Large-firm, charitable giving & philanthropy financial advisors in Bethlehem, PA

Hi, I'm Dave Rowan. As the President and Founder of Rowan Financial, my primary responsibility is to provide my clients with the tools and encouragement they need to achieve their most important goals. With over 16 years of experience in the financial services industry, I specialize in assisting real estate investors, pre-retirees and new families in growing their wealth, and bettering their own lives along with the lives of their family and community. Before founding Rowan Financial in 2011, I spent 24 years at Crayola, where I most recently served as the Director of Research & Development. Over the course of my career, I have obtained the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®) designation and the Series 65 Advisor Law Certification. I hold a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Penn State, obtained in 1992, and an MBA from Lehigh University, earned in 2000. I am also a member of the National Association of Personal Financial Planners (NAPFA) and the XY Planning Network, which affords me the opportunity to participate in multiple masterminds and study groups to learn from others and continue to enhance my skills as an advisor. I get to know each of my clients personally and understand what really matters to them beyond the numbers on their account statements. Should we work together, you will know what is possible for you in your life, and you will receive a prioritized Financial Action Plan along with the encouragement you need. I am especially passionate about helping people navigate big transitions in their lives, whether that be leaving your corporate job for full time entrepreneurship, buying your first investment property or starting a new family. I have personal experience in each of these areas and bring that technical expertise to bear should we work together. I also recognize that, like me, you’re a human being dealing with all of the emotions and concerns that these changes can bring up. When we talk about your finances, we’ll always talk about the “math” as well as the “quality of life” implications of each decision and make the call that’s best for you and those you love. When I'm not helping clients, I enjoy hiking, pickleball, trying to show up for all of my appointments with my trainer at the gym, traveling with my adult children and family, having deep conversations with my wife Stacy, and engaging in personal development to better understand myself and better serve others.

Carla Wamba is a financial advisor at Ameriprise with 13 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has been with Ameriprise and its affiliated entities since 2009. Outside of her advisory role, she owns and operates Good Karma Tax LLC, a tax preparation business based in Bethlehem, PA. Ameriprise offers retirement-income planning services primarily for clients approaching or in retirement with significant investable assets, delivering customized recommendation reports that incorporate research, modeling, and tax-efficient strategies.

Anthony Parenti is the sole advisor at Parenti Wealth Management in Bethlehem, PA, holding a Series 63 designation with 13 years of industry experience. He is also the owner and sole proprietor of Parenti Consulting DBA Apex Accounting, Tax and Insurance Agency, where he provides CPA and insurance services. Parenti has managed his wealth management firm since 2012 and has been operating his accounting and insurance practice since 1994. Parenti Wealth Management offers financial planning and consulting services, educational seminars, and acts as a solicitor by referring clients to third-party investment managers who directly manage assets. The firm combines a CPA background and licensed insurance practice with advisory services, delivering tailored planning support and monitoring recommended managers on behalf of clients.

Christopher Schlack is a financial advisor at UBS Financial Services with 13 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has been with UBS since 2015. Outside of his advisory role, he co-owns an LLC with his wife that manages a residential property. UBS Financial Services serves individual, corporate, and institutional clients through a range of brokerage and advisory offerings, combining institutional trading capabilities with wealth management services.

James Mohamdein is a financial advisor at Social Justice Capital LLC with five years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has previously worked with Fidelity Personal and Workplace Advisors, The Vanguard Group, and other firms. Outside of finance, he works as an actor and musician and is involved in the sales of solar panel systems. Social Justice Capital LLC provides portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm offers a structured seminar and workshop program, incorporates various analytical methods in its investment approach, and allows for client-imposed socially conscious investment restrictions.

Sally Hyman is a financial advisor with Seasons of Advice Wealth Management in New York, NY. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 43 years of industry experience, including roles at Ameriprise Financial Services and RBC Capital Markets. Outside of her advisory work, she records and sells vocal CDs and is involved in publishing her father's book on the spiritual meaning of disease and science. Seasons of Advice Wealth Management provides financial planning and discretionary investment management to individuals, high net worth clients, trusts, small business owners, professionals, and families. The firm uses a proprietary planning process that integrates goal tracking, asset allocation, and tax planning, tailoring investment recommendations to each client’s objectives and risk tolerance.

Richard Martin is a financial advisor at Cetera with 29 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 63 designation and has a background that includes nearly three decades at Avantax Advisory Services and eight years at Avantax Insurance Agency. Outside of his advisory work, he is the owner and sole proprietor of Martin & Pellegrin, CPAs, a tax preparation and accounting firm. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered firm that serves a broad client base including individuals, retirement plans, corporate and charitable clients, and institutional accounts. The firm provides a multi-manager platform offering discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and access to various program structures and third-party money managers.

Thaddeus Phelps is a CFP® professional with 28 years of experience in the financial services industry. He has worked at Advance Wealth Management Service, LLC since 2019 and previously spent 14 years with Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. In addition to his advisory work, Phelps owns a tax preparation business and an accounting support service, and he serves in fiduciary roles such as trustee and executor. Advance Wealth Management Service, LLC provides investment advisory and financial planning services primarily to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, and business entities. The firm offers discretionary investment management through a wrap asset management program and emphasizes an individualized approach with asset allocation supported by fundamental, sector, and technical analysis, including risk management strategies such as put options and conservative cash instruments.

Edward Blatz serves as a Senior Resident Director and Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill Lynch. He specializes in working with high net-worth individuals and families, focusing on estate and wealth management needs. Since joining Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in 1985, he has provided personalized financial solutions tailored to his clients' risk tolerance, time horizon, liquidity needs, and investment goals. Edward's expertise encompasses a range of areas including college education planning, divorce transition planning, employee benefits, executive compensation, family wealth management strategies, managing new wealth, individual and corporate investment strategies, and retirement income planning. He collaborates closely with clients' tax advisors and estate planning attorneys to ensure comprehensive management of clients' financial and personal affairs. Edward is recognized as a member of The Blatz-Rooney Group, which was named to the 2024 Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams" list. Edward holds a Bachelor's Degree from Adelphi University and has earned several professional designations including Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). Outside of his professional work, he has interests in golfing, reading, and tennis.

Patrick Ferguson is a financial advisor at Intentional with 17 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at firms including Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments, Commonwealth Financial Network, and LPL Financial. In addition to his advisory role, he is a licensed agent involved in the sales of fixed and traditional insurance products. Intentional provides discretionary portfolio management and financial planning services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, families, businesses, and institutions. The firm offers pension consulting, estate planning support, business exit planning, and due diligence on alternative investments, utilizing a combination of fundamental, technical, and economic analysis within a fiduciary framework.

Jeffrey Park is a financial advisor at Merrill with eight years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at Merrill and affiliated firms since 2011, including roles at JPMorgan Chase Bank and J.P. Morgan Securities. Outside of his advisory work, he is a sole owner and co-owner of family rental properties in Lawrenceville, Georgia. Merrill, together with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program, offering model-based and discretionary strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional investors.

Scott Mahoney is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley in New York, NY, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 34 years of industry experience. He has been with Morgan Stanley since 2009, including roles at Morgan Stanley Private Bank, N.A. Outside of his advisory work, he is involved with Giants Foot Cubed LLC. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is a large SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer that serves both individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a wide range of advisory programs and financial planning services supported by structured planning tools and broad investment resources.

Elizabeth Brown is a Series 66 licensed financial advisor with J.P. Morgan Securities in New York, NY, where she has worked since 2012. She has 26 years of industry experience. J.P. Morgan Securities provides institutional consulting services to clients such as corporations, foundations, and defined contribution plan sponsors, offering asset allocation advice, investment manager and fund searches, and customized performance reporting through a select group of Wealth Advisors. The firm combines large institutional advisory operations with brokerage, distribution, and investment management capabilities.

Wesley Pool is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Clearing with 15 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and previously worked at JPMorgan Securities LLC for seven years. Outside of finance, he has been involved with #TagMeBro LLC and Fry Street Public House. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm serving individual, corporate, and institutional clients with investment advisory services, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm manages approximately $671 billion in assets and offers both brokerage and advisory solutions.

Willie Myles is a financial advisor with Equitable Advisors in Cary, NC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 16 years of industry experience. He has worked at Equitable Advisors since 2016, previously serving at Axa Advisors and MSI Financial Services. Outside of advising, he is a co-chairman of a fundraising campaign for Alpha Light Fund Inc., a nonprofit focused on renovating the House of Alpha. Equitable Advisors serves a range of clients including individuals, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations, providing financial planning, retirement consulting, and asset management through a network of representatives and third-party managers. The firm offers various investment vehicles and ERISA fiduciary services, relying on third-party program sponsors and an affiliation with a publicly traded parent company.