Our Team
E-mail: Jeff@buckeyewealth.com
Jeff Best, Certified Financial Planner™
Partner & COO
Jeff graduated from OSU in 1983 and began working in the financial services industry in 1986. With over 31 years serving clients, Jeff believes there is more to reaching your goals and life purpose than just money.
Focus: Jeff believes each person has a unique vision of their Ideal Life and he wants to learn as much about them and their journey as he possibly can. Helping clients make smart choices, reaching their financial and life goals, so they can make a difference in this life.
He is currently President and COO of Buckeye Wealth Management, LLC.
- Graduate of The Ohio State University 1983
- Business/Finance Major
- Concentration: Finance, Investment Management & Economics
Starting his career in financial services in the brokerage business, Jeff realized that the commission compensation model was not in the client’s best interest, moved to a fee only model and started his own, independent Registered Investment Advisory firm in 1999, Best Advisory Services, LLC. Later he merged with another RIA firm to form Buckeye Wealth Management, LLC where he serves as President and Chief Operation Officer.
Jeff has held the respected Certified Financial Planner ™ certification since May 1996 and believes a financial plan is the foundation of every successful financial strategy, dream, and Ideal Life.
Married to Kim in 1982, Jeff and his family reside in Westerville, Ohio. Kim runs the front office of a New Albany Dental Practice. They are blessed with 3 children, a daughter who is a 1st grade teacher in the suburban Cincinnati school district of Forest Hills, a son who is a technology recruiter for Abercrombie and Fitch and a daughter who will be picking out colleges soon.
Members of the Vineyard Church of Columbus, they enjoy being a part of such a giving community of people. Jeff has coordinated the Financial Stewardship Ministry, started the Free Financial Clinic and hosted financial bible studies and budget workshops. Together, Kim and Jeff love to host small groups and work with the Marriage & Family Life Ministry mentoring and teaching.
Jeff’s interests include serving others, remodeling projects, coaching baseball, and of course golf.
E-mail: DJ@buckeyewealth.com
Donald J. DePalma
Partner & CCO
With over 35 years in financial services since graduating from The Ohio State University, Don has built a successful career serving the wealth management needs of his clients.
Dedicated to building relationships through trust and transparency, DJ’s clients enjoy the benefits of having developed a personal, trusted relationship that is not all about the money.
Sure, the financial aspects of an Advisor-Client relationship are important, but DJ believes it is more of a financial partnership, where many aspects of one’s life come into play.
“If you don’t know the details of your client’s life and family, you really are limited in the depth of advice you are able to give them…I need to spend time ‘in their shoes’ to be able to help them plan for the kind of future they see for themselves…”
Don's other activities include being a member of the planning committee for the annual Komen-Columbus Race For The Cure, along with membership in several Masonic organizations, including Shriners International, which provides state-of-the-art advanced medical treatment for children with orthopedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries, and cleft lip and palate, in 22 Shriners Hospitals in the US, Canada & Mexico, regardless of the family’s ability to pay.
DJ has a passion for people and has built his practice around the philosophy of only doing what is best for his clients.
E-mail: Eric@buckeyewealth.com
Eric Robbins
Financial Advisor
Financial Advisor
Eric is a US Air Force veteran and a proud graduate of The Ohio State University. With over 25 years of experience as a financial advisor, Eric enjoys “helping others to help themselves”.
Eric has been practicing “fee-only” investment management since 1993. Prior to joining the Buckeye Wealth Management team as a senior investment advisor in 2004, Eric owned and operated his own investment management company for more than 10 years. To further his education as a financial advisor, Eric has taken several Certified Financial Analyst (CFA) courses in the pursuit of providing better service to his clients.
Eric and his wife, Kristi, and their three children have enjoyed being part of the called Westerville community. Eric’s involvement includes coaching baseball, and participating in service projects through civic clubs and church.
Eric’s other interests are fishing, reading, and real estate investing. As a committed life-long learner, Eric enjoys researching different subject matters and is always interested in learning new things.