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Our What

There is a distinction between one’s financial assets and one’s core assets. When we talk about financial assets we’re referring to the dollars and cents; the cash, investments, and property that make up the common concept of wealth. When we talk about core assets, we’re referring to personal health, well-being, and talents that you would want to pass on to your children or society at large – all of which are defined and guided by your personal values. Core assets represent the true wealth, not just the monetary wealth. Core assets are the things that make you who you really are. Our primary objective is to ensure your financial plan reflects your goals and objectives and provides you the clarity, confidence and capability to make great decisions and become a great steward of your total wealth.

Financial Assets

Identify and take inventory of all your financial assets – investments, real estate, business interests, notes, loans, etc.

Core Assets

The things you value most – family, health, spirituality, values, happiness, ethics, heritage and wellbeing. Doing what you love even if no one paid you.

Experience Assets

Formal and experiential education, positive and negative experiences, your reputation, skills, methods, ideas, and traditions. What might benefit others and allow them to progress further by learning from what you already know or have experienced?

Contribution Assets

Taxes and charitable contributions. Redirecting tax dollars back into society to resume control on behalf of causes we care about and want to support. The ability to control and guide the flow of your money into societal programs is a major reason why our clients choose to work with us. You face the choice of either doing nothing and paying more in taxes or proactively giving to self-directed causes.

Michelle DeShields

Executive Assistant

Michelle is typically the first person you will speak to when we answer the phone. She manages the calendars and ensures meetings are booked. Michelle is a key member of our team by making sure you get to the right person and that the client experience is always exceptional and evolving to be better.

Fadi Ahmed

Chief Operations Officer and Chief Compliance Officer

Fadi works with clients to ensure an exceptional experience. He coordinates and assures the planning process and wealth management tools are at your fingertips to provide the clarity you deserve and the transparency and access to all your accounts. Fadi ensures the data and information is reflective in our planning software. All changes and updates flow through his desk and he coordinates those changes with the rest of our team.

Andrew Krout

Wealth Advisor, Co-Chief Investment Officer

Andrew Krout is a Wealth Advisor at De Groote Financial Group, LLC. He also serves as a Co-Chief Investment Officer for the firm, focused on wealth management.

Previously, Andrew served as CIO with Kelly Financial in Boston Massachusetts since 2013. He is a licensed investment advisor representative and insurance producer. He graduated from Saint Francis University with a bachelor’s degree in both finance and accounting. He is a candidate for CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ designation. Andrew holds life insurance licenses in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Connecticut.

Andrew is passionate about serving his clients and investment management and how to apply news and current events to investment decisions. He played Division 1 golf in college, and still enjoys playing and watching the sport in his free time.

David Darst

Co-Chief Information Officer

David Martin Darst, CFA is an Investment Advisor to DeGroote Financial Group, specializing in asset allocation and product selection. Previously, David served for 17 years as a Managing Director and Chief Investment Strategist at Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, with the responsibility for Asset Allocation and Investment Strategy. He joined Morgan Stanley in 1996 from Goldman Sachs, where he held Senior Management Posts within the Equities Division and earlier, for six years as Resident Manager of their Private Bank in Zurich.

David is the author of 13 books, including bestsellers The Art of Asset Allocation, 2nd Edition (McGraw-Hill), and The Little Book that Still Saves Your Assets (John Wiley & Sons). He also appears as a frequent guest on CNBC, Bloomberg, FOX, PBS, and others, and has contributed articles across a variety of publications.

David graduated with a BA in Economics from Yale University, and earned his MBA from Harvard Business School. He has lectured extensively at Wharton, Columbia, INSEAD, and New York University Business Schools, and for nine years, David served as a visiting member at Yale College, Yale School of Management, and Harvard Business School. He is a CFA Charterholder and a member of the New York Society of Security Analysts and the CFA Institute. 

Doug De Groote

Managing Director

Doug is a Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®) with an MBA in Financial Planning, and is an active member of the Financial Planning Association (FPA). Before establishing De Groote Financial Group, Doug founded the United Wealth Management division of United Capital. Prior to that, Doug was a partner at Crowell, Weedon and Co. He regularly contributes to a variety of financial and general media.

Doug’s passion, and what he believes, is that everyone deserves the opportunity; they deserve to have the freedom and responsibility to be pro-active in achieving independence and financial success.

Doug’s life is focused around his family, wife and three children, and making sure they get the foundation that is necessary for them to have the awareness of the opportunities that abound in our great country.

Doug helps increase his client’s awareness and success, to identify and take advantage of opportunities that present themselves and help protect them from some of the pitfalls or obstacles that are thrown in our paths. With regards to their financial circumstances, Doug helps his clients identify their goals, plan for various outcomes and manage their assets to help them make their vision a reality.