Top financial advisors working with African American clients in North Bethesda, MD

Parker Yates is a Benefits & Planning Consultant in Executive Services at Fidelity Investments. In this role, Parker partners with clients to understand their short and long-term financial goals and collaborates with them to build customized financial plans tailored to their unique needs. Parker's experience at Fidelity Investments includes serving as a Planning Consultant from 2022 to 2026, a Relationship Manager in 2022, and an Investment Solutions Representative from 2020 to 2022. This progression reflects a solid background in financial planning and client relationship management. Outside of work, Parker enjoys concerts, cooking and baking, golf, outdoor adventures, and traveling.

Efrata Kirose is a financial advisor at One Oak with a Series 65 designation and two years of industry experience. Prior to joining One Oak, Kirose worked at Align Impact, LLC, Working Within, Syntrinsic LLC, Syntrinsic Investment Counsel, Obermeyer Wood Investment Counsel, and Established. Outside of financial advising, Kirose owns and operates EDK Creative LLC, a graphic design and marketing services business. One Oak provides outsourced chief investment officer and customized investment advisory services primarily to institutional clients, focusing on comprehensive investment policy development, manager selection, and ongoing due diligence. The firm emphasizes an integrated OCIO approach and serves a relatively small client base with a high account threshold.

Vladislav Romanov is a financial advisor at LPL Financial with 31 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked previously at Wells Fargo Clearing and A. G. Edwards & Sons, Inc. Romanov is also involved with Metro Financial & Benefits. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and institutions. The firm offers a range of financial planning and portfolio management services, utilizing various investment strategies and advisor-support tools.

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.

Thomas Walsh is a Series 66 licensed financial advisor with 21 years of industry experience. He is currently with LPL Enterprise LLC and previously worked at Cambridge Investment Research Advisors and Mass Mutual Investors Services. Outside of his advisory work, Walsh serves on the advisory board of Potomac Community Resources and the board of the Old Farm Swim and Paddle Tennis Club, and he is also active as a voiceover artist and creator of promotional items. LPL Enterprise provides investment advisory and brokerage services to a wide range of clients, including individuals, high-net-worth investors, retirement plans, and corporate entities. The firm primarily employs a model-driven investment approach using portfolios developed by internal and third-party strategists, and offers financial planning, access to third-party asset managers, and insurance product sales through affiliated entities.

Glenn Evans is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, specializing in providing personalized financial strategies to a diverse client base. His clients include corporate executives in pharmaceutical, technology, and real estate sectors, business owners, attorneys, medical professionals, widows, members of the LGBTQ community, and extended families across more than 20 states. Glenn’s approach centers on understanding each client’s unique goals and challenges, with an emphasis on planning-based wealth management and legacy strategies. Before joining Merrill, Glenn held senior corporate development and strategy roles at Fortune 500 companies and served as a mezzanine lender to middle market businesses. He holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a Bachelor’s degree from Amherst College. Glenn’s professional credentials include the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® (CFP®) certification, Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC™) designation, and Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA™) designation. He is an Advisory Member of the Association of African American Financial Advisors and serves as a Trustee of The Kappa Guide Right & Scholarship Fund of Montclair, supporting leadership development and scholarships for local high school seniors. In addition to his advisory work, Glenn contributes as a pro bono consultant to nonprofit organizations focused on arts and education and participates in the Harvard Business School Club of New York Community Partners Initiative. He resides in Livingston, New Jersey, with his daughter and enjoys activities such as biking, hiking, running, swimming, photography, music, genealogy, and traveling.

As a Certified Financial Planner®, my goal is to help you take charge of your finances without the lecture, just practical advice. My approach provides the tools and know-how to handle your money like a pro, no spreadsheets required (unless you’re into that sort of thing). You’ll walk away making confident financial decisions without second-guessing yourself. You’ll get a custom financial plan made just for you by a CFP® professional, but we don’t just hand it over and wish you luck. We’ll help you actually put it into action, so it doesn’t just gather digital dust.

Andy Loving is a CFP® with 26 years of industry experience. He is based in Louisville, KY, and has worked with First Affirmative Financial Network, LLC for 13 years prior to his current role at Natural Investments. Natural Investments is a values-focused advisory firm serving individual clients, including high-net-worth households, institutions, and charitable entities. The firm manages approximately $2.05 billion through a team of 24 advisors and emphasizes asset-class diversification and a long-term investment approach using socially responsible funds and community investment instruments.

Cindy Mota Rios is a CFP® with six years of industry experience, currently serving at Re Envision Wealth in New York, NY. Her previous roles include positions at Grid 202 Partners, Greenspring Advisors, LLC, and Quadrant Capital Management. Outside of her advisory work, she owns Sublime, a business focused on Mindset and NLP-related coaching. Re Envision Wealth is an SEC-registered advisory firm that serves individual and high-net-worth households as well as some institutional clients. The firm provides financial planning, investment consultation, wealth management, and discretionary portfolio management, emphasizing asset allocation combined with fundamental and cyclical analysis and due diligence on private-market opportunities.

Tarif Carson, CFP®, serves as the Director of Portfolio Strategy & Wealth Planner at 2nd Story Wealth Planners, LLC, where he blends nearly 20 years of portfolio management expertise with his passion for cultivating meaningful client relationships. He designs and oversees the investment portfolio models that guide clients toward their financial goals, while also working directly with clients to deliver personalized financial strategies that align with their values, aspirations, and long-term legacies. Throughout his career, Tarif has partnered with many clients—from high-net-worth individuals managing significant portfolios to underserved communities striving toward financial independence. His professional journey includes roles as a Senior Lead Planner at Facet Wealth, where he helped clients achieve major life goals such as early retirement, homeownership, and world travel, and as a Senior Financial Advisor at Vanguard, managing over $500 million in assets while collaborating with clients and their tax professionals to ensure tax-efficient decisions. Tarif’s approach to planning evolves as life changes, ensuring clients' financial plans remain flexible and forward-looking. In addition to his technical expertise, Tarif believes strongly in the power of personal growth and financial legacy. His guiding philosophy: "Your beliefs become your thoughts, your thoughts become your words, your words become your actions, your actions become your habits, your habits become your values, your values become your destiny," serves as the foundation for how he advises clients on building lasting legacies for their families. Outside of his professional role, Tarif is focused on planting the seeds of a meaningful legacy for his family and helping his clients do the same—building not just wealth, but values that endure across generations. His commitment to mentorship extends this philosophy, as he is dedicated to guiding and developing aspiring financial planners. Through mentorship, Tarif ensures that the next generation of financial professionals upholds the same standards of integrity, service, and the pursuit of financial empowerment. Tarif earned a Bachelor of Science in Finance from the first HBCU Cheyney University and holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ designation. He is also a member of the Financial Planning Association, Association for African American Financial Advisors and a VITA Volunteer who helps income tax payers accurately prepare and file taxes