Brian serves as the manager of a division within Planning Solutions Group named PSG Clarity. PSG Clarity is a unique planning team that focuses on affordable and efficient financial planning for hard working Americans who have been under served by the investment management industry thus far. Generally focusing on individuals under a certain threshold of investable assets, rather than above it, Brian and his team help everyday folks accomplish financial…
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Brian serves as the manager of a division within Planning Solutions Group named PSG Clarity. PSG Clarity is a unique planning team that focuses on affordable and efficient financial planning for hard working Americans who have been under served by the investment management industry thus far. Generally focusing on individuals under a certain threshold of investable assets, rather than above it, Brian and his team help everyday folks accomplish financial goals that have thus far proved difficult due to complexity, procrastination, or being overlooked by other planners.
With 15 years in the financial planning field, Brian focuses his practice in the areas of retirement planning, investments, and insurance protection, with a special interest in assisting public sector employees. He is the author of "Total Compensation: A Practical Guide to Federal Employee Benefits", has contributed articles to MarylandBankingBlog.com, nerdwallet.com and Fedsmith.com. He has been quoted or appeared on financial planning news articles at Dailyfinance.com, TheStreet.com and Foxbusiness.com, What’s Up Annapolis magazine, Taste of the Bay magazine, The Severna Park Voice, and on Michael Hodes’ Estate & Chris Hensley’s Retirement Planning radio shows. In October his division PSG Clarity & he will be featured on WMAR’s Maryland Business Spotlight program in the winter 2014.
Brian currently serves as a board member for the Baltimore chapter of the Society of Financial Service Professionals, is member of the Maryland Financial Planning Association and participates on their communications committee, and is on the marketing committee of the West County Chamber of Commerce.
Brian graduated from Towson University with a B.S. in Business Administration and a minor in English. He lives with his wife Merin and their daughters, Charlotte and Caroline in Odenton, MD.
Securities offered through Triad Advisors, Member FINRA / SIPC. Advisory Services offered through Planning Solutions Group, LLC. Planning Solutions Group, LLC is not affiliated with Triad Advisors. PSG Clarity is a division of Planning Solutions Group, LLC
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Certifications and Licenses
Certifications and licenses are helpful guides to an advisor's
expertise and ability to deal with specific topics. Below is a list
and explanations of the most common certifications found in the
industry, and among GuideVine advisors.
CFA® (Chartered Financial Analyst®)
Holders of the Chartered Financial Analyst designation gain advanced investment, analysis, and real-world portfolio management skills. In the investment and financial planning industry, the CFA designation is considered among the highest accolades a professional can achieve. To become a CFA charterholder, a candidate must meet four requirements. 1. Demonstrate at least 48 months of qualified work experience in the investment industry as determined by the CFA Institute. 2. Pass all three levels of the CFA Program examination in order. 3. Obtain membership within the CFA Institute and pay annual dues. 4. Pledge a commitment annually to following the CFA Institute Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct. Failure to adhere to the ethics and standards is grounds for possible lifetime revocation of the CFA charter.
CFP® (CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™)
CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professionals have completed extensive training and experience requirements (including but not limited to budgeting, retirement planning, education saving, tax planning, and insurance), and are held to rigorous ethical standards. CFPs understand the complexities of the changing financial climate and know how to make recommendations in your best interest.
CPA (Certified Public Accountant)
Certified public accounts provide a wide range of services including accounting, auditing, tax, personal financial planning, technology consulting and business valuation. CPAs employed in business, industry and government are likewise responsible for activities from accounting and financial reporting, implementing and managing internal controls and information systems, to compliance with tax and other laws and regulations and other areas of business and financial management. Certified Public Accountants are subject to a code of ethics. Federal and state laws require CPAs to maintain independence when performing audits and reviews. The licensing authority and qualification requirements for CPAs fall under the jurisdiction of the Board of Accountancy for the state, district, or country in which a CPA practices.
CFS® (Certified Fund Specialist®)
Certified Fund Specialists gain expertise in mutual funds, ETF, and REITs, closed-end funds and similar investments, as well as advanced fund analysis and selection, asset allocation, portfolio construction and sophisticated investment strategies. This designation is licensed by the Institute of Business and Finance.
ChFC® (Chartered Financial Consultant®)
Chartered Financial Consultants learn the essentials of financial planning, including insurance, income taxation, retirement planning, investments and estate planning, as well as more advanced and nuanced topics such as behavioral finance, financial planning for families with special needs dependents, small business planning, financial planning for clients in the LGBT community, financial planning for divorce, and more. This designation is obtained through the American College of Financial Services.
CIC (Chartered Investment Counselor)
Advisors who hold the Chartered Investment Counselor designation are required to demonstrate significant experience in performing investment counseling and portfolio management responsibilities. At the time the charter is awarded, candidates must be employed by an IAA member firm, must provide work and character references, must endorse the IAA’s Standards of Practice, and must provide professional ethical information. They must be fiduciaries and also hold the CFA designation.
CIMA® (Certified Investment Management Analyst)
Certified Investment Management Analyst ® (CIMA®) certification is an international, technical portfolio construction program for investment consultants, analysts, financial advisors and wealth management professionals.
PFS (Personal Financial Specialist)
The Personal Financial Specialist (PFS) credential is granted solely to CPAs with considerable PFP education and experience who want to demonstrate their knowledge, skill and experience by earning this exclusive credential.
CRPS® (Chartered Retirement Plans Specialist℠)
As retirement plan options evolve and tax complexities increase, many companies seek professional plan administrators to design, install, and maintain their company retirement plans. Advisors who obtain the CRPS® designation are able to recommend implementation techniques that can be executed into well-structured, company-appropriate retirement plans, and in addition can effectively administer retirement plans for businesses and their employees.
CRPC® (Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor℠)
The Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor designation helps advisors define a “road map to retirement,” enabling them to focus on clients’ pre-and post-retirement needs, as well as issues related to asset management and estate planning.
CRC® (Certified Retirement Counselor®)
Certified Retirement Counselor® (CRC®) certification was created to advance recognition among retirement planning professionals of the need for a retirement specific certification program that demonstrates a mastery of subject matter, a commitment to the retirement planning profession, and adherence to a code of ethics and continuing education.
CASL® (Chartered Advisor Senior Living®)
Advisors who hold the Chartered Advisor Senior Living® designation are committed to helping aging clients achieve financial security now and into the future. The CASL® helps advisors lead clients from middle age through retirement and assist them with the management, preservation, and transfer of wealth. CASL® designeees receive a comprehensive education on the financial, psychological, and sociological issues facing older clients.
CDFA™ (Certified Divorce Financial Analyst®)
A CDFA® is someone who comes from a financial planning, accounting or legal background and goes through additional training to analyze and provide expertise related to the financial issues of divorce. The CDFA® becomes part of the divorce team and is responsible for: identifying the short and long-term effects of dividing property; integrating tax issues; analyzing pension and retirement plan issues; determining if the client can afford the matrimonial home or if there are affordable alternatives; evaluating the client’s insurance needs; establishing assumptions for projecting inflation and rates of return, and bringing an innovative and creative approach to settling cases.
CLU® (Chartered Life Underwriter®)
CLU® holders guide clients on the types and amounts of life insurance; make recommendations on aspects of risk management, and share in-depth knowledge of various insurance solutions. With particular emphasis on ethics and commitment to clients, a CLU® designee understands the legal aspects of life insurance, and assists clients in making decisions about estate planning, including various wills and trust arrangements.
CAIA (Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst)
CAIA® is the globally-recognized credential for professionals managing, analyzing, distributing, or regulating alternative investments.
CPWA® (Certified Private Wealth Advisor®)
An advanced credential created specifically for wealth managers who work with high-net-worth individuals, focusing on the life cycle of wealth: accumulation, preservation, and distribution. Candidates who earn the certification understand how to develop specific strategies to minimize taxes, monetize and protect assets, maximize growth, and transfer wealth.
AIF® (Accredited Investment Fiduciary®)
Accredited Investment Fiduciary® (AIF®) training empowers investment professionals with the fiduciary knowledge and tools they need to serve their clients’ best interests. Advisors who earn the AIFA® Designation are certified to perform fiduciary assessments on internal policies, procedures and workflows to verify or certify an entity's conformity to a "Global Fiduciary Standard of Excellence.”
CKA® (Certified Kingdom Advisor®)
Advisors with CKA® designation are primarily Financial Planners, Investment Professionals (Wealth Managers), Insurance Professionals, Estate Planning Lawyers, and Tax and Accounting Professionals who are committed to engaging clients with biblical Christian principles.
CMFC® (Chartered Mutual Fund Counselor®)
Financial Professionals who hold the Chartered Mutual Fund Counselor or CMFC® Program gain a thorough knowledge of mutual funds and other packaged investment products, their various uses as investment vehicles, and various aspects of risk and return to better select the right mutual funds for all client types.
AAMS® (Accredited Asset Management Specialist℠)
Financial professionals who hold the AAMS designation gain a strong foundation in fundamental financial knowledge with an additional focus on asset management.
CPM® (Certified Portfolio Manager®)
Financial professionals who hold the CPM® designation have obtained a deeper understanding of fundamental security analysis, asset allocation, and portfolio management concepts for managing discretionary portfolios.
CEP® (Certified Estate Planner®)
Administered by the National Institute of Certified Estate Planners, Inc., the CEP® designation gives experienced financial, legal, and tax professionals a comprehensive understanding of estate planning core disciplines to help them better serve their clients with regards to wills, trusts, and legacy planning.
CTFA (Certified Trust and Financial Advisor)
Trust and Wealth Advisors earn this designation after passing the CTFA examination which tests for a wealth advisory professional’s expertise in Fiduciary & Trust Activities, Financial Planning, Tax Law & Planning, Investment Management, Ethics.
CLTC® (Certification for Long-Term Care®)
The Certified in Long-Term Care program is run by the CLTC Board of Standards and is one of the few standards that look at the issue of long-term care insurance. Professionals in the fields of insurance, financial services, law, and accounting study the consequences that can arise from a need for long term care, and learn to create plans to mitigate these consequences, and when appropriate, recommend long-term care insurance as a funding source for that plan.
Series 65
The Series 65 is a securities license required by most U.S. states for individuals who act as investment advisors. To obtain this license, financial professionals must pass the the Series 65 exam, called the Uniform Investment Adviser Law Examination, which covers laws, regulations, ethics, and topics such as retirement planning, portfolio management strategies and fiduciary responsibilities. The exam itself is administered by FINRA.
Series 66
The Series 66 is a securities and investment advice license. To obtain this license, financial professionals must pass an exam administered by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) also known as the North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) Uniform Combined State Law Examination. Passing the exam qualifies candidates as both securities agents and investment advisor representatives.
Services Offered
Advisors specialize in service offerings to meet the
needs of particular client types and situations. Listed below are the
most common services.
Investment Management
Advisor will manage your portfolio by buying and selling investments (e.g., stocks, bonds, mutual funds, ETFs) to help you achieve your specific investment goals.
Financial Planning
The advisor will help you create a formal, structured plan and 'to-do' list to help you reach your short and long term financial goals. Plans take into account your current assets, liabilities, expenses,as well as any expected future cashflows. NOTE: The advisor does not manage the plan once created
Investment Consulting
The advisor provides advice on an overall investment strategy, including selecting investments or money managers to work with. While they do not manage the strategy for you, most consultants will actively monitor it and provide on-going advice based on changing goals and market conditions.
Asset Allocation
Advice only, not execution: the advisor provides advice on how to allocate your investments between specific asset classes (e.g., equities, fixed income, cash, international investments, real estate and alternative investments). You are in charge of managing your own investments and executing based on the advisor's recommendations.
Retirement Planning
The advisor helps you plan for your ideal retirement taking into account your savings, investments, expected future income and cashflows, company retirement plans (401k, pension, etc.) and retirement goals.
Tax Planning
The advisor will help you manage your tax liabilities and offer tax efficient investment/financial solutions.
College Planning
The advisor will help you prepare for and manage college/education related expenses, including using tax advantaged education investment accounts (e.g. 529)
Real Estate & Mortgage Advisory
The advisor can provide you with advice on buying, selling, and financing real estate.
Estate Planning
The advisor can help you plan and structure your estate, to ensure proper distrubition of assets to your heirs, charities, etc. upon your passing. Advisors are often assisted by an licensed Estate Attorney
Insurance Management
The advisor proveds advice on selecting appropriate insurance solutions (e.g., life, heath, disability)
Alternative Investments
The advisor offers access to non-tradional investments (e.g., private equity, hedge funds, commercial real estate); these investment tend to be illiquid and are typically only available to investors with a certain amount of assets
Personal Lending
The advisor can offer you loans or lines of credit, as part of a broader financial strategy
LGBT Services
The advisor focuses on the unique financial and estate planning issues of the LGBT community.
Socially Responsible Investing
This advisor focuses on socially responsible investing ('SRI'), which refers to investments in companies engaged in social justice, environmental sustainability and alternative energy/clean technology efforts, while often avoiding companies in the 'vice' (alcohol, gambling and tobacco) or extractive energy/oil and gas industries .
Cross Border Planning
The advisor provides financial planning strategies and solutions for clients whose lives and finances span the US and other countries
Employer Sponsored Retirement Plans
The advisor provides financial planning strategies and solutions for clients whose lives and finances span the US and other countries
Charitable Planning
The advisor may provide financial and/or tax planning strategies and solutions for clients who want to participate in philanthropic activities.
Long-Term Care Planning
The advisor may provide financial planning strategies for clients who are looking for care over an extended period of time, either for themselves or their families, in the event or anticipation of compromising acute or chronic impairments.
Special Needs Planning
The advisor may provide financial and life planning strategies for families with special needs.
Experience with
Most financial advisors work with all types of clients; however, some
may have extensive expertise with a certain type of client or have a
particular focus
Small business owners
The advisor has experience working with small business owners
Medical professionals
The advisor has experience working with medical and healthcare industry professionals.
Finance professionals
The advisor has experience working with financial services professionals.
Legal professionals
The advisor has experience working with legal services industry professionals.
Business executives
The advisor has experience working with business executives.
Entrepreneurs
The advisor has experience working with entrepreneurs.
Families
The advisor has experience working with multi-generational households and managing their unique financial needs.
Other professions
The advisor has experience working with professionals.
Fee Structures
Below are the ways advisors charge for their service. Some firms only
provide a single option, while others may provide multiple fee
options. Some advisors refer to themselves as “fee-only” which means
they only charge based on a percentage of assets, by the hour or a
flat fee. Other advisors may refer to themselves as “fee based”,
which means they may charge a mix of commissions in addition.
Commission-based
This is a transactional fee assessed every time an investment product is bought/sold
Based on % of assets
Fee is based on a percentage of the assets being managed by the financial advisor
Fee & Commission
Also referred to as "fee based". Fees are based on a mix of a) a percentage of the assets being managed and b) commissions on certain products like insurance, annuities, etc.
Flat Fee/Retainer
Fee is is a flat charge, either billed by service, quarterly or annually
Hourly
Fee is billed hourly based on the amount of work done by advisor
Other
Other fee structures not listed here
Memberships
Professional organizations the advisor is a member of. Many
organizations have conduct and educational standards above what is
required by law.
National Association of Personal Financial Advisors
National Association of Personal Financial Advisors is America's leading professional association of Fee-Only financial advisors—highly trained professionals who are committed to working in the best interests of clients.
National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors
The National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors advocates for a positive legislative and regulatory environment with regards to the role of insurance in financial planning. NAIFA also serves to enhance the business skills and promote the ethical conduct of insurance professionals.
Financial Planning Association
The Financial Planning Association (FPA®) is the principal professional organization for CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (CFP®) practitioners, as well as financial planning educators, financial services professionals, and students.
Financial Management Association
Financial Management Association's mission is to help support financial academicians and practitioners who are interested in the techniques and advances which define the field of finance.
Chartered Financial Analyst Institute
CFA Institute is the premier global association for investment management professionals, promoting the highest standards of ethics, education, market integrity, and professional excellence for the ultimate benefit of society.
CFANY, formerly known as New York Society of Security Analysts
A society member of the CFA Institute, the NYSSA is comprised of chief investment officers, portfolio managers and leading analysts on both the buy-side and the sell-side of the industry, with over 95% of members holding the CFA designation.
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
The American Institute of CPAs is the world’s largest member association for accounting professionals across industries. The AICPA sets ethical standards for the profession and U.S. auditing standards for private companies, nonprofit organizations, federal, state and local governments.
New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants
The NYSSCPA serves as an advocate and resource for New York State-based Certified Public Accountants by representing and cultivating the profession's core values of integrity, professionalism, and ethics.
New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants
The NJSCPA serves as an advocate and resource for New Jersey-based Certified Public Accountants by representing and cultivating the profession's core values of integrity, professionalism, and ethics.
California Society of Certified Public Accountants
CALCPA serves as an advocate and resource for California-based Certified Public Accountants by representing and cultivating the profession's core values of integrity, professionalism, and ethics.
Investments & Wealth Institute™
Investments & Wealth InstituteTM, formerly the Investment Management Consultants Association® (IMCA®), the leading provider of advanced education for investment and wealth management professionals,
CFA Society Boston
CFA Society Boston is a non-profit membership organization for investment professionals that promotes the highest ethical standards, best practices, and professional development of practitioners in the field of financial and investment analysis and planning.
Kingdom Advisors
Kingdom Advisors is a professional association that offers in-depth training and a tight-knit community to Christian financial professionals who want to integrate their faith with their practice.
American Association of Individual Investors
The American Association of Individual Investors is an independent, nonprofit corporation formed for the purpose of assisting individuals in becoming effective managers of their own assets through programs of education, information and research.
Education
Colleges and universities the advisor has received a degree from.
Additional certifications, licenses, and accreditations are listed in
the “Certifications and Licenses” section of this profile
Bachelor's Degree
The advisor holds a bachelor's degree
Bachelor of Arts degree
The advisor holds a bachelor of arts degree
Bachelor of Science degree
The advisor holds a bachelor of science degree
Master of Business Administration
The advisor holds a master of business administration degree
Master of Arts degree
The advisor holds a master of arts degree
Master of Science
The advisor holds a master of science degree
Master of Science degree
The advisor holds a master of science degree
Law Degree
The advisor holds a juris doctor
Doctorate
The advisor holds a PhD
Other post-graduate
The advisor holds a other post-graduate degrees
Associate of Arts
The advisor holds an associate of the arts degree
Customer Survey Overview
An advisor's score is based on people's experience when meeting with
the advisor - were they professional, did they understand the
person's goals, etc. It helps you get a sense of what you can expect
if you choose to connect with the advisor. It is not a rating of
their investment performance! When another GuideVine user, or in some
cases actual clients of the advisor, fills in the survey, it is
automatically reflected in the advisor's score and on the feedback
page you can see how many people have filled out the survey, were
they clients, etc. Ok, now for the legalese:
The survey that produced these results was created by GuideVine. The
survey was not prepared to produce any pre-determined results that
could benefit the Advisor and relies on the truthful and accurate
responses of survey participants. To determine the rating, the
following questions were asked regarding the advisor:
Understanding of the participant’s goals and financial situations;
Ability to give tailored investment advice;
Preparedness for conversations with the participant;
Professionalism;
Offering the full range of services sought by the participant;
Strength of recommendation by the participant; and
Participant’s relationship/familiarity with the advisor
Questions 1 through 4 each comprise ~15% of the score, question 5
comprises ~8% of the score and question 6 comprises ~30% of the
score. Results for Question 7 are presented independent of the
score.
The rating may not be representative of any one client’s experience
because the rating reflects an average of all, or a sample of all, of
the experiences of the investment Advisor clients surveyed. No
subjective analysis was incorporated. The rating is not indicative of
the investment Advisor’s future performance. GuideVine is not
affiliated with any Advisors. Each Advisor’s fee for belonging
to GuideVine includes their ability to participate in this survey
service.
