Leadership with a depth of experience

Brett Cristiano is a graduate of Texas A&M University and the University of Houston, C.T. Bauer College of Business. He was steadfast in his decision to pursue a career in finance and enjoyed the way he and his father analyzed world markets together. He completed his graduate studies at Bauer with Honors and began a career with MassMutual. Rising into his role as a Financial Advisor, he has grown his book of business through referrals from satisfied clients who appreciate the passionate way he listens to their financial goals and the meticulously detailed manner each plan is executed. He decided to join Verus Financial in January of 2023 and is currently working towards his CFA Designation. Brett stays active by playing ice hockey and chasing his toddler son, Vincent, and young daughter, Carmela. He and his wife Aimee enjoy vacationing together and trying out new cuisines.

Ms. Soto began her financial services career in 1987 and obtained the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ designation in 2000. Today, she operates a thriving business in Houston serving the comprehensive financial planning needs of retirees, including doctors, business owners, and Latin American entrepreneurs living in the U.S. “I have carved a niche that makes sense for me,” says Elizabeth. “People are looking for a financial planner with my credentials, experience, business focus, and cultural background,” she adds. Companies that offer 401(k) retirement plans are especially well served by Elizabeth's proficient explanations of why basic financial literacy is a cornerstone of a viable retirement plan. She has been quoted in local and national publications such as The Houston Business Journal, Texas Monthly, and The Wall Street Journal. She is an instructor for Rice University's CFP program. She has also appeared on Univision and PBS' Latina Voices.

From a young age I’ve understood the impact of having a proper financial plan in place, and that it can make a world of difference.  When my Dad was called to heaven, I was only 4 years old, my sister Nathalie was barely 1, and my mother was devastated as a young widow. It was a grave and tragic loss that took many years for us to heal from as a family.  2 years later we moved to Clear Lake and started a new life, new school, and new friends. My Mother Elizabeth was a young aspiring Financial Planner working towards her CFP designation.  I observed at a young age that we were able to move into a newer home with better schools, able to travel and have experiences that shaped our perspective, participate in club sports and other extracurricular activities, and my mother was able to work full-time while attending night-school to further her career as a Financial Planner. I learned that even though our family had experienced this heavy loss, and our resources were very much limited, we were still doing better than OK. Despite the fact that my young parents' had done the bare minimum for their financial planning, as they were in the beginning stages right before my Father passed away, the little work they did using what my Mother had learned in her field made a huge difference for our family and our future years later. It was around high school that I began helping out in our family practice and had the opportunity to meet several of our clients that are still with us today. I could see the trust they had in my Mom and their appreciation of the trusted specialists she’d bring to the table. It takes a team to create the best outcomes.  I was able to observe the impact that a relationship with a solid financial professional had in their life, their family, their employees, and it allowed them to sleep better at night knowing that they were in good hands. I currently get to witness and experience the results of this careful planning done years ago by now working with the adult children and grandchildren of my Mom’s first clients.  Her reputation across several generations of people we’ve helped is something I greatly admire.  I have always been passionate about relationships and being of service to others. I was able to put myself through school and pay for my studies while working full-time in the restaurant industry as a mixologist. My first big job out of school was at Guardian Life Insurance company of America, where I was mentored by other experienced professionals that did high-level work for local business owners. I learned about several key areas of financial impact for business owners and individuals such as wealth accumulation strategies, asset protection, efficient tax planning, business succession, Life Insurance strategies, estate planning, employee benefits, etc. and how important it is to have specialists like CPAs and Tax Attorneys in our corner that can help us assist clients in these key areas.  These experiences taught me the importance of trust, integrity, dedication to your craft, consistency, observation, follow through, and attention-to-detail that I now apply to my work as a Client Relations Manager with EVS Financial. I value building strong, trust based relationships with our clients by understanding their goals, what matters most, and ensuring efficient communication between all parties involved in the overall planning process and implementation of the financial plan.
Commitment to Excellence:Benjamin Delgadillo is passionate about helping clients achieve their financial goals by ensuring they receive personalized, high-quality service. His dedication to client satisfaction, combined with a strong understanding of financial planning principles, makes him an invaluable asset to the financial advisory team. In his spare time he enjoys quality time with his Wife Savannah and their baby girl Daisy, runs a weekly Men’s soccer league, is part of the Houston Manchester United supporters group, helps run a dining/bar concept in the Uptown area of Houston, spends time with his church family at West End/Riverpoint, runs a men’s Christian-based support group, travels to see family in Chihuahua MX, Central Coast California, Chicago, TX Hill country, loves snowboarding, fitness, challenging hikes, and enjoys singing country and Mexican ranchera music while playing guitar.

With 25 years of experience in the oil and gas industry, Thao Lam has built a career in operations, project management, production management, and client support. Her expertise in customer service and solutions-driven approach make her a valuable asset to our team. At Verus Financial Group, Thao is available to assist clients with scheduling meetings or calls, managing Schwab accounts, and addressing questions about policies and contracts. She is committed to providing exceptional support and ensuring a seamless client experience. Please feel free to reach out to Thao for any assistance—she looks forward to working with you.

After graduating Texas Tech University with a BBA in finance and management, J. Paul Kramer began his 30+ year career in accounting and finance with PricewaterhouseCoopers.  His later background of preparing SEC financial reports and complying with SOX requirements as the Controller of a publicly traded company gave him the skills necessary to join Verus Financial in 2025 as the contract Chief Compliance Officer. Paul has a disciplined approach to investing and organizational processes and believes that discipline will achieve extraordinary success and security of assets.  Paul has served the community working in Braeswood Church as a youth leader and Bible Quiz Coach since 1992.