The Albany Financial Group Team
AFG ADVISORS
Leonard Valletta, CFP®, MS
Named among Best-in-State Advisors, Forbes 2020 & 2021
CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™
Leonard Valletta is a Magna Cum Laude graduate of Siena College and holder of a Master’s Degree in Financial Planning. He is also a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®) practitioner through the Certified Financial...
Joseph J. Hermann, RICP®
LPL Financial Planner
Since Joe joined Albany Financial Group in 1996, he’s been providing retirement planning and investment management strategies for business owners, individuals and their families. He’s conducted several seminars and...
Walter Klisiwecz, CFP®, MBA
CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™
WKlisiwecz@albanyfinancial.com
Walt Klisiwecz, CFP® MBA provides comprehensive, personal financial planning to families and individuals throughout the New York Capital Region and the Northeast. A CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®) since 2001, Walt...
John Gigliello, CFP®, AIF®,MBA, EA
CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™
jgigliello@albanyfinancial.com
John is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ who provides comprehensive financial planning and tax planning services and has more than 25 years of experience in taxation and finance. He holds his securities registrations with LPL...
Tony Pettograsso
LPL Financial Planner
APettograsso@albanyfinancial.com
Tony Pettograsso joined Albany Financial Group in 1990 after graduating from Siena College, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Finance. Tony specializes in working with family-run businesses with a focus on estate planning...
Christopher Battiste CFP®, MBA
CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™
Christopher Battiste is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®) and holds an MBA from Union College. He has more than 20 years of financial planning and investment experience, specializing in estate planning and asset...
A.J. Amato, CPA, CFP®
CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™
A.J. began his career in 1982 and has over 30 years of financial services experience, including long careers with one of the largest banking institutions in the U.S. and a renowned certified public accounting firm. He established A.J....
Administrative Staff
Denise Williams
Executive Assistant to Leonard F. Valletta, CFP®, MS
Denise Williams has been the Administrative Assistant for Len Valletta since 1999. Prior to working with Len, she had a similar career with another financial services firm. Denise graduated from the State University of New York at...
Karen Blesser, Financial Paraplanner Qualified Professional™
Administrative Assistant to Joseph Hermann
Karen has been Joseph Hermann’s Administrative Assistant since January of 2007. As Joe’s assistant, she strives to keep Joseph’s focus on his client’s and their needs while she focuses on the background aspect...
Mary Beth Flagler
Administrative Assistant to Leonard F. Valletta, CFP®, MS
Mary Beth joined Albany Financial Group in November 2011 as a part time receptionist and is now serving as an Administrative Assistant to Len Valletta. Mary Beth’s focus in the office is to provide Len’s clients with the...
Lisa La Plante, Financial Paraplanner Qualified Professional™
Operations Manager for John Gigliello, CFP®, AIF®, MBA, EA
Lisa joined Albany Financial Group in March 2012 as Administrative Assistant to John Gigliello. In November 2014, she earned the designation of Registered Paraplanner from the College for Financial Planning. Lisa assists clients with...
Carrie Cronin
Administrative Assistant to Leonard F. Valletta, CFP®, MS
Carrie began working as full-time Administrative assistant for Leonard Valletta and receptionist for the office in November 2014. She previously worked at another financial planning office as a receptionist and sales execution team...
Husn Din
Administrative Assistant to Walter Klisiwecz, CFP®, MBA
Husn began working for Walter Klisiwecz, CFP in October 2015. Prior to this, she worked as an Assistant Manager for five years in two retail locations, both in Albany, NY. In these positions, she was often recognized for her excellence...
Steve Kennedy, CFP®,CIMA®, CDFA™
Paraplanner to Leonard F. Valletta, CFP®, MS
Steve is a Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA®) professional, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®), CDFA™, who joined Albany Financial Group in 2016 and has been in the financial services industry since...
Ryan Duff, CFP®
Paraplanner to Joseph J. Hermann, RICP®
Ryan Duff, CFP®, joined Albany Financial Group in 2018 and has been in the financial services industry since 2012. Prior to joining AFG, Ryan had previous experience in wealth management, financial advisory and insurance services...
Madison Myslinski
Administrative Assistant to Walter Klisiwecz, CFP®, MBA
mmyslinski@albanyfinancial.com
Maddy joined Albany Financial Group in April 2019 as an Administrative Assistant to Walter Klisiwecz, CFP®. Maddy assists in system management, processing paperwork, and ensuring a smooth process with each client-based operation....
Michael Whitney, CFP®
Financial Paraplanner to John Gigliello, CFP®, AIF®, MBA, EA
Mike graduated from Clemson University in May 2018 with a B.S. in Financial Management and a concentration in Financial Planning. After graduating from Clemson University, Mike served as an Associate Financial Advisor for two years at...
James I. Sullivan, II, MBA
LPL Wealth Advisor
In July 2015, Jim joined A.J. Amato Wealth Management as a Client Services Associate. In his position, Jim is responsible for assisting A.J. with the development of comprehensive financial plans, investment research, and providing high...
Laurie Walter
Branch Operations Manager
Laurie was hired in November 2012 as an Administrative Associate to help maintain quality client services in our ever growing firm. In December 2016, Laurie assumed the role of Branch Operations Manager. Prior to joining A.J. Amato...
Emma Long
Client Services Associate to A.J. Amato, CPA, CFP®
Emma began working as a Client Services Associate for AJ Amato in May 2022. Previously, she worked as a paralegal for seven years--first in immigration law, then in real estate law.Emma grew up outside of Boston and graduated from...
Kelly Inglis
Administrative Assistant to Leonard F. Valletta, CFP®, MS
Kelly joined Albany Financial Group as office manager in April 2022.Kelly is a graduate of SUNY Albany. After graduation she moved to New York City where she spent the next 12 years working in finance and customer relations...