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About Us

Our Pledge To You

FINANCIAL ADVICE YOU CAN TRUST… FOR A CHANGE

Since Taconic Advisors was founded, we have been committed to a fiduciary relationship with our clients.  This means your interests always come first.

Chip Simon: Fiduciary Oath

Meredith Briggs: Fiduciary Oath

As a member of the Alliance of Comprehensive Planners (ACP) we share a common pledge to our clients. This means that, in our service relationship, you can expect us to be:

Holistic in outlook. We will consider all of your circumstances, family needs, goals, values, and aspirations when making recommendations.

Professional in conduct. We will protect your privacy. We will strive to maintain the highest ethical standards possible in oury work and life. We will continually enhance our skills and credentials through continuing education, and we will refer you to other professionals when you need help in an area outside our expertise.

Educational in nature. We will guide you through your options and explain them clearly to help you make the best choices. We will always take the time to make sure you understand our advice.

Independent in compensation. We will never sell you a product or service other than holistic financial planning nor will we take a commission or a referral fee from another professional. You will receive objective, unbiased advice from us.

Committed to your success. Holistic financial planning is a process, not an event. We commit to adjusting your plan as your life goals change


MEREDITH W. BRIGGS, CFP® Photo
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MEREDITH W. BRIGGS, CFP®

MEREDITH W. BRIGGS, CFP®

Meredith graduated from Duke University in 2001 and began her financial services career in 2005 in Richmond, Virginia. After experiencing several significant family events she was inspired to develop a career helping individuals and families meet their financial goals.

She completed the rigorous exams for the Series 7, Series 66 and Life and Health Insurance licenses and began working with individuals, families and small businesses. But, as Meredith became more experienced in her field, she also became more concerned with the typical role of a financial advisor as “salesperson” and “asset gatherer” and the lack of focus on clients' financial goals.

In 2009 Meredith became a Certified Financial Planner™ and joined a fee-only wealth management company where she worked as the lead advisor and created and monitored comprehensive financial plans, tax projections and their corresponding investment strategies.  In 2011 Meredith moved to the Hudson Valley to be closer to family and joined a large wealth management company providing financial planning services to clients employed at local non-profit organizations. 

In 2016, Meredith became a co-owner and shareholder in Taconic Advisors. She is excited to help steer the future direction of the company and bring more awareness of fee-only planning to the community.

Meredith lives in Saugerties with her energetic young twins.  In her free time she enjoys playing music, jogging, hiking, practicing yoga and exploring the beautiful Hudson Valley region.

JOHN A. KELLY, CFP® Photo
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JOHN A. KELLY, CFP®

JOHN A. KELLY, CFP®

After graduating from Adelphi University in 2008, John began his career in finance on the precipice of the U.S. financial crisis.  John obtained the Series 7, Series 6 and Life Accident and Health licenses while working for a large financial services company in the heart of Manhattan. 

John gained invaluable experience supporting a successful advisory team. He had the opportunity to interact with thousands of clients and helped to coordinate billions of dollars in assets.  However, after working in the industry for nearly a decade, it became obvious that the success of the company’s clients would often come second to that of their advisors.  With that understanding, John decided it was time to go in search of a new paradigm, and so he moved from Manhattan to the Hudson Valley in August of 2016.

Luckily, his search was brief, and in March 2017 he joined Taconic Advisors as the Financial Planning Assistant to Charles “Chip” Simon and Meredith Briggs. John is absolutely thrilled to have found the company of like-minded individuals and after completing the rigorous requirements fort the CFP® designation he is now taking a lead role with client relationships.

John lives with his astonishingly wonderful wife, Megan, in Beacon, NY.  They enjoy traveling, spending time outdoors and exploring all that the Hudson Valley offers.    

RICHARD "BUMP" LISK, CFP® Photo RICHARD "BUMP" LISK, CFP® Hover Photo
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RICHARD "BUMP" LISK, CFP®

Bump is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER ™. He completed his undergraduate studies in finance at Endicott College where he was a member of the men’s ice hockey and lacrosse teams and also holds a graduate degree in Behavioral Sciences from the University of Pennsylvania.

Prior to joining Taconic, Bump spent time at financial advisory firms in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, focusing on helping families with complex planning needs, portfolio strategy, and evaluating potential private investment opportunities. Bump strongly believes that a holistic planning approach is essential for long-term success and strives to make its complexities into a simple, but ever-changing roadmap, that can help clients and families achieve their goals.

Outside of the office, Bump has a passion for traveling, coaching, reading, hiking, and running. While he does enjoy traveling abroad, his favorite trip has been backpacking along the Gulf of Alaska in the summer of 2019. He currently resides in Yardley, Pennsylvania with his fiancé and loves to spend his free time with family at the Jersey Shore.

REBECA COTTON, CFP®, AFC®, EA Photo REBECA COTTON, CFP®, AFC®, EA Hover Photo
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REBECA COTTON, CFP®, AFC®, EA

Rebeca is a Certified Financial Planner, an Accredited Financial Counselor and Enrolled Agent. Her career began right out of college working for a small engineering firm as their Administrative Assistant. Eventually, Rebeca was promoted to Financial Administrator, and served in that role for just over 10 years. As a military spouse, she most recently served as a Personal Financial Counselor for her local military installation, providing classroom style presentations on a variety of financial topics, in addition to individualized financial counseling.

Rebeca grew up in Washington state, just 30-minutes south of Seattle, and completed her Bachelor’s degree in business administration in 2007 from Central Washington University. With a passion for personal finances since high school, Rebeca began her transition into the financial planning industry in 2019, after marrying her active-duty Army husband. In addition to completing the Certified Financial Planning (CFP®) coursework through Liberty University and successfully passing the CFP® exam in 2021, Rebeca’s interest in taxes led her to gain experience as a tax professional through H&R Block and the BLX Internship Program. As a lifelong learner, Rebeca is currently pursuing her Masters in financial planning through The American College of Financial Services, with the goal of completing her degree program at the end of 2023. As Taconic Advisors’ Financial Planning Assistant, Rebeca is excited for the opportunity to gain first-hand financial planning experience.

Rebeca currently resides overseas with her husband and teenage son and daughter. In her free time, she enjoys staying active and was previously a Zumba and cardio kickboxing instructor. She also loves spending time with her family, traveling to new countries, hiking, and going on walks with her two dogs.  

CATHY THIELE Photo
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CATHY THIELE

Cathy has extensive business experience managing projects, events, and department operations. Her career has spanned over four decades and includes positions in music entertainment, documentary film, recruitment, finance, and higher education. 

She began her career in the music entertainment industry as a receptionist at Record Plant Studios in New York City. While answering phones and greeting clients, she made connections with artists, producers, and talent managers that led to further opportunities. One of those opportunities brought Cathy to Columbia Records, beginning as an Administrative Assistant in the promotion department and later promoted to National Promotion Coordinator.  After eight years in promotion, she was offered the position of Director of Client Services at Sony Music Studios. 

Life has turns, and Cathy’s did. After her father passed away, she moved to be with her mother in Rhinebeck. They both decided to embark on a new adventure and in 1999 moved to the seacoast town of Rockport, MA where they spent wonderful years together until her mother’s death in 2015.  During that time in Rockport, Cathy entered a new job in higher education, working in the Office of the Provost at Gordon College and eventually becoming the executive assistant. She retired from Gordon College after 15 years of service at the end of June 2019.

In 2020, Cathy found and moved into her forever home in Saugerties and joined Taconic Advisors as their new Administrative Assistant. She says, “In all my jobs two things that I always gain and keep are the interpersonal experiences and friendships. I find the environment at Taconic Advisors rich in both and am grateful for my good fortune to be part of this team. Plus, I live three miles from work. It is the shortest commute of my life.” 

Cathy misses being so close to the ocean but loves the mountains, forests and lakes in the Hudson River Valley. Cathy loves to swim and her personal goal is to find all the swimming holes in Ulster county. If you know of one please contact her.


JOHANNA HAMMOND Photo JOHANNA HAMMOND Hover Photo
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JOHANNA HAMMOND

Johanna is an alumna of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She majored in Journalism, with a specialization in Public Relations. Shortly after graduating, Johanna serendipitously discovered the world of fee-only, comprehensive financial planning and has not looked back. She worked as a client service associate at her previous firm where she eventually became the client service lead for five years before joining Taconic Advisors. Her goal is to become a Certified Financial Planner soon. 

Outside of work, Johanna enjoys spending time with her family and friends, loves traveling, reading books and attending community events.

CHARLES "CHIP" SIMON, CFP® Photo
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CHARLES "CHIP" SIMON, CFP®

(FOUNDER-RETIRED)

CHARLES "CHIP" SIMON, CFP®

Chip wrapped up his 20-year financial planning career with Taconic Advisors at the end of 2022.  He founded the firm in 2002 and has spread the gospel about the benefits of financial planning without financial product sales since that time. He is pleased and confident that Taconic’s clients will continue to work with a skilled team of planning professionals under Meredith Briggs’ leadership.

Chip received his B.A. from Colgate University in 1974 and holds a graduate degree in Accounting from New York University. He received training in all areas of personal financial planning through Marist College and specialized training in financial planning techniques through the Alliance of Comprehensive Planners (ACP).   In 2019 he was the recipient of ACP’s Stewart Farnell Award for Exemplary Coaching. Another great honor during Chip’s career was to meet with the founder of Vanguard Investments, the late John C. “Jack” Bogle. At the end of the meeting Jack inscribed his book “Enough” with the following message “For Chip’s clients…listen to him!”

Chip currently serves on the Board of Trustees for the Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley and Poughkeepsie Rural Cemetery. In the past he chaired the Board of ACP and sat on the Boards of the Chamber Foundation and Mental Health Association as well as chairing the annual American Heart Association Heart Ball.

Chip is married to Karen Hansen Simon, a happily retired ex-CPA partner, formerly with Sedore and Company, CPAs, LLP. They enjoy vacation travel and community events together, as well as the company of their children, Scott & Emma. 

One last note about financial planning for retirement…it really works!