Our Team

Established over 35 years ago in Scottsdale, Arizona, The Winfield Group assembles a very proficient and experienced team providing tax, legal, estate planning, wills, trusts, insurance and investment consultation services for our clients. The collaboration between our team members offers comprehensive services to our clients.

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Stephen C. Clifford

Managing Director

Stephen C. Clifford

Managing Director

As a Registered Investment Advisor* and co-founder of The Winfield Group, Stephen Clifford serves as Managing Director providing the firm direction and leadership to execute stated philosophy, mission and strategies....Read More

As a Registered Investment Advisor* and co-founder of The Winfield Group, Stephen Clifford serves as Managing Director providing the firm direction and leadership to execute stated philosophy, mission and strategies.

For more than 35 years, Stephen has specialized in defining and delivering sophisticated financial strategies and wealth preservation solutions to clients of substantial wealth. Incorporating advanced innovative plan designs, Stephen personally guides and assists clients through: Asset Management, Wealth Transfer (Trusts/Wills), Asset Protection, Tax Planning Strategies, Retirement Planning, Executive Compensation Strategies, Real Estate Acquisitions and Insurance Review and Analysis.

An experienced keynote speaker, Stephen frequently speaks to college groups, corporate and private events and business forums. His financial articles have been highlighted numerous times in AZ Foothills Magazine (online) and he is the former co-host of The Money Dream Radio Show (1100 AM KFNX Phoenix, AZ).

Stephen has served as a financial consultant on several non-profit boards including Living Waters, CFTN Ministries, and the nationally recognized Fuzzy Feet Foundation.

He is a member in good standing of the National Association of Financial and Insurance Advisors, Association of Accountants and Financial Professionals, Financial Planning Association and the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors.

*A Registered Investment Advisor Representative is an investment advisor registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission and respective state securities agencies. A Registered Investment Advisor Representative must adhere to a fiduciary standard of care laid out in the US Investments Advisors Act of 1940. Registered Investment Advisors have passed Uniform Securities Agent State Law Examination Series 53 and Uniform Investment Advisor Law Examination Series 65. Uniform Combined State Law Exams are developed by NASAA and are designed to qualify candidates as both securities and investment advisor representatives.

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Merrie Jo Reavis

Operations

Merrie Jo Reavis

Operations

Merrie Jo has been with The Winfield Group since 2017. She partners with the Directors of Marketing and Operations to facilitate new business in an efficient manner while expanding ...Read More

Merrie Jo has been with The Winfield Group since 2017. She partners with the Directors of Marketing and Operations to facilitate new business in an efficient manner while expanding and growing the firm in support of the Managing Director. She is responsible for expenses, contracts, processes and procedures.

Merrie Jo retired with MetLife after 30 years of service. She began her career in an agency where she supported producers and clients with new business and service of existing clients. Prior to retiring she served as a Business Procedures Director where she collaborated with Compliance, Legal, management, producers, and clients to establish and develop programs and strategies to meet the objectives of the company while meeting the needs of the producers and clients.

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Hilda Acevedo

Administration

Hilda Acevedo

Administration

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Antoinette Clifford

Director of Marketing

Antoinette Clifford

Director of Marketing

Antoinette develops the marketing strategies to meet The Winfield Group’s objectives. She manages and coordinates all marketing, advertising and promotional activities of the firm. ...Read More

Antoinette develops the marketing strategies to meet The Winfield Group’s objectives. She manages and coordinates all marketing, advertising and promotional activities of the firm.

Antoinette is also the co-founder of the not-for-profit Fuzzy Feet Foundation which has donated over 10,000 warm, colorful new slippers to hospitalized children throughout the United States. The foundation has been featured in numerous national media outlets including Time Magazine, In Touch Magazine, and Guide Post Magazine, as well as made television appearances on CBS, ABC and NBC’s Today Show. In 2004, the foundation received a prestigious award when it was inducted into the Frederick Douglas Hall of Fame Museum for Caring Americans on Capital Hill in Washington D.C. by museum board members Robert Dole, Jimmy Carter, Dick Clark and Hugh Downs.

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Sharon Masler

Accountant

Sharon Masler

Accountant

Sharon Masler has 25 years experience in finance and accounting. Her background includes planning and performing audits, reviews and compilations of financial statements, ...Read More

Sharon Masler has 25 years experience in finance and accounting. Her background includes planning and performing audits, reviews and compilations of financial statements, primarily for medium-size, privately-held companies in manufacturing and distribution industries.

Sharon has managed a wide variety of client consulting projects, including assistance in preparing of full disclosure financial statements in accordance with GAAP, major account reconciliations, advising ON proper accounting treatment for various transactions, and preparing tax provisions and cash flow statements. She has also acted as a primary liaison with clients to ensure timely and efficient communication.

Sharon attended University of St. La Salle, Philippines where she received her B.S. in Accountancy, has passed all 4 parts of the CPA exams and is a CPA candidate in the state of California.

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Steve Piascik

Certified Public Accountants

Steve Piascik

Certified Public Accountants

Steve holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration/Accounting from Bloomsburg University and a Masters in Taxation from Virginia Commonwealth University....Read More

Steve holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration/Accounting from Bloomsburg University and a Masters in Taxation from Virginia Commonwealth University Steve is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants and a NFL Players Association Registered Representative.

Prior to founding PIASCIK, Steve was Senior Tax Manager in the Richmond office of KPMG LLP, one of the “Big Four” international accounting firms.

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Scott Erickson

Attorney at Law

Scott Erickson

Attorney at Law

Scott is a senior partner at Frazer Ryan Goldberg & Arnold LLP with more than 17 years of legal experience. His primary areas of practice are estate planning, asset protection planning, business succession planning, ...Read More

Scott is a senior partner at Frazer Ryan Goldberg & Arnold LLP with more than 17 years of legal experience. His primary areas of practice are estate planning, asset protection planning, business succession planning, charitable gift planning, pre-marital planning, probate, trust administration, and the formation, operation, and maintenance of (as well as the purchase/sale of interests in) family owned entities and closely-held business entities.

Scott is an AV-rated certified specialist in estate and trust law, and a former Chairman of the Estate and Trust Advisory Commission, which assists the Arizona Board of Legal Specialization in the certification of estate and trust law practitioners in Arizona.

Scott distinguishes himself by keeping abreast of the latest developments and planning opportunities, devoting the time and effort necessary to learn and understand each client's circumstances, needs, and objectives, educating clients about the available options (because there is almost always more than one), and working closely with clients and their advisors to design and implement sound and specifically tailored strategies. Effecting tax-efficient wealth transfers is an objective shared by many of Scott's clients, but Scott is frequently called upon to help clients achieve other goals as well, like reducing exposure to future creditor claims, preserving a family business or legacy, promoting a religious, charitable, scientific, literary, or educational cause, making lifetime and/or testamentary transfers to minor or disabled beneficiaries (or trusts for their benefit), and planning for incapacity, to name a few.

Scott also represents and advises fiduciaries, beneficiaries, and creditors in estate and trust matters.

Education

  • University of Texas (J.D., 1993)
  • Stanford University (B.A., Economics, 1985)

Professional Recognitions and Awards

  • Rated AV® Preeminent™ by Martindale-Hubbell®
  • Super Lawyers® (Estate Planning & Probate): 2008-2013
  • THE BEST LAWYERS IN AMERICA®, Trusts and Estates (2011)
  • Named Southwest Super Lawyer by LAW & POLITICS MAGAZINE (2008-2011)
  • Selected for AMERICA'S FINEST LAWYERS (2011)
  • Named Best of the Bar by the ARIZONA BUSINESS JOURNAL (2005)

Selected Articles and Presentations

  • Probate Court and Trust and Estate Litigation Updates, sponsored by the State Bar of Arizona (2011)
  • Selected Drafting Issues Under the Arizona Trust Code, sponsored by the State Bar of Arizona, Probate and Trust Law Section (2009)
  • Estate Planning: Beyond the Basics, sponsored by KAET-TV Channel 8 (2009)
  • Recent Developments in Estate Freeze Transactions and Planning with Family Limited Partnerships, sponsored by the Arthritis Foundation, Greater Southwest Chapter (2009)
  • Highlights of the New and Improved Arizona Trust Code, sponsored by the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (2008)
  • Charitable Planning, sponsored by the National Business Institute (2006)
  • Ethical Issues in Estate Planning, sponsored by the National Business Institute (2006)
  • Business Succession Planning, sponsored by the Arizona Society of Certified Public Accountants (2003)

Professional Memberships and Community Activities

  • Member, State Bar of Arizona, Probate & Trust Law Section
  • Member, Maricopa County Bar Association
  • Past Chairman, Estate and Trust Advisory Commission, Arizona Board of Legal Specialization
  • Member, American Bar Association, Real Property, Trust and Estate Law Section
  • Honorary Member, Board of Directors, Arthritis Foundation, Greater Southwest Chapter
  • Member and Past Chairman, Planned Giving Committee, Arthritis Foundation, Greater Southwest Chapter
 
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Mark Ziebold

Attorney at Law

Mark Ziebold

Attorney at Law