Mary Craft, Proprietor

Mary Craft is the proprietor of Benefits Solutions for Proprietors.  As a small business owner herself, she is keenly aware of the many challenges owners face and is dedicated to offering solutions for the benefits challenge.  She believes she can best serve by engaging business owners in holistic planning for their business and family needs.

Mary has more than 20 years of experience in the financial services industry.  She began her career at Primerica Financial Services and PFS Investments, helping families erect the foundation of their financial plan - protection - achieved through debt reduction, savings, and insurance.  Later she worked with public-sector and nonprofit employees through employment with ICMA Retirement Corporation and Diversified Investment Advisors, respectively, educating, enrolling, and advising them on their retirement and benefit plans.  Mary attained insurance licenses (life/health and property/casualty) and an investment license (registered representative) to work in the industry.    

While working for these employers, Mary realized many consumers did not have access to information that is vital for their financial well-being.  She became passionate about sharing her knowledge with others and left employment to do so.  Mary founded a financial education outreach to the faith community through which she published a financial newsletter.  She also founded a nonprofit to improve the financial literacy of residents in partnership with community stakeholders.  To better serve in these capacities Mary attained certification as an educator in personal finance through the Center for Financial Certifications.  

When offered the opportunity to enroll employees in the school system’s retirement plan, Mary returned to employment as an independent producer for retirement annuities.  She transitioned from working with school employees to offering annuities to business owners.   Recognizing the fact that small businesses are overlooked by the financial services industry, Mary decided to offer an array of benefits to owners.  Thus, the birth of Benefits Solutions for Proprietors, a business-to-business service providing access to many of the benefits available to owners and employees of large companies.

Mary is also passionate about helping the “least of these” in our society.  She has volunteered at shelters, a detention center for girls and a women’s prison.  And she served as a counselor at a local pregnancy center for ten years.  In 2013, Mary was nominated and selected as a “Daily Point of Light” honoree for her volunteer service.  [Points of Light is the world’s largest organization dedicated to volunteer service.  The awards were established by President George H.W. Bush in 1989.]

Mary Craft resides in Maryland with her husband Anthony who is also a licensed producer.  Their greatest joy is loving on their grandchildren.