Financial advisors in Troy NY

Dan has more than 13 years of experience in financial planning and wealth management. He began his career at Goldman Sachs Ayco in 2012, where he ultimately served as a Vice President and Wealth Advisor. Dan earned his bachelor’s degree from Manhattan College in 2009 and his MBA from Russell Sage College in Albany in 2012. Dan and his wife, Jessica, live in Troy, New York, where they are raising their three children.

Dan is joining Fagan Associates as a Financial Advisor, and we couldn't be more excited to welcome him to the team. With years of experience in financial planning and wealth management, Dan has built a reputation for helping clients navigate important financial decisions with confidence.

To help everyone get to know him a little better, we asked Dan a few questions about his career, family and interests. Here's what he had to say:

What is your favorite way to spend the weekend?
An ideal weekend would be summer in the Adirondacks and Lake George with the family. We love being out on the water, enjoying the sunshine, fishing, and making memories. When we’re able to pull it off, we also like to get the tents out to camp with the kids, telling ghost stories and eating too many s’mores.

What is your favorite sports team?
Raised on Dan Marino and my dad’s optimism, I inherited a love for the Miami Dolphins from my father. To avoid a similar lifetime of heartache, I have asked my kids to choose their own teams to root for. This will (selfishly) allow me to expand my odds of cheering for a winning organization.

What is best piece of advice someone has given you?
Perspective is paramount. It’s not about being the king of pawn. It’s about remembering that we’re all playing the same game, and how we treat one another along the way matters most.

Where is your favorite place to travel?
While there are still a few more places on our bucket list to explore, we took a family trip to Sixmilebridge in Ireland a week after Jess and I got engaged. We were fortunate enough to enjoy the local environment by attending rugby matches and horse races but also travel across the country to visit Dublin, Galway, and Cliffs of Moher.

What is one fun fact about you?
To afford to stay in NYC during college summers, I spent junior and senior year as a doorman in a tailored suit working on Central Park West hailing cabs and carrying groceries for tenants.

‍

Thomas Sowell, the acclaimed American economist, has a famous quote regarding inflation. Sowell said “It is a way to take people’s wealth from them without having to openly raise taxes. Inflation is the most universal tax of all.” The Federal Reserve officially interprets its price stability mandate as a 2% long-term inflation target. As the charts below from Charlie Biello of Creative Planning illustrate, we are now at 67 consecutive months above 2%.

The cumulative effect this has on everyday products and services is eye opening.

Another famous Sowell quote on the destruction of savings caused by inflation: “Inflation is a hidden tax. The money people have saved is robbed of part of its purchasing power, which is quietly transferred to the government that issues new money.” One of the biggest issues facing retirees, and something we discuss and analyze with our client, is “how will your savings hold up over the 20-30 years of retirement.” If you are planning to spend $100,000 a year in retirement on all expenses, if inflation were to remain constant at 3.5% over the next 30 years, the table below breaks down the nominal budget required to match your current lifestyle alongside the progressive destruction of your purchasing power.

While this information can seem daunting and scary, proper planning can and will put you on the proper path to success. We are here to help!

‍

‍

‍

_{“This presentation is not an offer or solicitation to buy or sell securities. The information contained in this presentation has been compiled from third party sources and is believed to be reliable, but its accuracy is not guaranteed and should not be relied upon in any way, whatsoever. Fagan portfolio characteristics and holdings are subject to change at any time and are based on a representative portfolio. Holdings and portfolio characteristics of individual client portfolios may differ, sometimes significantly, from those shown. This information does not constitute, and should not be construed as, investment advice or recommendations with respect to the securities listed.}

_{Additional information including management fees and expenses is provided on our Form ADV Part 2. The actual return and value of an account fluctuate and, at any time, the account may be worth more or less than the amount invested. Bond Investments are affected by interest rate changes and the credit-worthiness of the issues held in the portfolio. A rise in interest rates will cause a decrease in the value of fixed income positions. Past performance results are not indicative of future results.”}

‍

With Halloween just around the corner, it may be hard to believe but it’s time to start looking at end of year planning.  In lieu of a traditional chart this week, we thought it would be a good idea to remind everyone of some year-end “tricks” that could lead to some “treats” down the road! In actuality, there are no tricks here just good sound financial planning tips as the year winds down, many of which we are actively working on for and with clients as we type this.

Top 10 Financial Planning Tips for Year-End

• Max Out Retirement Accounts: Boost contributions to your 401(k), 403(b), or IRA to lower taxable income before the year closes out.  For 2026 the limits are $24,500 (an additional $8,000 if over 50+) for 401(k) and 403(b) contributions, and $7,500 (an additional $1,100 for 50+) for traditional IRA contributions.

• Take Your RMDs: If you are 73 or older, if you haven’t already, withdraw your Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) to avoid steep IRS penalties.

• Harvest Tax Losses: Sell underperforming investments to offset capital gains and reduce your overall taxable income.

• Review Open Enrollment: Compare health insurance plans and update your elections during workplace open enrollment periods.

• Contribute to an HSA: Max out your Health Savings Account if you have a high-deductible health plan for triple-tax benefits ($4,400 for single, $8,750 for family).

• Use FSA Balances: Check your Flexible Spending Account to use up remaining funds so you do not lose them to “use-it-or-lose-it” rules.

• Evaluate Roth Conversions: Convert traditional IRA funds to a Roth account if you expect to be in a lower tax bracket this year.

• Execute Charitable Giving: Make end-of-year donations, use a donor-advised fund, or make Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs).

• Rebalance Your Portfolio: Review your asset allocation to make sure your risk level matches your long-term goals.

• Update Estate & Beneficiaries: Review your wills, powers of attorney, and account beneficiary designations to reflect major life changes.

As noted above, many of these year-end tasks such as RMDs and Rebalancing are well underway in our office, and you may have seen the related activity in your accounts.  If you have any questions about any of the above or wonder if you are a candidate, don’t be “scared” to give us a call to discuss!

‍

‍

‍

‍

‍

_{“This presentation is not an offer or solicitation to buy or sell securities. The information contained in this presentation has been compiled from third party sources and is believed to be reliable, but its accuracy is not guaranteed and should not be relied upon in any way, whatsoever. Fagan portfolio characteristics and holdings are subject to change at any time and are based on a representative portfolio. Holdings and portfolio characteristics of individual client portfolios may differ, sometimes significantly, from those shown. This information does not constitute, and should not be construed as, investment advice or recommendations with respect to the securities listed.}

_{Additional information including management fees and expenses is provided on our Form ADV Part 2. The actual return and value of an account fluctuate and, at any time, the account may be worth more or less than the amount invested. Bond Investments are affected by interest rate changes and the credit-worthiness of the issues held in the portfolio. A rise in interest rates will cause a decrease in the value of fixed income positions. Past performance results are not indicative of future results.”}

‍