John Garretson, CFP®

John Garretson founded Garretson Financial in 2004. John is a graduate of Michigan State University with a B.S. in Engineering. He began his career in the financial industry as a Financial Advisor for Smith Barney. After 9 years at Smith Barney, John continued his focus on investment advising and financial planning when he moved to Paine Weber before he started his own investment advisement firm. 

In addition to having his General Securities Representative Series 7, General Securities Principal Series 24, Uniform Securities Agent State Law Examination Series 63, Uniform Investment Advisor Law Series 65. John holds his insurance licenses for life and health (including Long Term Care) insurance in NJ, NY and CT. John also taught Introduction to Investing at The New School in NYC from 1986-1995. As a Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®), John continues to expand his learning to help his clients navigate through complex financial environments. As a Retirement Income Certified Professional John assists clients with retirement planning, tax implications and managing retirement income.  

John works primarily with individual investors and small business owners, including managing their pension plan. John also provides Social Security Retirement Income Planning for clients helping them make informed decisions to build a better retirement strategy. John is committed to long-term client relationships and through financial planning helps his clients with retirement, education, estate and insurance planning strategies.  John is an experienced money manager with more than 30 years’ experience.

John lives in Cranford with his sweetheart Veronica. They have 5 children and 1 dog. John is an avid sports fan, loves to travel, and enjoys golf and good times with family and friends. He also enjoys gardening, growing pumpkins and plays the role of the local beekeeper. 

John is also a Contact We Care crisis line volunteer, servicing callers in need throughout New Jersey, as well as a St. Barnabas Hospice Volunteer, located in Livingston, NJ, in memory of his late mother who was a hospice nurse.