Raymond Heidel

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.

Melissa Ray is a Financial Consultant at Fidelity Investments, where she collaborates with clients to develop personalized financial plans aimed at helping them achieve their goals with clarity and confidence. She focuses on translating complex financial decisions into actionable strategies that align with clients' priorities. Melissa has been with Fidelity Investments since 2019, progressing through roles including Client Experience Associate, Financial Representative, Relationship Manager, and Planning Consultant before her current position. This experience has provided her with a comprehensive understanding of financial services and client relationship management. Outside of her professional work, Melissa has interests in cooking and baking, music, outdoor adventures, parenthood, reading, and running.