David Sizemore CFP®
What is the most valuable thing you’ve learned from your clients?
I’ve learned that it’s not always about their return or what is going on in the market. Clients just want to have someone that they can trust. They want someone who cares about their situation and has their best interest in mind.
Can you share a favorite bit of wisdom for those just starting to invest and save?
- It is never too early to start investing. Start putting money away as soon as possible. You do not need a million dollars or even $100,000 to work with a financial advisor.
- The choices you make in your younger years can dramatically impact how and when you can retire.
- Find someone you trust to help you get started on the right track.
- Young people tend to try to replicate what other people at their company are doing (usually the more senior colleagues) and that can be detrimental to a portfolio given vast differences in risk tolerance and time horizon.
- What a 50-year-old and a 30-year-old do with their retirement money usually is very different. Work with someone you trust to not only manage the money inside of your plan, but also help with benefits, pensions, debt, and other financial questions and concerns.
What are your personal interests and passions?
I enjoy spending time outdoors and on the water with my wife Stephanie and our two boys.
How do you give back to the community?
Nationally, I support fundraisers organized by the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation and Ed Block Foundation. On a local level, I passionately support the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and other Pasadena charitable groups.
What do you like most about being a part of the Scarborough team?
It promotes a team approach. New ideas are heard and welcomed. Everyone has a say in new plans and strategies, and we are all kept in the loop as we are trying new things.
Education & Designations:
- University of Maryland, Baltimore County, BA, Economics
- Northwestern University, Certificate in Financial Planning
- CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™
Registration & Licenses:
- FINRA Series 7 & 66 Registrations
- Life and Health Insurance Licensed
Career Highlights:
- Named as “Five Star Wealth Manager” in Baltimore Magazine 2018, 2019 & 2020*
*The Five Star Wealth Manager award, administered by Crescendo Business Services, LLC (dba Five Star Professional), is based on 10 objective criteria. Eligibility criteria – required: 1. Credentialed as a registered investment adviser or a registered investment adviser representative; 2. Actively licensed as a registered investment adviser or as a principal of a registered investment adviser firm for a minimum of 5 years; 3. Favorable regulatory and complaint history review (As defined by Five Star Professional, the wealth manager has not; A. Been subject to a regulatory action that resulted in a license being suspended or revoked, or payment of a fine; B. Had more than a total of three settled or pending complaints filed against them and/or a total of five settled, pending, dismissed or denied complaints with any regulatory authority or Five Star Professional’s consumer complaint process. Unfavorable feedback may have been discovered through a check of complaints registered with a regulatory authority or complaints registered through Five Star Professional’s consumer complaint process; feedback may not be representative of any one clients’ experience; C. Individually contributed to a financial settlement of a customer complaint; D. Filed for personal bankruptcy within the past 11 years; E. Been terminated from a financial services firm within the past 11 years; F. Been convicted of a felony); 4. Fulfilled their firm review based on internal standards; 5. Accepting new clients. Evaluation criteria – considered: 6. One-year client retention rate; 7. Five-year client retention rate; 8. Non-institutional discretionary and/or non-discretionary client assets administered; 9. Number of client households served; 10. Education and professional designations. Wealth managers do not pay a fee to be considered or placed on the final list of Five Star Wealth Managers. Award does not evaluate quality of services provided to clients. Once awarded, wealth managers may purchase additional profile ad space or promotional products. The Five Star award is not indicative of the wealth manager’s future performance. Wealth managers may or may not use discretion in their practice and therefore may not manage their clients’ assets. The inclusion of a wealth manager on the Five Star Wealth Manager list should not be construed as an endorsement of the wealth manager by Five Star Professional or this publication. Working with a Five Star Wealth Manager or any wealth manager is no guarantee as to future investment success, nor is there any guarantee that the selected wealth managers will be awarded this accomplishment by Five Star Professional in the future. For more information on the Five Star award and the research/selection methodology, go to fivestarprofessional.com. 1,898 Baltimore wealth managers were considered for the award; 234 (12% of candidates) were named 2020 Five Star Wealth Managers. 2019: 1,865 considered, 265 winners; 2018: 1,759 considered, 232 winners; 2017: 1,093 considered, 355 winners; 2016: 1,215 considered, 356 winners; 2015: 1,749 considered, 412 winners; 2014: 1,484 considered, 395 winners; 2013: 1,490 considered, 448 winners; 2012: 1,470 considered, 262 winners.
Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks CFP®, Certified Financial Planner™ and federally registered CFP (with flame design) in the U.S., which awards to individuals who successfully complete CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements.