Born: Englewood, NJ

Native of: New Fairfield, CT

Graduate:  Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, Cum Laude

Family: Two adult sons (Matt & Scott) and their spouses (Dana & Rachel).  One Grandson.

My first career: 24 years in broadcasting (1976-2000), including 20 years with NBC Television Affiliates in PA, OH & WV, with 11 years in Senior Station Management.

My second career:  Financial Advisor & Investment Specialist (2000-current) with First Financial Group (FFG), Wilkes-Barre, PA including the past 8 years as a Wealth Management Advisor with Meridian Financial Associates, a Strategic Member of FFG.

My specialty: Portfolio Construction, Active Investment Management and Oversight, Flexible Retirement Income Strategies, and Wealth Transfer Strategies.  I am a Fiduciary and operate by that Standard.    

My team: Vito Recchia, Dennis Jumper, Drew Patton & Karen D’Agostino.

What motivated me to leave a long broadcasting career to enter the Financial Services field?   In 1995, while managing the NBC Television affiliate in NE PA, Edward Boehne, President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, and a member of the Federal Open Market Committee under Alan Greenspan, Chairman of the Federal Reserve of the United States, invited me to serve a 3-year term on his Small Business & Agriculture Advisory Council at the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia.  I was eventually appointed Chairman of that Council.  This would plant the seeds for my career change in 2000.  

Outside of work: I am craft beer nerd, a music aficionado and an amateur drummer.  

Brian Dougher is a strategic financial advisor dedicated to helping business owners, families, and professionals align their wealth with their values. As Co-Founder of Meridian Financial Associates, he specializes in exit planning, trust structures, and legacy design—guiding clients through pivotal transitions with clarity, compassion, and purpose.

His expertise spans business continuation and succession strategies, exit planning for business owners, trust and estate planning, debt reduction, retirement income planning, tax-efficient distribution, investment advising, and values-based financial coaching.

Brian believes financial planning is more than spreadsheets—it’s about creating peace of mind, fostering unity, and building legacies that last. He often uses storytelling, visual frameworks, and strategic retreats to help clients gain clarity and take action.

Outside of work, Brian enjoys time with family and friends outdoors—skiing, golfing, mountain biking, and wakeboarding at the lake.

What causes financial failure?

Most factors contributing to financial failure are erosion of income experienced as taxes, inflation, high fees, interest costs, etc. They reduce the amount of income available to enjoy, save or give away.

Destructive consequences are experienced when income seizes from a lost job, sickness purges a person from continually working or death strips a family of all future income.

Unique analysis must be considered when a person voluntarily elects to retire, shifting income needs from a person working to accumulated savings or sale of a business.

The common thread is that income is our most precious financial resource.

People hire my team and I to help them identify threats and formulate an action plan to avoid the associated outcomes on the trek towards success.

For over 20 years, Dennis has been a dedicated member of the First Financial Group/Meridian Financial Associates team. His mission is to help clients build financial confidence and move toward lasting financial independence. Whether you’re just starting out, growing your family, or planning for retirement, Dennis provides personalized guidance to help families define and achieve their financial goals.

Passionate about helping families protect their assets, grow their wealth, and realize their financial dreams, Dennis finds deep fulfillment in seeing his clients succeed—and in helping more families do the same.

A native of Mountain Top, PA, Dennis graduated from King’s College with a B.S. in Finance after serving three years of active duty in the U.S. Army. He lives in Mountain Top with his wife, Denise; their children, Aubrey and Anson; and their beloved pets, Molly, Alice, and Faye. He is also the proud grandfather of Justin and Addison, who live in Harrodsburg, KY, with his daughter Casey and son-in-law Josh.

In his free time, Dennis enjoys spending time with family, cooking, and staying active through golf, softball, soccer, and snowboarding.

For more than half of my life now I’ve journeyed with my clients through the ups and downs of their lives (and mine).  Job changes, weddings, kids, retirement, the loss of loved ones.  All along these journeys we have created possibility, direction and peace of mind through our work together.  Getting to know the people entrusted to me, working to understand what matters to them and then building a plan together is one of the great joys of my professional life.

The greatest personal joys are the incredible life I share with my wife Allison, and watching our daughters Emma, Abby and Sarah grow into amazing women who are making their way in the world.  In my free time, I enjoy kayaking, spending time at the beach and visits to Disney.  I’m a voracious reader, mostly Civil War, World War II and Presidential history (with a good mix of Star Trek and Star Wars to balance things out).

If you are reading this, I look forward to connecting with you soon!  You can use the scheduling link below to find a time on my calendar for our first conversation!

https://calendly.com/ianhastings

Preparing for the next step in life isn’t always easy. I provide total financial needs analysis through a network of experienced professionals with detailed knowledge in: retirement income solutions, estate strategies, employee benefit and retention services, business continuation strategies, and trust services.

I pride myself in getting to know each client so that I can understand their individual needs and what matters most to them. This helps me recommend products and strategies designed to meet their current, and more importantly, future needs.

Preparing for the next step in life isn’t always easy. I provide total financial needs analysis through a network of experienced professionals with detailed knowledge in: retirement income solutions, estate strategies, employee benefit and retention services, business continuation strategies, and trust services.

I pride myself in getting to know each client so that I can understand their individual needs and what matters most to them. This helps me recommend products and strategies designed to meet their current, and more importantly, future needs.