Meet the Team

Ryan Knoll, MBA, CFP®

Founder & Managing Partner, Nav Wealth Partners

Ryan Knoll founded Nav Wealth Partners on a singular conviction: taxes are the greatest drag on wealth that anyone will face. While many advisors focus solely on market returns, Ryan recognized a critical gap in the industry: a lack of proactive, aggressive tax navigation.

At Nav, Ryan’s mission is to protect the wealth his clients have worked to accumulate. He operates on the principle that as your wealth grows, so does your tax liability. Whether you are 25 or 85, without a strategic plan, you risk surrendering a significant portion of your hard-earned assets to the IRS. Ryan and his team do the daily work of navigating these complexities so their clients don't have to.

Professional Life

  • Education: Ryan holds an MBA from Carnegie Mellon University’s Tepper School of Business and an undergraduate degree from the University of Pittsburgh.

  • Experience: Prior to founding Nav Wealth Partners, Ryan honed his expertise at PNC Investments and Ameriprise Financial, managing complex portfolios for affluent families throughout the Pittsburgh region.

  • Specialization: He is a graduate of Duquesne University’s Executive Certificate in Financial Planning program, specializing in tax-intelligent portfolio construction and long-term wealth protection.

Personal Life

A native of the Pittsburgh area, Ryan balances his role at Nav with a busy home life. He and his wife, Molly, are the parents of four active children. When he isn’t optimizing tax strategies, he is likely cheering from the sidelines of his children’s sporting events or spending quality time with his family.

Alex Gough, CFP®

Financial Advisor, Nav Wealth Partners

Alex joined Nav Wealth Partners to move beyond 'standard' financial advice and focus on the daily work of tax navigation and wealth preservation – protecting our clients from the hidden costs that eat away at a lifetime of hard work.

Professional Life

  • Certification: Alex is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®), a designation reflecting his commitment to the highest ethical and professional standards in the industry.

  • Education: He earned his undergraduate degree in Finance from Robert Morris University.

  • Experience: Before joining Nav, Alex built his career at Allegheny Financial Group, where he specialized in developing sophisticated, tax-aware financial plans for HNW families and seasoned professionals.

Personal Life

A true Pittsburgh native, Alex stays active in the community. You can usually find him on a soccer field, a golf course, or a basketball court, and during the winter months, he is often snowboarding. When he isn’t pursuing his hobbies, he enjoys the local Pittsburgh food scene and relaxing at home with his girlfriend, Kait.