“I’ve spent over 30 years in the investment management world, and what keeps me passionate is the connection I build with my team and our clients. In today’s ever-changing financial world, I believe it’s more important than ever to be a trusted advisor. Helping clients navigate life’s complexities with a focus on their financial needs is my sole focus, and the mission of our firm.”

Daniel serves as Chief Investment Officer, leading a group of investment professionals who are dedicated to making smart, informed decisions that align with our clients’ goals.

Before joining Nixon Peabody Trust Company, Daniel was the Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer of TFC Financial Management, a registered investment advisor in Boston. Prior to that, he served as President and Chief Investment Officer at Advisor Partners, a boutique asset manager in the San Francisco area. Earlier in his career, Daniel managed over $3 billion in mutual fund assets at Charles Schwab Investment Management, where he led the asset allocation efforts. He also managed global and international equity portfolios at Montgomery Asset Management.

Daniel is a noted thought leader in the wealth management space, and frequently shares his insights on investment trends through contributions to Kiplinger, The Street, and other publications, and as a guest on Schwab’s Morning Trade Live. He is also a frequent speaker at leading investment forums.

A CFA charterholder, Dan is a member of the CFA Institute and a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ practitioner. He is a board member and Chair of the Investment Committee for the Cambridge Community Foundation, on the Board of Advisors for the Brandeis International Business School, an Independent Trustee for Green Century Funds, and on the Board of Directors of Wealthramp and the Lown Institute.

Education

• University of California, Berkeley, Haas School of Business, M.B.A.

• Brandeis University, B.A., Economics

In the Press

The Street | April 26, 2025
Buffered ETFs: Protecting retirement savings from market volatility with options
Nixon Peabody Trust Company Chief Investment Officer Dan Kern is quoted this article discussing buffered ETFs and some of their benefits and limitations and these products being designed specifically for investors with shorter time horizons and lower risk tolerance. Later in the article, Dan discusses some of the fee and timing considerations for investors who might be exploring buffered ETFs while noting that investors should take the time to understand specific features of each product.

Kiplinger | April 3, 2025
Seven Secrets to Building Wealth (That You Can Implement Today)
Nixon Peabody Trust Company Chief Investment Officer Dan Kern and other members of the Kiplinger Advisor Collective advise on building habits like saving and investing consistently and maintaining the right mindset to build wealth and achieve financial goals.

Schwab Network | January 8, 2025
PLTR & TSLA Bearish Perspective, Bullishness Hinges on Valuation
Daniel Kern calls Tesla’s (TSLA) recent pullback “overdue” since the U.S. election. He says the company is far too overvalued as a car company and needs to prove its A.I. and full self-driving capabilities to justify current valuation. Daniel says some of his points can be applied to Palantir (PLTR) but sees the stock as a favorable long-term trade.

Kiplinger | Jan 6, 2025
Five New Year’s investment resolutions
Nixon Peabody Trust Company Chief Investment Officer Dan Kern contributed this article discussing five New Year’s resolutions investors should consider making for a healthier investment life in the coming year.

The Street | Dec 31, 2024
Investing in infrastructure: A lucrative opportunity
Nixon Peabody Trust Company Chief Investment Officer Dan Kern contributed this article discussing the investment potential of infrastructure assets, including their role in diversification, inflation protection, and long-term returns. Dan also discusses some of the risks and rewards of investing in this asset class.

Schwab Network | Nov 14, 2024
Morning trade live
Nixon Peabody Trust Company Chief Investment Officer Dan Kern joins the program to discuss outlook for Cisco Systems, noting the company could see a boost amid the continued integration of data analysis and observability company Splunk, which Cisco acquired earlier in 2024.

The Street | Oct 2, 2024
Four ways to define success in investment performance
Nixon Peabody Trust Company Chief Investment Officer Dan Kern contributed this article discussing how investors can use goals, time horizons, and other factors to measure the success of investments.

Kiplinger | July 18, 2024
10 big mistakes these financial experts recommend avoiding
This article compiles tips from 10 leaders in the financial industry on mistakes investors should avoid. Nixon Peabody Trust Company Chief Investment Officer Dan Kern suggests that investors should not allow the “fear of missing out” to influence their investing decisions. Instead, investors should do their homework on an investment before following a crowd into the latest hot stock or segment of the market.

Kiplinger | June 20, 2024
Lessons learned from three decades of investing
Nixon Peabody Trust Company Chief Investment Officer Dan Kern contributed this article highlighting his top takeaways from three decades of investing and how to apply them going forward.