Reduce Risk, Increase Reward
Our Core Values
At DirectAdvisors, we have one singular focus: The financial health of your business and employees.
INTEGRITY
We treat everyone with respect. And we stay independent—no conflicts of interest here.
SERVICE
We see a client request as a welcome opportunity to show how much we care. We answer the phone. You’ll know the team well.
GROWTH
We are here to help you grow. We will teach you how to make better financial decisions both personally and professionally.
COMPLIANCE
We strive for compliance with both the letter and the intent of the law. We stand behind our work and will defend it at our own expense.
Are you a merit shop construction company subject to the Davis-Bacon Act, Service Contract Act or state prevailing wage regulations?
WE WILL:
- Determine and design the appropriate bona fide benefit structure.
- Administer health and welfare insurance benefits.
- Administer supplemental unemployment, paid time-off, training and savings benefits.
- Integrate your bona fide benefit plan with your retirement plan.
Do you need an ERISA fiduciary to consult with you as you navigate retirement plan options for your employees?
WE WILL:
- Design and manage your plan.
- Assist with the oversight of your plan’s service providers and platforms.
- Provide fiduciary investment management, governance and stewardship.
- Lead participant education efforts and offer one-on-one advice.
Our Expertise
Caring for your employees and for your bottom line can be complex. We help you balance the two and gain peace of mind.
DirectAdvisors is an independent, fee-based firm specializing in two areas: Prevailing Wage Solutions & Fiduciary Services.
Meet Our Team
Where you see obligation, we see opportunity.
In fact, our team brings together more than a century of combined professional experience in developing fringe benefit plans and providing retirement plan guidance to benefit your organization and your employees.

Tom Santa Barbara
Co-Founder

Jeff Ricchiuti
Chief Investment Officer

Grace LaPlante
Administrative Assistant

Jeff Bennett
Co-Founder

Stacy Gregory
Plan Advisor

Tanya Mandigo
Trust Analyst

Catherine “Kitty” Kilmer
VP of Compliance

Travis Santa Barbara
Chief Administrative Officer
Latest From Our Blog
DirectAdvisors – Newport Retirement Services Video Podcast: Pooled Employer Plans (PEPs)
DirectAdvisors is pleased to announce our 2nd video podcast in our ongoing retirement plan podcast series. Our guest in this episode was Matt Petralia, Regional Director, Northeast Region of Newport Retirement Services (Newport Group). Matt spent a few minutes speaking with DirectAdvisors’ Co-Founder and President, Tom Santa Barbara, on multi-employer plans, with a particular focus on Pooled Employer Plans (PEPs), which were introduced as part of the SECURE Act of 2019.
DirectAdvisors — CEFEX Video Podcast: CEFEX Certification
DirectAdvisors is proud to announce our first video podcast! We were excited to have Matt Boyle, Director of Operations at CEFEX, as our first guest. Matt spent a few minutes this afternoon speaking with DirectAdvisors’ Chief Investment Officer, Jeff Ricchiuti, on CEFEX certification — what it means, how it benefits our clients, and what the CEFEX process involves.
Fiduciary Liability Insurance vs. ERISA Fidelity Bonds
As you might be aware, fiduciary liability insurance and ERISA fidelity bonds are not one and the same. Both serve to mitigate risk for fiduciaries, and both are critical aspects of an employee benefit plan. However, it’s important to understand the differences between these two safety nets, as well as the degree to which your plan should be protected by each.