Bank Night - Economic Update (E1611719)

Dennis Budinich is the SVP Chief Culture Officer at Investors Bank. He is a member of The National Speakers Association and has been a speaker for numerous corporate events and at industry conferences across the country.

Immediately prior to joining Investors Bank Dennis Budinich co-founded FTC Methods Inc. in 2004, a highly successful professional development and consulting firm which operated primarily in the financial services industry. In his capacity as co-founder, Mr. Budinich developed engaging learning programs, and was a highly sought after public speaker, motivator, and educator.

Before co-founding his company, Mr. Budinich was recognized as a premier entrepreneur and business leader. He has owned several successful businesses, including a gourmet bread bakery, an auto paint supply company, and a restaurant. He also excelled in the world of financial sales where his achievements carried him to the levels of Top Producer, to Sales Manager, to Program Director.

Throughout his entire career, Mr. Budinich has dedicated himself to helping others be their best by sharing with them the most effective success principles and how to apply them. In all of his high-energy learning programs, Mr. Budinich shares the information he acquired in the fields of positive psychology and self science, as well as his personal experiences as a successful financial professional and entrepreneur.

“By age 23, I knew I wanted to help people by providing consistently good advice in a constantly changing world.” Mr. Kaye left home at the age of 18 to go into business developing patented acoustic products. By the time he was 23, Steven had seen his father pass away, leaving a family business with no succession plan and no provisions to secure his wife’s future or fund his children’s education. Shortly thereafter, his brother passed away, also leaving a widow and a business with no plan. Mr. Kaye saw the importance of planning at a young age, and knew he had to devote his life to protecting others and helping them achieve their financial goals. While pursuing a degree in accounting at Rutgers, developing patented acoustic products and managing his family’s dry cleaning business, Mr. Kaye founded AEPG in 1980. Under Mr. Kaye’s strong leadership and expert guidance, AEPG has grown to become a respected leader in financial planning, wealth management, retirement solutions, and individual and group life and health insurance. AEPG was built on our steadfast commitment to professionalism, expertise, loyalty, and quality. He takes special pride in AEPGʹs highly credentialed team and their ability to provide independent, deep and broad financial planning, investment advice and highly personalized service. Mr. Kaye’s greatest joy comes from watching long‐standing clients achieve their goals. “Some were just married when I began working with them, and now they’re talking about their grandchildren’s education. Others who were starting their businesses are now retiring with their futures secure.” Mr. Kaye acts as CEO for AEPG and is a nationally recognized thought leader in investment portfolio management. He is regularly interviewed by the financial press, trade journals, newspapers, financial magazines and television news shows. He has been selected as a featured investment advisor by Morningstar Investor and Morningstar.com, and was featured on the cover of Financial Planning magazine. His work has been published widely and he has appeared frequently on programs including Live at 5, The Morning Show, News Center 4, The Today Show, Market Wrap, Fox on Money, and CNBCʹs The Money Club. Mr. Kaye is a former chairman of the board of directors and past president of the Northern New Jersey Society of the Institute of Certified Financial Planners (NNJS‐ICFP). He was also a board member for the Financial Planning Association of New Jersey (FPANJ). Steven frequently speaks to professional organizations, employee groups, and civic associations about investment portfolio management, employee benefits, and estate planning. Mr. Kaye believes in attaining and maintaining in‐depth knowledge on the topics that impact AEPG’s clients, a trait that is deeply rooted in AEPG’s culture. AEPG’s highly credentialed team seeks the deepest and broadest knowledge possible. Mr. Kaye himself is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®) professional and holds the professional designations of Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC), Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU), Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS), Registered Health Underwriter (RHU), Accredited Asset Management Specialist (AAMS), Certified Retirement Counselor (CRC), and Accredited Investment Fiduciary® (AIF®). He earned a bachelorʹs degree in accounting from Rutgers University. Mr. Kaye is the Founding President of the Summit Medical Group Foundation and has served as a board member for the Enright Melanoma Foundation, after previously serving as the longtime treasurer. He has also served on the board of the Make‐AWish. Mr. Kaye loves adventure and enjoys extreme skiing, flying planes, riding horses and playing golf, and currently serves as president of Twin Brooks Country Club.