MEET THE TEAM
ARI Financial Group is proud to have a diverse, multicultural team that breeds grounds for innovation and creative solutions. We have the proper infrastructure to ensure that our client-specific needs are resourcefully managed, servicing clients across the globe.
8 LANGUAGES ARE SPOKEN BY THE ARI FINANCIAL TEAM
ENGLISH • ESPAÑOL • PORTUGUÊS • FRANÇAIS • ITALIANO • РУССКИЙ (RUSSIAN) • עִברִית (HEBREW) • CROATIAN
Eric Bouskila
Eric Bouskila
Eric Bouskila, Founder of ARI Financial Group, is recognized as one of the top advisors of the country’s largest mutual insurance companies, consistently breaking the record for life insurance production year after year. In addition, Eric has been recognized with numerous accolades, such as the Quality Awards and the Top Advisor Nationwide Award since 2011.
Rimma Portnova
Rimma Portnova
Rimma Portnova plays a critical role in the day-to-day operations at ARI Financial Group, she is primary responsible for the overall management and integration of all the firm’s departments and works closely with ARI’s CEO in performing long-term financial planning, identifying risks and opportunities for attainment of the company’s mission.
Rimma is also responsible for developing and supporting strong external relationships with bankers, investment advisors, legal counsels, insurance carriers and other corporate service providers. She is instrumental in developing and monitoring a culture of efficiency, results and customer-oriented services.
Rimma is a highly qualified insurance professional with several years of involvement in the industry. She earned her Accounting degree from Florida Atlantic University and is a Notary Public.
Jonathan Carpenter,
CPA, Esq.
Jonathan Carpenter,
CPA, Esq.
Jonathan Carpenter is a seasoned financial professional with more than a decade of experience in the South Florida market. At ARI Financial Group, he is responsible for calculating financial and operating metrics, accounting controls, and developing and improving upon strategies that maximize profits and reduce costs.
Prior to joining ARI Financial Group, Jonathan’s career has spanned across several industries, including construction, beverages, transportation, marketing, import/export, hospitality, IT, retail, and furniture.
He is Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in the State of Florida and graduated magna cum laude from Florida Atlantic University with a bachelor’s degree in accounting. He also received his master’s in taxation from Florida Atlantic University and his Juris Doctorate degree from Florida International University College of Law.
A native South Floridian, Jonathan currently resides in Parkland. He donates consistently to the Goodwill and Salvation Army.
Mindy Soiferman
Mindy Soiferman
Mindy Soiferman has been invaluable asset to the ARI Financial Group team since joining the company in 2013. She serves as the primary liaison between clients, lenders and carriers. As the chief liaison, she provides ongoing counsel and support, coordinates all premium-financed payments, prepares detailed performance reviews for client annual meetings, and ensures all transactions are handled effectively and executed flawlessly.
Prior to joining ARI Financial Group, Mindy worked in the financial industry as an Associate Investment Advisor for more than 15 years in Toronto. During her time in Toronto, she was actively involved in local charity work, and was a co-founder and lifetime member of a local chapter of Canadian Hadassah-WIZO (CHW). In that role, she managed fundraising for various programs and services focused on children, healthcare, and women’s issues.
Born and raised in Montreal, Mindy graduated from McGill University with a Bachelor of Commerce.
A true globetrotter who’s traveled to more than 30 countries, she currently resides in Aventura, Florida.
Peter L. Harjes, CFP®
Peter L. Harjes, CFP®
As Chief Financial Strategist at ARI Financial Group and the Principal and Head of the ARI Advisory Service, Peter Harjes focuses on designing and implementing advanced insurance solutions for his high-net-worth clientele.
Bringing strategic insights gained from over 20 years of experience in the life insurance industry, Peter successfully devises how clients can benefit from including insurance solutions in their overall financial and estate plans.
He started his career in insurance immediately after college and quickly established his reputation in the industry because of his novel solutions and personalized client approach.
Peter received a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Maryland (UMD) & Hofstra University while playing Division 1 tennis for UMD. He also earned his CFP® accreditation through Boston University. Furthermore, he is a member of the Financial Planning Association (FPA), CFP® Board, MDRT, and a Finseca Ambassador.
Peter is a native New Yorker and an avid supporter of local and international organizations such as the FIDF (Friends of Israeli Defense Forces), UJA (United Jewish Federation of NY), and the North Shore Animal League. He also contributes to St. Jude Cancer Research and other philanthropic organizations.
Marlene Windmiller, Esq.
Marlene Windmiller, Esq.
Marlene Windmiller joined ARI Financial Group in 2014 and is responsible for domestic and international business development. Using her deep multifaceted professional experience in insurance, finance and law, Marlene develops customized planning solutions and strategies on behalf of her clients. She recently obtained her Surplus Line license and is a member of the President’s Council.
Additionally, she is a member of Leaders Club, and has been awarded the Christopher Ferrara Memorial New Agent of the Year.
Prior to joining ARI Financial, Marlene was the co-founder and principal of Klein Windmiller, LLC, a boutique legal consulting and recruiting firm specializing in global attorney placement. Her clients included international law firms, banks, hedge funds and Fortune 500 corporations.
After graduating from law school, Marlene practiced bankruptcy law. She has also been a career columnist for the New York Law Journal and served as a panelist at various law schools and New York City Bar Association career seminars.
Marlene graduated magna cum laude from the State University of New York at Albany with a bachelor’s degree in political science and English. She earned her Juris Doctor degree from Union University at Albany Law School and is admitted to the New York State Bar.
Watch the full video of Marlene’s New Agent of the Year Award Acceptance speech:
Jordan Mimoun, Esq.
Jordan Mimoun, Esq.
Jordan Mimoun is responsible for domestic and international business development for ARI Financial Group. Utilizing his unique educational background and practical business experience, Jordan develops and implements customized strategic solutions on behalf of his clients.
Jordan graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in finance and management from the University of Miami. He earned his Juris Doctor and Master of Business Administration degrees from the University of Miami, where he graduated in the top 1% of his class and was voted “Most Likely to be a Fortune 500 CEO” by his peers.
With extensive experience in various industries, his innovative, analytical, and strategic thinking consistently propel clients’ goals forward and add value.
Jordan is a founding captain of the Scheck Hillel Alumni Basketball League, an active member of the South Florida Jewish community, and an avid sports fan.
Nicolle Cure
Nicolle Cure
Nicolle Cure brings more than 15 years of experience in branding, advertising, social media, and event planning to her role at ARI Financial Group. She is responsible for managing the company’s marketing and branding efforts and for streamlining communication for internal stakeholders and external audiences.
Nicolle supports the internal business development team, administrative staff, and principals. She also oversees the company’s various visibility campaigns within the industry. She is a principal liaison between ARI Financial Group and its partners for business development and marketing initiatives.
Throughout her career, Nicolle has worked with many global clients in the luxury, hospitality, health, food & beverage, finance, travel, technology, lifestyle, and communication sectors. She has received prestigious accolades, including the University of Florida Imagineering Award for Creative Excellence, the Best of Show Addy Award, and the Gold Addy Award Winner for Consumer & Trade Magazine Ad Campaign.
Nicolle graduated magna cum laude from the University of Florida with a Bachelor’s degree in Advertising and a minor in Latin American studies. She also earned an Associate’s degree in Computer Arts Animation and holds several certifications from The Sotheby’s Institute of Art.
She is a proud supporter of various philanthropic organizations, including the Hearing Health Foundation, Vestibular Disorder Association (VeDA), and the U.S. Humane Society, where she has donated her time and art for auction. Nicolle was born and raised in Barranquilla, Colombia.
Lorenzo Marini
Lorenzo Marini
Lorenzo Marini joined ARI Financial Group in 2018 and his strong technological background immediately made him a go-to person at the office for all technology-related questions although it’s his financial acumen that makes him stand out.
Lorenzo is part of ARI Financial Group’s Advanced Planning Team and works side by side with extremely experienced professionals in the life insurance industry to design tailored financial planning strategies for our clients’ portfolios. Lorenzo is responsible for developing policies’ illustrations and proposals to prospective clients, building a financial model that will fit each client’s needs and tailoring financial strategies that fulfill each client’s requirements.
Lorenzo has received his Bachelor of Telecommunications Engineering with a minor in finance from the Universidad Tecnológica Centroamericana (UNITEC) in Honduras and is currently in the process of obtaining his Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU®) and Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC®) certifications from The American College of Financial Services.
Lorenzo has Italian and Honduran background and speaks fluent English, Spanish and Italian. He is a very artistic and passionate individual, driven by music and sports, and can be found afterhours playing the guitar, the ukulele, singing or playing soccer.
Marin Milan
Marin Milan
Marin Milan joined ARI Financial Group in 2021 and is part of the business development team for the US and European markets. Born and raised in Zagreb, Croatia, Marin brings a deep understanding of the local market to ARI, key to the firm’s goal of helping global citizens grow and preserve their legacy during their lifetime.
Marin moved to the US in 2014, and as a former professional tennis player, he is a passionate individual, with a competitive nature and deeply committed to everything he does. He started playing tennis as a kid, and after a few injuries, he decided to start his own tennis academy. After meeting ARI Financial’s CEO, Eric Bouskila, Marin decided to become a licensed insurance professional and quickly learned all the intricacies of the business. Marin is now responsible for developing and supporting strong external relationships with clients and prospects.
Marin speaks fluent Croatian and English, and occasionally understands Spanish as every good Miamian. He enjoys going to new restaurants, meeting new people, and can be found afterhours playing tennis around the city.
Christian Santillan
Christian Santillan
As the Sr. Financial Strategist at ARI Financial Group, Christian spearheads the creation of tailor-made life insurance portfolios for advisors and high-net-worth individuals. Christian’s analytical skills emerge as he develops personalized financial strategies to optimize clients’ financial well-being while actively supporting his colleagues to achieve shared success.
Currently pursuing his Certified Public Accountant (CPA) certification, Christian holds a bachelor’s degree and an MBA in Finance from Florida International University. His expertise extends beyond accounting and finance; Christian brings a holistic perspective to insurance portfolio building, drawn from hands-on experience in the intricate world of insurance and financial services. He began his professional journey at ARI Financial Group in 2019, where he transitioned from staff accountant to a role as a controller in a fintech boutique specializing in whole life cash value lending, where he gained two years of valuable experience before rejoining ARI Financials’ Advanced Planning Team in 2023.
Beyond his professional commitments, Christian embraces an active lifestyle, maintaining balance through soccer, running, and a dedication to fitness. He firmly believes that a harmonious life leads to greater overall success, aligning his personal pursuits with his dedication to financial health.
James Eberle
James Eberle
James Eberle became an integral member of the New York team at ARI Financial Group in 2022. His expertise extends to back-office operations, including collaboration with underwriters and lenders, application completion, creation of policy illustrations and proposals for potential clients, and the development of personalized financial models tailored to meet clients’ needs.
James utilizes his problem-solving and critical thinking background to portray client needs in a visual representation. He collaborates with advanced planning, underwriting, and inforce teams to ensure a seamless process for acquiring and servicing premium-financed whole life insurance for all clients.
In 2021, James completed his Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial and Systems Engineering at the University of Wisconsin – Madison. His journey in the insurance industry commenced as an intern for ARI Financial Group in 2019, and upon graduating from college, he was thrilled to return to the company full-time.
Born and raised in New York City, James has been a lifelong resident, with the exception of the four years he spent in Madison, Wisconsin during college. In his leisure time, he is passionate about golf, the gym, and playing the guitar.
International Division
Ron Gottfried, CLU®, ChFC®
Ron Gottfried, CLU®, ChFC®
Ron Gottfried brings more than 25 years of experience to ARI Financial Group. In his financial strategist role, he is responsible for the design and implementation of solutions for clients, complete execution of end-to-end case management, and customer relationship management.
As a seasoned professional with a keen eye for understanding individualized client goals and needs, Ron is skilled in developing uniquely effective solutions to enhance the performance of sizeable insurance portfolios.
Before partnering with ARI Financial Group, Ron worked as a financial advisor, held executive positions in the petrochemical industry, and spent several years as a management consultant to various corporate clients in the insurance, banking, healthcare, and petrochemical industries.
Ron holds Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU®) and Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC®) certifications from The American College of Financial Services. He received his bachelor’s degree in economics from Universidad de Los Andes.
Elizabeth Torres
Elizabeth Torres
Elizabeth Torres is a seasoned professional with more than 20 years of experience in the financial industry. Her background in banks and financial wirehouses such as Merrill Lynch, Citibank and Bank Leumi, brings unique perspective to ARI Financial Group. Throughout her career, Ms. Torres’ main focus has been managing clients from all over Latin America, which is why today she is responsible for South Florida and Latin America business development for ARI Financial. She is an integral part of the design and implementation of solutions for clients, end-to-end case management, and customer relationship management.
Since joining ARI Financial Group in 2014, Elizabeth has made significant contributions to the company and its clients. She has built her reputation on developing creative solutions to enhance financial returns for sizeable insurance portfolios. Elizabeth was named 2016 Guardian New Agent of the Year, breaking records as the second consecutive woman and ARI Financial advisor to be awarded this distinction.
Elizabeth earned her Bachelor of Science in business administration from Barry University and is a licensed life insurance agent. She is bilingual, speaking English and Spanish fluently.
Born and raised in Miami, Florida, she is passionate about the work she does and being able to provide creative solutions to her clients.
Watch the whole video of Elizabeth’s New Agent of the Year Acceptance Speech:
Janet Henfield-Green
Janet Henfield-Green
Janet joined the ARI Financial Group team in 2022, and she is responsible for international and domestic business development.
She has 19+ years of Commercial Lending background and 9+ years of International Banking, including ten years of financing premiums for mutual clients of ARI Financial at Bank Leumi. Janet has successfully built long- lasting relationships with clients in the past 20 years, focusing on the Bahamas, New York, and South Florida territories.
Before joining ARI, Janet served as SVP & Aventura Market Manager in charge of Business Development at a financial institution with extensive ties to the local community, servicing foreign and local high-net-worth clients.
She graduated Summa Cum Laude from FIU and completed a study abroad semester in Spain while pursuing her Bachelor’s degree in Finance and an International Business Minor. In addition, she completed an Executive/Professional MBA with honors in the top percentile in Finance & International Business.
Janet was born in Miami, Florida, and raised in La Romana, Dominican Republic, and Nassau, Bahamas. She enjoys traveling back to these places and around the world and learning about new cultures, bringing perspective to her personal and business life.
Ligia Braun
Ligia Braun
Ligia Braun joined ARI Financial Group in 2020 and is in charge of business development for the Brazilian market. She brings deep understanding of the local market to ARI, key to the firm’s goal of helping individuals in this important Latin America country grow and preserve their legacy during their lifetime.
Prior to joining ARI, Ligia worked for BNY Mellon for 11 years, both in Brazil and New York. For many years she worked in partnership with BNY Mellon’s Brazil Wealth Management business supporting the relationship with local high-net-worth individuals and families.
Ligia holds a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio) and attended an Executive MBA in Finance, Investments & Risk from Fundação Getulio Vargas (ABD).
Rocio Zapatero
Rocio Zapatero
Rocio Zapatero is a well-rounded professional with international expertise across Financial and Insurance Industries; her functional experience spans Corporate Strategy, International Business Development, Risk Management, M&A, and P&L Oversight.
As the International Business Development Director at ARI, she leads and oversees the development and growth of profitable new international business in Europe and the Middle East while cultivating key relationships to support sustainable business growth. She is responsible for growing the client base and distribution partners by understanding the market potential and legal and regulatory requirements in each jurisdiction.
She strengthens and grows client and partner relationships and maintains surveillance on market conditions, emerging opportunities, and risks. She is responsible for strategic and operational oversight in the international arena, ensuring business development activities are delivered according to the organization’s strategy. Contributes to developing policies and procedures to enhance the company’s business development and recruiting practices in new markets.
Her professional experience includes positions at Telefonica Latin America and Spain, based in New York, Banco Santander, and KPMG, in Financial Services and Investment Banking roles.
Rocio stands out for her strategic thinking and strong management skills throughout her career, both in large corporations as well as SMEs.
She is an International Business graduate from Erasmus University in The Netherlands and has a Master’s Degree from IE, Spain. Rocio has also completed the Women on Boards Executive Certificate at Yale School of Management, USA.
Affiliate Office
Analissa Endara
Analissa Endara
Analissa Endara is a savvy and experienced wealth & financial consultant that brings deep understanding of the Panamanian and Latin American markets to ARI Financial Group. Since 2017, she has been responsible for developing and deepening client relationships by providing ARI’s specialized premium finance whole life strategies to high net worth individuals in the region.
Prior to partnering with ARI Financial Group, Analissa had a 15 years career at Scotiabank in Panama. She focused on corporate banking debt structures before becoming Head of Private Banking in the country. Analissa is a remarkable executive who truly cares and goes above and beyond to establish wealth strategies best suited for each family’s profile.
Born and raised in Panama, Analissa is passionate about experiencing different cultures both by traveling and studying abroad. She holds a bachelor’s in finance and business economics from University of Notre Dame, attended studies at the Sorbonne in Paris and a Private Wealth Management LATAM Program at The Wharton School.