Gio Fernandez, PhD, CFP®, founder and financial advisor

About Gio

Evidence matters. So does knowing the person across the table.

I'm Giovanni “Gio” Fernandez. I lead Fernandez Wealth Management, advise every household directly, and retain final planning and investment judgment.

Education: PhD in Finance
Certification: CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional
Designation: Retirement Income Certified Professional®
Home: DeLand, Florida

A direct relationship

The judgment stays personal. The follow-through is supported.

Clients work with me directly on the financial decisions that require professional judgment. The team around me prepares information, coordinates implementation, handles service, and keeps the work moving. That structure is designed to make the relationship more responsive and dependable without placing another advisor between us.

My years in research and teaching shaped the way I evaluate evidence, risk, and competing claims. But the standard is practical: explain the reason, tell the truth about the tradeoffs, and do what is right for the client.

The FWM team

Advice stays direct. Support is shared.

Gio remains your advisor. The team provides the preparation, coordination, service, operational support, and compliance oversight that help each decision move from conversation to completion.

Executive Assistant

Priscilla

Priscilla creates structure around the many details that shape the client experience. She holds a Bachelor of Management and Leadership and brings prior administrative experience, a process-minded approach, and a talent for turning scattered priorities into clear next steps.

Clients can expect responsive communication, calm coordination, and dependable follow-through. Her goal is for every person to feel heard, know what happens next, and trust that important details will not fall through the cracks.

Client Service & Operations Manager

Kelly

Kelly manages the operational details that connect account service, billing, planning tools, and ongoing workflows. She earned a Bachelor of Science from the University of Florida and brings a background in tax preparation and years of client-facing experience.

Clients can expect a welcoming, responsive experience rooted in listening, accuracy, and attention to detail. Kelly approaches time-sensitive needs calmly, asks the right questions, and helps move each request toward a clear resolution.

Client Relationship Manager

Barbara Fernandez

Barbara brings more than 30 years of financial-services experience, including prior roles at Lockheed Martin and SunBank. She earned her bachelor’s degree and MBA in Finance from Florida International University and brings deep operational knowledge to client relationships and firm continuity.

Barbara is also part of the FWM story. Her late husband, Ray, founded the practice, and today she helps carry forward the family’s commitment to thoughtful, caring service.

Deputy Chief Compliance Officer

Logan Dutton, MBA

Logan supports the firm’s compliance program and helps translate regulatory requirements into practical, repeatable processes. He brings experience managing complex work at the intersection of finance, operations, and systems, along with a disciplined approach to oversight.

Much of Logan’s work happens behind the scenes. His focus is helping the firm remain organized, documented, and aligned with its responsibilities as it grows.

A family practice, deliberately continued

Continuity became personal before it became a planning principle.

My father, Ray Fernandez, built the practice that became Fernandez Wealth Management. We spent years planning the handoff deliberately. When he died in 2020, I experienced firsthand how much thoughtful preparation matters when life changes abruptly.

That experience influences how the firm plans today: make ownership clear, keep important information organized, prepare before a transition, and build plans that can keep working when life does not follow the script.

Outside the office

The life behind the plan matters.

I live in DeLand with my wife Mallory and our daughter Violet. Family, fitness, travel, and good wine are the parts of life that remind me why financial planning should create clarity and freedom—not become another job.

Start a conversation

Start with a conversation

Ready to hand this off?

The first conversation is twenty minutes. We will talk about what is taking your attention, what you want help with, and whether the relationship makes sense on both sides.

Request an Intro Call

(305) 412-3737 gio@fwmfa.com701 Victoria Hills Drive · DeLand, FL 32724