Our Team

Nicholas Drizos

President, Portfolio Manager

‪941.362.0161‬

ndrizos@horizonwealthadvisors.com

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.

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