Our Qualifications

Sam Slabaugh is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional and the founder of EST Financial Group. As a business owner in the early 1990's, Sam consulted with accountants, lawyers, stockbrokers, and insurance agents on different aspects of his finances. Each of the professionals left him to mesh the advice by himself. This experience was one of the main reasons he decided to enter the field of financial planning—so he could help other business owners understand the complexities of finance. In 1997, Sam began building the unique practice he has today, EST Financial Group.

While helping people succeed financially is important, Sam's passion is investing in the community and the individuals it comprises. For this reason, he is a former state director for The Gideons International; past president of the Delmarva chapter of the National Committee on Planned Giving; a charter member of the Kingdom Advisors; former board member of Delmarva Poultry Industry; chair of the Finance Committee of the New Castle Presbytery; and an elder for Manokin Presbyterian Church.

Sam Slabaugh is registered as FINRA S-7 General Securities Representative, FINRA S-63 Uniform Securities Agent State Law, NASSA S-65 Uniform Investment Adviser Law and FINRA S-24 General Securities Principle. He is also licensed for insurance in Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania.

 Joy Slabaugh joined EST Financial Group in its development stages in 2001. A skilled communicator, Joy combines her experience with her education as a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional and a B.S. in Business from Thomas Edison State College to make complex financial topics easily understood. She has published articles on faith and finance in the online edition of RelevantMagazine.com, teaches with the Delaware Money School, writes a monthly finance column in the Sussex County Business Report, contributes a monthly article to the Financial Planning Association's consumer website, and gives interviews on personal finance topics with, among others, the Associated Press, WBOC Channel 16, Bankrate.com, and On Wall Street.

Joy believes community investments are just as important as financial investments. She serves as a founding officer of the Southern Delaware Toastmasters Club; Chairperson of the Public Relations Committee of the Financial Planning Association of Maryland; and as Vice-Chairperson of the Board of Maryland Capital Enterprises.

Joy Slabaugh is registered as FINRA S-7 General Securities Representative and NASSA S-66 Uniform Investment Adviser Law registrations.