Zinnia Wealth Management is Committed To Helping You Pursue Your Long-Term Financial Goals.
OUR MISSION
As specialists in retirement and estate conservation, we can help you answer the questions you may have about your financial future. We offer financial products and services tailored to your individual needs.
Zinnia Wealth Management is committed to you for the long run. Zinnia Wealth Management specializes in personally helping families, individuals, and businesses achieve wise financial stewardship.
Our group concentration is on four essential retirement planning strategies: protection of your health care, financial security, planning your estate, and preserving freedom of choice.
LEADERSHIP
15+ YEARS OF EXPERIENCE | InvestmentNews 40 Under 40 Winner
Charisse Rivers
CEO and Financial Planner
Charisse Rivers is a retirement strategist focused on helping people grow, protect, and reduce taxes on their wealth. She has been featured in ABC, FOX, NBC, CBS, InvestmentNews, WealthManagement.com, WSJ, USA Today, and Forbes magazine. She has also written online articles for CNN Money, Forbes, Fortune, and Annuity 123. She is founder and CEO of Zinnia Wealth Management and Zinnia Wealth Advisory, a Registered Investment Advisory firm. As a fiduciary in her industry, Charisse provides efficient and secure strategies for anyone nearing or in retirement. The overall initiative is to help get her clients to retirement and beyond.
She is also the host of the radio show “Retirement Coffee Talk” broadcasted every Saturday at 8:30am, 11am, and every Sunday at 8am and 12noon on WSKY 97.3 FM. Additionally, you can hear Charisse on WXJB 99.9 FM radio every Saturday at 9am. Tune in as Charisse discusses the latest financial tools and guides listeners through the complexities of planning for retirement, preparing them for the future they deserve so they can live by design, not by default.
SUPPORT STAFF
Paul Autodore
Financial Planner
Paul Autodore brings a diverse set of skills and experience to Zinnia Wealth Management where he joins us as a Financial Planner, carrying licenses including 215 Insurance, Health and Variable Annuities, Series 6 Packages Securities, and Series 65 Investment Advisor. Paul also brings 14 years of experience as an Insurance Agent, Registered Representative Financial Advisor, and Investment Advisor Representative.
Paul has served as President & CEO of a multi-discipline advertising agency and is a 10-year tenured professor at the college level. In addition, he spent 35 years in international product development, high-level advertising, marketing, and branding in a variety of industries including, finance, securities, banking, manufacturing, global food products, pharmaceuticals, and toys, with companies such as Charter Mortgage, Vanguard, Commerce Bank, Campbell’s, Nestle, Merck Pharmaceuticals, Hasbro, and Mattel.
Through his diverse professional experiences, Paul acquired skills in conceptual design, sales presentation, senior level management, and new business development with which he functioned in several capacities ranging from Strategic Planner to Creative Director.
Liz Jones
Client Relations Director
Liz Jones joins Zinnia Wealth Management as the Client Relations Director. She brings with her 20 years of experience in the financial services industry. Those years include eight years in business-to-business financial services, seven years in insurance and five years as an Executive Broker in Mergers and Acquisitions.
When she’s not driving impact for the organization with her extensive background, she spends time with her family which includes her 3 adult children and granddaughter. She enjoys traveling to explore different corners of the world, with a perpetual hunger for learning. She also enjoys karaoke, dancing, writing, being at the ocean and sand volleyball in the summer.
Liz was born and raised in the Midwest and works remote but enjoys coming into the Ocala office from time to time to work and connect with her colleagues.
Michele Simone
AUM New Business and Service Specialist
Michele Simone joined Zinnia Wealth Management in July of 2021 after 15 years as a licensed financial advisor at an International financial company. She brings to Zinnia her 20 years of combined experience in both the financial and insurance industries. Michele also holds bachelor’s degrees in a variety of fields including finance and education. She attributes her passion for customer and client service to her years paying her way through college as a retail manager prior to graduating and entering the financial services industry.
Michele holds degrees in political science, history, and photography that not only add to her unique and valuable perspective as the AUM Specialist but also contribute to her passions outside of work. Originally from upstate New York, she now lives in Florida where she is closer to her family and enjoys walking, biking, traveling, spending time with family, and being an avid hobby photographer.
Natalia Patino
Annuity New Business and Service Specialist
Natalia Patino joined Zinnia Wealth Management in 2021 with over fifteen years of experience in sales and a master’s degree in Business Administration, bringing a passion for sales and customer service to her work. Natalia prepares annuity applications for clients, working with the back office as well as attending to the needs of clients regarding annuity services.
Born and raised in Colombia and having moved to Ocala Florida 6 years ago, Natalia enjoys traveling to new locations and discovering new places. She loves spending time with her husband and son and is an avid fan of soccer and basketball.
Mary Pope
Office Manager
Mary has more than 15 years of extensive experience in the financial industry. She has a strong customer service background; her warm and caring personality is evident in the respect that she shows every client. Over the past 15 years, she has worked as an executive assistant for Zinnia Wealth Management and other independent advisors. She has a strong background in annuities and will guide our clients from the time they start the annuity new business process until the policy is delivered. She is also available to assist clients with any inquires that they have during the on-boarding process and for any customer service inquires once the policy is issued.
Mary was born in raised in the Ocala area; she is a true Floridan. She is married and has three children. They enjoy family time on the boat, in the mountains, or on the Florida coast. Her husband is a dirt track enthusiast and they spend time at the local race tracks. She is actively involved in her Church and a leader in the Children’s Ministry.
Toni Knowles
Administrative Assistant
Toni Knowles is the administrative assistant at Zinnia Wealth Management. She joined the company in 2018 and brings with her over 15 years of customer service experience, and fourteen years (cumulative) of leadership in the girl scouts. She’s learned discipline through being a 15-year USSF soccer official, as well as being a military veteran (Army).
Toni works behind the scenes scheduling events, setting up seminars, and maybe the voice you hear when you get to follow-up calls concerning your upcoming educational classes.
Toni has lived in many places, from upstate New York to rural Texas, but she’s called Florida home for over 20 years.
