Long Island native, Frank Scalese of Plainview is the general agent of Blue Ocean Wealth Solutions in East Hills, a member of the MassMutual Financial Group, where changing people’s lives is the firm’s mission and Scalese’s motivation.
Growing up the oldest of five, Scalese was always inspired by his father’s work ethic. His father worked constantly, but was not always able to say yes to his kids when they wanted something. Scalese didn’t want to have to do that.
“If my kids deserve something, I want to be able to provide it for them, not say no because it’s not within our financial means,” he said.
Scalese was always mature for his age. He started working at the age of 12 doing newspaper routes.
“It didn’t matter what the weather was like outside,” he said. “I had a job and a responsibility and I made sure I kept my promises.”
From there he had several jobs including being a stock marketer making 900 calls a day for free. When the business closed its doors, his former co-worker who had noticed his hard work dedicated work ethic, invited Scalese to become an advisor for Metlife in 1990.
“My co-worker taught me three important things: You can control your own destiny, you can write your own paycheck, and you can get paid what you’re worth,” Scalese said.
In 2005 he was promoted to managing director of North Coast Financial.
Scalese currently leads a team of over 100 financial professionals and 40 staff members serving over 175,000 individuals, families and businesses. Motivated by the ideas in the best-selling book, “Blue Ocean Strategies”, Scalese encourages advisors to create a unique value proposition for clients. The book’s lessons are so ingrained in the firm’s culture that in 2015, North Coast Financial Group changed its name to Blue Ocean Wealth Solutions, previously known as North Coast Financial.
In February 2016, Scalese was inducted into the Management Hall of Fame and in July 2016, MassMutual acquired the MetLife Premier Client Group, which included Blue Ocean Wealth Solutions, now a member of the MassMutual Financial Group.
“Our team wakes up every day to make a difference and change people’s lives for the better,” Scalese said. “Our company culture believes in 3, 4, 5 – 3. I love you, 4. I believe in you, and 5. I am proud of you. At Blue Ocean, we text each other 3, 4, 5 to remind each other that we care.”
Scalese has taken his message and passion for helping others to an industry-wide level by sharing his time and talents with GAMA International, a not-for-profit organization promoting professional development and leadership in the insurance, investment, and financial services industries. Scalese presently serves as GAMA’s President elect and is overseeing the coordination of the massive 2018 LAMP conference.
Scalese currently lives in Plainview with his wife and has three children and a 5-year-old grandson.
“There are many ways to go about changing people’s lives,” Scalese said. “What we do at Blue Ocean is create an environment that encourages people to reach their full potential.”
