Zachary Blankenship

Hello! I’m Andrew, the Founder of AJD Wealth Management. I have been in the financial services industry for over a decade and earned my CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Designation in 2017. Since 2017, I have worked exclusively as a fee-only financial planner. Throughout my career, I have been fortunate to work with a wide variety of clients including retirees, pre-retirees, busy families, corporate retirement plans, etc. Prior to starting AJD Wealth Management, I was with a large fee-only firm in Cincinnati; and prior to that, a giant insurance company selling financial products. With AJD Wealth, I get to focus on what I enjoy most - building relationships with my clients, delivering great financial plans, and managing money. I am on the board of the Financial Planning Association (FPA) Southwest Ohio chapter and I am a member of the XY Planning Network. AJD Wealth is a fee-only advisory firm for busy families and retirees who are tired of only meeting with their advisor once a year and who don't want to be just another number at a large firm. Our clients are looking for a partner who can help them grow & preserve their wealth. Finances are personal; and a good, collaborative relationship is the bedrock of a solid financial plan. The goal of AJD Wealth is to consistently deliver a boutique-level of service to our clients.

About the Firm Balance Life Planning was created to help mid-career individuals and families find balance between the financial and lifestyle needs of today, tomorrow, and legacy. Our approach combines the core tenets of financial planning: Investment Strategy Tax Planning Cash Flow/ Retirement Planning Insurance Analysis Estate Planning Furthermore, we offer planning catered to families that have more complex compensation such as stock options, RSUs, Employee Stock Purchase Plans (ESPP), etc. We utilize the latest technology available to deliver a seamless client experience that includes a planning portal, secure vault for planning documents, tax planning tools, and more. About Me I was born and raised in Canton, OH and relocated to the Cincinnati area to attend Xavier University. During that time, I met my wife Erica, and we settled in Villa Hills, KY. We have three beautiful daughters: Molly, Taylor, and Charlotte. We enjoy traveling, various sports, and dogs (we have three dogs Rev, Louis, and Teller). I started in the Financial Services industry at a large investment firm in 2011. During my nearly 10 years there, I worked my way from customer service, through various trading positions, to a book of clients of over 900 high-net worth households that I assisted with planning and investing. In February 2015, I earned my CFP® marks (CERTFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™). In September 2020, I decided it was time for a change that offered a better life balance and client experience. I joined a smaller firm in Blue Ash, OH, as a Senior Advisor. During that time, I gained valuable experience working through complex planning scenarios with high-net worth clients, managing day to day operations of the firm, and was closely connected to a first-class CPA firm. Of the thousands of clients I've had the privilege to serve, several carried ranging degrees of regret around their financial planning path. Most of which sounded like: "if I knew then what I knew now, I would have...". I have designed Balanced Life Planning to meet clients and families where they are earlier in life to create better financial outcomes.

As a client of F2 Wealth, you will enjoy a sense of freedom that comes with having the confidence that you are making the best financial decisions for you and your family. The clients we serve tend to be mid to late career professionals or small business owners. Oftentimes it's a blend of both where we have helped clients successfully navigate the transition from employee to entrepreneur. One area of focus that is shared with all of our clients is planning for a successful retirement. We incorporate both life planning and financial planning to help you navigate the transition from your working years to your retirement years so that you can live your best life. Our clients choose to work with us for our experience and the breadth and depth of the services we offer. Some services are reoccurring while others may only be needed during certain stages of life or life events. Whatever your needs, we follow a rigorous client service calendar that allows you to benefit from our range of services on a proactive basis. These services include, life planning, financial planning, tax planning, investment management, estate planning, insurance planning, and retirement planning. Within these areas there are certain areas of specialization that clients further benefit from including stock option planning, inheritance planning, education planning, retirement income planning, and business planning for the self-employed. Now that you’ve learned about the clients we serve and what we do, you may be interested in a more personal introduction. I’m Eric Ross, CFP®, Principal and Lead Advisor at F2 Wealth. I’ve served as a senior leader during my career as a management consultant and wealth advisor at global firms and boutique firms. Over the course of my career I’ve had the opportunity to serve hundreds of individuals and families seeking to be stewards of their financial lives. I’ve been a speaker at financial industry conferences and my expertise has appeared in national media outlets. I volunteer as a Certified Business Coach to help entrepreneurs successfully launch their businesses. I’m also highly engaged in the financial planning community having served in leadership roles at national organizations and participating in the financial planning student program at The Ohio State University where I also serve as a mentor in The Fisher College of Business. I’m excited to meet you and to help you lead a confident financial life.

I’m focused on helping families have the confidence to make memories today knowing that they are making progress on financial independence. I am the Founder, Chief Compliance Officer, and Financial Advisor at Quiet Wealth Management, Cincinnati’s first Flat Fee firm. Before launching Quiet Wealth Management, I was a Portfolio Manager and Advisor at UBS Financial Services and started my career at Merrill Lynch. My experience and expertise help people build their wealth, reduce taxes, and feel confident in their financial path. My specialties include: - Financial Planning - Investment Management - Tax Planning & Preparation - Asset Protection - Wealth Transfer & Legacy Planning - Retirement Planning Income & Distribution Planning - Charitable Giving

Lance Lohr is a Wealth Management Advisor and Managing Director at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He has been with Merrill Lynch since 1996, focusing on advising and managing client portfolios and wealth management strategies. Lance holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® (CFP) certification and the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor™ (CRPC) designation, along with FINRA Series 7, 63, and 65 registrations. His expertise encompasses a broad range of client focus areas, including college education planning, divorce transition planning, family wealth management strategies, legacy planning, personal retirement planning, portfolio management services, women and wealth, individual and corporate investment strategy, tax minimization, and retirement income. Lance graduated from Moeller High School, played football at Vanderbilt University, and earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Cincinnati. Lance follows Merrill's tradition of community service by volunteering with local organizations. His personal interests include football, golfing, hiking, traveling, and spending time with his family. He emphasizes working one-on-one with clients to develop personalized financial strategies tailored to their long-term goals.

Andrew Grombala is a Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He specializes in serving corporate executives and high-earning professionals with complex compensation structures, including equity awards. Andrew works closely with clients to understand their personal and financial goals and helps them pursue lasting financial success. Since entering the industry in 2017, Andrew has built experience in guiding clients through liquidity events, tax-efficient strategies, and long-term planning aligned with their personal and professional objectives. His expertise includes managing restricted stock units, stock options, employee stock purchase plans, deferred compensation, and performance awards. He emphasizes reducing tax drag, managing concentration risk, and aligning equity compensation with goals-based wealth strategies through a structured, plan-first approach. Andrew holds FINRA Series 7 and Series 66 registrations and is licensed in Accident & Health, Life, and Variable Insurance. He earned a Bachelor's degree in Economics from Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut, where he participated in football and lacrosse. He resides in Anderson Township with his wife and two children. Outside of work, he enjoys golfing, spending time at the family lake house, and staying active through CrossFit.