James Guarino , CPA, PFS, CFP®, MST

Managing Director


"There are four ways, and only four ways, in which we have contact with the world. We are evaluated and classified by these four contacts: what we do, how we look, what we say, and how we say it."
- Dale Carnegie

James (“Jim”) is a managing director in the tax practice at Baker Newman Noyes. He specializes in serving high net worth individuals and families as well as closely held businesses and their owners. Clients turn to Jim for trusted tax, financial planning, and wealth management advice and guidance, including tactical tax strategies, estate planning coordination and oversight, retirement planning, and gifting strategies.

Jim serves clients through a team approach, working closely with family groups and their board of professional advisors on overall family governance matters. He also assists owners of closely held businesses with succession planning, exit strategies, and retirement transitions.

Prior to joining the firm, Jim served as a tax partner and director of wealth and tax advisory at a Massachusetts-based accounting firm. He is a frequent speaker and author on a variety of tax topics and has been quoted in a number of national and local publications. He also serves as an adjunct faculty at Merrimack College where he teaches courses on taxation and financial planning.

Jim earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration, with a concentration in accounting, from Merrimack College and a master’s degree in taxation from Bentley University.

Three Things You Don’t Know About Me

  • I began college as an engineering major.
  • I am ambidextrous.
  • I am an avid power-walker.

Business Activities:

Member, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, including the Tax Division and the Personal Financial Planning Division

Member, AICPA CPA Ambassador Program – Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Member, Massachusetts Society of Certified Public Accountants

Volunteer/Service Activities:

Executive Officer &  Board Member, The Scholarship Foundation of Wakefield, Inc.

Professional Advisor Committee Member, Essex County Community Foundation

AICPA – CPA Ambassador Program Member

Massachusetts Society of CPAs Speakers/Writers Bureau Member

Financial Planning Association Media Representative Member

Former Volunteer – Exam Content Reviewer, CFP Board of Standards Inc.

Former Classroom Volunteer/Presenter  – Junior Achievement of Northern New England