Top financial advisors working with educators, teachers, and academics in Maryland
The right financial advisor for you depends on how you weigh location, expertise, experience, the clients they typically serve, and how they work with you.
If you work in education or academia, your financial needs often include managing irregular income cycles, planning for pensions, and navigating public sector benefits. Without an advisor familiar with these specifics, you might miss opportunities to optimize your retirement or tax situation.
- Pension and benefits expertise. Confirm how they integrate your pension plan and other public benefits into your overall financial plan.
- Income cycle planning. Ask how they handle budgeting and cash flow given the seasonal or contract-based nature of educator pay.
- Education-related tax strategies. Look for advisors who understand deductions and credits unique to teachers and academics.
- Long-term career considerations. Discuss how they plan for sabbaticals, tenure changes, or career shifts common in academia.
Here are top matches to get you started. Review each profile to compare experience, credentials, and approach.
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Hermann C
Series 66
North Bethesda, MD
TIAA-CREF
Hermann Cruz specializes in serving educators, teachers, and academics in Maryland, with expertise in retirement plans and estate planning, making him well-suited to address the unique financial needs of education professionals. Based in North Bethesda and affiliated with the large firm TIAA-CREF, he serves high-net-worth clients and offers a 0.30% annual AUM fee, distinguishing him from advisors with different fee structures or client focuses.
Experience: 6 years
Avg account: $523,144
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James H
Series 66
Bel Air, MD
Edward Jones
James Hennessey specializes in serving educators, teachers, and academics in Maryland, offering expertise in retirement income strategy and business ownership considerations relevant to this group. Operating from Edward Jones, a large full-service firm with extensive resources, he provides a structured advisory program with fees up to 1.35% annually, distinguishing him from peers by combining personalized attention with broad institutional support.
Experience: 2 years
Avg account: $246,728
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Christopher S
CFP®, ChFC®, Series 63, Series 65
Sykesville, MD
Cobalt Financial Partners LLC
Christopher Shematek specializes in serving educators, teachers, and academics in Maryland, bringing 26 years of experience and expertise in retirement planning, annuities, and wealth management. As principal of an independent firm, he offers flat-fee financial planning and focuses on long-term investment strategies, distinguishing himself with a hands-on academic role and a client base that includes high-net-worth individuals.
Experience: 27 years
Avg account: $1,560,381
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David C
CFP®
Takoma Park, MD
Lifetime Financial
David Creekmore specializes in serving educators, teachers, and academics in Maryland, with a focus on cash flow and debt management tailored to the unique financial cycles of education professionals. As a CFP®-certified advisor at Lifetime Financial, he supports high-net-worth Gen X clients, offering fee-only services with a 0.75% AUM fee and $300 hourly rate, emphasizing independent, comprehensive planning for modestly affluent households often overlooked by larger firms.
Experience: 5 years
Avg account: $1,538,918
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Peter P
Series 66
Rockville, MD
Lincoln Investment
Peter Perini Jr. specializes in serving educators, teachers, and academics in Maryland, offering expertise in wealth management and retirement plans tailored to business owners. Operating from Lincoln Investment, a large firm managing nearly $19 billion in assets, he provides flexible fee structures including flat and hourly fees, which may appeal to clients seeking personalized financial planning options. His background includes self-employment experience, adding practical insight to his advisory role.
Experience: 3 years
Avg account: $157,266
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