A Message from John 

There are often several times during the course of any day that I am reminded of why I care so much about the work I do. Looking back over my life, I pretty much have always wanted to help others, as instilled in me by my parents. My dad was an architect who focused his profession on working with hospitals and religious organizations. My mom was a nurse who devoted her career to helping those in need. However, the desire to help people, especially with their finances, is a direct result of the challenges I faced after my life-altering surgery for a brain tumor.

When diagnosed, I was only 39 years old. Happily married to my wife Rose, we had two beautiful daughters, Julianna and Maria, ages 7 and 4. Thankfully the tumor was benign, but because of its size, it needed to be removed. I came out of a 9 1/2-hour surgery in pretty tough shape. I had total paralysis on the right side of my face, deafness in my right ear and headaches that reached 12 on a scale of 10. In addition to my physical health, I was facing challenges mentally as well. We all take our smiles for granted until we don't have one.

After a few years of adjusting to the "new me" I eventually realized that I had a very unique opportunity. I had the opportunity to "make lemonade out of lemons," as they say. My career up until that point had been in the corporate world, but here was a chance to help others in a more personal setting. I decided to share my personal finance knowledge with others and make a go of it as a financial advisor.

I have no regrets. I can't tell you how rewarding it is to help people who are at an intersection of their life, just as I was. This is my way, after a life-altering event, to help others in need. I've often thought about what I would be doing if I were not a financial advisor. Well, in addition to wanting to help others, I also love to educate others. I want to share what knowledge I've gained over my lifetime with others who might benefit from it.

Just as I relied on my family and friends during my time of need, I want others to rely on me in their time of need. There's no reason to go it alone. At Albany Financial Group, I've tried to design my practice around helping, educating and serving others. I am very fortunate to work in a career I truly love.