Meet the Wealth Protection Advisory Team

STEPHEN ARNOLD is the Founder and CEO of Retirement Actuarial Services, a highly respected expert in advanced tax reduction and retirement planning strategies, and the owner of Wealth Protection Advisory, an independent financial advisory firm focused on asset protection and wealth management. With over 22 years of experience in the financial services industry, Stephen is dedicated to helping business owners—from solo entrepreneurs to companies with hundreds of employees—design and implement retirement plans that maximize savings and minimize tax burdens.

In addition to his current ventures, Stephen previously owned and operated American Insurance Brokers LLC, where he spent many years as an independent life insurance specialist. At American Insurance Brokers, he was responsible for overseeing dozens of independent agents, helping them select the right company, design, and product for complex financial strategies such as estate planning, buy-sell agreements, keyman insurance, LIRP (Life Insurance Retirement Plans), premium financing, and other advanced wealth protection concepts. His expertise in life insurance made him a trusted advisor for high-net-worth individuals and business owners seeking to protect and grow their wealth.

As a CPA Consultant, Stephen educates CPAs on advanced tax and retirement strategies, enabling them to serve their clients better. He holds the prestigious Chartered Retirement Plans Specialist (CRPS®) designation from the College of Financial Planning, with specialized expertise in small business retirement plans. Stephen also holds a Series 65 Uniform Investment Adviser Law License and serves as a Investment Advisor Representative with Brookstone Capital Management. Being an Investment Advisor Representative means that he is a fiduciary which requires him to always act in his clients’ best interest.

Stephen is the author of the, Designer DB Plus®: Game-Changing Tax Reduction & Retirement Strategy for Today’s Small Business Owners, where he shares proven strategies to help business owners accelerate retirement savings and reduce taxes.

A proud U.S. Marine, Stephen brings his commitment to service and leadership into both his professional and personal life. He is passionate about supporting charities like the ASPCA for Animals and Wounded Warriors, reflecting his deep sense of duty, compassion, and community involvement.

KATHLEEN BELLUCCI is a Co-Founder of Retirement Actuarial Services and an accomplished Plan Design Specialist, with over 20 years of experience in the financial services industry. Kathleen’s extensive knowledge and expertise in retirement planning have made her a trusted advisor to business owners and clients seeking to optimize their retirement strategies and achieve long-term financial success.

Kathleen holds the prestigious Chartered Retirement Plans Specialist (CRPS®) designation from the College of Financial Planning, specializing in the design, implementation, and management of retirement plans tailored to meet the unique needs of small business owners.

Her career has been marked by a deep commitment to service and leadership. Kathleen has actively served on the board of directors and volunteered for numerous organizations, including the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA), International Association of Working Mothers (TIAWM), Women’s Money National Council, Women of the Sterling Club, Women in Construction, and the Henderson Chamber of Commerce.

Kathleen is also a former Talk Show Host for the Women’s Money Blog Talk Radio, where she provided valuable insights on financial strategies for women. She was the first President of the local chapter of TIAWM, helping to create a supportive community for women in the financial industry.

As a Co-Author of Designer DB Plus®: Game-Changing Tax Reduction & Retirement Strategy for Today’s Small Business Owners, Kathleen shares her expertise on helping business owners navigate complex retirement and tax strategies to reduce liabilities and accelerate savings.

Kathleen’s passion for empowering others through financial education and her leadership within industry has made her a respected figure in the financial services space.

Mark DiOrio joined Brookstone as the Chief Investment Officer in 2015. In his role, he leads the firm’s investment committee and drives the firm’s investment policy, framework, and portfolio construction methodology. He oversees the portfolio strategy group that provides recommendations on strategic and tactical portfolio design. Mark directs research on external managers and develops internal strategies. He produces and presents content for advisor training, a weekly Market Watch update, and the firm’s quarterly market reports. Prior to joining Brookstone, he was responsible for launching and managing a boutique investment subsidiary of a publicly traded regional bank holding company. While there, Mark ran a global tactical asset allocation strategy and accumulated an 8-year GIPS® compliant track record. Mark has nearly 20 years of investment industry experience, including 10 years of multi-asset class portfolio management. He has been featured in Investor’s Business Daily and quoted in the Wall Street Journal. Mark received his MBA from Benedictine University, his BA from Eastern Illinois University and is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA). Mark is a member of the CFA Institute and CFA Society of Chicago.

Dean is the founder and CEO of Brookstone Capital Management LLC (BCM), a SEC Registered Investment Advisor. BCM has forged strategic relationships with independent investment advisors around the country who affiliate with BCM as Investment Advisor Representatives (IARs). In this capacity, the IARs are able to utilize BCM’s vast money management experience and infrastructure. This allows the IARs to provide their clients with BCM’s professionally-managed portfolios. As an independent firm, BCM is able to utilize a large array of investment options and vehicles, to create robust model portfolios that span varying levels of risk.

BCM, through its network of IARs, provides comprehensive financial planning including asset allocation, retirement planning, education planning and portfolio management and is committed to offering a one-source solution for the management, growth, and preservation of its clients’ wealth.

Dean received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics from Northwestern University. He completed the Business Institutions Program, the Undergraduate Leadership Program and was a member of Omicron Delta Epsilon Economics Honor Society. Dean received his Juris Doctor degree from Northwestern University School of Law. He received his Masters degree in Taxation (LLM) from Chicago-Kent College of Law. Dean is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) and holds the Illinois insurance license for life, health and long-term care.

Keeps communication, coordination, and client support moving smoothly across the planning and onboarding process.

Matt has over twenty years of comprehensive compliance experience having served in several positions including CCO for both broker-dealers and Registered Investment Advisors. He was responsible for overseeing all aspects of compliance for over 500 associated persons, including providing guidance on complex broker-dealer and investment advisor issues; FINRA, SEC, MSRB and state securities rules and regulations; and developing and implementing compliance policies and procedures. He has guided firms through several FINRA, SEC and state regulatory audits and implements practical solutions to meet regulatory requirements. Matt started in the financial services industry as a bank affiliated registered financial specialist and has held multiple FINRA licenses including the Series 6, 7, 24, 53, 63, 66, 79, 87 and 99. He received a B.A. in Economics from the University of Maryland.

Darryl Ronconi joined Brookstone as Chief Operating Officer in 2015. Prior to joining Brookstone, Darryl was the COO/CIO of Genworth Financial Investment Services (GFIS) which was comprised of a FINRA registered Broker-Dealer and a SEC Registered Investment Adviser that had over 2,200 Advisors and $15B in AUM. While at GFIS, Darryl was a member of the Senior Leadership Team, a Board of Directors member, and a voting member on the RIA Investment Committees and B-D Product Approval Committee. He participated in all facets of running the GFIS Broker-Dealer and RIA businesses while directly overseeing technology, operations, and various business teams.

He has led numerous multi-million dollar strategic initiatives throughout his career including acquisitions and organic business programs that have dramatically increased revenue and reduced costs. Darryl played an integral role in quickly growing GFIS from 300 advisors with $2B in AUM to 2,200 advisors with $15B in AUM. Darryl holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance from the University of South Florida and a Master of Science from DePaul University. Darryl held FINRA 7, 24, and 63 licenses.