Our Team

Mark didn’t always aspire to be a financial planner. When he headed off to Rutgers University in 1985 he had visions of life in the executive offices of Kinney Shoes. But the passing of his girlfriend’s father changed all of that when Mark met a CFP® practitioner who was hired to help the family understand what they could and could not afford after their lives were turned upside down by the death of a father and husband. This experience completely altered Mark’s perspective and his career aspirations changed completely.

As you may have noticed, Mark takes education very seriously. This is not only seen in the many professional designations he has earned, but in the educational approach he takes with his clients. Mark enjoys providing educational workshops to clients and to the public. In addition to earning his Bachelor’s of Science from Rutgers, he is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®) licensee, and holds the Masters of Science in Financial Services (MSFS) degree from The American College. He has also earned Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU®) and Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC®) designations.

Mark began his career with MetLife in July 1989. While with the company, he was honored to be named as the MetLife Financial Planner of the Year for three consecutive years and was a member of the corporate advisory council that shaped the financial planning program at the company. In 2004, Mark left MetLife to become an agency owner at Allstate.

Mark founded Horizon Wealth Strategies, LLC and affiliated his firm with New York Life and Eagle Strategies, LLC in 2012. His philosophy about the way we visualize goals led to the name and the company logo. Mark says “our goals are out there in front of us on the horizon. When we move toward our goals and finally achieve them, new goals come and take their place out in front of us. So, like the horizon, we can never actually get there because our destination is always changing.”

New York Life has recognized Mark as a leader. He qualified to be a member of the Executive Council in 2013, the Chairman's Council in 2014, and the President's Council from 2015 – 2022. He has qualified for the Eagle Strategies Summit meeting for top advisors from 2014 - 2022, and was a speaker on a panel in 2015 and 2016.

Mark is a Life and Qualifying member of the Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT)¹ and the Court of the Table with 23 years of membership, including 2 years as a Top of the Table member (2021 & 2022). He volunteers his time as an MDRT Community Leader and is on the MDRT Foundation Phone-a-thon committee. Mark is a Past-President of the Austin Chapter of the Society of Financial Service Professionals (SFSP), is a member of the Financial Planning Association (FPA) and the National Association of Insurance & Financial Advisors (NAIFA) where he served as the NAIFA-NJ President in 2010 - 2011.

Mark and his wife Nana live in Austin, and their son is attending the University of Miami Law School in Coral Gables, FL. Outside of work, Mark enjoys golf, skiing, singing in the St. Martin’s Lutheran Church choir, and spending time with his family.

Mike started his career in the financial services industry with MetLife in 1996. He was soon honored by being named among the Top 10 Associate Financial Planners in the company. He has qualified for a numerous recognition conferences as one of the top financial services professionals in the company.

Mike joined New York Life in 2012 and has been recognized as a perennial Executive Council Member each and every year, a sales achievement award. In addition, Mike has been internationally recognized as a qualifying member of the Million Dollar Round Table² initially in 2013 and has been a perennial qualifier from 2015 to 2022.

Mike joined New York Life in 2012 and has been recognized as a perennial Executive Council Member each and every year, a sales achievement award. In addition, Mike has been internationally recognized as a qualifying member of the Million Dollar Round Table² initially in 2013 and has been a perennial qualifier from 2015 to 2022.

Mike is a very strong believer in educating himself so he can continue to be a valuable resource to his clients. He has attained his CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER designation and continues to actively pursue additional professional designations along with 30 hours of continuing education each year. He is a member of the National Association of Insurance & Financial Advisors (NAIFA) where he served as the Central NJ Chapter President and a member at large in the Texas Chapter.

Personal Background

Mike grew up in New Jersey and attended the University of Missouri, where he received a Bachelor of Science in Marketing. He proudly served as United States Naval Officer for over 12 years and was also a Desert Storm Veteran. Mike’s wife, Maria, is also a Veteran of the United States Air Force and served for 13 years.

Mike is truly a dedicated member of his community and volunteers in his free time with the United States Air Force Auxiliary, otherwise known as the Civil Air Patrol. As the Navigator on his Flight Crew, Mike has participated in numerous real-world and training missions involving search & rescue, drug interdiction, Presidential security and post-hurricane photo reconnaissance. His skills were put to the test during Superstorm Sandy in 2012 where his direct involvement helped to determine the Federal aid received by his community from FEMA. Mike’s background as a Naval Officer and his current role in the United States Air Force, have helped to mold him into a true professional in his industry, a man of character, and a financial planner with the highest degree of integrity and ethical standards.

Mike is happily married and lives in New Braunfels, Texas with his wife Maria. Together they have three children. Maria’s two daughters, Lauren & Gina and Mike’s son, Tony who is also a Veteran and the fourth generation in his family to serve in the United States Navy as an FMF (Fleet Marine Force) Corpsman and combat medic with the United States Marine Corps.

¹Neither Horizon Wealth Strategies LLC, its staff, nor Eagle Strategies LLC or its advisors or affiliates provide tax, legal or accounting advice. Please consult your own tax, legal or accounting professional before making any decisions.
²The Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT), The Premier Association of Financial Professionals, is recognized globally as the standard of excellence for life insurance sales performance in the insurance and financial services industry.
Eagle Strategies LLC and NYLIFE Securities LLC are New York Life Companies.

Irene joined Horizon Wealth Strategies in December 2014. In her role as a Financial Adviser, Irene helps to provide a foundation for her client’s financial future. Irene’s professional strengths help instill confidence within her clients, as she navigates them through what can often be a complicated and overwhelming process of identifying and coordinating financial goals. She does this by collaborating and engaging with her clients to create a true financial blueprint which crystallizes personal financial goals by providing professional, ethical advice complemented by truly world class service that one would expect to receive as a valued client.

Irene has increased the scope of her professionalism and commitment to her clients by achieving several industry-related designations. Her CLTC designation, focused on Long Term Care Insurance, has widened her knowledge base of extended care planning in retirement. She is currently enrolled at The American College of Financial Services to complete the Chartered Financial Consultant® professional designation.

Irene has served and represented her industry by being elected President of the National Association of Insurance & Financial Advisors (NAIFA) – Middlesex/Somerset Chapter serving from 2009/2010. Irene was also elected to the NAIFA-NJ Executive Board in 2010 and served as the State President for 2013-2014. Irene graduated from NAIFA’s Leadership in Life Institute in June 2009. She currently serves as the NAIFA NJ Political Involvement Chair. Irene is a Qualifying Member of the Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) from 2016–2020 and achieved Court of the Table recognition in 2021. New York Life has recognized Irene as a member of the 2021 President’s Council.

In addition to serving her industry, Irene served as the Political Involvement Leader for the New Jersey General Office of New York Life from 2016 through 2021. Irene, along with her colleagues, continues to meet with elected officials on current issues and keeps her clients appraised of changes happening in Washington that could affect their future planning.

Irene is very involved with her local community. Irene has served as a board member for C.A.R.E. (Community Action Reaches Everyone), a local charity that supports underprivileged children in the Edison School District by providing school supplies, tutoring, food and clothing. She served on the executive board of the Edison Chamber of Commerce from 2009 to 2015 and served in the role of Chairperson in 2015. Irene supports numerous other local charities, including Anderson House which supports women with addiction, Rebuilding Warriors supporting our veterans with PTSD as well as The Community Food Bank of New Jersey. As a breast cancer survivor, she also donates to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, where she received her own care.

Irene is married to her husband Tom for 25 years and they have a daughter, Morgan. Outside of work Irene enjoys skiing, spending time on the water in their boat or kayak, traveling and spending time with family and friends.

When Matt graduated from Penn State in 2003, he started his career in Connecticut in one of General Electric’s (GE) prestigious leadership programs. Upon completion of that program, he moved across the country to sunny San Diego where he spent the next couple of years working in GE’s real estate division.

Matt is a qualifying member of The Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT; 2014, 2016-2019)* and a member of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA). He has also qualified for New York Life’s Executive Council (2009-2017), Premier Executive Council (2016 & 2019) & Preseident's Council in 2018 since joining the business**. In 2020 he earned his Certification for Long-Term Care, CLTC® designation.

Matt lives in Morris County, NJ and has won adult league city softball titles on both the East and West coasts.

Zach began his business career at twelve years old with a single coke machine next to the local driving school. By 16 he was working at his family’s newspaper expanding circulation. Zach later attended the University of Texas, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in Spanish and Plan II Honors and graduated a member of the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society. After graduation, Zach founded La Prensa Libre, a Spanish-language newspaper. He later left the newspaper business to follow his future wife, Carly, to West Texas where she earned her Law degree at Texas Tech University. Zach started in financial services with Bankers Life and Casualty before moving to New York Life after recognizing their superior financial strength. After back to back qualifications for New York Life’s prestigious Executive Council* in 2014 and 2015, Zach was promoted to Partner and served two years on the West Texas leadership team.

In 2017, Zach and Carly decided it was time to return home to Central Texas. They now reside with their son, Clark Barton, in a restored 1942 farm house on the original Barton family land that has been passed down since 1854. Carly continued her work as an Attorney and Zach decided to found Barton Financial Group, LLC and continue his affiliation with Eagle Strategies, LLC and New York Life. Barton Financial Group, LLC is located in Kyle, TX, but Zach works with clients in Texas, California, Washington D.C., New Mexico, and Virginia.

Zach also serves as a member of the Buda Lions Club civic organization. Carly and Zach have one son named Clark Barton born in 2019.