for continuous improvement and growth for the company in an effort to deliver a better client experience. Jennifer is often described as one of the kindest, most organized people you’ll meet!

When Jennifer is not in the office, you’ll find her spending time with her husband and daughters.  She enjoys being outdoors, taking care of her plants and cooking out with her family.

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Derrick J. Diksa

Junior Advisor

“Helping others is what I was put on this earth to do and together, we can simplify the complex to accomplish your goals.”

Derrick is a graduate of The Pennsylvania State University where his studies focused around leadership and communication. He spent 9 years helping small businesses achieve their financial goals before joining the Black Diamond team in 2023.

Helping others achieve their goals in life is Derrick’s passion and when it comes to financial planning, his approach focuses on fully understanding someone’s ideal future self and what steps can be taken now to achieve that outlook. It is an exciting challenge for Derrick to find solutions for someone’s financial challenges and he looks to deliver these solutions in simple, actionable steps.

Born and raised in Wilmington, DE, Derrick enjoys spending his free time at the golf course or a day at the beach looking for shells.

Black Diamond Financial Services

Rosalie Whitehouse

Office Manager

“I ENJOY WORKING WITH OUR CLIENTS & ADVISORS TO DELIVER AN EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE EXPERIENCE.”

Since July of 2015, Rose has been employed as Administrative Assistant and has since then worked her way up to an Office Manager. Rose oversees all of the office’s Administrative functions and tasks. She is the nuclei of our office. Formerly employed in the medical field, Rose has extensive background in administrative duties, with a high attention to detail. With a great personality, she always makes our clients feel welcomed.

Born and raised in the first state, Rose grew up on a horse farm where they specialize in breeding and foaling. In her spare time, you can find Rose spending time with her boyfriend on their farm, taking care of their dogs, their chickens, and sheep.

Samantha Nichols

Samantha Nichols

Junior Account Representative

Originally from Florida, Samantha moved to Delaware in 2007 and lives with her husband Bill in Ocean View. She is an animal rescue advocate and has a special place in her heart for American Bulldogs. She enjoys collecting succulents and feeding the local birds and squirrels from the front porch.

Samantha has joined the team at Black Diamond as a Junior Account Representative where she can apply her skills of customer service and administrative experience in a capacity to serve the clientele of Black Diamond Financial Solutions. She comes from the field of social service where she had the unique opportunity to serve the Developmental and Intellectually Disabled Community of Sussex County.

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Ariel Quintanilla

Receptionist

“I look forward to being the first face our clients see when they walk through our doors and strive to provide them with excellent customer service”.

Ariel recently moved to Delaware from Las Vegas. She is living in Milford with her husband and son. Ariel enjoys spending time with her dogs and has a special love for pitbulls and huskies. In her spare time, Ariel enjoys traveling, spending time with her family, and shopping at antique stores for vintage home décor from the 60’s and 70’s.

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