Our Team

Nicholas Drizos

President, Portfolio Manager

‪941.362.0161‬

Nick Drizos formed Horizon Wealth Advisors in 2008, and has more than 20 years of trust and financial management experience. Currently, he is responsible for management of portfolios, and wealth accumulation and preservation for high-net worth individuals and families. Nick began his career on Wall Street in the early nineties, working as a Municipal Bond market maker. His primary responsibilities were helping clients market and trade their positions in a trillion dollar market. Prior to forming Horizon Wealth Advisors, Nick served as Portfolio Manager and Team Leader for M&I Wealth Management and Comerica Bank.

Nick is a graduate of Bentley University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree. Active in the community, he serves on the board of directors for the Manatee Community Foundation, Lakewood Ranch Community Fund, The Southwest Florida Planned Giving Council, Sarasota Manatee Association for Riding Therapy (SMART), and is a founding member of Lakewood Ranch Elks Club #2855. Nick Lives in Lakewood Ranch with his wife Denise and two children (Nicholas & Caitlyn).

Brian Babcock

Investment Advisor Representative

‬941.753.8971

bbabcock@horizonwealthadvisors.com

Brian Babcock joined Horizon Wealth Advisors, LLC in September 2011. Brian’s insurance experience spans 15 years of helping his clients develop strategies to cover risks associated with life’s uncertainties.

Brian started his career within the confinements of a major insurance company’s agency here in Sarasota Florida. After 7 years within this structure, Brian left that position and started his own company offering insurance coverage from the top insurance companies in the country.

The motivation to always offer clients the best value, and company strength, has been the foundation of a fulfilling career. Brian has maintained and utilized a securities license throughout his career with a focus on personal lines of insurance: life insurance, long term care insurance, disability insurance and annuities. This unique combination of insurance and investment experience insures an uncommon approach in implementing strategies to protect families and businesses from life’s uncertainties.

Brian has been part of the Sarasota and Bradenton community since 1985. He graduated from Cardinal Mooney High School in 1989 and attended Lynchburg College in VA and the University of West Florida in Pensacola, FL. Brian returned to Sarasota in September 2000 with his wife Gina. Brian and Gina have one son, Alex.

Michael Ferro

Investment Advisor Representative

941.374.3692

Mferro@horizonwealthadvisors.com

Michael has close to 20 years of experience in the Financial Industry. He began by achieving his Series 7 and Insurance Licenses with Paine Webber at their Sarasota, FL office in the mid 1990’s. He rose to the position of Vice President at Paine Webber in early 2000, and then continued on with UBS during the transition years. After looking for different corporate cultures, Michael decided to team up with Nick Drizos at Horizon Wealth Advisors several years ago. This has proven to be a great fit for he and his clients.

Currently, he is responsible for guiding his clients through fluctuations in the markets through discovery and management of client expectations, asset allocation of client portfolios, life insurance strategies, wealth accumulation and preservation for high-net worth individuals and families.

Michael attended The College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, IL. After launching several businesses in the Midwest Region, Michael and his family moved to Longboat Key, FL, in 1994. Mike currently lives in Lakewood Ranch, FL with his wife Deborah and has two children whom have graduated from college and are experiencing successful careers of their own.

John Ploschek

Investment Advisor Representative/Senior Portfolio Manager

941.266.0897

Jploschek@horizonwealthadvisors.com

John Ploschek has more than 27 years of trust and wealth management experience. He joined Horizon Wealth Advisors in 2011 after spending the prior 23 years at SunTrust Banks. In his current capacity, John is responsible for portfolio management and construction for high net worth individuals. John is a graduate of the University of Florida where he received a BSBA in Finance.

Jeremy Smith

Investment Advisor Representative/Portfolio Manager

631.495.3288

jdsmith@horizonwealthadvisors.com

Jeremy Smith served in the United States Army for 20 years. Upon his return from Iraq in 2009, he retired and has been involved with Investment Management ever since. During his career in the Army he achieved the titles of: Combat Advisor to the Department of Iraqi Border Enforcement, Basic Officer Leadership Course Instructor, Personal Security Detachment Leader, Infantry Platoon Sergeant, Military Mountaineer, and Rappel Master. He also earned two Bronze Star Medals, two Meritorious Service Medals, two Army Commendation Medals, two Army Achievement Medals and the Combat Infantryman Badge.

Jeremy joined Horizon Wealth Advisors in 2015. He previously worked with Merrill Lynch and a local asset management firm. He has an in-depth knowledge of portfolio management and exceptional focus regarding client service. Jeremy is a graduate of Columbia Southern University, earning a Master of Business Administration degree. He has also taken economics courses through Yale University.

Jeremy is active in the community coaching youth football and is a former member of the Florida Master Money Mentors Program. He enjoys Stand Up Paddle Boarding, Fishing, Chess and is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner.

Jeremy and his wife, Deanna, live in Sarasota with their three wonderful boys Ondrej, Josef, and Lukas.

Elizabeth Wilson

Investment Advisor Representative

941.650.7144

ewilson@horizonwelathadvisors.com

Elizabeth Wilson began her career in 1976 with Putnam Management Company in Boston, MA. She moved to Sarasota, FL, in 1982 and worked for Northern Trust as an lnvestment Advisor and Florida Sales Manager for more than 20 years. She has served as an Investment Advisor at Merrill Lynch, Comerica Bank, Rudd lnternational and most recently Horizon Wealth Advisors.

Elizabeth has been a Certified Financial Planner™ since 1999, enabling her to identify areas critical to clients’ financial well-being. As a wife, mother, daughter and grand-mother, she is well-suited in helping women, in particular, meet their financial goals.

Elizabeth lives with her husband, Mark, and dog, Sue, in Sarasota. She enjoys needlepoint, running, baking and reading.

Dwight Pendola

Investment Advisor Representative/Portfolio Manager

910.352.0751

dpendola@horizonwealthadvisors.com

Dwight Pendola is an Investment Advisor Representative and Portfolio Manager. He began his career as a Personal Banker with Wachovia Bank in 2006. His passion for stock analysis, financial planning and client service quickly led him to a career path as a Financial Advisor. He has been in the industry for the past 9 years. Dwight became a Certified Financial Planner™ professional in 2012.
Dwight is a true native of Sarasota. He was born and raised here and graduated from Sarasota High in 1999. He spent a year at Florida State University before transferring to the University of North Carolina at Wilmington to be closer to his family. Dwight graduated from UNCW in 2004 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Finance. Shortly after graduation, he decided it was time to come back home.
Dwight has a home in Bradenton where he lives with his girlfriend of four years, Cassandra, and their two children, Abbey the yellow lab and George the chocolate lab. He is a member of the Gulf Coast Italian Cultural Society and supports The Manatee County Humane Society and Southeastern Guide Dogs, Inc.

Nick Drizos “The Elder”

Chief Compliance Officer

941.780.0928

nick@horizonwealthadvisors.com

Nick was born in Waynesburg, Pennsylvania and attended the University of Pittsburgh. He began working in the securities industry in 1967 with Singer Dean & Scribner in Pittsburgh. He eventually moved to NY and founded Wolfe & Drizos, Inc. (President & CEO) and served on various task forces representing the tax exempt bond industry before the SEC and U.S. Congressional Committees.

In 1984, Nick became a member of the New York Stock Exchange and in 1987 he founded Drizos Investments, Inc. based in Morristown, NJ.

Nick moved to Longboat Key, FL in 1994 and now resides in Myakka City, FL. Nick has been a lifelong advocate for children with disabilities and life threatening illnesses.