David Tarantino

Founding Partner

David & Money

I took an interest in business and investing in my late teens, even though my parents were risk-averse and didn’t invest. They didn’t have much debt and have always been frugal; very good at living within their means and stretching a dollar.

As a result, I grew up with similar money values and hold most of them today. I’ve never lived on credit card debt or been overextended. I haven’t been a speculative investor, though I have made multiple small investments in private companies.

I love the intellectual nature of investing due to its complexity and ever-changing landscape. I love behavioral finance; the cross-section of economics and psychology. If I ever went back to school, I would have a strong interest in this still relatively new field of study.

I’m a big believer in long-term investing and moderate risk-taking. I have a “value” disposition to investing (as opposed to growth). This has prevented me from participating in some of the technology-led rallies of the past two decades. It also prevented me from getting crushed in the 2000’s Internet bubble. The 2008-2009 financial crisis makes me lean conservative with client portfolio decisions.

The bottom line is that money doesn’t represent happiness. It does represent comfort, options, a means to an end (or more time and travel), security, and freedom.

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“My guiding principle has been: I can sleep at night if we lose a relationship due to not making enough money for a client. But I won’t sleep if we fail a client because we lost too much.”
David Tarantino

Dave co-founded Portico in 2010 and provides clients 30+ years of insight and professional experience in the financial services industry. He is passionate about working with people and helping them to achieve their unique financial goals.

After an early career in commercial banking (Wells Fargo), Dave gained most of his wealth management experience at a few small to mid-sized registered investment advisory (RIA) firms. As a shareholder and partner, he implemented client service processes, directed client development, and spearheaded the integration of multi-asset class investing and comprehensive financial planning. At Portico, he serves as Managing Member, overseeing general business, client planning and account management, and all investments.

Dave is a Marin native. He and his wife have three daughters and are active in their central Marin community. Dave serves on the Board of the Rafael Racquet Club. In his spare time, he enjoys cooking, youth coaching, financial reading (truly), most all sports, and planning tropical vacations.