My name is Matthew, your advisor at Cadence Planning. I entered the professional world as a teacher. For over six years, I spent time with students, developed after-school robotics programs, and relished the opportunity to educate and empower the people around me. That is why, I believe it is important for clients to understand, I entered the financial world as a teacher as well. The passion for teaching never left me. I had witnessed, first hand, the impact education has on someone's self-confidence, security, and semblance of joy. And I carry this approach with me into my advising. In 2006 I decided to leave teaching altogether to work full-time as a tax accountant. I took and passed each section of the EA exam between 2009 and 2010, receiving my EA designation in March 2011. I've been given the opportunity to present to my peers at conferences and in 2012 was honored to be a recipient of the “Outstanding Young Professionals Award” from the Maryland Society of Accountants. In 2021, I completed the Financial Planning Program at the Boston Institute of Finance at Bryant University and subsequently passed the CFP exam and earned my CFP Marks. It's been a hard but rewarding journey and has left me feeling empowered to help clients. That is why I love what I do.

Davin Rudy is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, where he serves as a long-term personal resource to clients, assisting them in organizing and managing their broad spectrum of financial and life goals. He brings over twenty-five years of experience in business and team management to his role, engaging with business owners, physicians, executives, individuals, and families at various stages of wealth to provide personalized wealth management strategies. His expertise encompasses portfolio construction and development, education planning, liability management, tax minimization strategies, and overall cash management. Davin's client focus areas include college education planning, corporate executive services, divorce transition planning, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, socially responsible and ESG investing, special needs planning strategies, individual and corporate investment strategy, tax minimization, and retirement income. Davin holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Delaware and professional designations including CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). He is bilingual in English and Spanish and participates in community organizations such as Habitat For Humanity, FC Frederick, and Elite Feet Dance Studio. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his family, as well as interests in chess, drawing/sketching, football, genealogy, photography, soccer, traveling, and watching movies.

Matthew Larsen is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He works closely with clients to develop personalized financial strategies aimed at pursuing long-term goals. His approach involves understanding each client's full financial picture and creating flexible strategies suited to changing market conditions. Matthew specializes in areas including education planning, family wealth management strategies, legacy planning, liquidity management, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, portfolio management services, socially responsible and values-based investing, and retirement income. He and his team assist corporate executives, entrepreneurs, professionals, and their families in implementing coordinated financial strategies focused on simplicity, transparency, and measurable progress. He earned a Bachelor's degree in Finance from Salisbury University and holds several professional designations, including CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® (CFP), CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). Matthew is a member of professional organizations such as Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society, Financial Management Association, and Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity. He was born and raised in Frederick County and is an avid fan of the Washington Capitals and hockey. Outside of work, he enjoys boating, golfing, ice hockey, traveling, and spending time with his family.

Annette Bratt is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. She began her career in wealth management in 2004 at SunTrust and joined Merrill Lynch in 2017. Annette focuses on providing a detailed approach to managing wealth that starts with listening to each client's needs and ensuring every strategy aligns with their personal goals. Her work leverages the investment insights of Merrill and the banking services of Bank of America to address the various aspects of clients' financial lives. Annette's areas of expertise include family wealth management strategies, liquidity management, personal retirement planning, small business strategies, women and wealth, and retirement income. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from the University of Maryland and has earned professional designations as a Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) and Retirement Benefits Consultant (RBC). Residing in New Market, Maryland, Annette is native to the Washington DC region. She and her team are actively involved in their communities, dedicating time and resources to foster positive change. In her free time, Annette enjoys spending time with family and friends, participating in local 5k and 10k charity runs, and traveling to O'ahu.

Drew Mc Clair is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He specializes in helping professionals and families develop clear, confident, and tax-smart retirement plans. As a Certified Investment Management Analyst® (CIMA®) and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), Drew brings advanced investment training and disciplined portfolio construction to his advisory relationships. His expertise covers a broad range of client focus areas including college education planning, employee benefits planning, family wealth management strategies, legacy planning, managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, portfolio management services, women and wealth, tax minimization, and retirement income. Drew emphasizes building advisory relationships based on clarity, communication, and trust while simplifying complex financial topics into actionable steps. Drew holds a High School Diploma from Huntingtown High School. Outside of his professional work, he enjoys adventure sports, cooking, hiking, music, skiing, swimming, traveling, and spending time with his family.

Mariama Bah is a Planning Consultant at Fidelity Investments, where she works alongside Financial Consultants to develop personalized financial plans tailored to the unique needs and objectives of clients. She focuses on delivering a client-centric and advice-based planning experience that prioritizes what is important to clients and their families. Mariama's professional experience includes her current role at Fidelity Investments since 2021, prior work as a Financial Solutions Advisor at Merrill Lynch Bank of America from 2020 to 2021, and as a Relationship Banker at Capital One Financial Corporation from 2014 to 2020. Through these roles, she has engaged in collaborative efforts to build lasting relationships by understanding clients' priorities in depth. Outside of her professional responsibilities, Mariama has interests in art, biking, music, tennis, traveling, and volunteering.

Alex Arter is a Financial Consultant at Fidelity Investments. In this role, Alex works with clients to assess their current financial standing and collaboratively develop plans to help them move forward with confidence. Alex has held several positions at Fidelity Investments, including Investment Consultant (2023-2024), Relationship Manager (2022-2023), and Financial Representative (2021-2022), gaining experience across various facets of financial consulting and client management. Outside of work, Alex enjoys baseball, comedy, exploring different cuisines, hiking, snowboarding, and has a background related to military service.