^{Our Firm}About Crestmark

^{Our Story}The Meaning Behind "Crestmark"

Our name represents two core concepts that define how we serve our clients:

The Crest: Represents the summit. Reaching the highest point of your wealth and financial potential is a major milestone, but scaling the mountain is only half the journey. We guide you up the peak and help you safely navigate down the other side with retirement withdrawal strategies, tax planning, and estate protection.
The Mark: Represents the uncompromising standard we hold ourselves to as fiduciaries, as well as the lasting legacy our clients leave behind for generations to come.

Meet Ben Batiste — Owner & President

Ben Batiste founded Crestmark Wealth Group with a singular mission: to restore trust in financial advice by putting truth, education, and service above product sales.

Ben's path to financial planning was anything but ordinary. After experiencing homelessness for ten years as a child, Ben joined the United States military. While serving, he witnessed firsthand how service members were targeted by aggressive life insurance agents and financial salespeople pushing high-commission products aimed at guaranteed salaries and benefits. Nobody stopped to educate or explain how money actually worked.

Later, during his career in law enforcement, Ben saw the exact same pattern repeated among his fellow officers and first responders. Determined to make a difference, Ben began studying finance and teaching his colleagues how to plan for retirement, manage debt, and protect their families. Realizing his calling was to fundamentally change how financial advice is delivered, Ben became a financial advisor and established Crestmark Wealth Group.

Our Core Values

Education

Informed clients make better decisions. We take the time to explain how money moves through your economy.

Radical Transparency

All fees are published and clear. You will know exactly what you pay and what value you receive.

Truth Over Comfort

We tell you the absolute truth about your financial standing, even when it is not what you initially want to hear.

Service Before Self

Forged in military and law enforcement service, our client relationships are built on duty, integrity, and protection.

Planning Before Products

We build comprehensive strategy roadmaps first. Products are never introduced without a proven plan behind them.

Benjamin Batiste

President

Ben uses a combination of real-world perspective and technical experience to help clients protect what they have, plan intentionally, and create lasting legacies through Crestmark’s coordinated and modern virtual family office model...

Hunter Hays

Financial Professional

Hunter helps individuals and families make sense of their financial lives by turning complexity into clarity and strategy into action. His approach centers on education, intentional planning, and building long-term confidence so...

Cassandra Coffey

Client Service Associate and Advisor in Training

Ruthanne Allen

Director of Client Service

^{In The Community}Community Involvement

We believe true wealth includes investing in the community around us. Crestmark Wealth Group actively supports local initiatives, including volunteering with the Special Olympics and participating in community events like the Plane Pull. Our commitment to service extends far beyond financial strategy.

^{Get Started}Ready to experience transparent financial planning?

Schedule your free discovery call today. Learn something new about your finances—even if you choose not to work with us.

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Our FirmAbout Crestmark

Our StoryThe Meaning Behind "Crestmark"