Your Team
Favorite Food:
Salad
Favorite quote:
“Excuses are the nails used to build a house of failure” -Jim Rohn
Favorite Holiday:
Thanksgiving
Favorite Movie:
My wife says Titanic
Hidden Talent:
Played college hockey
If Bill could meet anyone, past or present, it would be:
Warren Buffett
What motivates Bill:
Striving to be the best
Place Bill would most like to visit:
Pyramids in Egypt
Something on Bill’s Bucket List:
Swim with great white sharks
Biggest accomplishment to date:
Creating Great Oak
WILLIAM R. SYLVIA JR., CFP®, CIMA®
PRINCIPAL PARTNER
EMAIL WILLIAM
Favorite Food:
Steak (medium-rare, of course)…and definitely not salad
Favorite quote:
“Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value.” –Albert Einstein
Favorite Holiday:
Halloween
Favorite Movie:
Shawshank Redemption
Hidden Talent:
Guitar playing
If John could meet anyone, past or present, it would be:
Ben Franklin
What motivates John:
Sense of duty to do what’s right
Place John would most like to visit:
The world’s best BBQ joint, wherever that may be
Something on John’s Bucket List:
Fly in outer space
Biggest accomplishment to date:
Creating Great Oak
JOHN R. NOONAN III, CFP®
PRINCIPAL PARTNER
EMAIL JOHN
Favorite Food:
Grilled salmon, Cajun style
Favorite quote:
“Life is a journey, not a destination” –Lynn H. Hough
Favorite Holiday:
Christmas
Favorite Movie:
A tie between Good Will Hunting and Saving Private Ryan
Hidden Talent:
Skiing
If Mark could meet anyone, past or present, it would be:
Abraham Lincoln
What motivates Mark:
Making a positive difference in peoples’ lives
Place Mark would most like to visit:
Australia
Something on Mark’s Bucket List:
Ski the Rocky Mountains
Biggest accomplishment to date:
Being a devoted “Daddy” to 3 wonderful kids
Mark D. McAuley, CPA, CFP®
Advisor
EMAIL Mark
Favorite Food:
Fettuccine Alfredo
Favorite quote:
“Well done is better than well said” – Ben Franklin
Favorite Holiday:
4th of July
Favorite Movie:
The Goonies
Hidden Talent:
Fixing things
If Lisa could meet anyone, past or present, it would be:
Mark Wahlberg
What motivates Lisa:
Family
Place Lisa would most like to visit:
Amalfi Coast
Something on Lisa’s Bucket List:
To own a farm with mini highland cows!
Biggest accomplishment to date:
My two daughters
John Cooney, CFP®
Advisor
EMAIL John
Favorite Food:
No favorite food, but life without tea, wine and dark chocolate would be miserable!
Favorite quote:
“Give me liberty or give me death” – Patrick Henry
Favorite Holiday:
4th of July
Favorite Movie:
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
Hidden Talent:
I used to sing and act in community theater – might again someday
If Bill could meet anyone, past or present, it would be:
Clint Eastwood
What motivates Bill:
To be an example for my kids and grandkids
Place Bill would most like to visit:
Istanbul
Something on Bill’s Bucket List:
Explore Antarctica
Biggest accomplishment to date:
Raising my boys
William R. Driscoll, CFP®, MBA
Advisor
EMAIL Bill
Favorite Food:
Shrimp
Favorite quote:
“Work smarter, not harder” -Unknown
Favorite Holiday:
Christmas
Favorite Movie:
Forest Gump
Hidden Talent:
Tap Dancing
If Melanie could meet anyone, past or present, it would be:
Elizabeth I
What motivates Melanie:
Positive mindsets and problem solving
Place Melanie would most like to visit:
Italy
Something on Melanie’s Bucket List:
Did I mention Italy?
Biggest accomplishment to date:
My happy and healthy children
Melanie A. Yentz
Client Support Manager
EMAIL Melanie
Favorite Food:
Fettuccine Alfredo
Favorite quote:
“Well done is better than well said” – Ben Franklin
Favorite Holiday:
4th of July
Favorite Movie:
The Goonies
Hidden Talent:
Fixing things
If Lisa could meet anyone, past or present, it would be:
Mark Wahlberg
What motivates Lisa:
Family
Place Lisa would most like to visit:
Amalfi Coast
Something on Lisa’s Bucket List:
To own a farm with mini highland cows!
Biggest accomplishment to date:
My two daughters
Lisa Hotes
Client Support Specialist
EMAIL Lisa
Bill wanted to be an astronaut. John, a doctor. Of course, they were seven years old when they had those dreams, and neither came true. But Bill and John always maintained that desire to do something good for people, something that would truly matter. After Stonehill College for Bill, and Boston University for John, they each decided that financial planning would be their path to helping the world.
At the beginning of their careers, they hadn’t yet met. Bill landed at a national firm, while John got his start at a local boutique firm. The environments were different, but their experiences were the same. Both learned quickly that the financial planning and investment world revolved mainly around the advisors and their companies, not the clients – a truth they both found utterly unacceptable.
In 2007, the two advisors crossed paths at the firm where they both practiced. They became friends, and often discussed their frustrations with the financial planning world. Perhaps a new firm, client-focused and rooted in academia, surrounded only by the like-minded, is what they needed to create. At the time, it was only an idea. But the seeds of Great Oak were planted.
Over the next eight years, they built their practices individually, but in much the same way, always adhering to the principles of independence and transparency that their clients deserved. Both became CFP® practitioners – the highest designation in comprehensive financial planning. Although once again at different firms, Bill and John would collaborate and share ideas often. The roots of Great Oak were now formed, and they ran deep.
In the summer of 2015, Bill and John decided it was time to join forces, and create the fiduciary, fee-only wealth management firm that would set the standard for doing what’s right. That seed, planted years ago, has now fully grown into Great Oak Capital Partners.
“IT WAS TIME TO JOIN FORCES, AND CREATE THE FIDUCIARY, FEE-ONLY WEALTH MANAGEMENT FIRM THAT WOULD SET THE STANDARD FOR DOING WHAT’S RIGHT.”