Giovanni "Gio" Fernandez, PhD, CFP®
Founder and Financial Advisor
My Story
Taking over the family's financial advisory practice was always the plan. My father, Ray Fernandez, built this firm on a simple idea: financial advice should be honest, personal, and patient. He spent years preparing me to carry it forward, through my education, my CFP® certification, my doctorate, and countless conversations about clients, markets, and what it really means to serve a family well.
When he passed in 2020, that transition came earlier than either of us expected. But the foundation was there. I stepped into the work with the training, the values, and the relationships my father invested in, and I've spent the years since building on what he started: clearer planning processes, a tighter focus on the clients I serve best, and a commitment to transparency.
What I Bring to the Work
- PhD in Finance — A research-driven foundation in retirement income, portfolio theory, tax-aware investing, and behavioral finance. I bring academic rigor to plans built for real life.
- CFP® Certified — Held to the fiduciary standard. Bound to act in your best interest.
- Boutique by Design — A deliberately limited roster, so every client gets direct access to me.
Outside the Practice
I live in DeLand, FL with my wife Mallory and our daughter Violet. I'm a foodie, a lifelong learner, and both an exercise and wine enthusiast (Napa is a happy place). My personal values, Excellence, Equanimity, and Duty, show up in how I run the firm and how I serve my clients.