Recent News

Alera Group Advisor Ranked #11 in Pennsylvania

July 9th, 2026

Alera Group Wealth Services Advisor Shane Johnson is among the nation’s top financial security professionals, according to rankings compiled by Forbes. Shane Johnson, a Senior Partner at Perspective Financial Group, an Alera Group company, ranks eleventh on Forbes’ list of Best-In-State Financial Security Professionals for Pennsylvania.

Forbes published its Best-In-State rankings on July 9, 2026.

Anniversaries of Employees in 2026

J.R. Burke – 50 years
Shane Johnson – 15 years
Maria Blaney – 11 years
Rose Cordaro – 28 years
Patti LeStourgeon – 12 years
Connie Maisch – 41 years
Matt Mayer – 5 years
Mai Vance – 29 years

2025 Charitable Support

Devereux, Evening of Hope (Nov. 2025)
Help Hope Live, Live it Up! Gala (Nov. 2025)
GFN Philly, Golf Outing benefiting Overbrook School for the Blind (Oct. 2025)
Philadelphia Estate Planning Council, Golf Outing (July 2025)
Highmark Mann Center for the Performing Arts, Golf Outing (April 2025)
Community Options
Pelican Marsh Golf Club Foundation
Elwyn
National Down Syndrome Society
The Center for Discovery
Barrett Economic
Development Corporation
Westtown School
Special Friends
UNC Educational Foundation
Magee Rehab
Foundation for Learning in Tredyffrin Easttown (FLITE)
Christ First Church

2023 Shane M. Johnson named to Board of Directors of the Philadelphia Estate Planning Council

April 6th, 2023

Shane M. Johnson, Senior Partner was named to the Board of Directors of the Philadelphia Estate Planning Council (PEPC) in June 2023 (4yr Term). PEPC is one of the oldest and largest estate planning councils in the country. It is a highly recognized interdisciplinary organization for professionals involved in estate planning, providing its members with opportunities to enhance their skills and expand their network through programs and interaction. The membership includes over 700 attorneys, accountants, trust administrators, financial planners, insurance agents, investment advisors, appraisers and planned giving professionals throughout the Greater Philadelphia area.

2022 Distinguished Estate Planner Award to J.R. Burke

May 2nd, 2023

The Philadelphia Estate Planning Council will present its 2022 Distinguished Estate Planner Award to J.R. Burke at the Annual Meeting & Seminar at The Union League of Philadelphia on May 2, 2023. The purpose of this annual award is to honor an individual for outstanding contributions in the field of estate planning. J.R. Burke is the Founding Principal of Perspective Financial Group, an Alera Group Firm. An active participant in industry organizations, J.R. has led numerous continuing education sessions for PricewaterhouseCoopers, KPMG/Peat Marwick, The Society of Financial Service Professionals, Ernst & Young, Skadden Arps, Pepper, Hamilton & Scheetz, Duane, Morris & Heckscher, the Pennsylvania Institute of CPAs, and the Pennsylvania Bar Institute. He was the financial planning contributing author for The Journal of the American Society of CLU & ChFC from 1985 to 1993, and is currently a member of Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) and AALU. Since 2015 he has served as an Executive Committee Member of the Board of the Philadelphia Estate Planning Council and is President for their 2018-19 year. J.R. was picked in 2011 through 2018 as one of the Philadelphia Area’s Five Star Wealth Managers. J.R. graduated from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania with a BS in economics and a major in insurance. He earned the Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU^®) designation prior to his graduation, and also holds the Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC^®) and Certified Financial Planner (CFP^®) designations, and is an Accredited Estate Planner^® Designee (AEP^®). A resident of Berwyn, Pennsylvania, for 34 years, J.R. is married with four sons. He continues to be actively involved in his community through local and charitable organizations. J.R. currently serves as a Board member of The Elwyn Foundation, a human services organization meeting the needs of mentally, emotionally and physically challenged people; and until recently was also a Board member of The Nelson Foundation, an independent private foundation that for more than 30 years has supported a variety of programs that provide direct services to children and youth in the Philadelphia region. File # 5653627.1

Perspective Financial Group Merges with National Financial Services Firm

November 13th, 2018

BERWYN, PA – Perspective Financial Group (Perspective) is pleased to announce that it has become an Alera Group company. Alera Group is a leading national employee benefits, property and casualty, risk management and wealth management firm.

Formed in early 2017, Alera Group is an independent firm originally created through a merger of 24 like-minded, high-performing, entrepreneurial firms across the United States. Their mission is to transform the client experience by providing a greater depth and breadth of tools and resources, education, innovative thinking and constant collaboration. They are committed to enhancing their service offering through national peer collaboration while maintaining the ability to provide clients with local service and the experience and positive outcomes they’ve come to value. Alera Group currently has 58 firms in 70 locations and over 1,000 employees.

Perspective Financial Group (Perspective) is a wealth management firm headquartered in Berwyn, Pennsylvania that has been serving their clients since 1976. The firm integrates insurance and investments with financial, estate and business planning, creating customized solutions to meet their clients’ unique needs. Perspective Financial Group will join Alera Group through local firm Pentra.

“Perspective Financial Group is an exciting addition to Alera Group’s wealth management services, further expanding our existing capabilities in personal wealth management, family wealth transfer, business continuity and transition planning, and executive and employee benefits,” said Alan Levitz, CEO of Alera Group. “We look forward to the collaborative contributions of Perspective and are excited to have them with us as we continue to grow.”

“As part of Alera Group we will broaden our capabilities, improve our service and will have the assurance that our clients will be served long into the future,” said J.R. Burke, Managing Partner of Perspective Financial Group. “As always, our goal is to meet the unique needs of each of our clients through coordinated planning, implementation of industry-leading products and responsive service and thus to elevate the client experience. By combining the capabilities of Alera Group with our existing relationship with M Financial Group, we are now better suited to do just that.”

For more information, visit www.aleragroup.com and www.pfg1976.com

If you have any questions please contact:

J.R. Burke, CLU®, ChFC®, AEP®, CFP®
Principal – Perspective Financial Group, an Alera Group Company
A Member Firm of M Financial Group

Suite 100, 22 Cassatt Avenue Berwyn, PA 19312
Main # 610-854-0035
e-mail: jrburke@PFG1976.com

File # 2316546.4

Shane became a Principal of Perspective Financial Group in 2018

October 1st, 2018

Berwyn, PA – I am pleased to announce that effective October 1st, 2018, Shane M. Johnson has become a Partner and Principal of Perspective Financial Group, LLC (PFG).

Shane joined the predecessor firm to PFG in 2010 and was instrumental in the transformation and rebranding of the firm in 2011 and 2012. Since then, he has been a significant contributor to our growth as both Director of Business Development and Manager of Investment Services, with primary responsibilities for case design, policy and portfolio reviews, technology and marketing. During this period, he also added several professional licenses and completed his CLU^® and ChFC^® designations with The American College.

Shane has developed strong relationships with PFG’s existing clients and has a genuine passion for serving the needs of others.

Please join me in congratulating Shane on his latest achievement.

File #: 2272966.1