Tyler Simonds

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.

Peni Warren is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. She has been with Merrill since 1982, collaborating with clients and their families to understand their financial situations and priorities. Her approach emphasizes personalized wealth management strategies tailored to clients' long-term objectives. Peni’s expertise spans a wide range of client focus areas, including college education planning, family wealth management strategies, legacy planning, retirement income, special needs planning, small business strategies, and investment strategy for individuals and corporations. She holds the designations of Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC) and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). Peni earned her high school diploma from Lake Forest High School. In addition to her professional work, Peni is involved in her community through volunteering with organizations such as the Delaware State Fair and The Fund For Women. Her personal interests include cooking, gardening, interior decorating, knitting and crocheting, painting, and running.

Crystal Van Lenten is a Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. She focuses on developing personalized financial strategies that align with her clients’ long-term goals, with an emphasis on wealth management planning, tax minimization, and estate planning. Crystal works to create flexible strategies that respond to changing market conditions while providing access to Merrill’s investment insights and Bank of America’s banking and lending solutions. Her client focus includes college and education planning, legacy planning, personal retirement planning, portfolio management services, socially responsible and ESG investing, women and wealth, tax minimization, and retirement income. Crystal follows Merrill’s tradition of community involvement and dedicates time to volunteering with local organizations. Outside of her professional work, Crystal enjoys baseball, football, golf, music, tennis, traveling, and spending time with her family. Her approach to wealth management emphasizes a collaborative process designed to help clients pursue their financial goals through individualized planning.

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.

Dan Dwyer is a Financial Consultant at Fidelity Investments, where he has been working since 2023. He collaborates with clients to identify their financial goals and develop strategies aligned with their preferences, utilizing Fidelity's resources to maintain progress on their financial plans. Prior to his current role, Dan served as an Investment Consultant and Financial Representative at Fidelity Investments in 2022. Before joining Fidelity, he worked as an Internal Annuity Wholesaler at Lincoln Financial Group from 2018 to 2022. Outside of his professional responsibilities, Dan has personal interests in baseball, fitness, and golf.