James Merrill

Gerardo Martinez Y Carriles is a CFA® charterholder with one year of experience in financial advising. He is the sole advisor at BLU Capital and previously worked at Berlin Wealth Group Advisors and International Fintech Intelligence. BLU Capital serves institutional and individual clients, including foundations, pension plans, and small businesses. The firm uses a combination of fundamental research, quantitative modeling, factor-based strategies, and ESG screening, and offers services such as portfolio management, financial planning, and consultant selection.

Illumint is a fee-only financial planning firm for Millennial women who want to put their growing savings to work. Women like you have built your savings throughout your careers or received new money through an inheritance, bonus, or other financial windfall. Illumint will help you decide what to do next, with a focus on how that money can fit into and support the rest of your financial life. Illumint is Washington, DC-based, a virtual service, provides flat-fee comprehensive planning, offers optional investment management, and does not have an investment or net-worth minimum.

Hi, I'm Alvin, I’m a fee-only financial advisor in Washington, D.C, and the founder of District Capital Management. I am deeply committed to helping professionals in their 30s and 40s retire by 55, through holistic financial planning and research-driven investing. Since 2013, I’ve empowered over 400 clients to take control of their financial futures, making personal finance approachable and less intimidating. Life in your 30s and 40s can be overwhelming. You may be balancing multiple high-stress jobs, managing a mortgage, paying off student loans, trying to save for your child’s education, and perhaps even starting a new business. With all these demands, it’s tough to find the time—let alone the desire—to dive into the complexities of investments, taxes, retirement planning, and which accounts to use to optimize your finances. Your focus should be on what you love, not deciphering financial jargon. That’s where I come in. I’m here to help you maximize your finances so you can retire by 55 and live the life you’ve always envisioned. As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and CFA® charterholder, my approach goes beyond just providing a financial plan; I partner with my clients through life’s ups and downs, offering personalized guidance and unwavering support. I’m an active member of the XY Planning Network, Fee-Only Network, and the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA). My insights have been featured in leading publications such as The New York Times, Forbes, Business Insider, Time, and Yahoo! Finance. I also hold an MA in International Relations from Johns Hopkins University. I also serve as Coaching Chair for Entrepreneurly, a non-profit supporting small business owners in DC. In my free time, I enjoy hiking, swing dancing, and playing pickleball. Learn more here: https://districtcapitalmanagement.com/ * "Washington, D.C.'s Best Financial Advisors" -- Washingtonian Magazine * “Top Financial Planners In Washington, D.C.” - Expertise.com * “Best Financial Planners For Millennials” - Millennial Money * Washington Parent Picks Winner - Washington Parent * Diversity Scholarship Winner - FPA

Ben Arie is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with Independent Financial Group, LLC, based in North Bethesda, MD. He has four years of industry experience and previously worked at Plotkin Financial Advisors and APEX Home Loans. Outside of advising, he is involved in selling life insurance and annuities. Independent Financial Group, LLC is a dual-registered broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, charities, corporations, and plan sponsors. The firm offers a variety of advisory programs through its AccessPoint platform and third-party asset managers, providing both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management.

David Setia, AIF, CMFC, is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in McLean, Virginia, holding Series 7, Series 65 and Series 63 credentials and over 10 years of industry experience. He has been with LPL Financial since 2016. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, financial institutions, and charitable organizations through a national network of investment adviser representatives. The firm offers a range of financial planning and advisory programs, retirement plan consulting, and brokerage services, utilizing both proprietary and third-party research and model portfolios.

Simeon’s role is to help clients create a coordinated financial strategy that aligns their investments, taxes, retirement income, and long-term goals into one cohesive plan. A big part of his approach is helping clients simplify complexity and make confident decisions during periods of uncertainty.