Working with a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® Professional in Maryland
Fiduciary financial planning led by a CFP® professional, based in Germantown and serving clients across Maryland.
What Does It Mean to Work with a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® Professional in Maryland?
A CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional, or CFP® professional, is a financial advisor who has met the education, examination, experience, and ethics requirements set by the CFP Board. CFP® professionals are held to a fiduciary standard when providing financial advice, meaning they are required to act in their client’s best interest.
At MY Wealth Management, Maryland residents work with a team led by Jeff Yeakle, ChFC®, CFP®, the firm’s President and CEO. Jeff leads a planning approach designed for individuals and families age 50 and older who are preparing for retirement or already retired.
The firm is an independent fiduciary Registered Investment Adviser based in Germantown, Maryland. Fees are disclosed in advance and in the firm’s Form ADV.
Choosing a financial advisor is not regulated the same way as choosing a doctor or attorney. The title “financial advisor” can mean many different things. The CFP® designation is a widely held financial planning certification administered by the CFP Board, and here is what it represents:
- Education. CFP® professionals complete coursework across financial planning, investments, taxes, retirement, estate planning, and insurance.
- Examination. A comprehensive board exam tests the ability to apply planning concepts to real situations.
- Experience. Several thousand hours of qualifying financial planning experience are required.
- Ethics. CFP® professionals agree to follow the CFP Board's Code of Ethics and Standards of Conduct, including a duty to act as a fiduciary when providing financial advice to clients.
When you work with Jeff at MY Wealth Management, you are working with a professional who has met each of these standards and continues to maintain them through ongoing continuing education.
Jeff is the President and CEO of MY Wealth Management. He holds both the Chartered Financial Consultant® (ChFC®) designation and the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® certification, and he leads the firm’s planning work for Maryland clients.
Jeff works alongside Brad Yeakle, ChFC®, Financial Planner, and a small client service team. Together, the firm focuses on one thing: helping pre-retirees and retirees build a clear, organized plan for the next phase of their financial life.
What Financial Planning Looks Like at MY Wealth Management
Working with our team is a process, not a product pitch. Here is how we help Maryland clients:
- Retirement income planning. We help you think through how to structure withdrawals from your savings to support your spending in retirement. Learn more about our approach here. Outcomes depend on market performance, spending decisions, and other factors that may change over time.
- Investment management. Portfolios are built around your goals, risk tolerance, and time horizon, not a one-size-fits-all model. All investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal.
- Tax-aware planning. We review withdrawal sequencing, Roth conversion opportunities, and other tax considerations alongside your CPA or tax professional. Learn more about our approach here. Tax outcomes depend on individual circumstances and may change with future tax law.
- Social Security timing. We help you evaluate when to claim and how that decision interacts with the rest of your plan.
- Estate and legacy considerations. We coordinate with your estate attorney to help align your financial plan with your wishes for your assets.
Frequently Asked Questions
Understanding what it means to work with a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER®
professional in Maryland.
01 What is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional?
02 Is there a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional in Germantown, Maryland?
03 What is the difference between a CFP® professional and a financial advisor?
04 What is the difference between a CFP® professional and a ChFC® professional?
Both are advanced financial planning designations. The CFP® is administered by the CFP Board, and the ChFC® is administered by The American College of Financial Services. Each requires coursework across financial planning topics.
Jeff Yeakle holds both designations; Brad Yeakle holds the ChFC®.
05 Is MY Wealth Management a fiduciary firm?
06 How much do I need to work with a financial advisor in Maryland?
07 What areas of Maryland do you serve?
Frequently Asked Questions
Understanding what it means to work with a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional in Maryland.
A CFP® professional is a financial advisor who has completed the education, examination, experience, and ethics requirements established by the CFP Board, and who is required to act as a fiduciary when providing financial advice to clients.
Yes. Jeff Yeakle, ChFC®, CFP®, President and CEO of MY Wealth Management, is a CFP® professional based in Germantown, Maryland. The firm serves clients throughout Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.
“Financial advisor” is a general term that can be used by many different professionals. CFP® is a specific certification that requires meeting standards set by the CFP Board, including a fiduciary duty when providing financial advice.
Both are advanced financial planning designations. The CFP® is administered by the CFP Board, and the ChFC® is administered by The American College of Financial Services. Each requires coursework across financial planning topics.
Jeff Yeakle holds both designations; Brad Yeakle holds the ChFC®.
Yes. MY Wealth Management is a Registered Investment Adviser, which requires the firm to operate as a fiduciary when providing investment advice to clients.
MY Wealth Management generally works with individuals and families who have $750,000 or more in investable assets. A Complimentary Retirement Evaluation is available to determine whether the firm is a good fit for your situation.
The firm is located in Germantown and works with clients across Montgomery County, Frederick County, Howard County, and the broader Baltimore and Washington, D.C. metro areas.
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