By Joseph Daigle, CFEI®

People choose their careers for lots of reasons. Sometimes they do what their parents want them to do. Other times, they don’t know what they want to do, so they follow the trends or pursue the highest-paying field. Some people know exactly what they want to do with their life because of a certain passion or skill. My reason for becoming a financial advisor comes from a more personal experience.

While I always had an interest in finance, it was my parents’ experience with a financial advisor who tried to commit fraud and steal their money that left an impression on me. Young at the time, this was my first experience seeing how asking for help could turn into a potential loss. What saved my parents from being defrauded was good oversight. The company’s owner discovered the problem and intervened to set everything right before any money changed hands. Witnessing this experience firsthand ultimately set me on the path to become a financial advisor myself. I knew others must have experienced similar situations, which led me to think about how I can be a part of the solution. It became my personal mission to not only deliver meaningful and trustworthy financial advice, but to build an environment where integrity and true partnership can thrive.

Getting Started

After graduating college with a Bachelor of Science in Finance with a minor in Management Information Systems from the University of Delaware, I worked for various financial institutions. I started working as a financial advisor in 2012 before coming to Mallard in 2016 as an investment analyst. I then became the first CEO of Mallard Financial Partners in 2020.

Education has always been important to me, so as I gained hands-on experience in the field, I continued to pursue higher-education programs through Cornell, Harvard, and the University of Oxford. I feel my educational experience allows me to provide a more well-rounded service to clients as I can better educate them on their financial options.

My Career Today

As the Chief Executive Officer of Mallard, my work today is more on the operational side and not as much client-facing. I enjoy working behind the scenes as much as I enjoy working with clients. My expertise in project management, policy and procedure improvement, analytics, and accounting allows me to still support clients through the efficient management of our unique firm. Whether I’m working directly or indirectly with clients, my goal and motivation is to always ensure a positive experience for our clients so they feel heard and listened to—and that they are more than just a number to us.

The Best Part

Seeing clients make progress toward their long-held goals is one of the many reasons I love what I do. Getting to work with clients on a personal level means I am more invested in their outcomes, and it’s extremely fulfilling to see the results.

As a community-driven firm, everyone on our team works hard at their profession because we feel a responsibility to do right by the people we work with and for. Knowing how important financial security is for so many, we do our best to educate our clients so they feel empowered about their finances.

Want to Know More?

I know firsthand what it’s like to get taken advantage of. It can be scary to trust someone with your financial resources. That’s why we at Mallard Financial Partners put your best interests first and are transparent about our work, our fees and our philosophy. Whether you are just starting your career, are nearing retirement, or fall somewhere in between, it’s not too late to make your dream financial future a reality. If you don’t know where to start, reach out to us today to schedule a no-obligation Discovery Meeting. Contact us at hello@mallardfinancial.com or call 302-737-4546. We can’t wait to hear from you!

About Joseph

Joseph Daigle is the Chief Executive Officer at Mallard Financial Partners Inc., a financial planning firm based in Newark, Delaware, that serves individuals, families, small businesses, trusts, and nonprofits across the U.S. Joseph serves the firm as lead Investment Analyst and Chief Executive Officer. In his role as CEO, Joseph assists clients in understanding their financial goals and talking through their stressors. Approachable and reassuring, he helps clients feel confident in their financial strategy.

Joseph holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance with a minor in Management Information Systems from the University of Delaware and is an alumnus of programs at Cornell University, Harvard University, and the University of Oxford. Outside of the office, Joseph is very active in his community of North Wilmington and has served on several local and national nonprofit boards. In addition to serving his community, Joseph enjoys cooking, gardening, reading, and connecting with family, friends, and neighbors. To learn more about Joseph, connect with him on LinkedIn.