Our People

Finding Inspiration in Every Turn

An experienced team of Tax, Accounting, and Legal experts who have come together to advocate for you and get you the Employee Retention Tax Credit you deserve for your business. With decades of experience, our leadership owns or manages leading tax, accounting, and financial firms in their respective markets. Having evolved from a like minded group of industry leaders to a cohesive team of tax credit experts who have come to get results for your business.

Meet The Partners

Partner / Service & Operations Lead

Justin Dean

Justin leads our client service and operational efforts. He calls Surprise, Arizona home.

Partner/Accounting Lead

Sam Derakshan

Sam is the founder, CEO, owner and principal of Level 8 Management Inc. A passionate and highly motivated entrepreneur who cares deeply about the clients he works with. With over 15 years of experience in tax, accounting, finance and business management, Sam has been working with many businesses, small and large, across multiple industries, focusing on helping them grow their business and maximize their profits through advanced tax planning, financial visibility and understanding.

A Certified Tax Preparer in the state of California. In 2007 he received his bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance at Cal-State University, Northridge. Sam calls Woodland Hills, California home.

Partner

Howard Morin

Howard Morin co-founded Helium Financial Group with partner Gary Russell in 2016. Howard has over 23 years of financial services and organizational leadership experience. Most recently he oversaw the Financial Services Group of Conover serving as CEO of Conover Capital Management and Conover Securities.

Starting as a manager of the institutional trader business at TradeStation Group his success was recognized by the Intel Corporation who relocated him to the Pacific Northwest. Later named Managing Director of Global Financial Services, responsible for implementing technology at some of the largest financial institutions in the world.

After a career at Intel, Howard joined Union Bank of Switzerland (UBS) as a private financial advisor. Howard is passionate about advising clients on key decisions and working with employers to align their corporate retirement plan with their strategic goals. A native of South Florida, after almost 20 years in the Seattle area, he now calls Scottsdale, Arizona home.

Partner

David Trende

David graduated from Baldwin Wallace College with a Bachelors of Arts, Majoring in Business Administration, concentration in Finance, and Minors in Economics and History. Before graduating, he was hired by Merrill Lynch as a financial consultant, and he secured a Series 7 and 66 securities licenses, as well as Life, Health, and Annuity licenses. During that time David built a strong financial services practice built around reasonable returns from simple investment strategies. In 2001, he expanded his practice by joining Legacy Financial, David added strategic resources for more advanced financial planning, estate planning and other client services.

In 2005, together with Ted Rusinoff, David helped build a company focused on helping attorneys, CPAs and trust advisors review client portfolio holdings, specifically to address the fiduciary liability issues related to the beneficiaries. Having a full service investment and insurance operation well established, David focuses on meeting the needs of his clients, as well as those of his strategic alliances with local CPAs, attorneys and trust advisors. This focus allows him to provide the best possible service and value to all of his professional relationships.

Meet The Team Leads & Staff

Chief Compliance Officer

Cyrus Amini, Esq., CFA

Cyrus leads our compliance efforts and heads the ERC compliance and qualification team. He is also a member of the Risk Committee at The ERC Group. He is widely recognized as a thought leader in the financial services industry.

Cyrus received a B.A. in Economics from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and a J.D. from Boston College Law School. Cyrus is a Member of the New York State Bar Association, and a CFA Charterholder.

When Cyrus isn't busy solving the World's problems, he is also a devoted husband and father and enjoys rugby and travel. Cyrus calls Charleston, South Carolina home.

Payroll Data Specialist

Ben Montgomery

CFO, Pierre Accounting

United States Navy

BS in Accounting from the University of Phoenix

Data Specialist

Gabriel Morin

NYU - BA Program, International/Global Studies

NAU - BA Program

Collections & Content Strategy at NYU Bobst Library

Account Management Leader

Gary Russell

Gary Russell is the co-founder of Helium Financial Group with partner Howard Morin. He previously served as Director of Wealth Management at Conover Capital Management.

He brings over 15 years of Wealth Management, Financial Planning, and Retirement Plan Consulting experience to our valued clients and trusted partners every day. As a recognized industry leader and frequent guest speaker on a variety of financial topics, he brings a unique and innovative approach to delivering financial solutions for clients.

When Gary isn't working with clients, he enjoys the outdoors and is an avid pilot. A native of Bainbridge Island, Gary now calls the Olympic Peninsula home.

Project Management

Tami Todd

Previously of Guild Mortgage / Wells Fargo / Honeywell

BA in Finance from Arizona State University

Tax Credit Specialist

Caleb Weil, CPA, MST

Caleb is a practicing CPA working with tax clients across the nation. Working with small businesses, he realized the harm caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and related sanctions, and wishes to help small businesses find relief wherever possible. Seeing opportunity with the Employee Retention Credit, Caleb became an expert in the credit and enjoys helping businesses navigate the complex regulatory environment of the CARES Act.

Caleb received his Bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Montana, and his Master of Science in Taxation from Gonzaga University. He holds his CPA license with the Washington State Board of Accountancy.

What We Stand For

At The Expert Group, we believe in giving 110%. We will advocate for you, leave no stone unturned and at the end of that process know for certain if an opportunity exists. Period.

We have the experience, utilize the latest technology, and help your business thrive while overcoming the hardships and challenges of today's business environment.