Building Wealth and Wisdom: Joseph Guarneri’s Path from St. John’s to GKB & Associates

“I initially thought I wanted to be a lawyer, but I wasn’t 100 percent sure,” the Bensonhurst, NY, native recalled. “I decided to have a backup plan in case I changed my mind, so I majored in political science, but also had an accounting minor.”

That decision has paid off, as Mr. Guarneri is now Managing Director, Wealth Management, at the New York-based firm after a long career with Merrill Lynch.

Mr. Guarneri credits his St. John’s professors with shaping his approach to life and work. “My professors taught me how to think, not what to think,” he recalled. “I never felt like they were pushing an agenda on me or my classmates.”

“Most important, they weren’t just doing a job—they really cared,” he said. “For example, I was a little rough around the edges, but John J. Brennan, Ph.D., Associate Dean of Notre Dame College, saw something in me and went out of his way to ensure that I succeeded. Professor Jane Sweeney ’68Ph.D. was also wonderful, even when she had to show me tough love when a paper was due the following day.”

In 1985, he earned his degree, but as he prepared for law school, he remained uncertain about his next steps. Fortunately, the mother of a friend who worked at Merrill Lynch suggested he try the field of finance.

Initially a bookkeeper in the Merrill Lynch margins department, Mr. Guarneri found the role a bit mundane. “I’d have seven or eight hours of work to do, but I’d finish it in two and a half hours.”

Uninspired by his initial role, he transitioned into the role of options bookkeeper and enjoyed it immensely. “I was still rough around the edges, but I learned about Wall Street,” he explained. “I wasn’t sure if I’d stick with finance, so I became a sales assistant with the goal of becoming a financial adviser.”

To prepare for the challenges of that role, Mr. Guarneri sought and found mentorship from two seasoned Merrill Lynch advisers. “I realized I couldn’t be a financial adviser without knowing what I was doing. I needed to learn from people who were experts,” he said. “I was very grateful for their guidance; they helped me move up through the ranks.”

While thriving in his career, Mr. Guarneri sought a deeper connection with clients and decided to become a Certified Financial Planner (CFP). “Back then, we were just buying and selling stocks and bonds,” he said. “I wanted to help people in a more meaningful way.”

After more than 38 years with Merrill Lynch, he cofounded GKB & Associates, where he is committed to making a positive impact in the lives of his clients.

“As a CFP, I meet with clients to understand their life goals,” he explained, noting those goals vary widely. “A young person will have different goals than someone who is 65 or 70. Whether it’s retirement, children’s education, estate planning, or something else, my job is to help them map out a plan to live the life they want.”

While Mr. Guarneri’s path is impressive, he is most proud of his roles as a father and family man. “Your legacy is being a good, caring parent and spouse,” he said. “Too often, people measure success by financial wealth, but I don’t. You can have money and still have a terrible family life—it doesn’t mean anything.”

Now a mentor himself, Mr. Guarneri offers sage advice: “A man does what he needs to do first, and what he wants to do second. Family always comes first.”