About The Summit

The Retirement Summit was conceived by a group of professionals that work with retirees and pre-retirees on a daily basis to help them attain the retirement of their dreams.

As one enters into retirement, it is critical to be surrounded by expert guides to help chart the appropriate course, navigate obstacles that arise and see that you reach your destination.

Speakers of the Retirement Summit include experts in financial planning, investment strategy, income design, estate planning, Medicare planning and home healthcare.  

 

Speakers of the Summit will engage the audience in a variety of relevant retirement and financial-related RetirementTalks.  Additionally, the speakers will be part of a forum to address attendees questions.

RetirementTalks include:

  1. Retirement Planning
  2. Taxes in Retirement
  3. Estate Planning
  4. Long Term Health Care
  5. Medicare 101
  6. Reverse Mortgages
 
 
 

About your speakers

 
Since moving west to New Mexico from Virginia, Ralph has helped individuals and families with their retirement planning, estate planning, insurance and investment needs for over 40 years.
 

Ralph W. Hicks | Oakmont Advisory Group

Since moving west to New Mexico from Virginia, Ralph has helped individuals and families with their retirement planning, estate planning, insurance and investment needs for over 40 years.

Ralph prides himself on his communication skills, which has helped lead him to become a successful educator. He knows there's no magic formula to investing, but understands from his decades of experience that through consistency, diligence, and proper education – anyone can find success. This approach, along with his strong conviction of faith and integrity, has helped Ralph become a trusted advisor, friend, and respected authority on retirement planning.

 

 
 

D. Ryan Gilmore | Oakmont Advisory Group

Ryan is an Albuquerque native and a proud University of New Mexico alumnus. As a former public school educator and coach, he harnesses a desire to support and serve the community. His work at Oakmont allows him to educate, while providing others with support and guidance throughout their retirement journey.

Ryan is a true family man who enjoys spending time with his wife and three young children.

 
Matthew is a shareholder and attorney with Swaim & Danner, PC and focuses his practice on estate planning, probate, business law, and related tax areas. Mr. Danner advises estates and businesses on corporate, partnership, nonprofit, and limited liab…
 

Matthew A. Danner | Swaim & Danner, PC

Matthew is a shareholder and attorney with Swaim & Danner, PC and focuses his practice on estate planning, probate, business law, and related tax areas. Mr. Danner advises estates and businesses on corporate, partnership, nonprofit, and limited liability company law as well as the corresponding tax law issues.

Before joining the firm, he worked with local and national financial institutions on commercial and civil litigation, bankruptcy, and collection cases. This experience gives him a unique understanding and the ability to advise both businesses and individuals on a variety of planning issues.

 
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Jonathan Baca | Bright Horizons, Inc.

Jonathan Baca is the Executive Director of Bright Horizons, Inc. He is also the Executive Director of Mariposa Senior Living and Grinding Gears Coffee Company, which are subsidiaries of Bright Horizons. At Bright Horizons, he has served individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities for over 15 years.

Additionally, while recently completing his masters in Biblical and Theological Studies at Knox Seminary, his pastoral internship allowed him four years of experience serving as a Bible teacher in assisted living and life guidance communities for seniors. This opportunity incited a passion for serving and advocating for the elderly.

With ambition and determination, Jonathan looks forward to serving the elderly population through the expansion of Mariposa Senior Living services.

Outside of work, Jonathan is a ruling elder at Albuquerque Reformed Church, and he enjoys spending time with his wife and two daughters. As a family, they spend quality time together traveling, hiking, camping, gardening, riding dirt bikes, and more!

 
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Michael Miller | New Mexico Aging & Long Term Services 

Michael has a Bachelor's degree in Psychology and Social Welfare. He has been working for the state of New Mexico for seven years. 

In his early years with the state, he worked in the Income Support Division as a Family Assistance Analyst and the Department of Disability Determination.

Today, he is with Aging and Long Term Services in the State Health Insurance Program.

Michael has a strong background in government assistance programs such as SNAP, Medicaid, TANF, Social Security, and Medicare. 

 
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Ben Lucero | Indigo Mortgage

Benjamin Franklin Lucero was born in Las Cruces, New Mexico. He attended the University of Missouri on a full Track and Field scholarship as a high jumper. 

Following his Track and Field achievements that took him as far as the Olympic trials in 1984 and 1988 (placing 12th and 16th respectively), he took his competitiveness and determination into the sales field after college.

He completed a vigorous and intense training program to become a certified commercial banker with Bank of America. In 2003 Ben decided it was time to further his talents and become his own boss and that is when Indigo Mortgage was born.

Not wanting to be just another mortgage broker, Ben was determined to be a specialist in different types of lending so he formed separate divisions, including Residential, Commercial, Construction, and VA, to make sure consumers were getting the expertise of each type of mortgage program.

Ben has a profound faith in the Lord Jesus and attributes the success and growth of Indigo Mortgage to God being faithful to his business.