Our Team
Leadership, Expertise and Experience... Trust Calderwood
Charles Calderwood, CLU®, ChFC
President
Charlie is an honor graduate of Tulane University. Upon entering the financial service business in New Orleans with The Equitable, Charlie gained honors both as an advisor working with business owners and professionals and was in addition made a sales manager at the age of 23. In 1989, he was transferred to head the Southeast Texas Agency in Houston.
His Houston Agency grew to 40 Sales Associates and 15 Staff with an emphasis working with business owners, self-employeed professionals, and corporate executives. In 1997, he joined Phoenix as general manager of the Southwest Region to build the wealth advisory business in a pilot program. In 2003, Charlie joined New England Financial as the Managing Partner and Co-Owner of the Houston & San Antonio offices.
​
In 2010, he started his own wealth advisory organization. Charlie's specialty is implementing financial strategies for Entrepreneurs, Corporate Business Owners, and Wealthy Individuals.
Stephanie Blakes, CFP
Director of Analytics
​As President of Seren Wealth Advisors, a financial planning and investment advisory firm, Stephanie provides expertise to Corporate Clients through 401k Plan Advisory services and to Individuals.
Stephanie is a graduate of Tulane University where she majored in Chemical Engineering and was named “Student of the Year”. She later earned an MBA from Northwestern University's Kellogg Graduate School of Management and a Certified Financial Planner designation from Rice University.
​
She began her career as a Technical Sales Representative with Shell Chemical Company. Later, after earning her MBA, she joined the investment banking division of Goldman Sachs. Stephanie transitioned from commercial to personal investment advisory and also manages her own Registered Investment Advisory firm, Seren Wealth Advisors, which specializes in investment management and financial planning.
​
A native of New Orleans, she has lived in Houston for over 25 years and has two young adult children.
Patrick Connelly, CLU® LUTCF®
Registered Representative & Financial Advisor
Patrick is a graduate of Spring Hill College, a Jesuit College located in Mobile, AL, where he majored in both Business Administration and Accounting. Upon graduation, he started his career in Mobile, working in an accounting firm primarily focused on both personal and corporate tax returns.
In 2009, Patrick returned to Houston, holding both financial and accounting roles in the energy industry.
​
Patrick holds the Series 65 Securities License. He has attained an advanced level of applied knowledge in risk management and insurance planning as Chartered Life Underwriter® (CLU®). In addition, Patrick is also pursuing the LUTCF Designation from NAIFA, the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors.
​
Patrick is a native Houstonian and a graduate of Strake Jesuit College Preparatory School. He remains active in the school's alumni association. Patrick and his wife, Camille, are the proud parents of twin boys. He enjoys playing golf, volunteering and especially spending time with his family.
Lenny Saizan, MBA
Director of Strategic Market Development
Lenny Saizan earned a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Louisiana State University and an MBA from Tulane University.
He is a Registered Investment Advisor Representative (Series 65) and holds State of Texas Health & Life Insurance licenses. Lenny has earned several professional designations, including Certified Mergers & Acquisitions Professional, Six Sigma Green Belt, Project Management Professional.
​
As President of Murphy Business Sales - West Houston, Lenny advises business owners on maximizing enterprise value, preparing for successful exits, and navigating complex M&A transactions. He is also the Managing Director of Urban Capital Network, a venture capital platform that facilitates affordable access to institutional-quality venture capital investments.
​
Lenny is the proud father of Autumn, Leonard III, and Lance. Autumn is the Chief Dermatology Resident at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Leonard III is a medical student at Tulane School of Medicine, and Lance is a college football player and graduate student pursuing an MBA.