Don draws upon his more than 30 years of experience in the financial services industry to create comprehensive financial plans that encompass all aspects of each individual’s financial life. He also helps corporate clients establish and manage employer-sponsored retirement plans.
As a Certified Financial Planner™ and an ACCREDIATED INVESTMENT FIDUCIARY™ practitioner, Don has attained the prestigious CFP® & AIF® certifications, two of the most respected financial planning credentials among consumers and the recognized standard of excellence in personal financial planning.
As an Investment Adviser, Don is committed to fiduciary standards to help ensure that his investment analysis is thorough and accurate. He is a trustee of the New Hampshire Retirement System, where has served on the Board of Trustees since 2010. He is also chair of its Governance Committee.
Don holds Series 6, 7, 24, 63 securities licenses and life insurance licenses in various states. He is a member of the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, the Institute of Certified Financial Planners, and the Institute of Business and Finance. He earned a degree in business management from Franklin Pierce College.
Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, CFP® (with plaque design) and CFP® (with flame design) in the U.S., which it awards to individuals who successfully complete CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements.
I came to financial planning in an unusual way. Working at a bank, I repossessed cars, which brought me into contact with people whose lives had been devastated by financial illiteracy and mismanagement. I became convinced that there was value in helping people understand how to create and manage wealth, since those activities support every aspect of “the good life.”
When I graduated, I started my own business rather than joining an established practice. I sensed the value of developing perspectives and processes that were truly my own, and which I could fully believe in. It was unorthodox, challenging, and definitely worth it.
Here it is 30 years later, and it’s just heartening to see the results, having helped countless clients navigate to their goals.
My mom always taught me that you are responsible for the commitments you make – and you must fulfill them. I’m a firm believer in making the world better by lending your time and talents to causes you care about. For over 20 years, I’ve taught adult education classes. If I wasn’t a financial advisor, I’m sure I would be a teacher, likely on the high school or college level.
Also, there’s a special place in my heart for organizations that support youth and people with disabilities. I have served on the Board of Directors and Advisory Committee for the Cotting School in Lexington, as a board member and treasurer for Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Greater Nashua, and as an advisory member to the Merrimack YMCA. I also regularly contribute to the Nashua Center for the Multiply Handicapped.
People would be surprised at how competitive I am. Right now, that takes the form of golf. I compete against myself – whether it’s by lowering my handicap, upping my consistency, or mastering new techniques – and in amateur tournaments of all kinds. If I’m not getting better at something, I’m getting bored. And believe me, golf gives me plenty of opportunities to improve.
I am a voracious reader. If I could put down my iPad long enough to pick up a musical instrument, I would love to master the skill of playing it.
