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See yourself in the bigger financial picture.™

The Family Firm is a Fee-Only™ firm.

From our home office in Bethesda, we focus on providing a conflict-free environment for our clients in order to help them reach their individual financial goals. We do not receive commissions from any institution or from the investments we recommend. We do not work for any bank, brokerage firm or insurance company when selecting products and services for you.

Our mission is to enable our clients to see themselves in the bigger financial picture.  We accomplish this via a comprehensive, individualized, approach to planning and investing that cuts through the fog of financial jargon while maintaining a singular focus on helping our clients reach their goals.

Our Beliefs

All we do at The Family Firm is based on these principles and beliefs:

  • We believe that financial advice is most effective when it is independent, unbiased and without conflict of interest.  We are proud to be a fee-only™ firm.
  • We believe that, once acquired, financial security must be prudently safeguarded.
  • We believe that financial security is built and sustained from a progression of sensible decisions about savings and lifestyle.
  • We believe that financial strategies are most effective when they are based on a thorough understanding of your personal circumstances and goals. From this understanding, investment decisions and financial planning activities become integrated and oriented towards your individual goals.
  • We believe that your peace of mind is paramount.



Recognition





When you’re discombobulated by incomprehensible verbosity, we’ll clear things up for you.




Your Team

Nathan J. Gendelman, MBA Photo

Nathan J. Gendelman, MBA

President and Director of Investments
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Nathan J. Gendelman, MBA

Nathan J. Gendelman, MBA

President and Director of Investments

Nathan J. Gendelman has enjoyed helping clients build and maintain their financial security for the last 20 years. As president of The Family Firm, he also serves as director of investments and works with clients to find the financial and investing strategies that help them meet their financial – and life – goals.

Before joining the Family Firm, he worked with a variety of companies and organizations, including CIGNA, the Ohio Casualty Group, Israel Direct Insurance and the Export-Import Bank of the United States. He spent two years (1992 to 1994) serving in the Peace Corps, as a math teacher in Tanzania, where he also learned to coach and referee amateur basketball, all while coping with the lack of daily comforts we all take for granted at home.

 Nathan holds a bachelor of science degree in mathematics from Drexel University and an MBA from George Washington University. He lives with his wife, Caroline, in Northern Virginia. They love traveling, visiting family, and both stubbornly attempt the Rock N Roll Virginia Beach half-marathon every September.

Kate Fries, CFP®,CDFA® Photo

Kate Fries, CFP®,CDFA®

Financial Advisor
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Kate Fries, CFP®, CDFA®

Kate Fries, CFP®, CDFA®

Financial Advisor

As a financial advisor with The Family Firm, Kate Fries works with clients to set and achieve their financial goals. She is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional and has particular interest in cash flow and the impact of emotions on decisions and behaviors around money.

 After taking an Introduction to Financial Planning course in her senior year at The University of Texas, Kate was hooked.  She completed her Communication degree at UT and went on to earn a degree in Financial Planning from the University of Alabama.  Prior to joining The Family Firm, Kate was fortunate to connect with and work for a fee-only financial planning firm in Birmingham, AL.  Kate has now been happily serving clients at The Family Firm for over a decade.

Kate lives in San Diego with her partner Jeff, her son Wyatt, the one-eyed wonder pup Spot and one rambunctious cat.  Kate can often be found with her nose in a book, trying a new recipe in the kitchen, or playing with spreadsheets.

Stacy Bakri, CFP®, CDFA® Photo

Stacy Bakri, CFP®, CDFA®

Financial Advisor
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 Stacy Bakri, CFP®, CDFA®

Stacy Bakri, CFP®, CDFA®

Financial Advisor

As a financial advisor with The Family Firm, Stacy helps her clients achieve financial security and plan for living the life they want to live. She has particular expertise and interest in providing financial counseling for people going through divorce. In addition to being a NAPFA-registered financial advisor and a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, Stacy has received the designation of Certified Divorce Financial Analyst™ (CDFA™), and is a member of the Institute of Divorce Financial Analysts (IDFA) as well as the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA).

Within the firm, Stacy serves as a valued team leader and mentor; she leads the firm’s internal training program for paraplanners. Prior to joining The Family Firm, Stacy worked at Charles Schwab & Co. as an investment consultant, where she counseled clients on portfolio management and retirement planning issues. Before joining Schwab, she worked in the Middle East for an international exchange and development non-profit organization.

Stacy is a graduate of Penn State University. She lives in Maryland with her husband and two children. On the weekends, she enjoys watching football, biking with her family, and plotting the next travel adventure.

Donald P. Lord, CFP® Photo

Donald P. Lord, CFP®

Financial Advisor
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Donald P. Lord, CFP®, CPWA®

Donald P. Lord, CFP®, CPWA®

Financial Advisor

Donald P. Lord is a financial advisor with The Family Firm and is responsible for personal financial planning services for clients.

Mr. Lord pursued a profession in personal financial planning after a successful twenty-year career in the U.S. Air Force. There, he was a production superintendent managing more than 200 personnel in ten Air Force functional areas. Mr. Lord's prior experience includes working as a personal financial advisor for CUNA Mutual Life Insurance Company and American Express Financial Advisors.


Mr. Lord holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from Hampton University in Virginia Mr. Lord is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional and a Certified Private Wealth Advisor ®.

Charles (Cam) Moore, CFP® Photo

Charles (Cam) Moore, CFP®

Financial Advisor
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 Charles (Cam) Moore, CFP®

Charles (Cam) Moore, CFP®

Financial Advisor

Cam Moore is a financial advisor with The Family Firm and provides comprehensive financial planning services for clients.

Cam began his career at The Family Firm in 2010 as a Paraplanner.  Prior to joining The Family Firm, Cam was a financial planning intern for a large insurance and financial services company that served the military and their families.


Cam is a graduate of Virginia Tech with a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance with a concentration in personal financial planning. He holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ designation and is a NAPFA-registered financial advisor.


Originally from Chatham, VA, Cam now resides in Germantown, Maryland

Stephen Daly, CFP®, CIMA® Photo

Stephen Daly, CFP®, CIMA®

Financial Advisor
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Stephen Daly, CFP®, CIMA®

Stephen Daly, CFP®, CIMA®

Financial Advisor

Steve Daly is a Financial Advisor and enjoys collaborating with clients to organize and simplify their financial lives as part of the firm’s financial planning team.

Prior to joining The Family Firm Steve was an international development professional supporting programs in the former Soviet Union at the NGO Eurasia Foundation.  He previously served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Pazardjik, Bulgaria and started his career in the US House of Representatives as a Legislative Assistant for Congressman Steve Horn.

Steve is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (TM) and completed his Personal Financial Planning coursework at Georgetown University. He also holds the Certified Investment Management Analyst® designation and completed the coursework at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania’s Aresty Institute of Executive Education.  He holds an MA in International Relations from KIMEP University in Almaty, Kazakhstan and a BA in Political Science from the University of Richmond.

Steve is an outdoor enthusiast and spends his free time running, hiking and backpacking.  He and his wife, Sarah, live Adams Morgan and share a passion for international travel.

Maria Camacho, CFP® Photo

Maria Camacho, CFP®

Paraplanner
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 Maria Camacho, CFP®

Maria Camacho, CFP®

Portfolio Administrator and Paraplanner

Maria Camacho is a paraplanner and portfolio administrator with the firm. She enjoys the day-to-day administration of client portfolios and in particular, analyzing financial data.

Mrs. Camacho is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional and is a member of the National Association of Personal Advisors (NAPFA). She received a Bachelor of Information Systems Management from the University of Maryland Baltimore County.

In her spare time, Maria enjoys dining out and traveling with her husband and their two adult daughters. 

Ben Albright, CFP® Photo

Ben Albright, CFP®

Paraplanner
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Ben Albright

Ben Albright, CFP®

Paraplanner

Ben Albright is a paraplanner with the firm and enjoys working as part of the financial planning team delivering support and service to our clients.

Dr. Albright completed the Certified Financial Planning coursework and certificate program at the University of Virginia.  His experiences in the financial planning field include tax preparation and financial counseling for military members and their families.


Ben comes to the firm from a musical background.  He earned masters and doctoral degrees from the University of Michigan.  Ben is an active musician and member of “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band.  When he is not helping clients and teammates at the Firm, Ben can be found playing the trumpet at the White House or at events around the country.

Gina Kiefer CFP® Photo

Gina Kiefer CFP®

Paraplanner
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Gina Kiefer

Gina Kiefer®

Paraplanner

Gina is a paraplanner at the firm and is excited to be a member of the team. She enjoys the pursuit of learning and educating others.  

Gina is a candidate for CFP® certification and completed her financial planning certificate coursework through Penn State University. She has a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership from West Virginia University and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania. Prior to joining the firm, Gina worked in student affairs in higher education.

 In her free time, Gina enjoys traveling, running, and spending time with family. 

Fenny Rusli Photo

Fenny Rusli

Portfolio Administrator
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 Fenny Rusli

Fenny Rusli

Front Desk and Portfolio Administrator

Fenny graduated with an Information Systems major from UMBC in 2003.

Prior to working at The Family Firm, she was a stay at home mom for 6 years.

When she's not at work, playing outside with her two little ones is what she enjoys most.

Sien Vernyns Photo

Sien Vernyns

Client Services Administrator
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Sien Vernyns

Client Services Administrator

Sien assists the financial planning teams with paperwork and research and helps with various behind-the-scenes tasks.

Prior to joining The Family Firm, she worked at Nolan Financial Group, a firm specializing in benefit plans for executives.

She is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, an enrolled agent and a graduate of New York University. 

In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family, playing volleyball and tackling DIY projects.




When world events ripple through your portfolio, we’ll help you ride the wave.


GET IN TOUCH


Our Services

We provide a comprehensive approach to help you see yourself in the bigger financial picture. By working with other financial professionals like CPAs, estate attorneys, insurance professionals, social workers, etc., we provide you with advice that takes into consideration various aspects of your life. Our services include:

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Investment Management


Estate Flow Chart

Estate Planning

Lock with Dollar Sign

Asset Protection Strategies

Sport Player Movement Flow Chart

Tax Strategizing

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Retirement Planning

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Helping you evaluate housing in retirement

Text Books and Pen

Education Planning

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Charitable Giving Strategies

In the first year, we will meet with you in order to help you organize, understand and take control of your financial activities.

These meetings can range between one and two hours. Although there is a set structure for the planning and meeting process, we strive to be sensitive to your needs and can rearrange the order of the meetings to address a pressing issue requiring immediate attention. The meetings are highly interactive as we learn more about your situation and tailor our advice to your circumstances. The team working with you will include:

  1. A Family Firm Financial Advisor, who will be your primary contact person and will participate in each meeting.
  2. Nathan Gendelman, Family Firm Director of Investments, who will participate in relevant meetings.
  3. An Associate Financial Advisor and/or paraplanner, who will support in the delivery of our services to you.

The meetings are structured to ensure we achieve a comprehensive view of the varied aspects of your financial life:

Meeting 1: Overall Financial Security and Big Picture Perspective
Meeting 2: Investment Plan and Portfolio Recommendations
Meeting 3: Asset Protection and Estate Planning
Meeting 4: Review, Follow-up and Looking Forward (Optional)

We frequently schedule a 4th formal meeting with our clients during this first year to review where we stand and what remains on the “to-do” list.

Beyond the first year, we will meet with you at least once annually, although we are always available to meet more frequently or when an issue has arisen. At these annual meetings, we will review all aspects of your financial situation, evaluate the long-term projections, and present and discuss investment results.

Service Fees

We charge a flat fee that covers all of our services. It is payable quarterly and is recalculated twice each year. The fee is computed as a percentage of the investments we are supervising, according to the following fee schedule:

  • First $1,000,000 of investment assets                                                                1.00% per year
  • $1,000,001 but less than $4,000,000 of investment assets                    0.8% per year
  •  Above $4,000,000 of investment assets                                                            0.35% per year


Welcome to The Family


GET IN TOUCH


Investment Approach

We begin each relationship with the recognition that every client is a unique human being, with their own personal needs, hopes, dreams, and life situations. From there, we can start to build an investment plan and portfolio that reflects this individuality, supported by these core principles:

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A Focus on Results

We’re all about your bottom line. We strive to protect you from unnecessary costs like transaction fees and fund expenses. We also recognize the importance of tax expense, and incorporate an in-depth understanding of tax impacts into your investment plan.


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Diversification

We believe in balance. A plan with a strategic blend of domestic and foreign stocks, bonds, cash, and other investments reduces risks to the value of your investments, while giving your portfolio ample opportunity for growth.


One Fish Swimming in Different Direction Than Many Other Fish

Independent Thinking

We don’t focus on passing fads, short-lived trends, or what every other advisor is doing. We concentrate on what really matters when developing your asset allocation plan – the facts about markets and valuations.


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Risk Management

The reality is, the market will never be 100% predictable. We work with you to outline a strategy for achieving your long-term financial objectives, while being prepared for any unexpected events that could affect the value of your portfolio.



Contact


Address

 8120 Woodmont Avenue
Suite 630
Bethesda, MD 20814

Phone

(301) 656-3999

Fax

(301) 656-0935

Email

staff@familyfirm.com

Disclosures