Merger Provides Continuity At Financial Group

Experienced financial advisor Jon Ten Haagen, left, has partnered with Rick Betancourt, right, and Andrew Hollingsworth, not pictured, to provide continuity for his clients. (Long Islander News photo/Connor Beach)

By Connor Beach
cbeach@longislandergroup.com

For nearly 10 years, experienced financial, retirement and wealth management specialist Jon Ten Haagen has been searching for the right partners to continue the legacy of Ten Haagen Financial Group.

Ten Haagen, who founded the group in Huntington in 1993, and although he has no plans to retire anytime soon, has announced plans to merge his group with two younger CFPs in preparation for the day when he might have to transition out of the business.

Ten Haagen has partnered with Rick Betancourt, 31, and Andrew Hollingsworth, 40, to allow his clients to become familiar and comfortable with their experience. Betancourt and Hollingsworth currently operate an investment company in Long Beach.

“The merger provides continuity and flow so that people feel comfortable that the entity is going to be here for a long time,” Ten Haagen said.

Ten Haagen said he wasn’t interested in simply handing over his clients to another financial advisor in exchange for a check.

“We want to get to know his client base and get to know everyone’s own custom risks and strategies,” Betancourt said. “We want to grow with him, and then over the years continue the legacy that he’s built.”

The addition of younger financial advisors has turned Ten Haagen Financial Group into a “multigenerational practice,” something Betancourt said will allow the group to help clients of all ages navigate “whatever financial situation they’re in with tangible experience.”

In addition to adding an element of youth to the Ten Haagen Financial Group, Betancourt and Hollingsworth also provide added expertise as certified public accountants.

“They know the taxation side… and on top of that we are all insurance licensed so between us we can do any insurance you could possibly need,” Ten Haagen said.

The group can now specialize in insurance planning, tax planning, retirement planning, estate planning and investment management.

Ten Haagen said the advantage of running an independent investment company, as opposed to working for a corporate firm, is the ability to foster personal connections with clients and learn about their individual needs.

“We can take our time and do the right thing for people,” Ten Haagen said. “We can find the best solutions to help benefit clients.”

Although investing can be confusing and intimidating, both Ten Haagen and Betancourt stressed that it’s never too late to start saving or investing.

Betancourt said, “The hardest part is that first conversation, it’s never too late to help yourself.”