Building Your External Advisory Team, Part I: The Financial Team

Ali Todd is a partner in KSM’s Veterinary Services Group. Utilizing her extensive technical expertise, Ali works closely with her clients to understand their challenges and provide practical solutions, including tax planning, operational financial management consulting, and creating action plans to enhance profits. She leverages client data alongside her industry-specific knowledge and expertise to identify opportunities for improving profitability and to support clients in making key management decisions. She is also experienced in structuring M&A deals and positioning tax advantageous transactions.

Ali frequently speaks to veterinary management groups and hospital owners across the country on a wide range of topics, such as hospital management, budgeting, key performance indicators, revenue generation, and industry benchmarks and trends.

Ali received a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from DePauw University as well as a Master of Professional Accounting degree from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business.

Ali is a member of the Indiana CPA Society.

Loren Ward, CFP®, CPFA®, CRPC™, Senior Vice President, Wealth Management Advisor, began her career at Merrill Lynch in Manhattan in 2007. In 2010, she joined The Werbitt Cicale Ward Group, in White Plains. As a Wealth Management Advisor and Senior Vice President, she creates relationships rooted in trust, compassion and helping her clients to make the best financial and goals-based decisions for themselves and their families. Through her experiences in life and work, she has quickly learned that knowledge and money equals power and independence. By educating her clients, she empowers them to feel comfortable about their financial futures and has given them tools to navigate through their financial lives. She helps rising business leaders, young families, and entrepreneurs understand the importance of planning for the future, saving and investing. Ward has earned the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification, and has been named to Forbes “Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams” list for three consecutive years, the 2025 Forbes “Top Women Wealth Advisors Best-in-State” list, as well as the Forbes “Top Next-Generation Wealth Advisors Best-in-State” list in 2023 and 2024. Ward’s leadership and influence extends outside her office as she participates in several philanthropic causes. She serves as Co-Chairwoman of the City Year New York Engagement Board, and is also engaged in her alma mater, Bucknell University’s alumni organization.

Dr. Paul I. Amerling, D.V.M., of Amerling Veterinary Services is a highly experienced and respected veterinarian who specializes in supporting individual veterinary professionals, practice owners, and managers. He holds a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine and The University of Missouri, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from the University of Delaware. Dr. Amerling successfully owned and operated the Miller Clark Animal Hospital in Mamaroneck, NY, until 2019. He also served as an associate veterinarian at various animal hospitals and provided consulting and locum services to area veterinary hospitals. Amerling’s dedication extends beyond his own practice, as he actively mentors fellow veterinarians and serves as an adjunct professor at Norwalk Community College. With over 35 years in the veterinary field, Dr. Amerling brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to assist practitioners in achieving their goals.