I have had the good fortune of working with Mark Stevens for 35 years.  Mark has made a profound difference in my company, Clarfeld Financial Advisors, and in my life.  Within the business community, and specifically the financial services industry, Mark is well known and often quoted for his second-to-none prowess.  Upon reflection, Mark’s guidance not only entailed every aspect of firm, but he taught me the essence of how to run an ethical and efficient business.

I first sought Mark's advice in 1981, shortly after establishing my accounting firm, and having read his incredibly insightful description of the environment I recently moved on from, “The Big Eight.”  As a sole-practioneer coming from a mega-firm I didn’t know how to market my services in a way that would enable me to achieve the critical mass that I needed to be competitive in my rather narrow specialty, international taxation and estate planning.  Mark’s probing questions as to how I saw my career and life developing over time caught me completely by surprise.  Mark’s contribution to my business was an amalgam of visioning, messaging, management structure and prioritizing my energies.  As we added additional services to our platform, Mark was with me, as both mentor and friend, at every step.  Although he and his talented team created every aspect of our marketing and external communications, I am most grateful to Mark for helping Clarfeld Financial Advisors grow from a one-man shop to where we are today; a multi-family office with a 100 professionals, over $6 billion in assets under management, and widely recognized within our industry as among the very best.  

With the passage of time, I remain even more steadfast in my view that Mark has the sharpest business mind I have ever encountered.  I am fortunate to have had Mark accompany me on my remarkable journey as not just my advisor, but as my consigliere, confidante and friend.  

I wholeheartedly recommend Mark Stevens without any qualification whatsoever.  

​

Robert A. Clarfeld, CPA, CFP® 

CEO/President of Clarfeld Financial Advisors

​

​

"You can explain your dream(s) to Mark and he will see it in vivid color. Then he will size it up. what's right about it, what's wrong with it. Here is one example of many I experienced over 7 years of working with him.

A few years ago the whole world was convinced the US housing market was melting down and crashing for a generation. I wanted to explain to the world that this was the opposite of right. It was explainable and temporary. Mark got me into a dozen meetings with the gatekeepers of media and we ended up with a radio show on WABC in NY, 75 appearances on cable news and a book deal. I had a vision, he helped craft the message, and set up the amplifiers.

When I struggled for a name for the book, which showed how history and the data didn't support the hype of a housing meltdown, and that a recovery was around the corner, he said, "So the book should be called Boom". I said it needed to acknowledge the pain of the moment. He said "Crash Boom!"

It was like that the whole time.

The day the book came out, he was all grins. "I love that on one day there is no book, and the next day there is a book." Like something was just added to the universe that was needed.

For Mark it's all about what the world is missing. Show him something that's missing and he will help you bring it to life."

-Gregory Rand

 CEO of Own America, Leading Brokerage in Single Family Residential Space

​

​

Rhodes has had a relationship with Mark Stevens over the past three, plus years.
We have found Mark to be highly creative and very responsive to our firm’s needs. 

Mark has an unusual ability to understand what qualities, attributes and experience makes Rhodes a unique firm. Mark took advantage of our core strengths and presented this in a manner that has been highly successful. 

Mark has always represented us with honesty, sincerity, intelligence, and intensity that has been focused on helping our firm become more successful. He was always available whenever we needed assistance. We would highly recommend Mark Stevens both personally and professionally. Please do not hesitate to contact me as a reference. 

​

Steve Littman

CEO of Rhodes Associates 

(212-503-0444)

​

​

I have known and used Mark Stevens’ services for over 20 years in a variety of
ways. He has been a friend, a partner and mentor. As an Entrepreneur, a Chief
Marketing Officer and a President and CEO, I found his input and perspective to
be a major part of any success I and my organizations may have had.
Mark is truly unique. He certainly possesses an amazingly creative imagination.
He also possesses something even rarer: the ability to challenge the status quo,
long held dogmas and the unproductive world of business groupthink. When
most people are looking to answer “the question”, Mark is pointing out that it’s
the wrong question. I’ve seen him transform business approaches in areas as
diverse as financial services, technology, retail and media. His ability to get to the
essential heart of any business is actually fun to watch!
Mark has never lived in the past. He lives in the future. I certainly look forward to
seeing him mentor the next generation of thought leaders, entrepreneurs, and
big thinkers to reach their goals and make this world a better, more productive
and certainly more interesting place to be.

​

Richard Connors

Former President, Annuities, The MONY Group