Leaders in Exam Preparation and Training

When Brian came on board in 2004 he had an immediate connection with Harvey Knopman, and jumped into what he thought would be a lifelong position. He was right. In 2010, he became a partner at Knopman Marks and was nominated to our Board of Directors. In the course of his career, Brian has been featured in a number of publications for his industry knowledge and opinions, spoken at conferences and roundtables all over the country, and trained over 20,000 students. His courses are always hilarious, and his approachability and expertise make him an invaluable resource for people of all levels preparing to take their exams. At Knopman Marks, Brian also handles business strategy, course content preparation and maintenance, and financial management.

Brian prepares students for the Series 3, 7, 17, 24, 57, 63, 65, 66, 79, 86/87, and 99 exams.

He obtained his Bachelor’s Degree from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

A visionary in the financial education and training industry, Liza believes business growth must be tech-forward but human first. Her leadership style is rooted in the relationship between success and joy, and she has reshaped every aspect of the firm to embody this since joining Knopman Marks nearly 14 years ago.

Liza believes the firm’s mission is about more than training people for exams. It’s about helping them learn how to grow through adversity, launch their careers, and go on to pursue their dreams. As digital disruption continues to impact education and businesses, Liza is focused on exploring innovative ways to train students and prepare them to excel in a rapidly changing world.

To that end, Knopman Marks has evolved constantly under her guidance. By learning from students and embracing change, Liza spearheaded the development of the first-ever financial training app, oversaw the creation of our E-learning program, and directed a complete digital transformation of the business. These pursuits have led to true employee empowerment as Liza pushes our capabilities from every angle and encourages her team to find meaning in their work.

Since Knopman Marks is a key player in shaping financial careers, Liza sees it as the firm’s responsibility to expand opportunity and diversity in the space. She is especially passionate about inspiring young women to find purpose in themselves and each other. A leadership workshop series she created for high school girls is now in its fourth year, and Liza is expanding this program as CEO to inspire and train more women to find success in the financial industry.

Finance is an old world, but with Liza at the helm, the team at Knopman Marks will continue an energetic and fearless pursuit to set new and higher industry standards.

Liza is an immensely-proud mother of three, and holds a Bachelor’s degree from Franciscan University of Steubenville.

Having found a way to make exam training not only approachable, but enjoyable, Dave is one of our most dynamic and sought-after instructors. To date, he has given thousands of students at Knopman Marks one very helpful piece of advice: “Don’t screw it up.”

As Managing DIrector of Course Design, Dave engineers course improvements, finds new ways to present complex subjects, and develops our online course offerings. Dave is responsible for ensuring that all students receive a consistent, comprehensive, yet delightful training experience. Prior to starting as a Knopman Marks instructor in 2011, Dave practiced bankruptcy law and served as a law clerk in a New York Bankruptcy Court. This legal expertise allows him to keep all our courses updated with the latest legislative and rulemaking changes.

Dave currently trains for series 7, 24, 57, 63, 65, 66, 79, 86 , 87, and 99. He also delivers executive one-on-one training and shares his passion for learning outside of work as a ski instructor and yoga teacher.

Dave graduated magna cum laude from Fordham Law School, and cum laude with a BA from the University of Pennsylvania.

Leigh joined Knopman Marks in 2016 focused on business development and client relationship management. Since then, her respect for good process and love of to-do lists have driven her to be involved in nearly every aspect of the business. Leigh effortlessly leads company projects and programs, client services, financial institution relationships, our growing Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) exam business, campus relationships, recruiting, and even our summer interns.

Previously, Leigh oversaw analyst and associate training programs at Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs. These experiences gave her a deep understanding of what it takes for students to succeed, and she loves being on the other side, helping them get there. Leigh works hard so she can play hard with her family, and is proud to be a Hudson County CASA volunteer, advocating for foster children.

Leigh received her BA in Communication from Rutgers University.

In 2011, Ian joined the Knopman Marks team intrigued by the opportunity to grow a small business. To date, he has trained over 10,000 students for their exams through his thoughtful, process-driven instruction.

As our Managing Director of Product Development, Ian also oversees the creation of training textbooks, practice exams, and supplemental tools to deliver the most up-to-date, comprehensive materials to students.

Ian is a key driver of the Knopman Marks SIE program, building the textbook, question bank, and diagnostic exams, as well as following up with every trainee enrolled in our program.

In addition to the SIE exam, Ian provides training for the Series 3, 7, 50, 52, 57, 63, 65, 66, and 79 exams, and offers one-on-one tutoring to students seeking additional instruction.

He graduated with college honors and received a BA from Washington University in St. Louis.

Randi Cole has been with Knopman Marks since 2010. As a client relations specialist, she plays an important role in supporting our students and making their exam prep as smooth and seamless as possible. Randi exemplifies our mission to deliver the best possible customer service, and is known for going the extra mile to make sure everything, and everyone, is taken care of.

Randi is responsible for daily office operations, facilitating communication between departments, and coordinating team activities. Given her dedication to our students, clients, and team, it’s not surprising that Randi is also a certified Life Coach, working with people to achieve both personal and professional success.

Randi received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Miami Florida.

When Howard overheard the words, “stocks,” “bonds,” and “mutual funds,” at the dinner table as a kid, he did what most 10-year-olds would not. He went to the library and looked them up. Since then, he has always loved to learn and share knowledge with others, having spent the past 30 years coaching tens of thousands of people for their financial exams.

Howard started teaching at Knopman Marks in 2014. In addition to his regular courses, he specializes in providing individual instruction to students who request or need special assistance. His job, as he sees it, is to empower every student to overcome the fear and anxiety around taking an exam, and believe in their own ability to succeed.

Howard helps students prepare for the Series 4, 7,  9, 10, 14, 24, 27, 53, 63, and 87 exams, and feels as passionate today as he did standing before his very first class.

He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from SUNY Oswego.

Just after college, Marcia visited her brother-in-law on the floor of the CBOE, and was hooked for life. She has now spent over 30 years in the field, with extensive experience training students for domestic and international exams. At Knopman Marks, Marcia is responsible for monitoring rule changes, regulatory actions, and industry trends to keep course material up-to-the-minute. In the classroom, she is known for the confidence she exudes and instills in her students.

Before coming to Knopman Marks in 2012, Marcia served as Vice President of Securities Products for Kaplan Financial where she managed the development of all Series exams and held international training and businesses development roles. She then spent 10 years on the client side at CUNA Mutual Group as the Director of Annuity Products and Business Development. There, she helped create industry-leading annuity products and solutions for retirement advisors, and gained insight and empathy into the needs of our clients.

Marcia has authored numerous financial training courses and trained thousands of students. She currently teaches the series 6, 7, 24, 50, 52, 63, 65, and 66 exams.

Marcia was a summa cum laude graduate of Wartburg College with degrees in Business Administration and Piano Performance. Marcia also holds the designations of Chartered Financial Consultant® (ChFC®), Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU®), Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS), and Fellow Life Management Institute™ (FLMI®).

Michael joined the team in 2017 with a rich background in financial education. Fresh from developing finance and credit training programs for New York non-profits, including City Year NY and Habitat for Humanity, he is now using his aptitude for instruction to coordinate series exam training for students and instructors. Despite moonlighting as a standup comedian, Michael is serious about helping students pass their exams.

Michael has a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies from Florida Gulf Coast University.

Jane joined Knopman Marks as an intern during the summer of 2018, and quickly proved she had what it took to land a full time position. Her fresh perspective and tremendous work ethic will be invaluable as her role flexes between supporting clients, coordinating with instructors, and managing a variety of office operations. When she’s not at work, Jane is an avid cook and traveler, which may explain her incredible adaptability and love for a good challenge.

Jane holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications from Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia.

Before joining the team in 2019, Danielle trained for four series exams with Knopman Marks: 79, 52, 63, and 50. She brings invaluable insights from her experience as a student to her current role, in which she manages reporting models, performs data analytics, and supports our faculty and students by increasing efficiency on every front.

Danielle is also an aspiring instructor. She’s loved teaching since she was a child, when she would force her brother to take homemade “tests” so she could “grade” them. Unclear if he recalls this as fondly as she does…

She previously worked as an investment banker at Goldman Sachs, where she perfected her excel shortcuts and her ability to stay organized under pressure. Though she enjoyed being a banker, she’s delighted to now be able to combine her passions for finance and teaching.

Danielle graduated summa cum laude from Northeastern University, where she studied finance, economics, and accounting.

When Thomas Kelly signed up for his Series 7 training with Harvey Knopman, he had no idea he was walking into his next job. But with a love for the material and a knack for coaching, Thomas quickly landed himself a seat at the (very) front of the class.

Before he transitioned from teacher’s pet to the newest member of our faculty, Thomas spent years in the securities market, most recently at BNY Mellon as the Managing Director of Risk Management, and previously at Prudential specializing in investment banking.

Thomas currently trains students for the SIE, Series 7, and Series 63 exams. When he’s not in the classroom, he’s probably tooling around on his bike, unless it’s baseball season, in which case he’ll be cheering on his Mets.

Thomas holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from Baruch College.