Top advisors focused on married/couples/partners in Washington

Jared Fruth is a financial advisor at Northwest Asset Management with four years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and previously worked at Securities America, Inc., KMS Financial Services, Inc., Oppenheimer Funds, and John Paul Mitchell Systems. Northwest Asset Management is a registered investment adviser managing approximately $3.6 billion for nearly 3,000 clients, including individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charities, and corporations. The firm employs a customized, fiduciary approach using Modern Portfolio Theory and strategic asset allocation, combining fundamental and technical analysis to build diversified portfolios with periodic rebalancing.

Pranam Tamrakar is a financial advisor at Merrill with one year of industry experience and holds the Series 66 designation. He has been affiliated with Merrill since 2006 and also has experience with Bank of America, N.A. since 2024. Merrill serves a diverse client base including individuals, retirement plans, corporations, and institutional clients, offering managed account programs, discretionary portfolio management, and brokerage services. The firm operates with multiple investment program strategies and emphasizes tax-efficient solutions, supported by its integration with Bank of America’s broader financial platform.

Ligaya Choo is a financial advisor with J.P. Morgan Securities, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and 5 years of industry experience. She has been with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and J.P. Morgan Securities since 2021, following a 29-year tenure at JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Prior to her current role, she accumulated extensive experience within the same organization. J.P. Morgan Securities provides institutional consulting services to corporations, foundations, and defined contribution plan sponsors, offering asset allocation advice, investment manager and fund searches, and customized performance reporting. The firm delivers advisory services alongside affiliated brokerage, distribution, and investment management capabilities, operating with a non-discretionary program that relies on an in-house manager solutions team and a centralized due-diligence framework.

Katheryne Mcmillan is a financial advisor at LPL Financial with 28 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and previously worked for Securities America Advisors, Inc. for 15 years. LPL Financial provides advisory and brokerage services to a diverse client base, including individual investors, retirement plan sponsors, institutions, charities, and high-net-worth households. The firm offers a range of investment solutions supported by an in-house research team and a large network of investment adviser representatives.

Erkki Peippo is a financial advisor at Concorde Asset Management, LLC with 23 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked previously at Sagepoint Financial Inc. and through his own CPA firm. Outside of advisory work, he is involved in farming through Peippo Farms and operates as an insurance agent. Concorde Asset Management provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, financial planning, and access to third-party asset management programs for a diverse client base including individuals, corporate and charitable clients, and retirement plans. The firm uses a model-based portfolio construction approach with in-house and external strategists, offering alternative investments and ERISA plan services.

Kayla Santos is a financial advisor with Mass Mutual Investors Services in Warwick, RI, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and having nine years of industry experience. She has worked at Mass Mutual Investors Services since 2017 and previously at MetLife and MetLife Securities. Outside of her advisory role, she is an independent insurance agent specializing in life, fixed annuities, disability, long-term care, and health insurance. Mass Mutual Investors Services is a broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser subsidiary of MassMutual that serves individuals, business owners, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employers. The firm provides ongoing financial planning, asset management, and educational seminars, using firm-approved software and tools to analyze client goals and deliver written financial recommendations.

Sandra Conroy is a Wealth Management Advisor and Senior Vice President with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. She has been active in the financial services industry since August 1985, providing clients with wealth management services that address both individual and complex financial needs. Her professional focus includes education planning, executive compensation, family wealth management strategies, personal retirement planning, tax minimization, and retirement income. Sandra’s approach centers on developing personalized strategies tailored to clients’ short- and long-term financial objectives, emphasizing the importance of understanding life priorities beyond markets and returns. Her credentials include the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation, and she holds a High School Diploma/GED from Greenville Central School. Prior to her financial career, Sandra managed Arthur Murray Ballroom Dance Studios in Florida and Arizona and became a franchise owner and operator in Denver. She also trained as a Medic in the U.S. Army Reserves. Outside of her professional work, Sandra is married with two children and three grandchildren. Her personal interests include dancing, golfing, and traveling.

Ben is the founder of Ketwich Capital LLC ("Ket-Cap") which serves the financial and investment needs of professionals and families. Ben is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and a Certified Kingdom Advisor®. Prior to founding Ket-Cap in 2017, Ben spent a decade working on Wall Street at UBS and Neuberger Berman. As an equity analyst in 2008, he had a front-row seat to the housing bubble burst and the collapse of the global economy. This experience taught him the dangers of financial salesmanship (mortgages in this case) and the pitfall wealth can bring when there is no plan or purpose. Ben is passionate about helping others become secure, content, and generous in their wealth. Ben has facilitated financial courses including Financial Peace University, Charting Your Legacy, and the Journey of Generosity (Generous Giving). In his personal time, Ben can be found either outside with his wife and two young children or building something around the house. He is an avid reader of books related to money, history, and theology.

Robert Kaercher is a financial advisor at Smith & Howard Wealth Management, LLC in Atlanta, GA, with 16 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been with Smith & Howard Wealth Management since 2010. Smith & Howard Wealth Management is an SEC-registered team serving individuals, including high-net-worth clients, as well as pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm offers financial planning, discretionary portfolio management, and retirement plan consulting, managing approximately $646.5 million in discretionary assets.

Peter Bittermann is a financial advisor with Westminster Financial Advisory Corporation, holding a Series 66 designation and 25 years of industry experience. He has been with Westminster Financial since 2011 and has also worked at RBC Capital Markets Corporation since 2008. Westminster Financial Advisory Corporation provides investment supervisory services and general investment advice to individuals, families, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, small businesses, and retirement plans. The firm emphasizes a diversified, multi-asset class investment approach with a buy-and-hold orientation complemented by tactical adjustments and manages portfolios using various securities, mutual funds, ETFs, and option strategies.