When I inherited the biggest pasta bowl I’ve ever seen from my grandmother, Yolanda, I didn’t fully grasp its significance. What first seemed like an oversized serving bowl came to represent something much more. It represented the community, connection, and resourcefulness that defined my grandparents and the values they passed down to our family. They worked hard for what they had, appreciated it, and used it to create opportunities for the people around them. Those lessons continue to influence how I think about success, our work and the relationships we build with our clients.
As a CPA, financial planner, and Partner at Christakos Financial in Cranford, New Jersey, I help families and business owners plan for financial decisions involving taxes, investments, and financial planning, often across multiple generations. Our multidisciplinary approach brings broader perspective to those decisions, helping clients make the most of their opportunities without having to manage every detail themselves.
My parents founded our family firm with a philosophy grounded in integrity, service and community. They taught us that success creates opportunities beyond ourselves and that how we use those opportunities matters. Those are values I hope to pass along to my own children. The pasta bowl remains a reminder of that. There is always room at the table.
Join Us at the Table
Financial success can be about more than what you’ve accumulated. With it can come a sense of gratitude, new opportunities, and the ability to make a meaningful difference for the people and things that matter to you.
As your financial life becomes more complex, the decisions rarely stand alone. Thoughtful planning, good judgment and trusted professionals who understand the bigger picture can make that complexity easier to navigate, leaving you more time and freedom to focus on what matters most.
