David Merkel is a CFA charterholder and principal of Aleph Investments, LLC, an independent advisory firm he founded in 2010. He has 15 years of industry experience. Outside of his advisory work, he maintains AlephBlog.com, a website providing educational content for investors since 2007. Aleph Investments manages discretionary portfolios primarily for individual investors, as well as charitable organizations and small pension clients. The firm employs fundamental equity analysis and a risk-conscious fixed income approach, offering strategies including a yield-oriented balanced portfolio and customizable accounts, with features such as hedged equity options and client-imposed ethical restrictions.

Chung Hei Sing is the sole advisor at Applied Derivative Research (ADR) with four years of industry experience. He holds the Series 65 designation and previously worked at Arquitos Capital Management for one year. He serves as a board member of the Maryland Technology Development Corporation, focusing on economic development through early-stage investments. Applied Derivative Research provides discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management and advisory services to high-net-worth individuals, institutional investors, and pooled investment vehicles. The firm employs a combined bottom-up and thematic top-down investment approach with sustainable and impact-oriented opportunities, offering both strategic asset allocation advice and active portfolio implementation.

Michael Worch is the principal advisor at Worch Financial Group, LLC, an independent firm based in Rockville, MD. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has nine years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at The Financial Xchange and 1939 Capital, LLC. Worch is also a licensed insurance agent and dedicates a significant portion of his practice to insurance sales. Worch Financial Group serves individual and high-net-worth clients, providing financial planning, portfolio management through third-party money managers, and access to pooled investments. The firm emphasizes fundamental analysis and uses both long- and short-term trading strategies, often implementing investment solutions via referrals rather than direct discretion over client accounts.

Kendell Phillip is a financial advisor at Lockstep Financial LLC with five years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and previously worked at Maverick Trading and Northrop Grumman. Lockstep Financial LLC is an independent advisory firm serving individual and high-net-worth clients with financial planning and discretionary portfolio management. The firm employs a primarily passive investment approach using index funds and ETFs, supplemented by fundamental and technical analysis, and manages held-away assets through third-party platforms.

Stephen Berube is the sole advisor at Echo Creek Capital, LLC, an independent investment advisory firm based in Rockville, MD. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 27 years of industry experience. Berube has led Echo Creek Capital since 2013. Echo Creek Capital manages discretionary and non-discretionary portfolios for individual and institutional clients, focusing on tailored investment strategies that combine fundamental and technical analysis. The firm utilizes a range of instruments including equities, fixed income, ETFs, derivatives, and option strategies, and incorporates borrowing and margin as part of its approach.

Maureen Mcshane is a financial advisor at Capital Investment Management Inc. with 20 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at Capital Investment Management since 2007, following a prior role at H. Beck, Inc. Mcshane is also licensed as an independent insurance agent. Capital Investment Management provides non-discretionary investment supervisory services primarily to individuals and high-net-worth clients, including trusts, estates, IRAs, and 401(k) accounts. The firm’s approach centers on diversified, risk-based allocations implemented mainly through mutual funds and Modern Portfolio Theory, with ongoing client approval of investment actions.

John Gillick is a CFP® with four years of industry experience currently serving as the sole advisor at Adenry Wealth LLC in Columbia, MD. His prior experience includes roles at Commonwealth Financial Network, Financial Council, Inc., and The Colony Group. Adenry Wealth LLC provides discretionary asset management, financial planning, and an online educational workshop to individuals, small businesses, trusts, estates, and high-net-worth clients. The firm’s investment approach is based on modern portfolio theory, offering customized asset allocation using mutual funds and ETFs, with portfolio reviews that include rebalancing and tax-loss harvesting.

Brian Wee is a CFP® professional with 15 years of industry experience, currently serving as the principal of Homewood Capital Management East LLC since 2017. He previously worked at Homewood Capital Management, Inc. from 2013 to 2018. Outside of his advisory role, Brian is a licensed real estate agent and insurance agent based in Woodbine, MD. Homewood Capital Management East LLC provides portfolio management and financial planning services to individual clients, focusing on long-term, diversified investment strategies grounded in modern portfolio theory. The firm emphasizes documented risk tolerance and time horizons, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary management, with regular portfolio reviews.

Christopher Shematek is a CFP® and ChFC® with 27 years of industry experience. He has been with Cobalt Financial Partners LLC since 2005, concurrently affiliated with LPL Financial. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as the Business & Economics Department Chair and instructor at Glenelg Country School, where he teaches economics and business courses and supports student-run business projects. Cobalt Financial Partners provides portfolio management and financial planning to individuals, high-net-worth clients, business entities, and pension and profit-sharing plans. The firm focuses on asset allocation, rebalancing, and modern portfolio theory, generally operating on a non-discretionary basis and managing approximately $108 million primarily through mutual funds and ETFs.

Jorge Cortes is a financial advisor at Terrafort Capital LLC with a Series 65 designation and four years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at the United Nations Capital Development Fund, IDB Invest, and the Central American Bank for Economic Integration. He currently serves in the Maryland State Treasurer's Office, Investments Division. Terrafort Capital is an independent, single-adviser firm serving individual and institutional clients such as pension plans and endowments. The firm provides discretionary investment management, financial planning, co-advisory services, and pension consulting, combining third-party model access with direct portfolio management across traditional and alternative investments.

Harvey Robinson is a CFA® charterholder with 6 years of industry experience, currently serving as the sole advisor at Robinson Capital Group in Dayton, MD. He has been affiliated with Robinson Capital Group since 2003 and has concurrent roles at Gerson Lehrman Group and Robinson Kirlew & Associates since 2012. Robinson Capital Group is an independent, fee-only investment management firm serving individual and institutional clients, including pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and corporations. The firm utilizes a fundamental research process and a value-oriented investment approach, focusing on diversified, risk-adjusted portfolios with discretionary management and formalized investment policies.

John Fremont Smith is the sole advisor at Friends Wealth Management in Ellicott City, MD, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with 26 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Ameriprise Financial, Calamos Advisors LLC, and several Prudential entities. He is also a licensed insurance agent. Friends Wealth Management offers portfolio management and comprehensive financial planning for individuals, high-net-worth clients, and business entities. The firm employs a combination of analytic approaches and manages accounts directly, providing both discretionary and non-discretionary services aligned with client-specific investment policies.

Richard Wagener is a CFP® and ChFC® with 51 years of experience in financial advising. He has worked at Raymond James Financial since 2009 and also serves as President of Financial First Advisors, a firm he has been involved with since 1986. He occasionally acts as an insurance agent for life, fixed annuity, disability income, and long-term care products not typically available through Raymond James. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. serves a diverse client base including individual investors, high-net-worth and non-high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, corporations, and governmental entities. The firm offers financial planning and non-discretionary investment consulting, utilizing asset allocation, modeling tools, and firm research to develop tailored recommendations.

Melissa Mazard is a financial advisor at Seek the Plan with 13 years of industry experience. She holds the Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been involved with several nonprofit and educational organizations, including Junior Achievement and Spark Business Academy, where she supports financial literacy and business education programs. Prior to founding her firm, she worked at Foresters Financial. Seek the Plan provides tailored financial planning and investment advice to individual clients, focusing on education, asset allocation, and comprehensive non-investment planning topics such as tax optimization and cash-flow management. The firm emphasizes a long-term investment perspective, offers financial education seminars, and uses non‑AUM fee structures without holding custody of client assets.

WHO WE SERVE We specialize in working with three types of clients: 🔹 High-Net-Worth Retirees — You've built significant wealth and want a coordinated plan to make it last. We help you design a sustainable, tax-efficient retirement income strategy, optimize Social Security timing, and ensure your assets are structured to support a 30+ year retirement. 🔹 Pre-Retirees (50s–early 60s) — You're in the final years of your career with serious assets and serious decisions ahead. We help you model retirement readiness, execute Roth conversion strategies, and build a transition plan so you retire on your terms. 🔹 High-Earning Professionals (30s–40s) — Your income is strong but your financial picture is complex — equity compensation, rising taxes, multiple accounts, and long-term goals competing for attention. We bring structure and strategy to the complexity. WHAT WE DO We offer fee-only, advice-only financial planning — no products, no commissions, no conflicts of interest. ✅ Retirement Income Design — Building sustainable, tax-efficient withdrawal strategies for 30+ years ✅ Roth Conversion & Tax Planning — Identifying multi-year windows to reduce lifetime tax burden ✅ Equity Compensation Planning — RSUs, ISOs, NSOs, ESPP — timing, taxation, and concentration risk ✅ Portfolio Construction & Risk Management — Evidence-based investing aligned to your goals ✅ Comprehensive Financial Planning — A coordinated, big-picture approach across all areas of your finances WHY WORK WITH US 🔹 Featured in Business Insider, Forbes, Fortune, Investopedia, and U.S. News & World Report. 🔹 No Sales. No Commissions. Just Advice. — Our only priority is your financial success. 🔹 Institutional-Grade Expertise — 10+ years managing $800M+ institutional portfolios before founding Wealthwyzr. 🔹 Complex Topics, Simplified — We translate financial complexity into clear, actionable decisions. 🔹 Fiduciary, Fee-Only — We always act in your best interest, with complete transparency.

Wesley Watkis is a financial advisor with The W & W Group LLC in Rockville, MD, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 29 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Global Brokerage Services, Inc. for 16 years and World Capital Brokerage, Inc. for one year. Outside of his advisory role, he consults on cash flow projects for an information technology firm and works as an independent insurance agent. The W & W Group provides customized investment advisory services to individuals, trusts, estates, and retirement plans, managing approximately $23.8 million in client assets. The firm employs a long-term investment approach informed by fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis, with active account monitoring and direct client access to the advisor.

Myron Howie is a financial advisor at Casi Investments with 19 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has worked at Casi Institutional Consulting, Inc. since 2011 and Casi Investments since 1997. He is a principal of Casi, Inc., which includes Casi, Casi Foundation, and Casi Investments, organizations focused on strengthening churches and charitable organizations through long-term sustainability initiatives. Casi Investments primarily serves churches, charitable organizations, and individual clients by providing investment supervisory services, financial planning, tax preparation, and advisory engagements. The firm employs a core-and-satellite investment approach using passive index funds and ETFs combined with actively managed funds, with a focus on documented goals, ongoing monitoring, and global diversification.

Youfeng Jiang is a CFP® and holds a Series 65 license with six years of industry experience. He is the sole advisor at Beyond Profit and Wealth Consulting, an independent firm he founded after positions at Kestra Financial, Offit Advisors, and MuniCap. He also has experience as a self-employed financial professional over the past decade. Beyond Profit and Wealth Consulting serves individuals, businesses, charitable organizations, and retirement plans, offering discretionary investment management, financial planning, employee benefit plan consulting, and tax preparation. The firm emphasizes passive investment strategies with tailored portfolios while providing specialized services in pension and profit-sharing plan advisory.

Louis Baviello is the principal of Baviello Investment Management, LLC, an independent advisory firm based in Baltimore, MD. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 14 years of industry experience, including prior roles at Great Valley Advisor Group and LPL Financial LLC. In addition to his advisory work, he publishes the Baviello Bulletin, a financial publication offering investment research reports. Baviello Investment Management provides discretionary investment management and financial advisory services to individuals, families, endowments, foundations, and other institutions. The firm employs a value-oriented, bottom-up equity strategy focused on small-to-mid-cap U.S. companies, alongside bond portfolios and mutual fund allocations, tailored to clients’ objectives with flexibility in portfolio construction.

Richard Biniak, Jr. is a financial advisor at RLMS Business Consultants with over 20 years at the firm and four years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation. In addition to his advisory role, he is involved in computer and business consulting activities. RLMS Business Consultants provides discretionary portfolio management and advisory services to individuals, small businesses, and trust funds, with a focus on retirement, college savings, and charitable planning. The firm primarily serves women investors and employs a process combining fundamental analysis and Modern Portfolio Theory to manage portfolios using low-cost ETFs, no-load mutual funds, stocks, and short-dated fixed income instruments.