What makes Denville special isn’t just its bustling downtown, local businesses, or small-town charm. It’s the people who dedicate their time to making the community even better. For 30-year resident, Ward 4 Councilman, and financial advisor Gary Borowiec, giving back to the town he calls home has become an important part of his story.
Originally from Pequannock, Gary played football at Ramapo College before putting down roots in Denville and starting a family. A lifelong athlete and sports fan, he spent years coaching his son’s football team and found that many of the lessons learned through sports carried into his career.
“I’ve always had the desire to work with and help people,” Gary said. “I see financial planning as similar to playing sports. You need to have a plan and strategy and need to adjust that plan over time. Working with my clients is similar to coaching and rooting for my clients.”
Gary also found another way to serve his community through nine years on the Denville Town Council, where he sees parallels between public service and financial planning.
“While we work with people to budget, save, plan, and evaluate different strategies on Town Council, we try to do a lot of the same at our firm,” Gary said. “Just recently, the Township has become debt-free. We have also worked very hard with budgeting and planning to achieve and maintain a AAA rating (one of very few in the state of New Jersey), something that we are very proud of. We are also planning and budgeting for more parks and trails in the very near future.”
That influence extends to the next generation. Gary’s son, Alex, grew up sharing his father’s love of sports and eventually his interest in financial advising. After playing sports throughout his childhood in Denville, Alex went on to captain the men’s ice hockey team at Lebanon Valley College. Today, he works alongside his father while also staying connected to hockey as a college referee.
“My favorite part about growing up in Denville was definitely the sense of community,” Alex said. “For me, playing sports at Gardner Field and getting to see all of the people come out and be together, that was always something really special and some of my best memories from Denville.”
For Alex, following his father into financial planning has made that next chapter even more meaningful.
“It truly means everything to get to work with my dad,” Alex said. “From when I was young and asking him questions, I always wanted to emulate him and help people be successful financially. Now, getting to work with him every day really is a dream come true.”
For Gary, the feeling is mutual.
“Working with my son for the past four years has been special for me, and it also best serves our clients,” Gary said. “We work with many families over a long period of time, in some cases working with three generations. It also works well when we have family meetings, usually around estate planning discussions.”
Just a few miles from Denville in Morristown, Gary and Alex are the founding partners of Madison Legacy Partners, helping families navigate investments, retirement “Bucket Plans,” life insurance, college planning, and other financial needs. The firm also collaborates with local accountants on tax strategies.
While Madison Legacy Partners is less than a year old, Gary brings more than 35 years of experience in life insurance, investments, and estate planning, including serving as Managing Partner at his two previous firms. Now, father and son are combining that experience with a next-generation perspective as they help families plan for their futures.
Some of Gary’s longtime Denville relationships have followed him into his professional life, including his friendship with former Town Council President Christopher Golinski.
“I really enjoyed working with Gary on the Town Council for eight years, and always appreciated his insights and wisdom,” Golinski said. “So now, I’m even happier to be using Gary and Alex as financial advisors to help me plan my retirement.”
For Gary, it all comes back to the community he has called home for three decades.
“My favorite part of the Denville community is the people of Denville,” Gary said. “While we have a great downtown, parks, trails, schools, and recreation activities, the people of Denville are the best part of the community. This is exemplified by the number of volunteers we have serving on a multitude of committees in the Township.”
Madison Legacy Partners, an M Financial member firm, is located at 28 Franklin Place, Floor 1, in Morristown, New Jersey. Email gborowiec@madisonlegacypartners.com or call (973) 765-2800 to schedule a complimentary financial planning consultation.
Securities and investment advisory services offered through M Holdings Securities, Inc., a registered broker/dealer and investment advisor member FINRA/SIPC. Madison Legacy Partners, LLC is independently owned and operated.