Daniel Kern
Chief Investment Officer, Nixon Peabody Trust Company
Introduction
Daniel Kern’s primary responsibilities include leading a team of investment professionals and directing the asset allocation, security analysis/selection, and portfolio management processes on behalf of the firm’s trustees and clients.
My focus
I am an experienced leader with over 30 years of experience in investment management. Most recently, I served as the managing director and CIO of TFC Financial Management, a registered investment advisor in Boston. Prior to joining TFC, I was the president and chief investment officer at Advisor Partners, a boutique asset manager in the San Francisco area. Earlier in my career, I managed more than $3 billion of mutual fund assets at Charles Schwab Investment Management as head of asset allocation and managed global and international equity portfolios for Montgomery Asset Management.
I am a contributor to Kiplinger, The Street, and ThinkAdvisor; a regular guest on TD Ameritrade Network’s Morning Trade Live and Bloomberg’s Baystate Business; and a frequent speaker at regional, national, and international investment forums.
Looking ahead
Investors are adjusting to a world in which inflation and interest rates are higher, geopolitical tensions are persistent, and technology has disrupted many legacy business models. In this complex and rapidly changing environment, the role of a trusted advisor is key to long-term investment and financial planning success.
In the news
- The Street
Buffered ETFs: Protecting retirement savings from market volatility with options
April 26, 2025This article covers buffered ETFs and some of their benefits and limitations. Nixon Peabody Trust Company Chief Investment Officer Dan Kern is quoted in the coverage, noting that these products are designed specifically for investors with shorter time horizons and lower risk tolerance. Dan also discusses some of the fee and timing considerations for investors who might be exploring buffered ETFs, noting that investors should take the time to understand specific features of each product.
- Kiplinger
Seven secrets to building wealth (that you can implement today)
April 3, 2025This article provides a roundup of insights on tips for building good savings and investment habits. Nixon Peabody Trust Company Chief Investment Officer Dan Kern is quoted in the coverage, discussing how to remain consistent with savings, even if it’s a relatively small amount each year.
- The Street
Asset allocation: Building a portfolio for your financial goals
April 2, 2025Nixon Peabody Trust Company Chief Investment Officer Dan Kern contributed this article discussing how to create an asset allocation strategy tailored to an investor’s financial goals, time horizon, and risk tolerance.
- The Street
Man vs. machine: Margin account basics and what every investor should know
March 4, 2025This article is part of a series in which an editor asks AI chatbots to answer personal finance questions and then reviews the answers with industry leaders. Nixon Peabody Trust Company Chief Investment Officer Dan Kern is featured in the publication’s latest installment, sharing feedback on an AI platform’s response to, “What is a margin account?”
- Rochester Business Journal
Nixon Peabody Trust Company is an important sidebar to the venerable Rochester law firm
Jan 28, 2025This article profiles Nixon Peabody Trust Company (NPTC) and how it works in conjunction with NP’s Private Clients practice. Rochester Private Clients partner Stephanie Seiffert and NPTC Chief Investment Officer Dan Kern are quoted throughout the coverage, highlighting the ways in which client relationships benefit from having both the legal and financial management perspectives under one roof.
- Kiplinger
Eight goals to jump-start your financial success in 2025
Jan 24, 2025This article provides a roundup of insights on how to achieve financial success in 2025. Nixon Peabody Trust Company Chief Investment Officer Dan Kern is quoted in the coverage, discussing how investors can save toward long-term goals, noting that small increases in savings today can lead to significant long-term portfolio growth.
- The Street
2025 outlook on the S&P 500
Jan 10, 2025Nixon Peabody Trust Company Chief Investment Officer Dan Kern contributed this article discussing the S&P 500’s outlook for 2025, including key factors such as AI’s impact, inflation trends, and the Fed’s policy moves.
- Schwab Network
Morning trade live
Jan 8, 2025Nixon Peabody Trust Company Chief Investment Officer Dan Kern joins the program to discuss earnings outlook for Tesla and Palantir. Dan discusses Tesla’s recent overdue pullback following a bump after the US election, as well as how Palantir is well-positioned in the AI space and could be viewed as long-term winner.
- Kiplinger
Five New Year’s investment resolutions
Jan 6, 2025Nixon 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
Investing in infrastructure: A lucrative opportunity
Dec 31, 2024Nixon 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
Morning trade live
Nov 14, 2024Nixon 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.
- Kiplinger
Nine tips to create a smart retirement income strategy and gain peace of mind
Oct 24, 2024This article provides a roundup of insights on how to create an effective retirement income strategy. Nixon Peabody Trust Company Chief Investment Officer Dan Kern is quoted in the coverage, discussing how retirees should have both income- and growth-oriented investments in a portfolio.
- Bloomberg Intelligence
Nixon Peabody Trust Company’s Kern on elections, global markets: Votes and verdicts
Oct 18, 2024Nixon Peabody Trust Company Chief Investment Officer Dan Kern joined this podcast to discuss how the 2024 US presidential and congressional elections will impact the markets.
- Schwab Network
Morning trade live
Oct 11, 2024Nixon Peabody Trust Company Chief Investment Officer Dan Kern joins the program to discuss comeback stories in the banking and financial services sectors following earnings results for several institutions and firms, including JP Morgan, Wells Fargo, Citigroup, and BlackRock.
- The Street
Four ways to define success in investment performance
Oct 2, 2024Nixon 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.
- Schwab Network
Morning trade live
Sep 16, 2024Nixon Peabody Trust Company Chief Investment Officer Dan Kern joins the program to discuss EV makers Tesla and Rivian, compare their stock performance and outlook.
- Schwab Network Morning Trade Live
Target on the offense after big earnings beat
Aug 21, 2024This segment features Nixon Peabody Trust Company Chief Investment Officer Dan Kern discussing Target exceeding its earnings projections as part of a recovery from a difficult period, and also positive results from TJX Companies.
- Kiplinger
Five tips for managing investments before the election
Aug 16, 2024Nixon Peabody Trust Company Chief Investment Officer Dan Kern contributed this article discussing five tips for investors seeking help in navigating election-year markets while staying focused on maintaining a sound long-term asset allocation and investment strategy.
- The Street
Q2 2024 market review
July 24, 2024Nixon Peabody Trust Company Chief Investment Officer Dan Kern contributed this article discussing this year’s second quarter and providing outlook for the second half of 2024. The article page also includes a related video interview with Dan
- Kiplinger
10 big mistakes these financial experts recommend avoiding
July 18, 2024This 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
Lessons learned from three decades of investing
June 20, 2024Nixon 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.
- The Street
Beyond yield: Five smart tips for dividend stock investing in 2024
April 12, 2024Nixon Peabody Trust Company Chief Investment Officer Dan Kern contributed this article highlighting five considerations on how dividend stocks can play an important role for investors seeking a combination of income and growth.
- Schwab Network
Morning trade live
March 20, 2024Nixon Peabody Trust Company Chief Investment Officer Dan Kern joins this episode of the program to discuss earnings in the homebuilding market and news of potential assistance from the White House for first-time homebuyers. Dan also discusses Micron earnings and how they could factor into the broader cloud and AI spaces.
- TheStreet
Four considerations for cash allocations
Feb 27, 2024Nixon Peabody Trust Company Chief Investment Officer Dan Kern contributed this article highlighting four considerations investors should look for when reviewing their allocation to cash.
- TheStreet
Five New Year’s investment resolutions to make now
Jan 4, 2024Nixon Peabody Trust Company Chief Investment Officer Dan Kern contributed this article highlighting five investment-related New Year’s resolutions to consider for 2024.
- Money Life with Chuck Jaffe
Market call (podcast)
Dec 15, 2023Nixon Peabody Trust Company Chief Investment Officer Dan Kern joins this episode of the podcast to discuss his outlook for equities, fixed-income, and investment funds as we head into 2024.
- Schwab Network
Morning trade live
Dec 6, 2023Nixon Peabody Trust Co. Chief Investment Officer Dan Kern joins this episode of the program to discuss recent corporate earnings and outlook for 2024, particularly in the artificial intelligence and pet care sectors.
- The Street
Q3 market review and Q4 outlook for investors
Oct 19, 2023Nixon Peabody Trust Co. Chief Investment Officer Dan Kern contributed this article recapping market activity in the third quarter and providing outlook for the fourth quarter. Dan covers several factors, including recession concerns, interest rates, and performance of international markets.
- Kiplinger
Five questions (and answers) for long-term investors
Sep 14, 2023Nixon Peabody Trust Co. Chief Investment Officer Dan Kern contributed this column discussing several notable topics that are top-of-mind for investors—including inflation, climate transition, the US credit downgrade, artificial intelligence, and the market outlook in Europe and China.
- Morning Trade Live
This year will be the low point for tech demand
Aug 29, 2023Nixon Peabody Trust Co. Chief Investment Officer Dan Kern joined the program to discuss recent earnings in the technology sector and how these announcements could impact overall outlook for tech sector demand in 2023.
- The Street
2023 first half review and Q3 outlook: Strong rebound amidst fed rate hikes and economic challenges
July 21, 2023Nixon Peabody Trust Co. Chief Investment Officer Dan Kern contributed this article recapping the first half of 2023 and providing a third-quarter outlook for investors.
- Kiplinger
To address inflation, consider four portfolio adjustments
May 22, 2023Nixon Peabody Trust Co. Chief Investment Officer Dan Kern contributed this article discussing four portfolio adjustments to consider for addressing inflation.
- Money
Why investors shouldn’t ‘sell in May and go away’ this year
May 1, 2023This article discussing the stock market’s traditionally weaker period between May and October quotes NP Trust Co. Chief Investment Officer Dan Kern on how macroeconomic fears are already priced into the market and how staying the course without selling could help investors avoid tax liabilities and potential transaction costs.
- The Street
Prepare your portfolio for the second quarter of 2023
April 14, 2023Nixon Peabody Trust Company Chief Investment Officer Daniel Kern contributed this article, in which he recaps the first quarter and discusses his outlook for stocks and bond markets in the second quarter.
Education
University of California, Berkeley, Haas School of Business, M.B.A.
Brandeis University, B.A., Economics
Professional activities
- CFA charterholder
- Member, CFA Institute
- CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ practitioner
- Board member and chair, Investment Committee for the Cambridge Community Foundation
- Board of Advisors, Brandeis International Business School
- Independent Trustee, Green Century Funds
- Board of Directors, Wealthramp
- Board of Directors, Lown Institute
Insights And Happenings
View AllArticle
Wealth Management Insights