I am an avid gardener, a trait I inherited from my Sicilian grandfather. Herb, cucumber, spinach, lettuce, and tomato varietals fill the yard each Summer. Get me talking about growing tomatoes and the conversation might never end. The garden is a special place for my two young daughters and me. We chase each other around the eggplants, search for cucumbers and beans to eat off the vine, dig for worms, and pluck tomatoes just as they show a tint of ripeness. I also like to fish (salt and freshwater, spin or fly). And to complete the circle, I really love to cook. There’s something magical and fulfilling about consuming a tomato harvested or fish caught that same day. My ginger bluefish, grilled pizza, and seared tuna with side aioli recipes count among my friends and family’s favorites.

My path to financial advisory can be traced back to one New York City morning in March 2001 when I woke up with a sense of clarity, realizing two things. I wanted to live in Boston, close to my family and friends, and I wanted a career focused on helping everyday people versus the institutions that I serviced in my Commercial Mortgage-backed Securities job at Goldman Sachs.   That same NYC day, I submitted my resignation letter, and never looked back. But before I returned to Boston, I drove to California and back, visiting as many ballparks as possible. Chicago’s Wrigley Field, Colorado’s Coors Field, and La Jolla, California house some of my fondest memories. Not making it to PNC Park, which had just opened in the great city of Pittsburgh, and missing Hideo Nomo’s Red Sox no-hitter at Camden Yards by one day are a couple of my few regrets. At the end of the trip, I knew starting my own financial planning practice was my next step. I always enjoyed the conversations with friends and family about navigating the complex career, investing, and financial independence decisions that awaited them.  I also wanted to learn more about how I could maximize my impact on their (and my own) financial and life decisions.

As my practice grew, I wanted to better understand some of the different situations and challenges a couple or family might encounter, so I obtained my CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (CFP®) designation. This involved a lot of case study work on unique situations and the many different avenues to help one solve a financial planning problem. Much of the training during this multi-year certification process is helpful in recognizing the blindspots and opportunities while working with high income professionals. I love the unique problems and opportunities that these professionals bring to the table, such as deferring gains on a real estate sale, employing a tax-advantaged gifting program for one’s children, or using a SoloK to drastically reduce income.

While I don’t talk much about “Haavaahhd,” I am proud that I graduated with an Economics degree and was a walk-on, starting catcher for the university’s baseball team. There’s a few funny Fenway Park “wall ball” stories that go along with my college baseball years. Feel free to ask me about them. My coach at Harvard, the late Joe Walsh, a great friend and confidant, would often joke: “Thank God you attended Harvard when you did because you would never get in today,” as I laughed and nodded my head in agreement. Coaches were always looked up to in my family. My dad was a long-time high school basketball coach in Belmont and Burlington. I enjoy being around and part of a team, whether professionally or personally so I coach my children’s teams as much as possible.  On weekends, you’re sure to find me on a court, field, or diamond.

My wife Valerie and I are active in raising funds and awareness for any non-profit dedicated to improving the health and mortality of babies. This is done in memory of our son Mason whom we lost in 2013. “You never get over it. You just get through it,” is some of the best advice I have ever received. Our entire family loves to get their hands dirty in Burlington’s People Helping People food bank garden and supports any cause that promotes access to quality, fresh foods. We live in Winchester with our two beautiful, happy daughters. When not at the office, I love to golf, over-researching the quickest way to shoot par, and play paddle, a more robust form of pickleball.

Now you know about me. I look forward to finding out more about you and your hobbies, career, and family.

Favorite Fishing Spot: Buttercup (actual location never to be revealed)
What I listen to in the Car: True crime podcasts and an occasional Sox game
Unexpected Raving Fan of: Women’s Golf