Our Story
At Harford Financial Group we help others pursue meaning and steward money.
Where it all began
Our story is multi-generational, beginning with the grit, intelligence and empathy of our founder, Matt Rehak, who created our organization to embody small town values nearly 40 years ago. A few years later he hired Paul Smeton to run the office One by one, we walked side by side with fathers, mothers, grandparents, business owners and hard-working individuals, all seeking security and fulfillment in their future.
When President Adam Freeland, then a Harford Financial Group client, joined in 2006 as a part of Matt and Paul’s succession planning, it marked a new era. Using his lifelong passion for personal finance and his acumen as a Fortune 500 technical trainer, Adam saw an opportunity based on his own financially humble beginnings: to be a steward for everyone, not just the wealthy, to find what we call inner wealth.
A new focus on inner wealth
Adam’s compassionate and inclusive approach to life-centered planning extended to his leadership style. Carefully, he began hand selecting a team of individuals who are called to being financial stewards, passionate about helping others discover their life’s meaning and diligent about growing their respective skillsets. The individuals who make up our team defy the industry’s turnover odds. Many have spent their entire career at Harford Financial Group, and there’s a reason for the longevity.
Harford has heart
“It’s because Harford has heart,” says Melissa Mullan, a Harford life-centered advisor who started as an intern 22 years ago. Two other long-time team members, Diane Kurek and Mallory Evans, have also worked their way into leadership roles over the years. These three driven ladies – with a collective 60 years at Harford between them – say it’s the stories of the grateful and grounded clients that keep them dedicated to their work. Oftentimes, when a client loses a loved one or has faced a life-altering event, one of their first calls is to Harford. Their work and the relationships they’ve formed are a privilege, Diane, Mallory and Melissa all say, that contributes to their own inner wealth.
Having a lasting influence
As we look to the future, and the lasting influence we’re able to have on others’ lives over the last several decades, we believe it’s our kindness that empowers others to leave worry behind. At Harford, we are your advocates for dreaming big, stewards of the values you hold dear and the co-creators for the meaningful life you deserve.