Dennis is a strategic thinker, a student of investing, and an advocate for being intentional with wealth through planning and preparation.
Dennis Morton has combined knowledge of finance and economics with a background in history and leadership. As a result, his investment insights are grounded in an understanding of the past and a sense of purpose about the future.
Dennis followed a unique path to his career as a financial advisor. He studied history at Loyola University, Maryland, on an Army ROTC scholarship. He then served four years on active duty as an Air Defense Artillery (PATRIOT) officer in the United States Army. In leadership roles varying from Platoon Leader to Executive Officer, Dennis was exposed to complex decision making that has informed his role as an advisor. For his service in Operation Iraqi Freedom, Dennis Morton was awarded the Bronze Star Medal.
With an appreciation for the past and exposure to critical thinking and leadership, Dennis decided to apply those skills in a field where the stakes are high: personal financial planning.
In his role as founder of Morton Brown Family Wealth, Dennis sees the transformative impact on financial lives when people become more confident leaders. This inspired him to create and host his Aggressive Balance Podcast where he interviews a spectrum of entrepreneurs and influential leaders to learn how they engage with, and succeed in the world around them.
Prior to launching Morton Brown Family Wealth, Dennis Morton worked for ten years at Corbenic Partners where he was a partner and served on the firm’s investment committee. Earlier, he was a financial advisor at Citi Smith Barney. He earned both his Certified Financial Planner™ and Chartered Financial Consultant® designations and holds a life, health, and disability insurance license. With over 15 years of experience working with families, Dennis Morton enjoys educating and influencing people to build their financial confidence. He is a past recipient of Lehigh Valley Business’ “Forty Under 40” award.
Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks Certified Financial Planner™ and CFP® in the U.S. The ChFC® is the property of The American College, which reserves sole rights to its use, and is used by permission.
out of the office
Dennis is a proud husband and father. He and his wife, Gina, have made a commitment to the local community an integral part of their family life. A parent of a Boy Scout, Dennis serves as President to the Executive Board of the Minsi Trails Council. Dennis and Gina both helped lead a campaign to build the Reilly Children’s Hospital at Lehigh Valley Health Network as a transformational health care initiative for their community. He is also chair of the Investment Committee and serves on the Finance Council for the Diocese of Allentown. Dennis serves on the Board of Associates for the Lehigh Valley Community Foundation and is a former board member of the Forum for Ethics in the Workplace and the Allentown Symphony. In his spare time, Dennis enjoys playing guitar, trail running, and hiking with his family.
If you had to describe a defining moment in your life, what would it be?
I had a “burn the ships” moment early in my financial career when I lost my first job at a Wall Street firm for not selling enough commission product. My wife had just left her job to stay home with our oldest child and I had to decide where my career would go from there. It turned out to be a blessing in disguise as I was able to make the move to independence, meet Katie Brown, and develop my entrepreneurial skills. That experience made me committed to a higher standard of care and a client-focused business model that has helped make Morton Brown Family Wealth different. It also helped me to appreciate the value of our own financial planning as we were able to be financially secure.
Do you have any skills or talents that most people don’t know about?
I taught myself how to play guitar in high school and played in a Grateful Dead cover band in college. I have a small collection of guitars that includes a Martin acoustic and a Gibson Les Paul. I keep a running list of a few hundred songs that I can play, everything from vinyl-era rock to 90’s Alternative to Americana. I always joke about getting the band back together one of these days …
What are you surprisingly good at?
Left-handed golfing. I am right-handed at everything else. When I started golfing in high school, I played with righty clubs but it never felt right. When I switched over to left-handed after a few years it felt as natural as hitting a fastball.
How do you apply the vision of “leading a purposeful life” to your own goals?
Over the last twenty years, I have been fortunate to see and experience some extraordinary highs in life, but in family and business we have also overcome challenges in a way that makes me very proud. My purpose is rooted in strong faith that what we do for others is meaningful work. I feel that way about raising our four children to be the best versions of themselves. It is part of the culture we have built at Morton Brown. It also drives our commitment to the community through projects like the Reilly Children’s Hospital at LVHN. I am grateful every day to be surrounded by amazing people, able to do work that I love, and have an impact on the Lehigh Valley.
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