Joe
“I love working with our clients, hearing their stories
and helping shape the path of their lives.”
I've been passionate about tracking financial assets and learning how they serve us all ever since completing a 4-H project as a teenager titled "You and Your Money". My other 4-H projects that summer were beekeeping and woodworking, but only the intrigue with personal finance stuck with me over the long haul.
While still in high school, I began working part-time in a small grocery store. This was one of my first jobs that turned out to have two attributes I've found necessary to every satisfying job I've had since: being of service to others, and having direct contact with clients.
After college, I moved home again briefly for what turned out to be my last residency in Ohio (at least so far). While working for a department store, I landed my first "real job" as a management trainee at a local bank. One year later, I left to start what became a 15 year career in the information technology field providing services to banks and other financial institutions.
While "climbing the corporate ladder" in this field, I was able to travel much of the United States and had the pleasure of living in cities as diverse as Pittsburgh, Wilmington, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Atlanta.
Of those cities, Los Angeles holds a special place in my heart because it was there I met my wife, Julie. When the opportunity for us to each advance our careers lured us to Atlanta, we made our partnership permanent. In what turned out to be foreshadowing, we selected a small, beautiful white church with a tall steeple for our marriage, one very much like the ones dotting so many New England towns.
Atlanta also brought other life-changing milestones. The unexpected death of my father, the birth of our daughter and the realization I had had enough of the corporate world, led me to leave work and become a stay-at-home Dad. This and Julie's promotion to her company's headquarters brought us to Boston and opened the door for me to meet Alan.
After explaining my disillusionment with big companies, my financial services roots and my desire to serve others in a personal way, Alan suggested I take his Financial Planning class at Boston University. I found this overview interesting and helpful and I promptly enrolled in BU's full CFP® certification program.
When I finished his class, Alan invited me to join him in his Financial Planning practice. I soon completed my BU studies and became a CFP® professional. I remained with Alan when he and Lena formed ALENA Wealth, thus expanding the number of families I am privileged to serve.
My experiences in helping build ALENA Wealth reminded me of an aptitude test I took as a freshman in High School. The results from that test suggested I should become either a nurse or an accountant. I think what I do today combines much of the best of both professions. I love working with our clients, hearing their stories and helping shape the path of their lives.
When not working, I enjoy kayaking, cooking, reading and collecting antiques. I especially enjoy quiet time with my family.
