As a music professor for over 20 years, Jill Van Nostrand never imagined a career in insurance and financial services. However, when a family member developed a serious illness, she learned all she could about financial planning. In helping her family navigate the financial strain, she realized she could help others in her community in the same way. In 2018, she became a financial advisor with NAIFA Financial Security Champion Certified Financial Services.

Making a Difference

The best part of her career, says Van Nostrand, is the relationships she builds with her clients. Early in her financial career, she prioritized getting her licenses. Having those licenses has, in turn, helped her provide the best possible advice to her clients. Now, she uses a holistic approach to provide a comprehensive financial plan.

Over the past five years, Van Nostrand has seen the benefits of her work with clients time and time again. She talks about one such experience working with a retiree who wanted to make sure she would have a guaranteed lifetime income. Together, the pair was able to craft a plan that would provide not only lifetime income but the highest income the woman ever had. “She called me one day and told me she had never felt less stressed in her life,” says Van Nostrand. “She said that she felt very, very confident going forward that she would have everything that she needed and more.”

The Importance of NAIFA’s Advocacy

Van Nostrand chose to join NAIFA to help protect Main Street Americans through political advocacy. “It became very clear to me over time that [advocacy] was really important,” she begins. “It's something that we all need to participate in." She adds that industry professionals need to take on and acknowledge the responsibility that they have to have their voices be heard in conversations with legislators and policymakers. “It's great to collaborate with people outside of the financial world, but they can't always foresee all the consequences and what it could really mean for clients in the short term and long term,” she says. “I think we're perfectly positioned to know how [financial rules and regulations] are going to have an effect on the general public.”

Outside of the Office

When she’s not working, Van Nostrand stays involved in her community. With Certified Financial Services, she volunteers with Make-a-Wish, Alzheimer’s New Jersey, and local food pantries. In her free time, you can find her playing French horn and Irish harp with her local orchestra, snowboarding, or Flamenco dancing.

Thank you, Jill, for your hard work and dedication. We look forward to a bright future in the association for you and are #NAIFAproud to call you one of our own.

Registered Representative and Financial Advisor of Park Avenue Securities LLC (PAS). Securities products and advisory services offered through PAS, member FINRA, SIPC. Financial Representative of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America® (Guardian), New York, NY. PAS is a wholly owned subsidiary of Guardian. Certified Financial Services LLC is not an affiliate or subsidiary of PAS or Guardian. CA Insurance License Number - 4052579. 2023-153179 EXP 4/2025

National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors is endorsed by but not affiliated with Guardian or its subsidiaries. Members must pay an annual fee. This association is unaffiliated with my advisory business.