Joseph Baczkowski

My passion is bringing clarity and confidence about money and a feeling of security to the families who have entrusted me to guide them. I have more than 25 years of experience working with hundreds of families and pair that with deep technical knowledge to help you maximize your financial life. Working with me, we’ll first address your biggest concerns and agree on what areas to prioritize. Then we’ll identify and address gaps across all aspects of your financial plan. Retirement and goal planning, investments, and taxes are often the primary issues to address, but over time we will also review your estate plan, insurance, employee benefits, and just about any other financial issue that may come up. I especially love working with those who are philanthropically minded, helping them maximize their charitable giving to support the causes they love. I work on a flat-fee basis, primarily with ongoing relationships but can also provide 1-time plans. I am also “advice-only”, meaning that I do not control or directly manage your investments. I do provide specific and actionable investment recommendations and can help you implement changes. I believe in low-cost, passive strategies and believe that simpler is almost always better. There are no asset minimums, but I find that I work best with mid to late-stage professionals approaching or transitioning into retirement. I primarily meet virtually and can serve clients across the country. Always 100% Fiduciary, never any products to sell you. Pricing can vary depending on complexity, but usually consists of an initial start-up fee of $2500, then $475 monthly for as long as we agree that I am providing value. 1-time engagements typically range from $4,000 to $6,000. In addition to being a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, I hold the Accredited Estate Planner (AEP®) and Tax Planning Certified Professional (TPCP®) designations, a master’s degree in Personal Financial Planning, and am a Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP®). I live in Newark, Delaware with my wife Maria, and together we have 3 wonderful children, Allie, Zach, and Josh. I am involved in the community with several organizations and non-profits.

Lisa Primack is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in the Wilmington, Delaware office. She joined Merrill in 1996 after six years with the investment firm Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette in New York City. Lisa also served as the Senior Resident Director of the Wilmington office from 2009 to 2020. Lisa holds multiple FINRA registrations including Series 7, 9, 10, 31, 63, and 66. She has earned the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC) designation through the College for Financial Planning Institutes Corp. She graduated from Vassar College in 1990 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology. Lisa is a member of the Estate Planning Council of Delaware and the Wilmington Tax Group. Her practice focuses on managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, and retirement income. Lisa is involved with the Delaware Vassar Club and the Vassar Alumni Admissions Committee for Delaware. She resides in Wilmington and Lewes, Delaware, and enjoys biking, spending time with her family, and traveling.

Donald Truesdell is a Wealth Management Advisor and Managing Director at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He provides strategic guidance to high-net-worth clients, focusing on areas including executive compensation, family wealth management, legacy planning, portfolio management, and socially responsible investing. Donald co-leads The HART Group, which he helped found in 2005, offering customized portfolio management services and leveraging resources within Merrill Lynch. Donald began his career at Merrill Lynch in 1993 within the asset management division, where he managed equity and fixed income portfolios for both institutional and individual clients. In 1999, he transitioned to wealth management to work more closely with individual clients and their families. He holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Allegheny College and has earned the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® certification and the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor™ designation. He is also a member of the CFA Institute of Charlottesville, VA, and the Financial Analysts Society of Philadelphia. Outside of his professional work, Donald has coached baseball in the Piedmont league. He resides in Wilmington, Delaware with his wife and two children. His personal interests include baseball, biking, cooking, fishing, photography, and spending time with his family.

Matthew Perny is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, where he is a member of the Hunter-McCormack Group. He works with entrepreneurs, business owners, executives, and ultra-affluent families to develop bespoke financial strategies that address complex needs, leveraging his experience in fiduciary, investment, and trust services. Perny assists clients in coordinating their financial objectives with accountants, attorneys, and family offices while utilizing the resources of Merrill and Bank of America. Prior to joining Merrill, Perny served as President and Chief Fiduciary Officer of Stifel Trust Company Delaware, N.A., where he led the national trust company and oversaw trust, investment management, and custody account administration. His career in financial services began in 2002 at Wilmington Trust Company as a Private Client Advisor. He has expertise in family wealth management, legacy planning, portfolio management, socially responsible investing, and services for endowments, foundations, and non-profits. Perny holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Davidson College and a Juris Doctorate from the Delaware School of Law at Widener University. He has earned the Certified Trust and Financial Advisor designation and is a member of the Delaware Estate Planning Council. He lives in Wilmington, Delaware, with his wife and three sons and enjoys surfing, running, hiking, cooking, fishing, and golfing in his free time.

Jill Angstadt Truesdell is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. She has worked with high-net-worth individuals and their families since 1993, focusing on personalized wealth management, portfolio management, retirement, estate services, and tax planning. Jill is a founding member of The HART Group, established in 2005, which has become one of Delaware’s largest financial advisory practices. Jill is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® certificant and holds the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Delaware. Throughout her career, Jill has worked closely with clients across multiple generations, aiming to align financial strategies with their unique goals and values. Residing in Wilmington, Delaware, Jill lives with her husband, Don, and their two children, Trey and Jillian. Her professional focus includes family wealth management strategies, portfolio management services, women and wealth, and tax minimization.