John Traut
Thoughtful, straightforward guidance to preserve what matters and plan for what lies ahead — for individuals, families, and those who serve their communities. Serving Tarrytown, Putnam Valley, and families throughout the Hudson Valley.
Complimentary and without obligation — your information is always kept confidential.
Guidance across your financial life
No two situations are alike, so every relationship begins with understanding yours. These are the areas I most often help clients address — and the real value lies in how they fit together as part of one coordinated plan.
Retirement income planning
Developing a strategy to help draw income from your savings, pension, and Social Security so your money is positioned to support the retirement you envision.
Investment management
Building and reviewing portfolios aligned with your goals, time horizon, and comfort with risk — through advisory and brokerage accounts.
Pension & retirement plan guidance
Helping you understand your options across pensions, 401(k), 403(b), 457, and IRA accounts — including rollover considerations when you change jobs or retire.
Life insurance & income coverage
Reviewing coverage that can help safeguard your family's financial security and replace income if the unexpected happens.
Income & fixed income strategies
Reviewing income-oriented options — including bonds, CDs, Treasury securities, and annuities — with the features, risks, and trade-offs of each explained clearly, so the fit is yours to judge.
Insurance & risk review
Assessing disability, long-term care, and other coverage so a serious illness or injury is less likely to derail the plans you've worked toward.
Education funding
Planning and saving for college and other education goals, so you can help the next generation without losing sight of your own priorities.
Estate & legacy considerations
Thinking through how your assets pass to the people and causes you care about — coordinated with your attorney and tax professional to keep the plan sound.
Business owner planning
Retirement plans for small businesses — SEP, SIMPLE, and 401(k) — along with key-person and buy-sell coverage to help safeguard what you've built.
Social Security timing
Weighing when and how to claim Social Security as part of a broader retirement income strategy, so the timing fits the rest of your plan.
First responder & pension planning
Specialized pension planning for first responders and public employees — including FDNY retirement planning, NYPD retirement planning, and guidance on pension tiers, deferred compensation, and the retirement decisions unique to a life of service.
Tax-aware investing
Strategies that take the tax impact of investment decisions into account, in coordination with your tax professional, so your plan stays efficient over time.
Professional guidance that still feels personal
I'm John Traut, a financial advisor serving the Hudson Valley — and a first responder financial advisor who understands the world of public service firsthand — and a proud member of J.M. Franklin & Company, LLC. I believe financial decisions shouldn't feel cold or confusing. My role is simple: listen first, explain things in plain language, and be a steady guide while you decide what's right for you and the people you love.
Whether you're safeguarding a young family, thinking ahead to retirement, or just want a second opinion on where you stand, you'll always get a straightforward, judgment-free conversation — and the room to take any plan home and decide in your own time.
Money is rarely just about numbers. Behind every decision is something that actually matters to you — a family to look after, a milestone you're working toward, a worry you'd like to put to rest. My job is to understand that first, translate the financial side into plain English, and help you build a picture you genuinely understand. No pressure, no jargon for jargon's sake, and no decision you don't fully follow.
— John D. Traut
Thoughtful where it counts, plain-spoken throughout
A few principles guide every conversation I have. They're simple on purpose — good financial guidance shouldn't require a translator.
Plan around your life, not products
The right starting point isn't a product — it's you. We begin with what you're actually trying to do, then look at which tools genuinely fit. Strategy first, paperwork second.
Clarity over complexity
Financial language is often used to impress rather than explain. I'd rather you understand exactly what you're considering and why — because confidence comes from understanding, not from being told to trust me.
A relationship, not a transaction
Life changes — careers, family, markets, priorities. The most useful guidance keeps pace with all of it, with regular check-ins and honest adjustments, rather than disappearing once a decision is made.
Affiliated with a nationally recognized firm
I provide investment advisory services through Stratos Wealth Partners — a firm whose work has earned national recognition.
Consecutive years
Named to Barron's Top 100 RIA Firms for eight years running (2018–2025).
2025 national ranking
Stratos Wealth Partners ranked No. 23 on Barron's 2025 Top 100 RIA Firms list.
Prior rankings
No. 22 on the 2024 list and No. 29 on the 2023 list.
Barron's Top 100 RIA Firms disclosure: The recognition described above was awarded to Stratos Wealth Partners, Ltd., the registered investment advisor through which John Traut offers advisory services, and is not a recognition of John Traut individually. Stratos Wealth Partners, Ltd. applied for the award by submitting responses to a detailed questionnaire for the award committee's consideration and did not pay any compensation to be considered. Investor experience and returns are not considered. Neither Stratos Wealth Partners, Ltd. nor its financial advisors pay a fee to Barron’s in exchange for the ranking. The award is not representative of any one client's experience and is not indicative of the firm's future performance. The award was independently granted; Stratos Wealth Partners, Ltd. has no affiliation with Barron's. The award is not a referral to, endorsement or recommendation of, or testimonial for the advisor with respect to its investment advisory or other services. Barron's weighs dozens of qualitative and quantitative components, including assets managed, the size and experience of teams, the regulatory records of advisors and firms, succession planning, and technology spending, based on responses supplied to a detailed survey.
How it works
Book your initial free call
Pick a time that suits you. The first conversation is always free and with no obligation.
We talk it through
Share what's on your mind. I'll answer your questions and explain your options in plain language.
You choose your path
You'll have a clear picture to take away. If and when you're ready, we move forward together.
Frequently asked questions
Does the first conversation cost anything?
No. The initial consultation is free and carries no obligation. It's simply a chance to understand your situation and answer your questions.
Will I be pressured to buy something?
Never. My role is to explain your options clearly so you can make a decision that's right for you, in your own time.
Do you work with people in my area?
I'm licensed to help clients in the states where I hold an active license. Mention where you're located when you book and I'll confirm I can assist.
How long does a call take?
Most first conversations take about 20–30 minutes. We can keep it brief or go deeper depending on what you'd like to cover.
Is my information kept private?
Yes. Anything you share is treated confidentially and used only to help with your request.
Who do you typically work with?
Individuals and families across the Hudson Valley — from those just getting organized to people planning for retirement. I also work closely with first responders and public employees, given the pension and benefit questions that come with a career in service.
Which areas do you serve?
I'm based in the Hudson Valley and work with clients in the states where I'm properly registered — currently Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Virginia. Mention where you're located when you reach out and I'll confirm I can help.
Is there a minimum to work together?
There's no cost or obligation to a first conversation, and no minimum simply to talk through your situation. If we decide to work together, I'll be clear about what that looks like before you commit to anything.
How are you compensated?
Depending on the products and services involved, I may be compensated through advisory fees, commissions, or a combination. I'll always explain how I'm compensated, and you'll receive the applicable disclosure documents, before you make any decision.
Can you help with my pension or retirement accounts?
Yes — pension elections, 401(k), 403(b), 457, and IRA accounts, and rollover considerations are common reasons people reach out, especially those approaching retirement or changing jobs. We'll look at how the pieces fit your broader plan.
How should I prepare for our first conversation?
Nothing formal is required. It helps to have a general sense of your goals and any accounts or coverage you already have, but you're welcome to come with just questions — we'll take it from there.
What happens after we first meet?
You'll have a clearer picture of your options to take home. There's no pressure and no set timeline — we move forward, adjust, or simply stay in touch, whatever fits you best.
Book a call or send a message
The easiest way to start is to grab a time on my calendar. Prefer to write first? Use the form and I'll get back to you personally.
Choose a day and time that suits you — it only takes a minute.
Open my calendar