Meet Our Team
Mark D. Samson
Senior Partner
Over the past 30 years, Mark has built a team of experienced professionals and together they have established a loyal client base by providing sound financial advice and excellent client service. Understanding that clients want a trusted advisor beside them, someone who has their best interest at heart, is at the core of everything Samson Wealth Management Group does. “My goal is take the worry out of our clients' financial lives.” Mark takes time to understand each client's individual goals and risk tolerance, and with the help of his team, designs a portfolio that balances growth, income and asset preservation. Mark is known for being accessible to clients and works closely with their other advisors, including attorneys and accountants, to focus on total wealth management.
In 2012, after spending his career in a corporate environment, Mark moved his team, becoming an independent business owner within the Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network. This move allows him to combine his resourcefulness and belief in personal excellence with the resources of a large financial institution. Samson Wealth Management Group serves investors with portfolios of $1,000,000 or more, and manages in excess of $700 million for clients as of December 31, 2021.
Deeply committed to acting in his clients' best interests, Mark has been recognized by a few different industry accolades. Prior to founding his own business, Mark served as a Managing Director – Investments within Wells Fargo Advisors. Beginning in 2006 through 2021 he has been named a member of the Premier Advisor Program, a distinction held by a select group of Financial Advisors within Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network as measured by completion of educational components, business production based on either of the past two years, and professionalism. Additional criteria, including length of service, may also be used to determine recipients. In 2009, he was listed in “Barron's Top 1,000 Advisors” being ranked #38 in the state of Pennsylvania.* Forbes named Mark a Best-in-State Wealth Advisor in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024.** He has been in attendance at the invitation-only Barron's Top Advisor, Barron's Advisory Teams, and Forbes/SHOOK Top Advisor Summits.
Mark and his wife Lynn believe that giving back to the community is a family activity. Over the years their family has supported the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life-participating in the two-day walk as part of a friend's team. This walk includes over 4 million people in 20 countries each year.
Mark and Lynn are also regular volunteers at the Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House. Mark also spent a week as a counselor at Ronald McDonald Camp which is a place where kids with cancer, and their siblings, can enjoy just being kids.
When not spending time with his family down the shore, Mark enjoys watching sports and playing an occasional game of golf and has recently become a big fan of pickleball. His son Jake is a recent University of Maryland graduate living in Center City Philadelphia and working in logistics for a transportation company. His daughter Allie is a Senior at the University of Delaware majoring in Criminal Justice.
*The Barron's Top 1,000 Independent Advisors rankings are based on assets under management, revenue generated for the advisors' firms, and the quality of the advisors' practices. Investment performance isn't an explicit factor because clients have varied goals and risk tolerances.
**The Forbes Best-In-State ranking algorithm is based on industry experience, interviews, compliance records, assets under management, revenue and other criteria by SHOOK Research, LLC, which does not receive compensation from the advisors or their firms in exchange for placement on a ranking. Investment performance is not a criterion.
Douglas Callan, CFA®
Senior Portfolio Manager
Doug is responsible for investment analysis, portfolio construction, trading, and developing investment plans to help our clients achieve their financial goals.
Before joining Samson Wealth Management Group, Doug spent 8 years at UBS Financial Services, Inc. where he led a team responsible for servicing financial advisors and investment managers with the firm's separately managed account program.
Doug is a CFA® charterholder and member of the CFA Society of Philadelphia. He has earned a Master of Business Administration with a concentration of Finance from Seton Hall University in 2010 and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration of Financial Services from Bryant University in 2006. He holds the Series 7 and Series 66 securities registrations.
Doug and his wife Lauren reside in Warrington, PA with their son Brayden, daughter Bria and beagle Lexie. He enjoys playing golf, exercising and spending time with family and friends.
Jennifer B. Telesca, CIMA®, CRC®
Wealth Advisor
jennifer.telesca@samsonwmg.com
Jennifer began her career in the financial services industry in 1998. Prior to joining Samson Wealth Management Group, Jennifer was a Sales Vice President at John Hancock where she was responsible for the distribution of the firm's mutual funds, separately managed accounts, 529 college savings plans, and ETFs. She was a Regional Channel Manager at ADP Retirement Services. Jennifer began her career at Nuveen Investments covering New York City and Long Island.
Jennifer is currently a Wealth Advisor who is responsible for maintaining existing client relationships and working on developing new clients. She believes in starting with a financial plan as a foundation to help navigate through the many stages of life. Prior to becoming a Wealth Advisor, Jennifer was a Client Relationship Manager for the team where she focused on client communications and marketing.
Jennifer holds a B.A. from Franklin and Marshall College and an M.A. from The University of Maryland, College Park. She has also earned her Certified Investment Management Analyst® and Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor® designations. She holds the Series 7, 63, and 65 securities registrations.
Jennifer and her husband reside in Villanova with their daughter, son, and their Cavador, Sadie. In her free time she enjoys exploring new places with family and friends, cooking, art galleries, and volunteering.
Amy Lytle
Client Service Manager
Prior to joining Samson Wealth Management Group in December of 2017, Amy began her career in the financial services industry in 2002 with Morgan Stanley in Lancaster, PA. In 2007, she began working with Morgan Stanley's Jenkintown, PA Complex and helped facilitate the operations of the Complex, which was comprised of multiple branch offices and included nearly 150 Financial Advisors and Support Staff. Amy joined Wells Fargo Advisors in 2013 as an Administrative Assistant to three Regional Brokerage Managers and assisted with the Financial Advisor operations of the Philadelphia, Bucks/Montgomery, Lehigh Valley and Private Bank markets.
Amy is currently the team's Administrative Manager and brings her vast operational experience to Samson Wealth Management Group. She assists all team members in a variety of behind the scenes activities that help ensure all work gets done in a timely and efficient manner. Amy also supports client activities and service issues.
Amy is originally from Lancaster County, PA and recently returned to the area, currently residing in Annville, Lebanon County with her partner, David. In her free time, she enjoys traveling both domestically and internationally.
Gail Stanton
Client Service Associate
Prior to joining Samson Wealth Management Group, Gail spent 10 years in client relations. Her love for helping others enhances her responsibilities as a Client Associate for Samson Wealth Management Group.
Gail resides in Doylestown. In her spare time, she enjoys riding her horse, skiing and any activity that takes her outdoors with her family.
Sharon Cirillo
Client Service Associate
Sharon joined Samson Wealth Management Group in 2022 as a Client Service Associate with almost twenty years of financial services experience and a decade as a small business owner.
Approaching the client experience with care and ownership, simplifying the complex, and anticipating client needs with an empathetic approach is what she loves most about her role. Sharon holds both the Series 7 and Series 66 licenses.
A New Jersey native and nature-lover, Sharon also enjoys reading, writing, and volunteering.
Carolyn Brescia
Client Service Associate
Carolyn joined Samson Wealth Management Group as a Client Service Associate in 2023 after spending several years supporting financial advisors at a Philadelphia area-based Wealth Management firm. In addition, she brings with her over 15 years of Account Management and Client Services experience in the areas of Mortgage Lending and Retail Banking. Getting to know the team’s clients and assisting them to work through and find solutions to a problem is the part of her job she enjoys the most.
Carolyn resides in Conshohocken with her husband and her two teenage sons. She enjoys spending time outdoors walking, bike riding, or gardening and spending time with her family and friends.