Meet the Team

David Burstin | CLU, ChFC, MSFS, RHU
Partner
As a founding partner of Burstin & Goetz, David Burstin has over four decades of experience helping businesses and individuals plan for their financial future. David, who earned his undergraduate degree in insurance from Penn State, entered the field right after college. Over the years he developed a specialty in business insurance and estate planning, helping business owners and their families deal with the complexities of attracting, compensating and retaining talent, and putting into place desirable exit strategies.

Given that succession planning is one of the firm’s core offerings, it was important to David to address that very topic within his own practice early on by ensuring a deep bench of resident knowledge. David and his partner, as well as his daughter, Julie, are excited to be partnering with Adam Goetz and his 20 years of experience. Julie and Adam represent the next generation of the business and demonstrate the firm’s commitment to continuity.

After all these years, David remains excited about the prospect of growing the firm. “I still enjoy the thrill of meeting new clients, working with them, and helping to satisfy their needs,” he says. His personal philosophy about growth is sincere and time-tested. “In addition to giving them advice, I believe in helping our clients by connecting them with people in our network who could benefit their business,” David explains. This notion of unsolicited giving has stimulated reciprocity that has contributed to the firm’s success.

David is very active on corporate and not-for-profit boards, both locally and nationally. He is currently the Chairman of the Board for the Frick Pittsburgh, the Board of Visitors at the University of Pittsburgh School of Business, and at Penn State’s School of Information Science. In the past, David served on the Board of Directors of the Connecticut Mutual Life Insurance Company.

David is an avid reader of history and enjoys golf and travel in his spare time. He resides in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with his wife, Barbara.

Adam Goetz | CLU, RICP
Partner

Adam Goetz, has been in the financial services industry since 2000, and has been passionate about planning and investing from a very young age. Adam is a graduate of Clemson University with a Bachelor of Science in Financial Management and has obtained the designations of CLU® (Chartered Life Underwriter) and RICP® (Retirement Income Certified Professional) and serves as a Registered Investment Advisor. 

Adam continues to enjoy a strong relationship with MassMutual, but is excited to partner with fellow long term and very successful representatives, David and Julie Burstin. Their forming of Burstin & Goetz will allow for a better focus on service and strategic planning and the ability to grow towards the future.

Adam currently serves as National Vice President of the MassMutual Advisors Association, a Board Member and Past President of the Financial Industries Network, Board Member of the Pittsburgh Chapter of RMA, Past President of Vectors Pittsburgh, past President of the Green Tree Rotary Club, member of NAIFA and AALU and as an Assistant Scoutmaster in Boy Scout Troop 935 of Franklin Park, Pa.

Adam and his wife Jill reside in Wexford, PA and are very active keeping up with their 4 school age children.

Julie Burstin | MSW
Partner

Originally trained as a clinical social worker, Julie Burstin found a second career in insurance in 1995.  It turned out that the attributes that drew her to counseling in the first place – the desire to work with and help people – were directly applicable to her work in the financial service. “As a therapist you have to develop very good listening skills,” explains Julie. “I use those skills everyday at work, and they help me pinpoint exactly what I need to be doing to help move people along to where they hope to be,” she says.

Julie, whose father, David, is a founding partner at the firm, does not recall ever feeling pressured to enter his footsteps. In fact, once she had decided to make the switch, her father encouraged her to work elsewhere before she would be considered to join the firm. She started out working with women and young adults. “Many of the people I helped years ago are now married, have children, and own their own businesses,” she says. Today, Julie is a partner at Burstin & Goetz, where she focuses her efforts on helping business owners and their families with life and disability income insurance.

What Julie Likes most about her work is the ability to impact lives in a positive way. “I enjoy meeting new people and fulfilling their needs,” she says. Her laid-back style makes it easy for clients to connect with her. Not one to push, Julie tends to ask questions that allow for a comfortable dialogue between advisor and client. “I don’t have an agenda, and I’m definitely not a push salesperson,” she says about herself.

An advantage of owning her own practice is the flexibility it affords this full-time mom. Julie decided to switch to a part time schedule so she could keep up with her three growing children’s schedules. She is very active in their athletics and school activities and manages their high school soccer team. Julie is involved with the United Jewish Federation and The Jewish Community Center. In addition, she is very involved with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation sitting on committees and fundraising for the organization. Recently she joined the Advisory Board at Children’s Hospital for a pilot program. Julie loves to work out and resides with her family in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Sandra Walshesky
Executive Assistant

Sandra (Sandy) Walshesky has provided administrative support to David Burstin for a remarkable stretch of 43 years. When Julie Burstin joined the firm, Sandy also took on helping Julie with administrative support. On a day to day basis this translates to ensuring the smooth operation of the office, including processing applications and providing service to clients who have become “telephone friends” through the years.

A graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, Sandy worked as a VISTA Volunteer prior to joining the firm. She currently resides in Verona, Pennsylvania and enjoys gardening and spending time with family and friends.

Sherri Klutch
Investment Specialist

As the Investment Specialist for the Pittsburgh office of the MMLIS Broker Dealer, she plays a critical role in the structuring, implementation and service of investment based products. She began her career in the Financial Services Industry in the mid-eighties after graduating from Stanford University with a degree in Human Biology. Sherri then moved to Pittsburgh in 1992 from San Francisco.

Prior to joining MassMutual Pittsburgh as the Investment Specialist in January 2007, Sherri worked for Nuveen, Concord Financial Group, BISYS and AFLAC.

Don Bushyager
Chief of Information Systems

After a career with Army Military Intelligence, following graduation from Washington & Jefferson College, Don entered the insurance business and quickly became a Million Dollar Round Table Producer. He later became a Brokerage Manager specializing in Disability Income. After that experience, he joined Brand, Burstin & Runnette as the head of their Healthcare business. Following the sale of Brand, Burstin & Runnette, he became the Office Manager and Computer Program Specialist for Burstin & Goetz.

Gary Frantz | LUTCF
Agent

A veteran of the insurance industry, Gray Franz entered the business in the mid-seventies, initially working for Mutual of New York, and then Connecticut Mutual (which merged with MassMutual in the mid-nineties). Gary witnessed massive changes in the industry, as well as the evolution of what we now know as ‘financial services’- spanning investments, financial planning, risk management, estate planning and much more. Throughout his career, Gary has played many roles spanning from Agent to General Agent.

Many of Gary’s clients are owners of small to medium-sized businesses who seek his help with sophisticated estate planning and risk management strategies. Gary also provides solutions such as executive benefits and key person insurance to help businesses attract and retain talent.

Another area of focus is succession planning for closely held businesses. Gary has helped numerous businesses plan and successfully execute an exit strategy through sale or succession. “I really enjoy the interaction with our clients, some of whom are second generation, and with our help have taken over companies from their parents,” says Gary. What is particularly satisfying for Gary is not only the opportunity to play a part in the condition of his clients’ businesses, but also to be able to serve future generations through successful continuity planning at Burstin & Goetz.

Gary is a member of the Estate Planning Council of Pittsburgh. He also sits on the Board of Directors of his Alma mater, West Virginia Wesleyan College. Outside of work, Gary loves to golf. He is, however, most passionate about his grandchildren.