Let's move forward. Together.

Our team of professionals distinguishes itself with both financial experience and personal service. We strive to earn your loyalty through hard work, the right advice and a dedication to developing long-term relationships.

Michael Carelli

Senior Vice President–Wealth Management

Financial Advisor

With over 31 years of experience as a financial advisor, including 6 years of branch management experience, Mike brings a wealth of expertise and skill to his role as a Portfolio Manager for our team. Mike enjoys managing client's assets and guiding them to grow and protect their wealth through personalized retirement and estate planning. Born and raised in Florida, Mike has been a resident of Tampa since 1991. He studied business, mathematics and engineering at the University of South Florida prior to completing the Financial Planner Program. Mike is FINRA-registered, holding Series 7, 63, 65, 31, 8, and 24 securities licenses, in addition to licenses for life, health and variable annuities. He is also hold the Chartered Retirement Planning Specialist designation.  In his spare time, Mike enjoys spending time with his friends and family, fishing, travelling, volunteering and staying active in his local community.

Registered States:
  • AL
  • AZ
  • CA
  • CO
  • CT
  • FL
  • GA
  • IL
  • IN
  • MI
  • MO
  • MT
  • NC
  • NJ
  • NY
  • OH
  • OR
  • PA
  • RI
  • SC
  • TX
  • WA
  • WI

Credentials

  • Accredited Asset Management Specialist
  • Chartered Retirement Plans Specialist℠
  • Portfolio Manager
  • Senior Retirement Plan Consultant
101 E Kennedy Blvd
18th Floor
Tampa, FL 33602

Email Me

michael.carelli@ubs.com
Michael Carelli
101 E Kennedy Blvd,Tampa,FL,33602

John Benitoa

Senior Vice President–Wealth Management

Financial Advisor

As the corporate relationship manager of our team, John is dedicated to ensuring our client's needs and objectives are being met on an ongoing basis through distinctive and personalized business planning. John has over 20 years of experience in the financial services industry, including 5 years in branch and complex management, and team Institutional Consultant. Born and raised in Tampa, he holds a bachelor's degree in marketing with a minor degree in economics from the University of South Florida. John is FINRA-registered, holding Series 7, 63, 65, 31, 9, and 10 securities licenses, in addition to licenses for life, health and variable annuities. He also holds the Chartered Retirement Planning Specialist designation as one of the elite Senior Retirement Planning Consultants within UBS. In his spare time, John enjoys riding motorcycles, classic cars, and spending good quality time with his wife Nadia and daughters Tessa Jane and Nova Joon.

Registered States:
  • AL
  • AZ
  • CA
  • CO
  • CT
  • FL
  • GA
  • IL
  • IN
  • MA
  • MI
  • MO
  • MT
  • NC
  • NJ
  • NY
  • OH
  • OR
  • PA
  • RI
  • SC
  • TX
  • WA
  • WI

Credentials

  • Chartered Retirement Plans Specialist℠
  • Institutional Consultant, UBS Institutional Consulting Program
  • Senior Retirement Plan Consultant
101 E Kennedy Blvd
18th Floor
Tampa, FL 33602

Email Me

john.benitoa@ubs.com
John Benitoa
101 E Kennedy Blvd,Tampa,FL,33602

Ryan Brannon

Account Vice President

Financial Advisor

Ryan is an Account Vice President and Financial Advisor on our team. He started his career in the financial services industry in 2008 and joined the The Gulf Coast Group in 2012. Ryan serves as a Wealth Manager for families, business owners, and executives. Attention to detail, good listening skills and great empathy are symbols of appreciation by his clients. He is effectively supported by a team that works together to build long-term relationships with their growing client base and provide excellent service. Ryan is a proud recipient of University of South Florida’s Bachelor of Finance degree. His focus is on financial planning to ensure his clients' needs and goals are attainable now and throughout their retirement years. Ryan is FINRA-registered and holds Series 7, and 66 securities licenses, as well as licenses for life, health insurance and variable annuities. Ryan is happily married to his lovely wife Erynn. Away from the business, he enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, and playing golf.

Registered States:
  • AL
  • AZ
  • CA
  • CO
  • CT
  • FL
  • GA
  • IL
  • IN
  • MI
  • MO
  • MT
  • NC
  • NJ
  • NY
  • OH
  • OR
  • PA
  • RI
  • SC
  • TX
  • WA
  • WI
101 E Kennedy Blvd
18th Floor
Tampa, FL 33602

Email Me

thegulfcoastgroup@ubs.com
Ryan Brannon
101 E Kennedy Blvd,Tampa,FL,33602

Leslie Smith

Account Vice President

Financial Advisor

Leslie joined The Gulf Coast Group in 2016 and specializes in retirement planning, with a focus on corporate retirement solutions. As a Senior Retirement Plan Consultant (SRPC) and Certified K Professional (C(k)P®), she works closely with businesses to develop strategies tailored to their unique goals. Whether it’s enhancing employee engagement, developing a cost-effective plan structure, ensuring fiduciary responsibilities are met, or optimizing plan design, Leslie prides herself on delivering comprehensive solutions that drive meaningful outcomes. Her approach is rooted in a commitment to understanding the intricacies of each client’s financial landscape, ensuring that every corporate plan not only complies with regulatory requirements but also maximizes value for both the company and its employees. By staying ahead of industry trends and leveraging resources, Leslie helps clients navigate the evolving financial environment with confidence and clarity. She earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Tampa, where she pursued a double major in Finance and International Business Management. She holds the Series 7 and 66 securities licenses. Growing up in a military family, Leslie spent a great deal of her childhood traveling before settling in Tampa. Fluent in both English and Portuguese, she leverages her multicultural background to bring a unique perspective to her work. She enjoys traveling, playing tennis, and spending time with family and friends outside of work.

Registered States:
  • AL
  • AZ
  • CA
  • CO
  • CT
  • FL
  • GA
  • IL
  • IN
  • MI
  • MO
  • MT
  • NC
  • NJ
  • NY
  • OH
  • OR
  • PA
  • RI
  • SC
  • TN
  • TX
  • WA
  • WI
101 E Kennedy Blvd
18th Floor
Tampa, FL 33602

Email Me

leslie.t.smith@ubs.com
Leslie Smith
101 E Kennedy Blvd,Tampa,FL,33602

Mark Cleary

Account Vice President

Financial Advisor

Mark joined The Gulf Coast Group in 2019 as a Client Service Associate and rose through the ranks to become a Financial Advisor. With a strong foundation in attention to detail, good listening skills, and a collaborative approach, Mark excels at building meaningful client relationships. After graduating from the University of Tampa with his bachelor's degree, he worked as a currency consultant in foreign exchange before transitioning into client relations for a commercial property developer in London. Having been born and raised in London, he now calls Tampa and The Gulf Coast Group his home. His hobbies include soccer, golf, movies and travelling to explore new cultures with his friends and family.

Registered States:
  • AL
  • AZ
  • CA
  • CO
  • CT
  • FL
  • GA
  • IL
  • IN
  • MO
  • MT
  • NC
  • NJ
  • NY
  • OH
  • OR
  • PA
  • RI
  • SC
  • TX
  • WA
  • WI
101 E Kennedy Blvd
18th Floor
Tampa, FL 33602

Email Me

mark.cleary@ubs.com
Mark Cleary
101 E Kennedy Blvd,Tampa,FL,33602

Dylan Alagood

Wealth Strategy Associate

Dylan originally started his career in Financial Services back in 2020 and joined The Gulf Coast Group in 2021. Dylan is a Wealth Strategy Associate for our team and serves as a relationship manager and leads new business development for the corporate services division of the team. Dylan is devoted to ensuring our clients individual goals and objectives are met through personalized planning and proactive communication. Dylan obtained his Certified Financial Planner® designation in 2023. He is also FINRA-registered, holding Series 7 and 66 securities licenses, in addition to his 2-15 Life, Health, and Variable Annuity insurance license. Dylan holds a bachelor’s degree in Finance from the University of Central Florida. Born and raised in the Tampa Bay area, Dylan enjoys Hunting, Fishing, and spending time with his Wife when he is not in the office!

Registered States:
  • FL
  • NY

Credentials

  • CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER®
101 E Kennedy Blvd
18th Floor
Tampa, FL 33602

Email Me

dylan.alagood@ubs.com
Dylan Alagood
101 E Kennedy Blvd,Tampa,FL,33602

Samantha Lagasse

Wealth Strategy Associate

Samantha joined The Gulf Coast Group in 2022 as a Client Service Associate. She graduated with her bachelor’s and master’s degree from the University of South Florida and is happy to call Tampa home. She currently holds the Series 7, 66, and 2-15 Life, Health, and Variable Annuity licenses. With her background oriented around empathy, client satisfaction, and being an effective listener, she is eager to ensure clients have a positive experience. Her hobbies include traveling, trying new restaurants, and going to the beach.

Registered States:
  • AZ
  • CA
  • CO
  • FL
  • GA
  • MT
  • NC
  • NJ
  • NY
  • OH
  • PA
  • SC
  • TN
  • TX
  • WV
101 E Kennedy Blvd
18th Floor
Tampa, FL 33602

Email Me

samantha.lagasse@ubs.com
Samantha Lagasse
101 E Kennedy Blvd,Tampa,FL,33602

Jillian Kane

Client Associate

Jill joined the Gulf Coast Group in 2024 as a Client Service Associate. She graduated from the University of North Carolina Wilmington with her bachelor's degree in Business Administration. Jill holds the Series 7 securities license. With a background in operations and project management, her attention to detail and organization makes her a great addition to the team. Being raised in New York and growing up in North Carolina, Jill is happy to now call Tampa her home. In her free time, she enjoys reading, relaxing at the beach, and spending time with her family, friends, and pets.

101 E Kennedy Blvd
18th Floor
Tampa, FL 33602

Email Me

jillian.kane@ubs.com
Jillian Kane
101 E Kennedy Blvd,Tampa,FL,33602

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