Lorie Scheibel is the principal of Smarter and Wise, an independent financial advisory firm, with 15 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at firms including Cambridge Investment Research Advisors and Lincoln Financial Advisors. Scheibel also serves as adjunct faculty at Anne Arundel Community College and operates as an independent insurance agent. Smarter and Wise provides financial planning and discretionary wealth management to individuals nearing retirement, high-net-worth clients, and sponsor-level retirement plans. The firm employs a planning-first approach centered on a comprehensive RetireSmarter process, incorporating risk modeling and ongoing portfolio management, and offers specialized investment real estate planning alongside retirement plan advisory services.

Matthew Wyskiel is the sole advisor at Skill Capital Management in Baltimore, MD, holding a Series 63 designation with four years of industry experience. He has been with Skill Capital Management since 2007, serving as its founder and sole owner. Skill Capital Management provides discretionary portfolio management to individual clients, primarily using Vanguard index mutual funds to offer diversified exposure across U.S. and international equities and U.S. investment-grade fixed income. The firm manages separate accounts with standardized model portfolios and rebalances client allocations quarterly.

Patrick Tuma is a CFP® professional with 23 years of experience in financial advising. He has worked at Financial Dimensions, Inc. from 1997 to 2024 and has been the principal of Tuma Financial, LLC since 2016. In addition to his advisory role, he also practices as an accountant, providing services outside the advisory business. Tuma Financial, LLC offers portfolio management and financial planning primarily to individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm uses fundamental analysis and modern portfolio theory for asset allocation and security selection, combining long-term strategies with options trading while maintaining documented risk tolerances and quarterly account reviews.

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.

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.

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.

Christopher Shematek is a financial advisor at Cobalt Financial Partners LLC in Sykesville, MD, holding CFP® and ChFC® designations with 26 years of industry experience. He has been with Cobalt Financial Partners and LPL Financial since 2005. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as the Business & Economics Department Chair at Glenelg Country School, where he teaches and supports student business projects. Cobalt Financial Partners provides portfolio management and financial planning services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and business entities, including corporations and pension or profit-sharing plans. The firm emphasizes asset allocation and long-term trading through individualized investment policy statements and manages accounts on a non-discretionary basis.

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.

John Persico is the sole advisor at Persico Asset Management in Severna Park, MD. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 4 years of industry experience, alongside 25 years at Peregrine Capital Management, LLC / PERSICO Capital, LLC. Persico Asset Management is a fee-only independent advisory firm managing approximately $90.3 million across 88 client relationships. The firm serves individuals, trusts, estates, small businesses, charitable organizations, and pension or profit-sharing plans, employing a core-and-satellite investment approach with a range of instruments and an explicit pension consulting practice.

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.

After a winding path of studying dance, working in theater, and various corporate jobs, Sylvie followed a passion for finance and realized she could offer something unique to support fellow creatives: financial planning and expertise, tailored to the unique lifestyles and demands of a career in the arts. She founded The Financial Grove to help remove the burden of financial worry for creatives in the arts. Through this work, she hopes to enable a newfound freedom of choice in projects, without having to decide based on a feeling of scarcity, or a fear of the unknown. Sylvie believes in the power and utmost significance of storytelling, and has witnessed how ingrained financial trauma, coupled with gaps in literacy, can prevent creatives from making decisions motivated by expression and passion. Her mission is to support storytellers to express their voice authentically.

David Bonnichsen is the sole advisor at Phoenix Financial Engineering, LLC in Baltimore, MD, with 14 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has been with Phoenix Financial Engineering since 2016. In addition to his advisory role, he serves as an adjunct professor. Phoenix Financial Engineering, LLC provides fee-based financial planning and non-discretionary investment management to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and small businesses. The firm constructs tailored portfolios using both fundamental and technical analysis and conducts regular account reviews, while also offering educational seminars and workshops.