North Shore Real Producers - January 2023

Working with Dave has taken all of the guess work out of determining insurance coverage and needs for our family—we had previously enrolled in a corporate option, thinking that our best interests were protected; however, Dave’s analysis and insights not only saved us on premiums, but offered us more coverage. He holds the insurance for our home and our vehicles, continually updating us on policies and rates …without hesitation, I would recommend Dave for his knowledge, response rate and genuine customer service.

- Maureen Marblehead,

MA

We have worked with Dave Bruett for only a few years and can confidently say we would never change. Dave's professionalism and responsiveness sets him apart from the other agents we have worked with. His expertise and thorough guidance provides us the confidence that we are making the right decisions for all our insurance needs. He is our 'go to!'

- Nora Marblehead, MA

Dave is so customer focused he makes things easy when it comes to insurance. Whether it is setting up a new policy, answering my questions promptly, helping get a claim filed or any other insurance related issue he is always right on top of it. I do all my personal insurance with him and when I started my own business a few years ago he set all that insurance up for me as well. Dave is the best!

- Sam Salem, MA

Dan St. John Photographer Lightshed Photography Studio

Talman Hauch

Dr. Brian Ramsey Sr. Writer

Geneva Eilertson Marketing Coordinator

Michelle Morello

Photographer Lightshed Photography Studio

Corey Stein

Photo + Video Production Corey Stein Films

Maeve Sherwood Social Media Manager

Heather Johnson Ad Strategist

PREFERRED PARTNERS

ATTORNEY

This section has been created to give you easier access when searching for a trusted real estate affiliate. Take a minute to familiarize yourself with the businesses sponsoring your magazine. These local businesses are proud to partner with you and make this magazine possible. Please support these businesses and thank them for supporting the REALTOR® community *Please place Index on a left hand page and Tarpey Insurance ad opposite this article on the right.

Tiernan Law

Capano & McGloin, LLP

Lisa J. McGloin (781) 599-1010 CapanoMcGloin.com

Dalton & Finegold, LLP

Christina Petrucci (978) 783-3038 dfllp.com

Gilmore & Gilmore, Attorneys at Law Rachel Hollingsworth (978) 777-3480 GilmoreGilmore.com

ATTORNEY/ TITLE COMPANY

Anthony G. Keck & Associates

Anthony Keck & Julie Rubenstein (978) 745-3353 Salem-Law.com

Cherry Tree Legal, PLLC Brendan L. Ward, Esq. (781) 496-2013 www.cherrytreelegal.com

Hallett Closing & Title, LLC

David Hallett (781) 797-0088

Parry & Parry, P.C. Denise Parry (978) 346-0005

Simple Title Closing & Escrow PLLC

George Megaloudis (978) 539-7500 simpletitle.us

Sean Tiernan (617) 791-3538 Tiernan-Law.com

ESTATE SALES

Blue Moon Estate Sales Jonathan Mandell (781) 698-7379 BlueMoonEstateSales.com/ MerrimackValley

FINANCIAL ADVISOR

Northwestern Mutual Martin Connolly (781) 224-1623

HOME INSPECTION

Indian Rock Inspections, LLC Brett Maloney (978) 766-0366 indianrockinspections.com

R.J. Home Inspection

Adam Wright (800) 253-4402 rjhomeinspection.com

Vector Home Inspection, LLC Glenn Grutta (978) 705-1007 vectorhomeinspection.com

HOME RENOVATION

Curbio (810) 300-9432 Curbio.com

HOME STAGING Staged Occasions Tara Konaxis (978) 885-0125 stagedoccasions.com

HOME STAGING & DESIGN

Relux Decor Ashley O’Shea (978) 979-6532 ReluxDecor.com

INSURANCE AGENCY

Tarpey Insurance Elizabeth Kent (781) 246-2677 tarpeyinsurance.com

INSURANCE SERVICES

David Bruett Insurance Services David Bruett (978) 594-5308 davebruettinsurance.com

INTERIOR DESIGN

Living Swell Diana James (781) 990-5150 livingswellmarblehead.com

MORTGAGE LENDER

Academy Mortgage Adam Moore (978) 697-6019 AcademyMortgage.com/ about-us/team/adammoore

CrossCountry MortgageLiz & Mike Team Liz Ryan (978) 237-4431 ccm.com/liz-ryan

NRL Mortgage Anthony Lapolla (978) 209-0916 www.AnthonyAtNRL.com

Salem Five Mortgage Company Brian Mahoney (978) 479-1571

MOVERS

Humboldt Storage & Moving Jim Sullivan (781) 821-8777 Humboldt.com

PHOTOGRAPHER

Lightshed Photography Studio Dan St. John (978) 854-5348 lightshedphoto.com

PUBLIC ADJUSTING SERVICES

Panakio Adjusters, Inc. Melissa Sherwood (781) 592-7575 panakioadjusters.com

RE TRANSACTION COORDINATOR

Real Estate TC Services (978) 770-2964

VIDEO PRODUCTION

Corey Stein Films Corey Stein (781) 479-7774 CoreySteinFilms.com

PUBLISHER’S

The weekend before Thanksgiving, I took my youngest daughter, who’s 14, to Notre Dame to see the Irish play Boston College in football. We had the same trip planned for a similar weekend last year, right before Thanksgiving break, but I got COVID-19 and had to cancel the entire trip.

She still wanted to go see the campus and see a game, so we rescheduled for this year. And I can tell you, as a huge Notre Dame fan, it was well worth the wait! I’ve been to Notre Dame Stadium before, also for a Notre Dame v. Boston College contest, but it was about 35 years ago. Oddly, the score was identical both times ... ND 44, BC 0. That first game was fun, too, and featured filming of the movie Rudy at halftime, so technically, I’m in that movie!

We arrived Friday afternoon to snow, wind and cold that was certainly not happening here. We immediately found a great place for lunch, the Bru Burger Bar. Check it out if you’re ever there. I recommend the Bourbon Burger.

From there, we started touring the campus, something I had never been able to do. Our first stop was Hammes Bookstore, the smaller one of the two on campus. We eventually made it to the main location, which is near the spectacular Morris Inn,

a beautiful on-campus hotel. This Hammes location is enormous and was hopping with people grabbing armloads of Notre Dame clothing and just about any logoed item you could think of!

Of course, we did our own damage on fleece jackets, sweatshirts, flannel PJ pants, hats, gloves, t-shirts and a stadium blanket. And Hammes knows how to handle the shoulder-to-shoulder customer traffic on a cold home game weekend. They must have 25 checkout lanes, all full, but the long lines move quickly. It’s quite the retail factory, for sure.

Now it was time to head out to see the rest of the campus. And if you’ve never been, it’s truly an eye-opening and spiritual experience. Grace said her favorite part of our exploration was seeing the inside of the Basilica. And she’s right. It’s very emotionally moving, and I must say, it brought a lump to my throat as we sat in a quiet pew and just gazed at the beauty around us.

When deciding what to do Friday night before the game, we were between two other sporting events. One was

the women’s NCAA Division 1 soccer playoff game in 20-degree, windy weather or the men’s basketball game in the warmth and comfort of The Joyce Center. We made the obvious choice and took in the basketball game. For a mere $10 per ticket, we had great seats and enjoyed an exciting, last-second 1-point Notre Dame victory.

At last, it was game day ... and it was cold. After enjoying some free breakfast at our hotel, the Inn at St. Mary’s, located right across the street from the St. Mary’s campus, we headed to the stadium to catch the players’ walk, a time-honored tradition where the team marches from the Gug, towards the Hesburgh Library before walking through the main stadium tunnel. Kids love this as the marching band plays, and it is a chance to view the players and coaches up close.

Tailgating is taken to an otherworldly level too. There are pop-up tents everywhere in the main parking lot, with plenty of spirits, along with grilled and prepared foods all over the place. It was fun for Grace to partake in the atmosphere, and even though it was very cold, she never complained but only smiled at this overwhelmingly joyful party.

For warmth and lunch prior to kick-off, we headed to O’Rourkes Public House, which was packed with students and adults alike. This is a popular game-day pub that doles out burgers and robust Irish fare amid old-world digs. It truly had an Irish feel to it ... which, of course, means I needed at least one cold brew, right?

The game itself was not much to speak about, but the experience was fantastic. I mean, Notre Dame won the game, big, but I was disappointed that Boston College didn’t play better. Maybe next time.

As a child, I always wanted to go to Notre Dame, and I’m always hopeful that one of my girls will. But who knows? For now, though, the experience for me was just as great as it was for Grace. Just seeing that big, bright, positive smile of hers made me happier than anything. And enjoying the experience together ... well, that’s truly priceless and will be a shared memory we’ll have forever.

Enjoy this first issue of 2023, and happy selling!

Talman Hauch Owner/Publisher North Shore Real Producers

A TEACHER OF HOMES

Erica Petersiel has managed two careers for a long time, but they both are connected to one word: service. After graduating from Elon College (now University) with a degree in elementary education, Erica started her teaching career in preschool and substitution. In short, she discovered quickly that she did not want to do that anymore. Her family had opened Red Rock Bistro, and she was excited to join the family business.

Erica loved building relationships and serving people. At one point, she needed a change, so she pivoted to property management as the overseer of 358 units. She did quite well,

Petersiel loves the fact that she journeys with clients during major times or transitions in their lives. She treats everyone as if they were family, and to her, the process is way more than just a transaction. “I love puzzles, and my favorite game show is Wheel of Fortune, so if there is something to find, I am on it,” she notes. When she was little, her mother made the mistake of telling Erica that she would go to get something Erica wanted (think Cabbage Patch Kid and such) if Erica could find it. Erica would sit down with the phonebook and leave no stone unturned. It was great training for her future work.

work with her family, who had opened a new place: Lime Rickey’s, a beach stand in Marblehead. In 2013, the family sold both businesses, and by 2016, Petersiel had obtained her real estate license. Two years before, her friend and former Chef at the Red Rock opened The Beacon in Marblehead, and he made a plea for her to join him.

Now you know the rest of the story or at least how she arrived at this point in her life. For Erica, success is about waking up and being excited to go to work. She is. It is also about being fulfilled by serving others. Check. At the end of the day, your life is truly measured by the people that you cared for. Done!

Working under the mantra that life is 10% what happens to you and 90% what we do with it, Erica powers through the ebbs and flows of real estate keeping her eyes fixed on the prize of satisfied clients. Her game-changer in life came when she enrolled in a training module that taught her the proper mindset. It changed her brain, and she starts every day by making a list of things to show gratitude for. She hopes that her legacy will now include the fact that she was always a happy person who loved her community, and she hopes someone will say, “she was the woman that changed our lives.”

Erica’s mother lives in Marblehead, and her sister lives and has a restaurant on Martha’s Vineyard. She loves to spend time with them, play with her dog, Libby and travel. When she is abroad, she has someone local drive her around to enjoy the local architecture and scenery. She likes to learn about communities and thinks that most people enjoy the same here. That is why she considers herself to be a Teacher about Homes.

she was the women that changed our lives.

Petersiel says that agents need to remember that clients are real people equipped with strong emo tions (agents, too), and it is incumbent upon real estate professionals to learn to work with kindness and with the intent of all happy faces at the closing table. She notes that the best agents keep in contact with clients and that they create opportunities to keep themselves at the top of the clients’ minds. When she encounters a prospective agent, she always encourages them to learn what the job is right away and to educate themselves on the details of the tasks. “It is vital to be patient, especially at first, and finding the right brokerage is really important. I had one that trained me and supported me; it made all the difference,” she remembers.

Erica Petersiel is very confident that she is right where she needs to be. She will continue to grow, and she would like to eventually purchase more properties. She bought a condo last year, and ownership has been very fun. She is glad that she has been created with a passion for being a compas sionate helper, and her clients see her that way too!

partner spotlight

By Dr. Brian Ramsey, Senior Writer • photography by Michelle Morello, Lightshed Photography Studio

There are many categories that describe our philosophy leading up to our actions. There are the things we want to do, and there are those tasks/opportunities that we can / cannot do. At the end of the day, we must do what we need to do — despite how we feel; it helps us reach the finish line and accomplish our goals. That is exactly what the Law Offices of Anthony G. Keck & Associates is designed for!

Tony Keck graduated from law school almost four decades ago, and after a few stints at various firms, he longed to establish his own practice (with its own rules and processes). In January 1995, he fulfilled his dream and opened his firm. With years of experience and accumulated knowledge, Tony and his team are poised to handle closings and the host of issues that come with those transactions.

wills, and other legal matters. In addition to years of experience, the firm boasts its “up-to-date” knowledge of current issues, a large network of resources and an extensive background in customer service. They truly are client focused.

Helping Clients Do

What They Need To Do

Tony explains that he worked two jobs putting himself through college and law school, and he is very aware of the demands upon families seeking to obtain the American dream of homeownership. He was in a variety of occupations, including being a test car driver for General Motors and a cook in a dormitory that served 800 meals for lunch. “My work history gave me a differ ent perspective that I have applied to my practice, and I think it made me commit to excellent communication and a determination to guide people through difficult processes in a seamless manner,” he says.

For this firm, success is about building relationships with partners and agents and keeping their eyes on the prize: a proper win-win close for all. Some game-chang ers in the past have prepared Tony and Julie for major decisions that changed their trajectories. Julie speaks about relationships and connections that she has made

along the way where doors are opened and lasting friendships and partnerships are forged. Julie’s extensive background in customer service, including Walt Disney World and New England Financial, only adds to the experience that clients appreciate. Tony remembers visiting his mother, the deputy registrar of deeds, in his county when he was young, and it fostered an interest in him to pursue real estate law.

One of the features that agents and clients enjoy is Tony’s “connections” around town. He lives close by and walks to work, and almost everyone who works in that hub knows him. His relationships with municipal employees help him with resources to fix real estate problems quickly, as he knows where to go. The depth of his network provides greater opportunity and power for him to serve people better.

Keck is licensed in five states (Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Michigan and New York), which helps him in a variety of ways — including vacation homes for clients. Tony loves the collaborative culture at the firm as everyone works together for the common goal, and they understand that they are — along with other real estate professionals — on the same team. They know

that transactions are full of variables but that they are well prepared to face those and that many trust them for their ability to take the angst out of the equation.

Tony and his partner of 35 years have an adopted son. Tony enjoys the theater, watching the Bruins, and architecture, and he has been on many boards, including his current involvement on the board for Hamilton Hall. Julie is also a Bruins fan, and she loves the theater as well. She named her “crazy golden retriever” Bruin, and she also loves to work out at the gym doing Zumba.

One great reward of closing transactions is that Julie and Tony become the attorneys of choice for many clients. They are able to leverage their experience and knowledge in many areas that enable clients to see their broad legal picture.

For more information about Tony and Julie or the Law Offices of Anthony G. Keck & Associates, you may call them at 978-745-3353 or visit their website at salem-law.com. They will help you do the thing you need to do the most!

I think it made me commit to excellent communication and a determination to guide people through difficult processes in a seamless manner.

Whose REALTOR® story should we tell next?

Nominate a REALTOR® to be featured in an upcoming issue. Email the publisher of this magazine to let us know why your nominee deserves to be featured.

Real Producers tells the stories of the top real estate agents in this market.

featured team

Tina Tzortzis Erin Lane

&

TZORTZIS LANE REAL ESTATE GROUP, BENTLEY’S

Loving Where You Live

Your timeline is their timeline, and they really mean it! Tina Tzortzis and Erin Lane are a dynamic duo in the North Shore area and beyond. They constantly serve clients well and help them navigate the real estate process because they know that those clients are “opening the door to their next great move!” In addition, this tandem of real estate agents is poised to listen, communicate well and expend all efforts to work for their clients, and they do not mind the hustle of real estate at all; it is what they do.

For Tzortzis Lane Real Estate Group, success is about fulfillment, making new relationships, and seeing clients become very happy. Most of their clients become great friends following the closing table, and the team follows the Golden Rule by keeping in contact with them and treating them like family.

Erin Lane graduated from Quinnipiac University right after 9/11, and she launched her professional career at a local bank. She went on to work for a mortgage company and then a life insurance company (12 years), and along the journey, she became a mom — a job she adores. She learned some valuable lessons, the most important of which was that being tied to a cubicle all day was not a fit for her. Real estate had always intrigued her, and after securing her license in 2016, she worked her fulltime job and sold houses. It was a good addition to her business philosophy of building relationships and serving people.

In 2017, Erin walked away from the corporate world (with no forwarding address) and focused on real estate. She is very community-minded, so she started a chapter of the National Organization Women’s Business League, which doubled in membership even during the pandemic.

The next year, she moved to Bentley’s and then after two years, she received a diagnosis of a rare and chronic condition that would require surgery to survive. “I had just landed a listing in my hometown, and it was important to me,” she remembers; “I had to find a trusted colleague to turn it over to, and Tina was that person.” That move spawned the beginning of a great partnership and the team.

Tina studied international business at the University of New Hampshire, and she had visions of being an international diplomat who forged treaties with various parties — securing world peace. While she was a freshman in college, she obtained her real estate license since she had worked for her uncle (a real estate broker and developer) for years.

After her graduation, she immediately responded to her family’s need for a caregiver for her father, who had suffered a stroke. She needed a job that provided flexibility for her home-care duties, so she chose to enter real estate full-time.

Tina’s time as a caregiver and Erin’s becoming a mom gave both people game-changing experiences that shaped their view of serving and helping people reach their destinations. Erin remembers evaluating her career and thinking that there must be more, and in a sense, both have found that “more.”

IS NOT AN ‘EASY MONEY’ PROPOSITION... AND IT IS ALSO NOT ABOUT THE AGENT BUT ABOUT THE CLIENTS.

Both Tzortzis and Lane seek to emulate the habits and character qualities of the best real estate agents. They are committed to answering their phones, and they work on excellent communication. Each tries to set appropriate expectations, and their strength comes from an adept knowledge of their community, which they are quite proud of. In the end, both strive to be kind and encourage others to do the same.

The most important message that these two emphasize to newer agents is to “respect the hustle.” “It is not an ‘easy money’ proposition,” says Tina, “and it is also not about the agent but about the clients.” The team is about the long haul, and their decisions and designs reflect that. They are savvy about their marketing and branding — seeking to set themselves apart from others, and they put the needs of their clients first.

People look forward each year to their doughnut drop. They promote it with the words, “you do-nut know how grateful we are for your support,” and clients in 33 towns are delivered local Farm Fresh doughnuts to show it. Tina and Erin also support many local sports teams, and if it is something that makes the community stronger, they are all in.

Going forward, Tina and Erin want to grow as a team so that they can help more people. They are aware of current market conditions, but they do not let circumstances control their atmosphere or purposefulness. People choose this team because of them, and as trusted advisors, they will do the right things for clients — always.

Regarding legacy, the duo hopes that people remember them as a true “resource” who could offer insightful suggestions regarding home needs. They want to be the “go-to” ladies for homeowners, and they trust that people will remember them as kind, supportive and encouraging.

In June of 2021, Tzortzis Lane Real Estate Group opened their new office, which was a client/friend’s jewelry store that relocated (needing more space) and also the filming site of a Stephen King film. It stands as a place for clients, special events and meetings but also as a symbol of a real estate agents’ partnership that is committed to helping others love where they live!

IT

By

cover feature

CityLight Homes

Dr. Brian Ramsey, Senior Writer • photography by Michelle Morello, Lightshed Photography Studio

For those who are newer in the business, Christine always advises them to never give up but keep pushing every day. Being consistent is vital, and perhaps the most important goal: find a good mentor. She wisely says that sales are not about applying too much pressure. “You cannot want the transaction more than the client does, or you will explode the deal. Their buying window may not be open now, but if you stay in contact, it eventually will,” she advises.

Christine has been married to Brian for 25 years. He is a Software Test Manager for Amadeus North America. The couple has three children: Zachary (24), Cameron (21) and Emma (15). Christine loves being a “dance mom,” and she also loves to travel. If she had to change jobs and could pick any successful one, she would travel and report via television or magazine where she went and what she ate. She enjoys fitness, and she is quite practical. Once, she recruited 20 people to join a CrossFit program so that she could have a free one-year membership.

As time marches on, Christine Rich hopes to continue to enrich her understanding, knowledge and effectiveness in real estate. She hopes that she will eventually be able to find a partner of like mind too. She wants her legacy to be defined as a remembrance of her kindness and compassion and the fact that she would always go the extra mile. She strives to also lead her children by setting the right example and modeling a strong work ethic. She is well on her way to that goal.

You cannot want the transaction more than the client does, or you will explode the deal.

financial fitness

Deadly Sins of Retirement Planning

A hot topic in financial media over the last few years is the “retirement crisis” facing Americans. Workers — baby boomers, in particular — are retiring at higher numbers yet are living longer lives than ever, due to advances in modern medicine. Longer, healthier lives sound like a positive, but fears surrounding whether Social Security will go bankrupt persist, not to mention a shaky post-pandemic financial landscape. More alarmingly, according to Forbes, one in five American adults has nothing saved for retirement. Now more than ever, it’s crucial to keep your retirement finances secure by avoiding these “deadly sins” of retirement planning.

By Shauna Osborne

Wrath Don’t let wrath compel you to burn bridges when leaving a company. Separating from a position on amicable terms ensures a smoother transition all around; plan carefully (and calmly) so that you don’t find yourself endlessly stranded on the job market and/or forfeit your eligibility for unemployment pay. With a cool head, your retirement savings won’t suffer and you can still secure a reference if need be.

Pride

Undoubtedly, you are capable of handling the basics of retirement planning, but don’t be too proud to enlist the assistance of professionals to select the investments that best suit your individual goals. Just as you are an expert in your field, financial professionals have the education and training to handle difficult areas, such as asset allocation and portfolio diversification, with aplomb, ensuring you have a secure long-term portfolio and comfortable retirement.

Sloth Laziness is never beneficial in investing and retirement planning. Most Americans don’t review their retirement options and related tax implications adequately. Retirement portfolios shouldn’t be on a “set and forget” course; it’s important to stay on top of investments even throughout your retirement years.

Greed

It’s difficult watching your paycheck dwindle as funds get deducted for retirement, health care, etc., but saving for retirement will benefit you more in the long run. Invest in your future by at least matching your employer’s contribution, if offered, and revisiting your deferral amounts when you earn a raise or bonus. Also, make sure your retirement planning goals are realistic. Don’t set your sights on what you can’t have out of avarice.