Brian Diffily, BFA™
Publications and Articles
Brian Diffily is a founding partner of Granite Bridge Wealth Management with more than 20 years of experience as a financial and insurance advisor. A graduate of Marist College, Brian is a licensed Life and Health Insurance Representative with FINRA Series 6, 63, and 65 registrations, and CLTC designation. His industry recognitions include the ACE (Achieving Client Excellence) Qualifier, Agency Leader’s Qualifier, and Northeast Top Ten Protection Leader from Osaic.
Brian’s chief objective is to help families, businesses, and individuals take an active role in obtaining the financial security they seek under the guidance of Granite Bridge Wealth Management. Through conversations and education, he helps clients design financial plans specifically tailored to meet their unique situations and needs. A resident of the Mount Pleasant area, Brian is located in our Charleston office.
“As an independent financial advisor, I’m able to bring ethically-sourced unbiased financial tools and advice to my clients. I strive to make the financial planning process personal and non-intimidating for them. To that end, I design for my clients, easy-to-understand and uniquely sound financial plans so that they leave our discussions feeling comfortable and confident that together we can move their current economic state of success to one of financial significance.”
Brian enjoys spending family time with his wife and sons, is a musician and fan of a variety of musical genres, and strives to get his daily endorphin rush through a rigorous workout.
Professional and Community Alignments
- Jennie Moore Elementary School Education Sponsor
Brian Hartmann, CFP®
Publications and Articles
Brian Hartman is a founding partner of Granite Bridge Wealth Management, bringing a wealth of experience and a proven track record in both business and financial advisory. His career began in 1998 with GSI Commerce, a rapidly growing e-commerce company. This experience in a high-growth tech environment laid the foundation for his subsequent pivot to financial advisory—a path he now considers his true life’s calling.
In 2008, driven by a profound desire to assist families in achieving long-term financial security, Brian transitioned into wealth management. Motivated by a commitment to delivering unbiased, conflict-free advice, he transitioned to an independent platform, empowering him to focus exclusively on his clients’ best interests. Brian’s practice is built on deep, multi-generational relationships, with families and businesses entrusting him to help preserve and grow their wealth over time. His approach emphasizes trust and comprehensive financial planning, fostering long-term partnerships and ensuring clients’ financial futures are secure.
A graduate of Monmouth University, Brian is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and holds FINRA Series 6, 7, 63, and 66 registrations. His professional excellence is further demonstrated through his role as a member of the Osaic National Advisory Board, which represents over 13,000 advisors nationwide. Osaic has grown to become one of the largest networks of independent wealth management broker-dealers in the U.S. As a former Chairman of the NextGen Advisory Board, Brian spearheaded initiatives aimed at enhancing advisor preparedness, communications, and overall industry standards, further solidifying his leadership in the wealth management space.
Brian's holistic approach to financial planning blends short- and long-term perspectives, helping clients navigate complex financial decisions with confidence. He fosters an environment where clients can openly discuss their financial goals, ensuring they feel both understood and optimistic about securing their futures.
Today, Brian is an active board member of GiGi’s Playhouse Charleston, a network of Down Syndrome Achievement Centers that provide life-changing programs for individuals and families. His dedication to community service underscores his belief in giving back and positively impacting the lives of others.
Outside of his professional and philanthropic pursuits, Brian enjoys spending time outdoors with his wife, son, and daughter. Whether cycling or relaxing at the beach, they share a love for travel and exploration, frequently discovering new destinations around the world.
Professional and Community Alignments
- Chairman Osaic NextGen Advisory Board 2020-2022
- Osaic National Advisory Board Member 2022-Present
- Chairman Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton Foundation
- Jennie Moore Elementary School Education Sponsor
- Founder Your Executive Round Table
Dalton Heffel
Dalton Heffel
Investment Advisor Representative
Dalton Heffel is a proud member of the Granite Bridge Wealth Management advisory team. Dalton is an early adopter advocate of recognizing how intentional planning leads to his client’s financial success. That passion drove him to dedicate his professional life to helping people uniquely prepare for their future. He majored in Finance with an emphasis on Financial Planning at University of Wisconsin-Whitewater where he graduated magna cum laude. Dalton currently holds his Life and Health insurance licenses along with FINRA series 6, 7, 63, and 65 registrations.
Dalton is committed to helping people reach their financial goals, centered on best interest recommendations. Through clear communication and constant evaluation of our client’s goals he provides guidance throughout the ever-changing stages of life. Clients enjoy peace of mind knowing they have a professionally developed custom plan developed with a modern style planning approach. With a simple mantra of “be honest and treat others how he would like to be treated”, Dalton’s focus on genuine relationships is front and center.
Dalton spent most of his life in Wisconsin. Today, he is a proud resident of Charleston, South Carolina where he is looking forward to building upon our firm’s presence in the area.
In his free time, Dalton seeks out opportunities to spend time with friends and family. A lifetime athlete, he continues to enjoy golf, hiking and maintaining his personal fitness. When most relaxed, he can be found playing guitar.
Jason Rausch, CFP®, CFA
Jason’s passion for all things related to finance began in college when he obtained dual undergraduate degrees in Finance from Marist University and Accounting from Dowling College.
Before transitioning to personal financial advisory, Jason spent almost two decades of his career in New York City working at institutional investment management firms holding roles in operations support, trading, and portfolio implementation & management. At the end of that phase of his career, Jason oversaw the portfolio implementation & management of multi-asset class portfolios ranging from asset allocation and target date funds to risk premia and derivatives strategies. With over two decades of experience, Jason founded a personal income tax planning and preparation company, offering skilled guidance in tax strategy.
Jason is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional and CHARTERED FINANCIAL ANALYST. In order to serve client’s holistically, Jason also holds the FINRA Series 3, 7, and 63 registrations.
Jason’s greatest satisfaction comes from the trust and appreciation of his clients, whether through a heartfelt email or a handwritten note of thanks. He is deeply committed to helping individuals and families achieve their financial goals with clarity and confidence.
Currently residing in the Raleigh, NC area, Jason enjoys spending time with his family and friends playing games, on the hiking trails, at the beach, on the volleyball and tennis courts and any place else that creates those memories to last a lifetime. Jason is four stadiums away from visiting all the Major League Baseball stadiums and hopes to accomplish the goal of visiting them all in years to come.
Julianna Turk
As the Client Relationship Manager at Granite Bridge Wealth Management, Julianna Turk is the guiding force behind a seamless client experience. With a degree in communications from William Paterson University, Julie combines exceptional customer service with a deep understanding of financial processes. Her background in the insurance industry equips her with the expertise to assist clients with inquiries, business logistics, and coordination alongside our professional advisors.
A lifelong New Jersey resident, Julie is based in our Livingston office, where she is known for her warm, professional approach to financial matters. She takes great pride in building strong client relationships and ensuring that every interaction is both efficient and meaningful. Inspired by Maya Angelou’s words—“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”—Julie is dedicated to making financial planning as smooth and stress-free as possible.
Outside of work, Julie enjoys spending quality time with friends and family, hosting gatherings, and experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen.
Alexandria DeZao
Alexandria DeZao
Insurance Coordinator
aturk@acornfs.com
Alexandria DeZao is a Life Insurance Coordinator at Granite Bridge Wealth Management. Ali is responsible for the licensing and contracting of all advisors to specific insurance carriers, as well as generating concepts for an advisor's client and following up on case status for all life insurance applications in-house.
A resident of New Jersey and a graduate of Montclair State University , Ali is a licensed Life and Health Insurance Representative and she is located in our Livingston, New Jersey office.
Ali enjoys spending time with family and friends, working on house projects and participating in low-impact, high-intensity workouts through Pure Barre.
