Our Team
Josh O'Gara
The financial services industry covers a wide spectrum of subject matter and the biggest asset that Josh brings to his clients is his depth of experience and knowledge in a variety of industry segments. Combined with his deep desire to help his clients, regardless of their financial status, and seeing an increasing financial burden being placed on everyday working Americans, Josh founded O’Gara Financial Group in 2017 with the primary goal being to serve small businesses and their employees.
Josh began his career in financial services in 2006 as a Financial Representative with Northwestern Mutual. In this role, he gained experience working with both individuals and businesses to help them with their insurance planning needs
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In 2007 he moved to First American Insurance, an insurance brokerage firm, where he gained extensive expertise with individual life insurance, disability insurance, long term care insurance and annuities, typically working on well over 300 cases per year. Josh became an expert in being an “advisor to advisors”, helping to design effective insurance solutions for clients across the country. He wrote extensively on the subject and was publish in industry magazines such as “Broker’s World”, “Advisor Today” and “Insurance News”.
During his time with First American, he also worked hard to further his financial education. His “always be learning” attitude lead him to earn the Chartered Life Underwriter and Chartered Financial Consultant designations from the American College as well as the Certified Financial Planner designation from the CFP Board.
In 2015 Josh was offered an opportunity to work for one of the country’s largest insurance companies to help them build out their distribution amongst independent agents. While working in their Boston office, Josh was involved in complex business and estate planning cases and was one of the top Brokerage Directors in the country for Long Term Care insurance.
After being back working with a large insurance company, in 2016 Josh decided to pursue an opportunity to develop his own agency with Colonial Life. Josh's significant background working with individuals proved invaluable to working in the benefits market and taking an individualized, tailored approach to every client. By taking a client centered approach, other opportunities to help businesses arose outside of worksite benefits. Josh founded OFG to take a more holistic view and change the way employers and their employees perceive their benefit plans.
Josh grew up in Dorchester, and his wife Julie in Watertown, so they have strong connections in the Boston area. They currently live in Woburn with their son Declan and Boston Terrier-Frenchie mix, Frankie. For rest and fun, they usually escape north to the lakes of New Hampshire and can be found doing anything that gets them outdoors.
Mark Altman
Mark Altman is considered a visionary that uses his expertise in presentation and communication skills to paint pictures, tell stories, frame experiences, and shape perspectives.
He is the founder of MindsetGo, an innovative training organization that excites individuals to apply their new skills, knowledge, and behaviors to improve both individually and as part of a team. Our training connects immersive activities that mimic real-world challenges with peer, supervisor, and customer experiences.
Mark’s supports a diverse group of professionals in finance, insurance, manufacturing, healthcare, HR, non-profits and retail. His clients value his versatility and recognize him as a motivational trainer, thought leader, and intuitive listener.
Mark has over two decades of experience speaking and training on interpersonal disciplines including leadership, sales enablement, customer service, relationship building/networking, and millennial engagement.
Prior to MindsetGo, Mark founded Mark Altman & Associates (MA&A) in 2001. He grew and transformed his vision into a business which was recognized by Inc. Magazine as one of the fastest growing privately held companies in the nation in 2010 and 2011. Mark sold the company and became a private investor and member of Launchpad Investment Group in Boston.
Mark is a native of Boston and enjoys spending time with his three active children. He has also been a passionate youth sports coach for the last 15 years, and a freelance sports reporter for the Associated Press (AP) covering home games for the Boston Red Sox, Celtics and Bruins.