John S. Morgan, AIF^®, APMA^®

Preparation for my career in investment management and financial planning began at an early age. Both of my parents grew up in the shadows of the Great Depression, and both of their fathers passed away when they were very young. Fortunately, both of my grandmothers were strong women, worked hard, and were able to put food on the table in safe and secure homes. To make a better life for our family, my parents were careful with their money and saved for major expenditures in advance. Their life experience taught them that they should have a “rainy day fund,” to ensure that there was enough to pay for essential monthly expenses and longer-term needs, including higher education and retirement. It was only then that they would put their resources toward vacations, home improvements, or a new car, for example. I remember informally learning these lessons around the dinner table and carry them with me today.

I founded Mountain View Strategic Wealth because I knew there was a better way to help individuals and families work toward their long-term goals, whether they involve a comfortable retirement or ensuring they can provide their children with a college education. Early in my career, I met too many people who had a 401k, a will, and a life insurance policy in an effort to “check all the boxes,” but the boxes they checked did not work together strategically to help them work toward and plan for a secure future for their family. I counsel clients to take stock of their current financial position, educate them on the many strategies available, formalize a plan of action, and then execute and fine-tune that plan as their lives change, so they can spend time doing what they enjoy with the people they love.

In addition to working directly with families, trusts, and business owners and executives throughout my career, I have held diverse roles, including launching a mutual fund, analyzing and ranking securities for two actively managed mutual funds, publishing a monthly investing newsletter, and helping two other firms grow into large investment advisers as a member of their executive teams.

To become better at my craft, I have earned two advanced designations: Accredited Portfolio Management Advisor℠ from The College for Financial Planning and Accredited Investment Fiduciary^® from the Center for Fiduciary Studies. I hold myself to high standards within my profession and, as such, have been recognized as a "Five Star Wealth Manager" award winner in 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025 by Five Star Professional and featured in news outlets including Forbes, Fortune, Hudson Valley Magazine, Poughkeepsie Journal, Southern Dutchess News, Beacon Free Press, Mid-Hudson Valley Patch, Citybizlist and more. My Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Economics is from Union College, where I earned Dean’s List honors.

Giving back to the Hudson Valley is an important part of who I am. In 2024, Dutchess County Executive Sue Serino appointed me to serve on the Board of Directors of the Dutchess County-Poughkeepsie Land Bank. In 2020, I became a Board of Education Trustee of the Wappingers Central School District, one of the largest non-city school districts in New York State; I have been re-elected twice. I am the chairperson of the school district’s Audit Committee and a member of the Land Bank’s Audit Committee. For five years, I served on the investment subcommittee of the Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley. Previously, I was the Chairman of the Board of Directors of both Abilities First and the Mid-Hudson Civic Center; I also sat on the Board of Directors of the Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce.

My wife Elaine and I are fortunate to live in New York’s Hudson Valley with our three daughters. We enjoy attending various sporting events and music recitals, in addition to riding on the Dutchess Rail Trail. I am an avid New York Rangers fan, even if the 1994 Stanley Cup will have to last a lifetime. Our entire family is proud to have provided a foster home for seven BluePath Service Dogs – autism service dogs in training.

The Five Star Wealth Manager award is based on the following ten criteria:

1. Credentialed as a registered investment adviser or a registered investment adviser representative.
2. Actively employed as a credentialed professional in the financial services industry for a minimum of five years.
3. Favorable regulatory and compliant history review.
4. Fulfilled their firm review based on internal firm standards.
5. Accepting new clients.
6. One-year client retention rate.
7. Five-year client retention rate.
8. Non-institutional discretionary and non-discretionary client assets administered.
9. Number of client households served.
10. Education and professional designations.