Elise Casey of Certified Financial Services

04/03/2026

April is Financial Literacy Month, and financial education is something I’m really passionate about. As a member of the Association of Financial Educators, I get to see just how life-changing the right financial knowledge can be.

Last night, I had the chance to lead a workshop for an amazing group of women business owners. We talked through real-life strategies like paying yourself first, creating your own benefits, minimizing taxes, and building a plan to protect, grow, and exit your business.

We also touched on college planning in a tax-efficient way and why having a solid estate plan matters more than most people think.

One area that often gets overlooked—especially by business owners—is retirement. The reality is, retirement can last 20, 30, 40 years. That’s not something you want to leave up to guesswork.

If you’re a business owner or leader, consider bringing financial education to your team. Guesswork is expensive—education isn’t!

04/02/2026

On Tuesday night, a room of women sat down in a circle to have dinner together in Farmington and said the things that don’t usually get said out loud.

“It’s very lonely at the top. And nobody warns you about that.”
“You vs. you. Stop looking sideways.”
“The money will come. But you have to love what you do first.”
“Why not you.”

Guljan from Wholeness Acupuncture Center, Rocio from Avon Prime Meats, and Lexus from Gold Ivy Wellness shared what it actually looks like to build something from the ground up. The hard days no one sees. The friendships that shift when you step into leadership. The moments where quitting feels easier.
And a room full of women who understood every word.

We painted terracotta pots. Planted seeds. Ate pizza from Lisa Luna's Pizza, drank wine, and had the kind of conversations you replay on the drive home.
This was our Thrive Together CT event.
Definitely not our last.
Thank you to everyone who showed up, and to our speakers for being so open and honest.
If you want to be in the next room, follow along.

— Caitlyn Grad, Brenna Ramsdell, + Elise

03/16/2026

This Women’s History Month, I’m excited to co-host a special women’s panel featuring three inspiring women business owners who are making an impact in our community:

• Rocio Olivares, owner of Avon Prime Meats
• Guljan Nurmuradova, owner of Wholeness Acupuncture Center
• Lexus Childs-Harris, founder of Gold Ivy Wellness

We’ll also be enjoying incredible catering from woman business owner Lisa Luna of Luna’s Pizza. Lisa is also the owner of Lisa’s Crown & Hammer Restaurant & Pub.

This evening is designed to be both meaningful and creative. Along with an engaging panel and great catering, you’ll sip wine while painting a terracotta pot and planting seeds—a simple reminder that growth in business and life doesn’t happen overnight. It takes intention, and on March 31st, you’ll be planting the seeds for your success.

📍 Certified Financial Services 197 Scott Swamp Road, Farmington
📅 Tuesday, March 31
⏰ 6:00 PM

RSVP by March 20th: Tickets are limited due to seating. Secure your ticket today: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/seeds-of-change-women-who-lead-womens-history-month-panel-networking-tickets-1984632103045

02/19/2026

Come check out the Everything Expo on Saturday!

More vendors to look forward to at the EVERYTHING EXPO. Certified Financial Services; O'Brien Funeral Home; PayLess Payment Solutions/StressLess Bookkeeping LLC; Associated Insurance Services; BristolWORKS; Community Mental Health Affiliates (CMHA); Farmington Healthcare & Chiropractic; Connecticut State Community College; M&T Bank; and Anytime Fitness. See previous posts for other vendors and stay tuned for more announcements.

02/13/2026

Yesterday I had the opportunity to present to an incredible group of women business owners. The energy in the room was powerful — driven, focused, and committed to learning.

We covered topics that every business owner should know, but most do not. These topics include:
- Tax saving strategies
- Separating business and personal finances
- Maximizing the business for personal use and paying yourself first
- Exit strategies
- Protecting your business
- Retirement strategies
- Overall financial advice: estate planning, college planning, and long-term wealth building strategies

As business owners, we pour so much into our companies — but are we being smart financially? Are we truly taking full advantage of the tax-saving strategies available to us?

I run these seminars regularly for businesses, staff, and networking groups. Would you like a financial seminar tailored for business owners? Want to make sure your employees- and leadership team- are making smart financial decisions?

02/03/2026

This group is great!

With over 350 referrals, 580 connections, and $1,025,669.00 in closed business for 2025, now is the ideal time in 2026 to explore the opportunities our group can provide for you and your industry. We meet every Tuesday at 7:15 a.m., located at 1267 Main ST in Coventry. Feel free to message us if you need more information.

02/03/2026

SUPER excited to be presenting at Valley EntreprenHERS next week! This group is full of amazing women and I am thrilled to be apart of it! RSVP: https://luma.com/jzgm9saz

02/03/2026

Hello! I decided to make a business Facebook account so I could post more work events that I am attending and hosting! Thank you for coming on the journey with me!