Our Team

My career in financial services started at two large banks, then Chase Manhattan and Bankers Trust, and I attended business school at night to achieve an MBA. Preferring to solve financial issues for individuals and small companies –for people, rather than large institutions, I transitioned to full time accounting (at both large and small firms). Along the way, I continued learning and earned my certification as a Certified Public Accountant, fulfilled a lifelong dream to attend law school and earned a JD.

My career really began when my wife, Adrienne and I bought our home in the Holbrook Estates area of Stamford, Connecticut. We suddenly realized that with all the skills I had learned that we were like any other young couple who has not sorted out how much their budget should be and buying an old house as everyone knows is a money pit. Still, rather than commute to the city, I decided that I would quit my job and work from our new home. Having a financial advisor then would have really helped us! After working on my own for a short while, I joined a local firm that has become Kolbrenner & Alexander LLC.

I enjoyed being a CPA (and have that detail oriented focus), and loved using my advanced degrees in business and law to help business owners and families with management, succession and estate issues. Often, accounting clients would ask my opinion on their investments, ask how to better manage their taxes and question their insurance coverage. More learning was in order, and I proceeded to get Series 7, 63 and 65 licenses and added our financial planning and wealth management practice, now known as Holbrook Wealth Advisors. Continuing to keep up on the latest tax laws and relentlessly pursuing continuing education is one of my passions.

Another is living a healthy life, eating well (although I am a foodie!) and exercising daily. It has been over 1200 straight days of running, walking, spinning, working out with a trainer, playing tennis or swimming. Sometimes this streak means that I am out very early in the morning or quite late at night, but I fit it in regardless of what else is going on.

Adrienne makes fun of the excel spreadsheets I keep for the wines we store in our basement cellar (by producer and year) and calls it my CPA brain but keeping track of my inventory is one of my best ways to relax. My favorite wines are from California and Israel, as opposed to the more consistent French wines, because I enjoy the surprise of an especially wonderful crop or a different blend of varietals. By the way, if you are looking for a surprising, inexpensive white wine to go with your next turkey dinner, let me know and I will share it with you. One of the other things I also love about wine is meeting the winemakers and hearing their stories of the development of their process for creating their success. In fact, one such winemaker has become a friend, inviting us to meet the aunt who inspired him to enter the business. This is also something I greatly enjoy in working with financial planning clients, hearing their background and working through our process to enable them to reach their goals, and building long term relationships.

Adrienne and I feel very blessed that our two daughters, Caroline and Elizabeth, and our son Daniel are thoughtful, caring members of their own communities, in Dallas, Stamford, and New York City.  Our older two are married, gainfully employed in work they enjoy (digital strategy and hospital strategy planning and analytics) and are independent (other than the cell phone plan, of course!). Elizabeth just completed her MBA and Danny, our youngest, recently joined my accounting practice and is back at school for a masters of accounting.

I love being a grandparent and am happiest while babysitting for our two grandsons and our granddaughter. I am also grateful that my parents have been healthy, on their own and able to spend time with all of us. They like us prioritize keeping active and engaging in intellectual activities.

We are lucky in our life and feel strongly about giving back to the community.  It is a priority of our firm to schedule an annual shredding event, just after tax season, with a request that each attendee bring some dry goods for the food pantry of the Schoke Jewish Family Service of Stamford, New Canaan and Westport. I have served on its board for over ten years and as its President and make it a practice to take some pro bono clients each year. I am also the treasurer of Hillel, the Jewish students’ organization at University of Maryland, glad that they have created such a wonderful environment for two of our children to thrive.

So now that you know about me, I would like to learn what is important to you? Let’s sit down together and get to know each other. If we are a good fit for each other, we look forward to getting to know you and your family and business and creating a long term financial plan.

Tanya Livingston is the client relations associate at Holbrook Wealth Advisors. She joined the company in July 2023 and is committed to providing excellent client support. She is at the heart of the client experience. Tanya handles the firm’s operations, ensuring the smooth administration of client accounts.

Prior to joining Holbrook Wealth Advisors, Tanya spent over 15 years managing regulatory examinations for a midsized financial institution based in Connecticut. Her deep understanding of the intricacies of the financial landscape and her meticulous attention to detail are important traits for her current role as well. 

Outside of her professional pursuits, Tanya loves to travel, having explored 21 countries, and embraced the cultural richness they offer. Additionally, she indulges her artistic side through various mediums such as photography, painting, and digital art. Tanya draws inspiration from Maya Angelou's words, "You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them," which encapsulates her resilient spirit and her ability to overcome obstacles.