The Affiliated Vantage

Who We Are

Affiliated Advisors, founded by Rita Robbins in 1994, is a leading national advisor network of successful, experienced professionals like you. Our attention to detail and our understanding of advisors’ aspirations give us unique insights. Our comprehensive view puts you in a position to increase the efficiency of your practce year after year.

Our advisors gain access to unique support owing to Rita’s powerful partnership with independent broker-dealer Royal Alliance, a member of Advisor Group. Additional benefits include customized pricing for increased profitability, access to enhanced technology and personal coaching on marketing, practice management and acquisitions.

Select advisors will benefit from partnering with Affiliated Advisors—our expertise and experience help advisors extend their reach and broaden their opportunities. We believe that in order to meet the challenge of a dynamic marketplace with minimal friction, operations, technology and compliance support must be superior. Because our firm attracts successful entrepreneurs – high achievers with high expectations – we remain vigilant. We are proud to welcome new advisors on a referral basis only.

What We Believe

Our mission is to help advisors build the businesses of their dreams while serving their clients with integrity, creativity and compassion.

At Affiliated Advisors we offer:

Individualized strategies for marketing, operations, technology and practice management
Access to our powerful wealth management platform
Customized pricing through our partnership with Royal Alliance
In-house resources for life, long-term care and disability income insurance
Support for succession planning, practice valuations and acquisition opportunities
Unique educational programs that prepare advisors to meet the challenges of industry and market evolution

Our Team

Rita Robbins

Founder and President

Rita Robbins combines extensive industry experience with a proactive, personalized approach toward empowering her advisors. Since 1994, when she founded Affiliated Advisors, Rita’s sole focus has been on helping advisors grow dynamic, efficient businesses.

Rita partners with Royal Alliance, and now leads over 85 advisors in 45 branch offices with more than $2.4 Billion in assets under management. Additionally, Affiliated Advisors offers creative ways for advisors to expand their solution set with in-house advice on wealth transfer, estate planning and risk management. Her unique insights into enhancing advisors’ marketing has made her a sought after speaker at industry conferences. Rita was honored by Investment News as a “Women to Watch” this year for her distinguished leadership in advancing the business of providing advice with her passion, creativity, and willingness to help others.

Rita and her family enjoy taking advantage of all that New York City has to offer.

She is an avid New York City Ballet fan, and proudly serves as a Trustee of The Town Hall, a National Historic Landmark venue. She is a partner in the Lavender Hill Farm, one of the largest commercial lavender farms in the US, pictured on this website.

Contact Rita via email.

Timothy Maurer

Compliance Director

Timothy uses his knowledge and experience to help mitigate risk and implement new industry standards. As our own, in-house compliance professional, Tim works exclusively with Affiliated Advisors. He is always available to answer advisors’ inquiries in an efficient and timely manner. With over fourteen years of experience, Tim provides ongoing guidance and best-practices strategies to advisors.

His previous positions include Registered Principal at Ameriprise Financial, Account Executive for E*Trade, as well as experience in the retirement benefits market at AXA Equitable.

Tim resides in Oakland Township, Michigan and enjoys spending time with his wife and children.

Contact Tim via email.

Lori Skibo

Director of National Sales

As Director of National Sales for Rita Robbins and Associates, Lori is a consummate insurance professional who helps advisors find suitable life, long-term care and disability insurance solutions for their affluent clients.

Lori began working with Rita right out of college more than 16 years ago as an internal marketing and sales specialist. Her sole focus has been on providing personalized insurance support—including life, long-term care and disability income--so advisors can focus on their clients and on building their practices. Advisors rely on Lori's underwriting expertise, detail-oriented focus and proactive approach to finding solutions. By leveraging her knowledge, she provides strategic consulting and solve problematic underwriting situations, helping registered representatives and licensed insurance agents serve the insurance needs of their high net worth and affluent clients.

Lori and her husband enjoy spending time with their daughter and supporting various community causes.

Contact Lori via email.

Dorothea Zando

Director of Business Development

Dorothea’s primary focus has always been on building, growing and managing successful advisory businesses. She has a keen sense for creating customized marketing plans for financial advisors, using a toolbox that includes print and electronic media in conjunction with Royal Alliance’s comprehensive marketing platforms. Her marketing and event-planning experience has helped advisors grow their brands as well as their practices. As a former financial advisor, she truly understands what it takes to succeed.

Dorothea lives in Middletown, NJ with her husband and two children, and is founder and board member of the Victor Zando Foundation, which focuses on educational excellence and community service.

Contact Dorothea via email.

Deana Andriani

Director of Administrative Services

Deana Andriani brought her organizational skills, sophistication and good spirits to Affiliated Advisors in 2017, after several years on staff at Advisor Group, where she coordinated advisor and executive events. Previous to that position, Deana had assisted C-level executives at Advisor Group and Royal Alliance, which rendered her an adept hand with technology, budgets, complex calendars and more. Deana manages offices and personalities with kindness and unceasing calm.

She lives in Brooklyn, NY with her husband and three children.

Contact Deana via email.

Third party awards, rankings, and recognitions are no guarantee of future investment success and do not ensure that a client or prospective client will experience a higher level of performance or results. These ratings should not be construed as an endorsement of the advisor by any client nor are they representative of any one client's evaluation.