Growth – Perfectly Integrated

The Development and Milestones of the CPA Alliance with Paul Saganey and John Pastore Jr. [Episode 61]

By perfectlyintegrated | October 30, 2025

What does it take to grow from a few accounting firm relationships to a nationwide network of more than 250 CPA partners? Vision, perseverance, and a true belief in collaboration.

In this episode, host Matt Ackermann sits down with Paul Saganey, Founder and CEO of Integrated Partners, and John Pastore Jr., Wealth Advisor and Vice President of Integrated Partners, to unpack the story behind the firm’s renowned CPA Alliance and the lessons learned along the way.

They discuss:

How the CPA Alliance began and evolved
Designing a model that CPAs and advisors truly value
Building partnerships that drive growth and client success
Developing a team of experts and a culture where everyone thrives
Brand protection
The importance of problem-solving, and meaningful relationships
And so much more!

Hear how good times, uncertain times, a group of great humans, and the power of partnership developed the CPA Alliance and Integrated Partners into what it is today.

“We truly have yet to meet the people who will determine the future success of the company.” – Paul Saganey via his friend Elle

Connect With Matt Ackermann:

Connect with Paul Saganey

Connect with John Pastore Jr.

About our Guests

Paul Saganey

With over three decades in financial services, Paul transformed his vision of modern wealth management into reality. As the founder of Integrated Partners, he leads a nationwide RIA featuring 220+ entrepreneurial advisors and groundbreaking partnerships with 250+ accounting firms through the innovative Integrated CPA Alliance Program.

His journey through the financial services industry has given him unique insights into what makes advisory practices thrive. This comprehensive perspective drove him to establish Integrated Partners in 1996, pioneering a fee-based planning approach that puts relationships at the heart of wealth management.

At Integrated Partners, they’ve developed cutting-edge solutions like the Lifetime Income Model, The Business Owner Solution, and the Integrated Family Office, serving high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth families with elite services. Their success stems from a simple truth: building great practices requires exceptional people and seamless collaboration.

One of his greatest passions is mentoring advisors, helping them unlock efficiencies and build the practices of their dreams. When he’s not coaching the next generation of financial leaders, you’ll find him cheering on the Tennessee Titan’s with his family— he and his wife Jamie are proud parents of Dan, the Titan’s Vice President of Player Personnel, and blessed grandparents to three wonderful grandchildren.

John Pastore Jr.

As a Private Wealth Advisor with over 25 years of industry experience, he specializes in partnering with high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals and business owners, seamlessly integrating his Family Focused Office model into their broader wealth management strategy. His practice is dedicated to helping clients build and expand their financial future, delivering a first-class experience at every step.

John is a founding member of Integrated Financial Partners (Integrated) and developed their industry-recognized Professional Partner Program, a dynamic co-source model that partners financial advisors with CPAs, Attorneys and Property & Casualty professionals. Today, over 250 professionals nationwide are successfully partnering with Integrated.

As Private Wealth Advisor and fiduciary in an advisory role:

He provides a full suite of wealth management services, including estate planning, business owner strategies, retirement planning, investment, and risk management. As an independent advisor, he puts needs first, acting solely in the best interests of his clients, recommending only those solutions that best align with their goals, values, and vision. Serving as a dedicated partner on their wealth journey, he’s often their first call for life’s most exciting and important financial decisions.

As Executive Vice President:

He oversees Integrated’s Professional Partner Program and consults with CPA and law firms as they integrate wealth management and financial planning services into their core offerings. His collaborative approach makes Integrated the partner of choice for professionals who value their independence while recognizing the importance of being surrounded by a talented team.

Disclosure:

Content in this material is for general information only and not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. All performance referenced is historical and is no guarantee of future results. Securities offered through LPL Financial, Member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advice offered through Integrated Partners, a registered investment advisor and separate entity from LPL Financial.

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The Accidental Advisor with Mona Santos [Episode 60]

By perfectlyintegrated | October 30, 2025

Sometimes the most powerful careers are born out of integrity and courage. When Mona Santos uncovered unethical behavior in her workplace, she did what few have the courage to do, she spoke up. With no whistleblower protection and no safety net, Mona was fired. But that moment became the catalyst for something greater.

Determined to build a life defined by honesty, compassion, and independence, Mona became a financial advisor on her own terms. In this episode, Mona Santos, Certified Financial Planner and co-founder of Glide Path Financial, shares with our host Matt Ackermann her story through tragedy, entrepreneurship, and resilience. How she turned pain purpose and built a 25-year career rooted in empathy and authenticity.

Today, she helps others design lives of meaning and freedom; the same way she rebuilt her own. Her story is one of courage, character, and the beauty of creating success by helping others do the same.

Connect With Matt Ackermann:

Connect with Mona Santos

About our Guest

Working as a financial advisor for over 20 years, Mona specializes in providing comprehensive financial planning and wealth management services to individuals, families and business owners. With compassion at the crux of her practice, Mona specifically enjoys helping independent female clients, where she can offer support for women going through life-changing events, such as divorce, death of a spouse or retirement.

Having suffered many of her own personal setbacks, these life experiences have fueled Mona’s passion for helping others. She works diligently to help clients develop the confidence that with a good plan, it is possible to survive – and thrive – through anything life throws at them.

Mona’s mission is simple: To listen empathetically, uncover critical values, and build a plan to help clients live a well-rounded life of financial confidence and resilience.

Whether you are a professional at a thriving company, a business owner looking to sell in the next five years or preparing for a milestone like retirement, Mona follows a values-based financial planning process where she designs a financial roadmap for clients and meets with them every four months to discuss their plan and chart their progress.

Working in a fiduciary capacity to her advisory clients, it is Mona’s legal duty to put her clients’ needs first and act in their best interest while maintaining full transparency throughout the financial planning process. Services include:

Investment Management
Cash Flow Management
Retirement Planning
Insurance Consulting
Estate Planning
Business Owner Planning

Mona graduated from Methodist University with degrees in political science and international studies. She is married to her husband, Kirk and has a son, Gabriel. An adventurer at heart, Mona loves to travel, sing, and meet new people. A bibliophile, she rarely reads less than three books at a time and has never met a microphone she was afraid of. Ramona is also an award-winning actress and an avid runner.

Disclosure:

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Find The Who’s And Trust The Process With Andree Mohr and John Pastore (Ep. 33)

By perfectlyintegrated | April 27, 2022

When an advisor is building a business, it is easy to become swept up in what they think are fires, instead of growing their business. What they are missing is the importance of sticking to a process and finding professionals who can help build their referrals.

In this episode, Matt Ackermann is joined by Andree Mohr, Chief Implementation Officer and John Pastore, Senior Vice President & Private Wealth Manager of Integrated Partners. The trio discuss why building a business in rainmaking is difficult for advisors and how they can develop their practice through partnerships with CPAs. Andree and John reveal the key components to a successful partnership for both parties.

Andree and John discuss:

How working with centers of influence can be the answer to finding referrals
Why advisors need to trust the process
How to overcome hurdles in relationships between advisors and CPAs
The importance of putting in the work
And more

Connect with Andree Mohr:

LinkedIn: Andree Mohr

Connect With John Pastore:

LinkedIn: John Pastore

Connect With Matt Ackermann:

About Our Guests:

Andree Mohr takes great pride in her ability to effectively transition advisors to Integrated, creating a smooth process for all involved. Our partner firms have made an important decision by choosing Integrated Partners. Having managed the transition of over 160 advisors and 50,000+ client accounts, Andree has witnessed first-hand how crucial it is to maintain discipline, apply a strong process and ensure that she is with our new team members every step of the way as they come aboard.

John Pastore’s background traces his roots back to Marriott International where a “spirit to serve” was drilled into him. This ethic led to him being promoted to Director of National Accounts where he held relationships with some of Marriott’s biggest clients. John brought that same dedication and philosophy to Integrated while building the Professional Partner Program.

Disclosure:

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20. Turn Visions Of Growth Into Reality With Paul Saganey and Angie Herbers

By perfectlyintegrated | September 29, 2021

Growth is complex. Growth is an aspiration, a hope but few have a real strategy on how, where and most importantly why they want to grow.

In this episode, Matt Ackermann is joined by Paul Saganey, president and founder of Integrated Partners, and Angie Herbers, Managing Partner at Herbers & Company. Together they discuss the terrifying topic of business growth, sharing the importance of creating a vision of your business’s future and how to turn that vision into reality.

Paul and Angie discuss:

The complexities of growing your business
The importance of separating you from your business
The first step in building your vision
The benefits of asking for help within the industry
And more

Connect With Paul Saganey:

Connect With Angie Herbers:

Connect With Matt Ackermann:

About Our Guests:

Paul Saganey:

As a practicing advisor for over 30 years I understand what its like to build a strong practice and deepen my existing relationships. When I launched integrated in 1996, it was my goal to build, alongside my fellow advisors, an organization that offers vision, support and direction for the future growth of our practices. By collaborating with industry professionals and my peers, I research the economic and regulatory landscape to successfully reach that goal.

Angie Herbers:

Nearly two decades ago, I created Herbers & Company to serve as the trusted consultant to the leaders of the financial advisory industry. We help advisory firms grow by creating and executing management growth strategies to capitalize on opportunities in, leadership, corporate finance, operations, technology, the client experience, human capital management, sales and marketing.

My passion professionally is to expand the growth possibilities of all advisory firms across the globe. I started our consulting firm nearly two decades ago to help expand what was possible with career tracks, human capital, talent and cultures. Over the years we have expanded our business to go beyond what human capital can do alone. I am a creative entrepreneur at my core and I believe anything is possible. You simply have to want to make it possible, and people make it so.

Disclosure:

Angie Herbers, Managing Partner at Herbers & Company and Integrated Partners are separate entities and not affiliated with LPL Financial

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