Who is Richard Giannotti? He is a former pro baseball player and a financial advisor. Many readers know him as the former husband of Joy Taylor, the sports media host. But his own story began in baseball long before that marriage.
Richard Giannotti was born on August 9, 1983, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He played baseball at St. Thomas Aquinas High School. He later joined the University of Miami Hurricanes and studied business and finance.
His life changed direction after pro baseball. He moved into wealth management and began working with athletes and other clients. Today, he works as a wealth advisor at RFG Advisory in Florida. His two careers are different, but both deal with planning, pressure, and long term choices.
Quick Bio
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Richard Brandon Giannotti |
| Date of birth | August 9, 1983 |
| Birthplace | Fort Lauderdale, Florida |
| High school | St. Thomas Aquinas High School |
| College | University of Miami |
| Degree | Business Administration and Finance |
| College team | Miami Hurricanes baseball |
| Baseball position | Outfielder |
| Bats | Both |
| Throws | Right |
| 2001 MLB Draft | San Francisco Giants, 20th round |
| 2004 MLB Draft | Anaheim Angels, 38th round |
| Current work | Wealth Advisor at RFG Advisory |
| Former wife | Joy Taylor |
| Marriage date | February 13, 2016 |
| Current wife | Kristen |
| Children | Beau, Banks, and Baker |
| Home area | Lauderdale by the Sea, Florida |
Who Is Richard Giannotti Beyond His Marriage to Joy Taylor?
The link to Joy Taylor brings many people to his name. Still, his work history stands on its own. He spent years in college and pro baseball before moving into finance. That record gives a fuller picture than the simple label of celebrity ex husband.
Baseball records list him as an outfielder. He played center field, left field, and right field. He also hit from both sides of the plate and threw with his right hand. At 6 feet 3 inches, he had the size to cover several outfield roles.
That sports past later helped shape his work in finance. He knew what players faced when a season ended or a contract changed. That kind of experience can be useful when an advisor works with athletes. It does not replace finance skill, but it can help build trust with players.
Early Life in Fort Lauderdale and High School Baseball
South Florida was the setting for his early years. Giannotti attended St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale. The school has a strong sports program, and baseball became his main path.
His play drew notice from Major League Baseball scouts. In 2001, the San Francisco Giants picked him in the 20th round of the MLB Draft. He was the 616th player taken that year. He did not start his pro career with the Giants.
Instead, he chose college baseball. He stayed in Florida and joined the University of Miami. That choice gave him more time to grow as a player and earn a college degree. It also put him in games against some of the top college teams in the nation.
College Years With the Miami Hurricanes
At Miami, he played for one of the best known college baseball programs in the country. The Hurricanes reached the College World Series twice while he was there. He also dealt with a shoulder problem during college. The injury made his 2004 return worth noting.
He had shoulder surgery before the 2004 season. Even so, he returned to the field and had several strong games. On February 14, 2004, he went 3 for 3 in a 4 to 1 win over Florida.
A bigger week came in April. He hit .625 in a three game series against Virginia. He went 5 for 8 and drove in six runs. The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association then named him a National Co Hitter of the Week.
How Did Richard Giannotti Perform in Professional Baseball?
The Anaheim Angels drafted him in the 38th round in 2004. He was the 1,133rd pick in that draft. That pick came after his season with Miami. He then began his signed pro career in the Angels system.
He played 61 games for Provo in 2004. He hit .248, drove in 22 runs, and stole 21 bases. His on base mark was .393. That showed he could reach base even when his batting average was modest.
In 2005, he played 104 games for Cedar Rapids. He had 83 hits, 18 doubles, three home runs, and 28 RBI. He also stole 17 bases that year. His wider pro career lasted nine years across several teams and leagues.
Moving From Baseball Into Financial Services
Pro sports careers often end well before normal retirement age. For Giannotti, the next step was finance. His college studies gave him a base for that move.
In 2014, he joined Global Wealth Management in Fort Lauderdale. He became president of its Athlete Asset Management Division. The role focused on the money needs of pro athletes. It included planning around savings, taxes, insurance, and life after sports.
This move made sense for his background. Players may earn well for a short time, but sports income can stop fast. An injury, release, or trade can change a plan in days. So a good money plan has to look beyond the next contract.
What Does Richard Giannotti Do as a Wealth Advisor?
Giannotti now works as a wealth advisor at RFG Advisory. The firm lists him in Lauderdale by the Sea, Florida. His clients include pro athletes and people who are planning for retirement. RFG says he often works with clients between ages 40 and 60.
His work covers financial planning and investment needs. It also includes talks about spending, saving, and long term goals. Clear advice matters when clients face big money choices. For athletes, those choices may start at a much younger age.
He has also written about money mistakes in sports. In 2018, Kiplinger published an article under his name about lessons from pro athletes. The main point was simple. A high income does not make poor money choices harmless.
Marriage to Joy Taylor
Public interest grew after he married Joy Taylor. She is known for her work in sports radio and television. The couple married on February 13, 2016. Their marriage brought more public attention to his name than his finance work had.
The marriage later ended in divorce. Public records and profiles list the two as former spouses. Reliable sources do not give a clear public record of every private detail behind the split. No careful account should fill those gaps with guesses.
That matters because many sites add claims that are hard to prove. A careful biography should not treat rumor as fact. The safe record is that they married in 2016 and later divorced.
Life After His Marriage to Joy Taylor
After the divorce, Giannotti continued his work in finance. His current RFG profile says he is married to Kristen. The same profile names their three sons as Beau, Banks, and Baker. His public bio puts family at the center of his life outside work.
The family lives in Lauderdale by the Sea, Florida. His work bio also says he likes family travel and sports events. Those are simple details, but they come from his own firm profile.
RFG also notes a future brand idea called B3 Advisory. The name comes from the first letter shared by his three sons’ names. It is a small detail, yet it gives a clear look at his current focus.
Why His Baseball Background Still Matters in Finance
A past in pro sports does not make someone a good financial advisor by itself. Training and real finance work still matter. In his case, both sides of the record are easy to trace.
Giannotti played in a system where jobs could change fast. He was not a long term MLB star with a huge public contract. His career was closer to the life that many pro players actually face. Minor league players often have less security and less time to plan.
That may help him speak to athlete clients in plain terms. He has seen the short career window from inside the sport. And his later finance work gave him a second field built around those money choices. His current office remains in South Florida, close to where his baseball story began.
Facts About Richard Giannotti
- Born on August 9, 1983, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
- Attended St. Thomas Aquinas High School.
- Picked by the San Francisco Giants in the 20th round in 2001.
- Played college baseball for the Miami Hurricanes.
- Reached two College World Series trips with Miami.
- Won an NCBWA National Co Hitter of the Week honor in 2004.
- Drafted by the Anaheim Angels in the 38th round in 2004.
- Played the outfield and hit from both sides of the plate.
- Spent nine years in professional baseball.
- Joined Global Wealth Management in 2014.
- Later became a wealth advisor at RFG Advisory.
- Married Joy Taylor on February 13, 2016, and later divorced.
- Married Kristen and has three sons named Beau, Banks, and Baker.
- Lives in Lauderdale by the Sea, Florida.
FAQs
What is Richard Giannotti known for?
Richard Giannotti is known as a former pro baseball player and a financial advisor. He also became known to a wider public through his former marriage to Joy Taylor.
Did Richard Giannotti play in Major League Baseball?
He played professional baseball, but official records do not list a regular season MLB appearance. His career included time in the Anaheim Angels system and other pro leagues.
When did Richard Giannotti marry Joy Taylor?
The couple married on February 13, 2016. Their marriage later ended in divorce, and both moved on with their lives and careers.
Where did Richard Giannotti go to college?
He attended the University of Miami. He played for the Miami Hurricanes baseball team and studied business administration and finance.
Is Richard Giannotti married now?
Yes. His current professional bio says his wife is Kristen. It also says they live in Florida with their three sons, Beau, Banks, and Baker.