Team
Cultivating passion for the financial industry.
Our women-founded, women-owned, women-led team is here to change futures, starting with you.
Join Our Team
Our advisors know their stuff, but more importantly, they know how to work with the emotions that define every person’s money journey.
If this is you, we want to hear from you.
Alexandra Levi, AIF®
Managing Partner
JoanAnn Natola, AIF®
Managing Partner
Nan P. Bailey, MBA, CFP®, AIF®
Financial Advisor
Nicole Cannone Wegman, CFP®
Director of Financial Planning
Anamika Madan, CFP®
Financial Planning Associate
Jennifer Lawrence, AIF®
Group Benefits Associate
Adriana Roman
Paraplanner
Stephanie Bawolek
Paraplanner
Ana Maria Ortiz
Client Services Associate
Virginia Gadson
Executive Assistant and Office Manager
Alexandra Levi, AIF®
Managing Partner
Email | 212-878-1762
Alex Levi has spent her entire career helping people. It is her calling, and one of her greatest joys in life. Whether she is helping fellow entrepreneurs build and sustain profitable businesses, or offering individuals sound, straight forward advice, Alex has made it her business to help others create and preserve wealth. She envisioned Element, an advisory business, as a response to the product and proprietary driven environment that existed in the financial services industry. Her ability to communicate clearly and directly, and deliver even the most sophisticated strategies in a manner that clients understand and embrace, has become a hallmark of the firm.
At the age of 21, Alex launched her first business, developing financial and tax strategies for individuals and businesses. This is where her specialization in entertainment, film, fashion, and the arts began, and continues today at Element. Eight years after meeting the challenge of building a thriving practice, a client convinced Alex to join his premier modeling agency headquartered in New York as CFO, where she led its expansion into London, Cape Town, and South Beach. Later, she became vice president of entertainment at a communications firm, leading both the creative and management teams. Under her direction, they successfully developed and marketed a custom animated character to both a leading multinational retailer and media distributor. After six years helping these two business owners attain the highest level of success, her entrepreneurial instinct and drive to help others achieve the same success led to the founding of Element Financial Group.
Alex is an advocate for equal pay and career opportunities for women. As such, she has been actively involved in the New York Women in Film and Television (NYWIFT) organization for more than a decade. She served as both the board president and chair of the Advisory Board. Alex is also passionate about improving the educational experience for children in public schools. She serves as co-president of the Parent Teacher Association for PS11, one of NYC's largest public schools, and joined the conversation in both the Think It Up campaign currently running on television and the XQ, Super School Project.
Alex is a sought-after speaker, addressing Fortune 500 firms, law and accounting firms, women's professional groups, and others. You may have seen Alex on The Today Show, read her articles in magazines, or heard her on Bloomberg Radio.
A first-generation American, Alex was born and raised in New York City. She, her husband Howard, and son Jameson live in Chelsea, and she is the proud stepmother to Carleigh, a rock musician, and Sami, an NCAA National Champion athlete and recent college graduate. Whether celebrating the accomplishments of her children, time with Howard her partner in life and love, or a not-so-quiet day with everyone at home, her life is never dull and always filled with copius amounts of love and laughter.
JoanAnn Natola, AIF®
Managing Partner
Email |212-878-1761
JoanAnn Natola’s corporate success, passion for innovation, and deep commitment to helping individuals and business’s attain financial security converged into the creation of Element Financial Group. JoanAnn brings to the firm her deep understanding of group benefit strategies, retirement planning and expert knowledge of sophisticated financial service offerings. “My life’s mission is to use my passion and expertise to help all clients achieve the life they deserve, empower our staff and change lives by supporting charitable organizations.”
JoanAnn’s corporate successes have arisen from her unwillingness to accept the status-quo. As a highly analytical and creative person, whenever JoanAnn encounters an issue that impedes business, she solves it. She rose to the most prestigious positions within a Fortune 100 company by recognizing obstacles and successfully implementing programs to overcome them. Under her direction her business units dominated the field of executive benefit and legacy planning.
JoanAnn was tapped in her corporate role to head a newly formed Private Client Group offshore, focusing on innovative insurance and investment products for ultra-high net worth individuals and families. In this role, she served as vice president and chief marketing officer of MassMutual Bermuda and worked closely with their international department to open an office in Luxembourg.
Her journey to the top of her profession always involved helping others excel. In an effort to attract more women to the financial services industry as planners and equity owners, JoanAnn created a three-year accelerated program to fast-track talented business leaders to run successful financial service firms. JoanAnn paved the way for motivated professionals to own their own futures.
JoanAnn was named to the National Association of Plan Advisors (NAPA) Top Women Advisors list for 2015*, is a leading marketer of financial literacy for women and has been published on varying topics of finance.
Outside of the office, JoanAnn is an avid athlete, tri-athlete, certified race car driver, and her most cherished role of grandmother. She believes in having fun on the journey through life and learning from any mistakes. JoanAnn has been on the forefront of activism and improvement in the lives of people with disabilities. She is supported in her work and in her life by a wonderful husband, Tom, and when not in New York City lives in Cheshire, CT, with her husband, mother-in-law, and special needs brother-in-law. She enjoys spending time with her daughter, son-in-law, and grandson Luca.
*2015 Top Women Advisors list: Nominations were made by NAPA Broker-Dealer and RIA partners. Honorees were selected by a panel of judges based on criteria such as, a candidate's percent revenues derived from retirement plans, total plan assets under management/advisement, years of experience working with workplace retirement plans, regulatory compliance record, and credentials. NAPA member votes were utilized to break ties, if applicable. 227 advisors were considered for this award. 146 (64% of candidates) were named to the list. List makers were then separated into four different categories: All-Stars, Captains, Rising Stars, and MVP's. The nominated advisor need not be a NAPA member. This awards is not indicative of the wealth manager's future performance. Your experience may vary. There were: 30 Captains, 25 All-stars, 16 Rising Stars, and 75 MVPs. As defined by NAPA. All-Stars: top producers who have their own practices. Captains: All-Stars who happen to be principals, owners, or team captains of their organizations.. Rising Stars: top producers who have less than five years' experience with retirement plans as a financial advisor. MVPs: players who are part of a team. For more information, please visit: www.napa-net.org
Nan P. Bailey, MBA, CFP®, AIF®
Financial Advisor
Email | 914-834-9105
After starting her career and MBA in accounting in her 20’s, Nan found a College for Financial Planning brochure and knew she had found her true career calling. In 1986, she started her CFP studies, completed her MBA from Baruch University and launched her financial planning practice.
Since then, Nan has followed Thoreau’s quote “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you’ve imagined,” as she has been blessed with 34 fabulous years as a solo practitioner. Aside from earning her CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification in the early years of the profession, she also became an Accredited Investment Fiduciary® designee in 2005.
As a member of the LGBT community, she has developed an expertise in their unique issues and concerns. She has been active in the community by serving on the boards of FrontRunners NYC, Lambda Legal Education and Defense Fund and In the Life Media. She currently serves on the Legacy and Planned Giving Council for Lambda Legal. More recently Nan has focused on planning issues for those near or entering the retirement phase of their life. Unlike the years spent saving and accumulating, Nan recognizes the breadth and depth of the adjustments, challenges and joys that comes with the transition.
Nan resides and works in Larchmont, NY where she raised her 2 children – now adults with career directions of their own! She enjoys biking, kayaking, hiking with her life partner.
Nicole Cannone Wegman, CFP®
Director of Financial Planning
Email | 212-878-1776
Nicole joins Element Financial Group with more than 12 years of financial planning experience. She is passionate about making financial advice accessible to everyone and firmly believes planning is the best way to deliver objective advice that will help clients achieve their goals. This passion is what drove Nicole to obtain her CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification in 2013.
Prior to Element, Nicole was with UBS Financial Services for seven years. As a valued member of the Wealth Planning Americas team, she was responsible for integrating financial planning practices into how UBS Financial Advisors work with their clients. She also held specialist roles at Modera Wealth Management and Morgan Stanley earlier in her career.
Nicole lives in Summit, NJ, with her husband, Nick, and their two little boys, Teddy and Charlie. Outside of the office, Nicole can usually be found running after a bike, scooter, boat, or any large vehicle catching the boys’ attention with a big smile on her face and ideally sand underneath her feet.
Anamika Madan, CFP®
Financial Planning Associate
Email |212-878-1778
Anamika joins Element Financial Group with over 16 years of industry experience. She is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and she supports financial advisors that provide objective financial planning advice to help clients achieve the highest level of success. Anamika spent most of her career in the brokerage sector of the business where she recognized the need for investors to have a plan/roadmap that will guide them through all stages of their financial lives.
Outside of work, you will never find her sitting and she is always up for a challenge. She believes in an active lifestyle that includes, her “happy place” Orangetheory Fitness, running, hiking and she has completed several races. Anamika enjoys giving back to the community in any way possible. Over the years, she has provided financial education to the children and women in her local town.
Jennifer Lawrence, AIF®
Group Benefits Associate
Email|212-878-1773
Jennifer is a group benefits associate with a passion for helping others and a love for her home state, Idaho.
Jennifer went on to study as a Professional Legal Assistant at Boise State University, where she served as the Chapter President and State Vice President of Business Professionals of America. Jennifer continued her studies in Business Administration and obtained her ALS certification in addition to her degree.
Jennifer spent the next decade in the commercial real estate appraisal sector. Additionally, she expanded her education by attending Western Governors University, where she studied Business Accounting. In a pursuit to utilize her Accounting background along with her love of helping others, she transitioned her career into the financial services industry.
This shift to serve clients’ financial goals has become the pinnacle of what Jennifer believes in, being of invaluable service by exceeding expectations. Jennifer is a CPFA, Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor, and holds her life insurance license and has enjoyed helping individuals and plan participants throughout her roles.
Jennifer has been married for 14 years to her wonderful husband, Steven. They have three outstanding children, Thaddaeus, Ashton, and Anwyn along with a guinea pig named Paul Mitchell, who has great hair. Jennifer loves spending time volunteering as a treasurer to a local organization, snowboarding in the Sawtooths, roller skating, and reading. Ask Jennifer about her roller derby activities with the Idaho Rebel Rollers or if you’re in search for a good book.
Adriana Roman
Paraplanner
Email | 212-878-1775
Adriana graduated from New York University and is currently in the process of completing her CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification, which will aid her in her goal of becoming a financial planner. She loves helping people in all areas of life, particularly with the intricacies in planning for life events and dreams.
A first-generation American, Adriana was raised in New York City and resides in Queens, NY. She is a member of LeanIn.Org, an organization which encourages women to “lean in” and help one another in their careers, as well as New York Cares, an organization that provides many free services to New Yorkers in need. She spends her time reading as much as she can, is an amateur beekeeper and farmer, loves movies and music and enjoys spending time with her close-knit family.
Stephanie Bawolek, CFP®
Paraplanner
Email | 212-878-1769
Stephanie has joined Element Financial Group with a love for people and desire to understand every client’s unique needs.
Stephanie has over 9 years of experience in the financial services industry and is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™. She has spent her career in the brokerage and corporate trustee sectors, where she quickly learned and appreciated the importance of estate planning within a client’s financial plan.
Stephanie is a first-generation graduate who obtained her B.S. in Finance with a focus in Financial Planning from Southern New Hampshire University, graduating Summa Cum Laude. She is a Hispanic-American, and fluent in both Spanish and English. Growing up, Stephanie’s parents instilled in her the importance of family and taking care of those you love, and is something that she strives to live by every day. During her time in the financial services industry Stephanie recognized that through careful and comprehensive financial planning, education, and implementation, she has the ability to care for her clients and their loved ones for generations to come.
Stephanie lives in Phoenix, Arizona with her husband of 5 years and Australian Cattle Dog, Brody. She and her husband believe in the importance of family.
Stephanie is a member of the Advisory Council for the Care Fund, a local Arizona non-profit whose mission is to keep families in their homes while they care for their seriously ill or injured child.
Outside of work, Stephanie cherishes time outdoors adventuring the fabulous Arizona trails (when it’s not too hot!). She loves a good surprise and being creative in what her husband calls “being inspired” in the kitchen trying new recipes, and making a mess in the process.
Ana Maria Ortiz
Client Services Associate
Email |212-878-1774
Ana Maria’s approach to her job and her life is quite straightforward. Ana Maria considers all Element Financial Group clients “her people,” and gives 100 percent to be sure they receive the best possible service and client experience. Quite fittingly, Ana Maria is director of client services for Element Financial Group. She joined the firm in 2007 and has been an integral part of the firm’s growth.
Ana Maria is responsible for opening accounts, transferring assets, orchestrating the insurance process, and creating a positive client experience at Element.
She is friendly, helpful, and a tremendously skilled financial professional. In addition to troubleshooting and seeking resolution on any matter a client sends her way, Ana Maria oversees the insurance underwriting process. Her positive attitude, reliability, and warm disposition make her a huge asset to our team.
Ana Maria holds an insurance license for the State of New York. She earned her associate’s degree and completed coursework at New York University.
Outside of the office, Ana Maria enjoys entertaining friends and family. She is also a much-sought-after and accomplished make-up artist. Originally from Queens, Ana Maria and her husband Jesse now live in East Northport. Ana Maria is a loving mom of two children, Jesse Matthew and Elliana, and a fur-baby named Cannoli.
Virginia Gadson
Executive Assistant and Office Manager
Email |212-878-1771
After working in higher education for over a decade, Virginia is determined to get the job done and learn all she can about the financial industry! Her amazing personality and passion for organization and communication, makes Virginia a perfect fit for Element’s Executive Assistant and Office Manager role.
Virginia majored in Women and Gender Studies at Hunter College and went on to obtain a second degree from the Fashion Institute of Technology in Advertising and Marketing Communications. As a result, Virginia started her own blog called JinnaLoves.com where she can let her creativity and love for the written language shine.
Outside of the office Virginia enjoys spending time going on adventures in New York City with her daughter and bestie, Sierra Giselle. Virginia loves singing with her siblings, checking out the latest fashions and restaurants, watching basketball games – let’s go Warriors!, and reading the books.
