Who We Are

At FinTrust Insurance & Benefits, we are here to steer you in the best direction for all your insurance endeavors, both professionally and personally.

 Our history

Since 1973, FinTrust Insurance & Benefits has provided our clients with sophisticated financial products and a wide array of business services that aligned with their goals. We employ highly experienced professionals who have a steadfast commitment to excellence in service, professional ethics and personal integrity. Whether you’re a business owner looking to navigate the complex maze of employee benefits plans or a family seeking to create a lasting legacy for your next generation, the professionals at FinTrust Insurance & Benefits are positioned to offer you sound advice.


 Our people


cindy


Cindi Johnston
Vice President | Employee Benefits
Cindi@FinTrustIns.com

Cindi has been a licensed insurance agent since 1985. She brings significant experience to assist clients in obtaining their employee benefit goals. Prior to joining the company, she represented large corporations such as Aetna, Principal and Humana. Cindi has extensive experience in the insurance profession, specializing in employee benefit plans and their administration. In a constantly changing healthcare environment, her diverse knowledge allows clients to manage through the complexities of benefit programs. She is instrumental in working with corporate leadership providing compliance, legal, tax and funding options to achieve their overall employee benefit program objectives. Her experience in this industry has been a valuable asset to our enterprise.





Michael J. Ison, CLU®
Vice President | Executive Risk
Mike@FinTrustIns.com

Mike has been a successful, well-known banker in Central Florida for thirty-five years. His practice is focused on corporate and personal insurance opportunities and solutions. Mike’s vast knowledge of wealth management, financial and retirement planning, investments, portfolio design and tactical tax strategies provides customized options for his clients. Using a consultative approach to identify needs, he garners the confidence and trust of novice and savvy prospects and clients.

Mike is a graduate of Seminole State College, Emory University National Trust School, University of Florida School of Banking and the Orange County Bar Association’s Leadership Law program. Mike holds a Series 7 (General Securities Representative). Mike is also a Registered Representative with Kestra Investment Services, LLC. Kestra Investment Services, LLC is not affiliated with Seaside Insurance, Inc. or Seaside Bank and Trust.

As a native of Central Florida, Mike has a vested interest in giving back to his community and serves as a board member for Orange County Public Schools’ Foundation Board and is Past Chair. He also supports the community by volunteering in various capacities with Junior Achievement, Coalition for the Homeless and Habitat for Humanity.



kim


Kimberly Wajda
Operations Manager
Kim@FinTrustIns.com

Kim is a licensed insurance professional, working in this industry since 1986 with more than 35+ years of experience. She holds a license in life, health and fixed annuity.

Her role includes ensuring our agency complies with its outside regulatory and legal requirements, as well as, internal policies and bylaws, licensing and contracting, and providing services to the Executives while maintaining her primary responsibilities as an underwriter and managing client services. Kim continues to be a proven asset to our team.

Kim resides in Chuluota, Florida with her husband and son. In her spare time, she enjoys baking, spending time with her fur babies, and taking the occasional road trip.



dorothy


Dorothy Quinones
Client Service Manager
Dorothy@FinTrustIns.com

As a licensed agent in our Group Benefits Department, Dorothy Quinones oversees all aspects of the day-to-day operations. With her high success in delivering quality service, Dorothy brings extensive experience in the management of billing, claims, and ongoing administration for both employers and individual plan participants. She also specializes in our electronic benefits administration system. Dorothy has been working in the agency/brokerage industries since 1995.





Aimee Crouse
Strategic Account Executive
Aimee@FinTrustIns.com

Aimee Crouse has been a licensed agent since 1998 and has helped small business partners develop and implement their employee benefits programs throughout Central Florida. Aimee’s extensive knowledge and expertise with Group Benefits is unparalleled. She is well known for her great customer service, consistent communication, strong attention to detail and ensuring a positive experience for the company and their employees. She has relationships with all the group benefit carriers in Florida including, Aetna, Cigna, Florida Blue, Humana and United Healthcare.





Joyce Holtzapple
Client Service Representative
Joyce@FinTrustIns.com

Joyce recently joined the Seaside Insurance team in 2021. Her prior roles have been with Seaside Bank and Trust as a FC Finance Specialist and a FC Bank Compliance Specialist. With her finance background, Joyce specializes in tracking life and group commissions for all carriers and groups and provides support to both the life and group departments. She enjoys spending time with her grandchildren, the beach, and collecting Coca-Cola memorabilia.


Insurance Advisors*:

  • Diane Akel, Ponte Vedra Beach
  • Steve Altier, Sarasota
  • Melissa D’Orazio, Windermere
  • Steve Datkuliak, Gainesville
  • Kevin Kelly, Palm Beach Gardens
  • George Madden, Lake Mary

  • Veronica Maybury, Ponte Vedra Beach
  • Sonja Griffin Newland, Tampa
  • Steve Rogner, Downtown Orlando
  • David Ruppel, Tampa
  • Stuart Scott, Downtown Orlando
  • Omar Tirado, Boca Raton

* These individuals are not affiliated or employed with FinTrust Brokerage Services, LLC..

Our promise

Financial security is often a matter of continuity. At FinTrust Insurance & Benefits, we promise to get to know you, your family and your business. We believe that taking the time to understand you and your goals means we can offer our advice more effectively. Once we’ve identified your needs and aspirations, we’ll recommend product-neutral, needs-based insurance solutions, right for today and tailored to your tomorrow. It’s our promise to build a solid rapport by meeting and exceeding your expectations in service and follow through.


Our model

We begin every relationship by performing a prudent analysis of all aspects of your insurance plans to assure you have adequate coverage, proper ownership and beneficiary structure. In addition, we will do a cost comparison to ensure you are receiving a good value on your policy. We take the time to understand your entire financial picture and deliver a fully integrated risk management solution with your best interest at heart.

FinTrust Insurance & Benefits is an independent insurance agency, meaning we embrace an open architecture and offer no proprietary insurance products. Open architecture involves the utilization of multiple insurance underwriters, which gives us the freedom to choose insurance solutions from a wide variety of providers. Our model allows us the objectivity necessary to choose the solutions that best meet your needs. We perform extensive due diligence and only work with the most stable and financially secure underwriters.

Our decision to adhere to an open architecture insurance model is a conscious commitment to align your best interests with the best valued products available to meet your needs.

©2023