Your Team

What do you enjoy most about being a Financial Planner?

Financial Planning combines many different activities and skillsets that appeal to me.  The three skills I use during financial planning are communicating, problem-solving, and helping others.  It’s exciting to meet new people, learn about their background and their goals.  I enjoy organizing their plan and putting together the various puzzle pieces of their financial life to figure out the best course of action for them to take to achieve their goals.  Then over time, through an ongoing service process, the relationship with my clients grows stronger, which allows me to keep them on track as they reach their financial milestones.

What do you enjoy most about being part of GVP?

When we formed GVP, we thought long and hard about the type of company we wanted to create.  We looked to our own personal values – family, honesty, friendship, trust – and tried to create an environment and culture that is representative of those values.  I genuinely enjoy coming to work every day and being around the people I work with.  We are supportive of one another, both in and outside of work.   I believe that this trickles down to the feeling our clients get when they walk through the front door – a sense that we care about them and want to support them as they navigate their financial life.

What personal accomplishments are you most proud of?

I am the very proud Dad of my two sons, Dean (10) and Drew (7).  I’m happy that I have been able to coach most of their sports teams, including baseball, basketball, and football.

When you’re not in the office, what do you do?

In the summer, as a family, we usually spend our time near the water – either a beach, a lake, or a pool.  My boys and I enjoy fishing, and my wife enjoys hearing their stories about how big the sunfish was that they caught. 

However, when my wife, Lisa, and I can get away, we enjoy catching some live music.  We especially enjoy attending Dave Matthews Band concerts and have been to more than 50 shows together.

Where does your story begin?

I grew up an only child in Weymouth, Massachusetts.  After attending Weymouth High School, I went to Bentley to study business and finance.  While in college, I met my wife, Lisa.  We now live in Hanover, Massachusetts with our two boys, and our dog, Holly.

Who was the biggest influence on your career choice?

When I was attending Bentley University, the field of finance was most interesting to me.  I took a course in personal financial planning and, from the start, I was hooked. 

At the time, my professor, David Milton, was a practicing CFP® professional, which is where the real-life application and the academics came together. As I went through several more of his classes, his guidance was instrumental.  At the conclusion of those classes, it was clear what my career choice would be.

Education:

• Bentley University – B.S. Finance, 2002
• Boston University – Certificate, Financial Planning

Financial Certifications:

• CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®)

o   This certification is the standard of excellence for financial planners. CFP® professionals have met extensive training and experience requirements and commit to CFP Board's ethical standards that require them to put their clients' interests first.

Awards:

•        Forbes Top 1000 Next Gen Wealth Advisor, 2019
•        Forbes Top 500 Next Gen Wealth Advisor, 2018
•        Five Star Wealth Manager 2012-2020

¹ Five Star Award is based on 10 objective eligibility and evaluation criteria including a minimum of 5 years as an active credentialed financial professional, favorable regulatory and complaint history, fulfillment of firm's internal review, accepts new clients, client retention rates, client assets administered, number of client households, education and professional designations. In 2017, 2,530 Boston wealth managers were considered for the award; 632 (25 percent of candidates) were named Five Star Wealth Managers. The award is not indicative of the wealth managers' future performance. For more information please visit www.fivestarprofessional.com.

² The 2017 ranking of Forbes’ Top 500 Next Generation Wealth Advisors¹ recognizes advisors born in 1980 or later with a minimum of four years of experience. Advisors were rated based on a proprietary algorithm of qualitative and quantitative criteria: assets under management, revenues generated for their firms, client retention, industry experience, credentials, and compliance records. SHOOK Research also employs an opinion-based weighting system that prioritizes its preferred “best practices,” which include business models, activities, processes, and structure. Overall, 2,356 advisors were considered, and 500 (21 percent of candidates) were recognized. Click here for the full methodology² that Forbes developed in partnership with SHOOK Research.

¹This recognition and the due-diligence process conducted are not indicative of the advisor’s future performance. Your experience may vary. You are encouraged to conduct your own research to determine if the advisor is right for you.

²Portfolio performance is not a criterion due to varying client objectives and lack of audited data. SHOOK does not receive a fee in exchange for rankings.

³The 2018 ranking of Forbes’ Top 1,000 Next Generation Wealth Advisors¹ recognizes advisors born in 1980 or later with a minimum of four years of experience. Advisors were rated based on a proprietary algorithm of qualitative and quantitative criteria: assets under management, revenues generated for their firms, client retention, industry experience, credentials, and compliance records. SHOOK Research also employs an opinion-based weighting system that prioritizes its preferred “best practices,” which include business models, activities, processes, and structure. Overall, 5,832 advisors were considered, and 1,000 (17 percent of candidates) were recognized. Click here for the full methodology² that Forbes developed in partnership with SHOOK Research.

¹This recognition and the due-diligence process conducted are not indicative of the advisor’s future performance. Your experience may vary. You are encouraged to conduct your own research to determine if the advisor is right for you.

²Portfolio performance is not a criterion due to varying client objectives and lack of audited data. SHOOK does not receive a fee in exchange for rankings.

What do you enjoy most about being a financial planner?

Making a meaningful impact on my client’s lives. Financial planning allows me to interact with and help people from different stages of their lives and careers, whether they are business owners, corporate employees, or busy families looking for guidance. By acting as a client’s trusted consultant, I am able to work through complicated financial situations and provide clarity and comfort. This comfort allows my clients to make informed and empowered decisions so they can focus on their profession and family.

What do you enjoy most about being part of GVP?

As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ practitioner, I focus on a deep understanding of each client and their unique goals. At Grandview, we are collaborative and supportive of one another to foster a “do unto others” atmosphere.

What personal accomplishments are you most proud of? 

Growing up, I always wanted to carry on the Grandview moniker in honor of my grandfather James and great-grandfather George Nydam’s dairy farm. Seeing “Grandview” on the wall when I enter the office every day reminds me of my family, their hard work, and their dedication to family.

When you’re not in the office, what do you do?

If you are looking for me outside of the office, you can find me spending time with friends and family. These days, that is mostly chasing my son, Maxwell, around the house! 
When I’m not at home, you can find me on the coasts of Spain, at a café in Paris, or sailing around the Mediterranean with our close friends. My wife, Jillian, and I can also be found at local concert venues enjoying all types of music and eating at new (or our favorite) restaurants. In the summer, I work to improve my golf game, but that isn’t something I can brag about (yet). If the snow is falling, you’ll find me on the slopes trying to get that first chair!

Where does your story begin?

I grew up in Central Massachusetts surrounded by family on my grandpa’s farmland. From an early age, we were out working hard baling hay, cutting grass, or getting into trouble. After finding out my color deficiency would not allow me to pursue my dream of naval aviation, I went on to attend Boston University. I started dating my future wife, Jillian, during my senior year at BU. I began my career in financial services at a large institution working in their mutual fund department. We now live in Boston’s South End with Maxwell and our goofy French bulldog, Fritz.

What was a turning point where you decided to pursue financial planning?

I experienced a turning point in my career choice around the time my parents went through a difficult divorce. I was working in finance but had not fully committed to my career. My mother relied on me to help her through a lot of the major decisions she was making. She leaned on me for my knowledge and guidance and I realized how important it is for people to have a trustworthy,  knowledgeable person to help them make sound decisions. From that point on, I knew this was the only career for me. I committed to taking the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ exam the next year. I continue to work hard to increase my knowledge so that I can provide advice that I would be comfortable giving to my mother.

Charity:

I am a proud supporter of Find the Cause Breast Cancer Charity where I am a board member. Find the Cause funds scientific research on the environmental causes of breast cancer. Family members, and more recently, my own mother, have had to deal with this terrible disease. When I consider that 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed in their lifetimes, and 90 percent of it is not based on family history, I am determined to help find the cause and ways to avoid this for other families. 

Education:

• Boston University Questrom School of Management
  • Major in Finance and Minor in Economics
• Boston University – Certificate, Financial Planning

Financial Certifications:

CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®)

• This certification is the standard of excellence for financial planners. CFP® professionals have met extensive training and experience requirements and commit to CFP Board's ethical standards that require them to put their clients' interests first.

Accredited Investment Fiduciary® (AIF®)

• The AIF® Designation signifies specialized knowledge of fiduciary responsibility and the ability to implement policies and procedures that meet a defined standard of care. The designation is the culmination of a rigorous training program.

Awards:

•       Forbes Top 500 Next Gen Wealth Advisor, 2018
•       Forbes Best in State Next Gen Wealth Advisor, 2019
•       Five Star Wealth Manager, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020

*Five Star Award is based on 10 objective eligibility and evaluation criteria including a minimum of 5 years as an active credentialed financial professional, favorable regulatory and complaint history, fulfillment of firm's internal review, accepts new clients, client retention rates, client assets administered, number of client households, education and professional designations. In 2017, 2,530 Boston wealth managers were considered for the award; 632 (25 percent of candidates) were named Five Star Wealth Managers. The award is not indicative of the wealth managers' future performance.  For more information please visit www.fivestarprofessional.com.

The 2017 ranking of Forbes' Top 500 Next-Generation Wealth Advisors and 2019 ranking of Forbes’ Best-In-State Next Generation Wealth Advisors (1) recognizes advisors born in 1980 or later with a minimum of four years of experience. The advisor was rated based on a proprietary algorithm of qualitative and quantitative criteria: assets under management, revenues generated for their firms, client retention, industry experience, credentials, and compliance records. Shook Research also employs an opinion-based weighting system that prioritizes its preferred "best practices," which include business models, activities, processes, and structure. In 2019, 6,389 advisors were considered, and 1,495 (23 percent of candidates) were recognized.  For the full methodology (2) that Forbes developed in partnership with SHOOK Research, please visit www.forbes.com/top-millennial-advisors and www.forbes.com/sites/rjshook/2019/06/25/2019-top-next-gen-wealth-advisors-methodology/

(1) This recognition and the due-diligence process conducted are not indicative of the advisor's future performance. Your experience may vary. You are encouraged to conduct your own research to determine if the advisor is right for you.

(2) Portfolio performance is not a criterion due to varying client objectives and a lack of audited data. SHOOK does not receive a fee in exchange for rankings

Jenny joined Grandview Partners in May 2019 and will often be the first person you see when you arrive at our office. She assists Doug, Tim, and Peter with the financial planning process and assists our team in daily office operations and database management. Jenny is also in charge of our marketing efforts, which includes our monthly newsletter, coordinating client events, and e-mail communications. Jenny currently works part-time between the hours of 9 AM to 2 PM.

What do you enjoy the most about working?

I get to meet new people and learn something new every day. That has always been the most enjoyable part of work for me. I love getting to know our clients and hearing their stories. Every individual, couple, and family are different, so working through each scenario provides me with more knowledge to use in the future.

What do you love most about being part of GVP?

We enjoy each other’s company and laugh a lot! Since we are a small firm, everyone’s efforts make an impact on the company. I love that I can feel a sense of accomplishment every day knowing we are truly making an impact on people’s lives and that is great to be a part of.

When you’re not in the office, what do you do?

I spend time outside of the office with my husband, Kevin, and our three young children: Thomas (6), Lily (4), and Harrison (2). Lately, we are doing more sports and extracurricular activities, which is a lot of fun, but with that comes the coordination and logistics. My husband and I both enjoy being highly active, so we like to be outside with the kids as much as possible — in the winter, it is ice skating and skiing. In the summertime, you can find us on the beach fishing and catching crabs or going for a hike.

What qualities of yours make you best suited to do what you do?

I am very detail and process-oriented which adds value to the firm for processing our tasks. Working for three financial planners involves a variety of tasks on any given day, so following tasks through completion and prioritizing tasks is important. I also strive for exceptional client service. I know that our firm does not exist without our clients, so making sure they are happy is my number one priority.

Where does your story begin?

I grew up in Milton, MA, where I currently reside. I graduated from Stonehill College in Easton, MA, where I studied psychology and played lacrosse. While at Stonehill, I was a 2-time NCAA All-American lacrosse player and won two National Championships. I did not always intend to end up in the financial services industry, but rather, happened into it by chance with a referral from my parents’ financial planner. Looking back, I see now how much financial planners help their clients in many different aspects of their lives. I have been in the industry for more than 13 years now and have held a variety of roles; yet, a day has not gone by that my degree in psychology has not served me well. 

I started my career working for Columbia Threadneedle Investments, consulting with financial advisors on the products in their clients’ portfolios. I then transitioned to working for Ned Davis Research, an industry-leading investment and economic research firm, before landing at Commonwealth Financial Network. I worked at Commonwealth for five years learning invaluable information about our back-office and technology, which is where I met Peter and he introduced me to the GVP team as they were opening the Westwood office. I had just returned to work after having my third child and I was ready to cut down on my work hours, work travel, and my long commute for a few years. Since I started my career, my goal had always been to work for an independent financial planning firm, so this opportunity came at the perfect time for me. Joining GVP was one of the biggest and best decisions I have ever made. I enjoy going to work every day, while also having more time to spend with my three children!

Education:

• Stonehill College 2006, Bachelor of Science, Psychology 

Financial Certifications:

• FINRA Series 7 and 66