Qualifications

Bob Walsh, CFP®, is the founding principal of Wealthcare Financial Planning, LLC, a fiduciary, fee-only investment management and financial planning firm in Cabin John, MD.

He holds CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®) and Project Management Professional (PMP) professional certifications. He is a member of the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA), an organization whose members provide client-centered comprehensive financial planning for fee-only compensation.

He earned his undergraduate and graduate degrees in engineering from Princeton University and he earned his Certificate in Financial Planning from Boston University.

Personal Background

Well into a career as a financial management consultant with IBM, I was ready for a new challenge. While consulting provided the joy of solving problems and helping organizations reach their goals, I was feeling further and further removed from my clients as I progressed in my career. I wanted that feeling again of working with and helping someone face-to-face.

Investing and financial planning always appealed to me. Early on, I formed an investment club with my friends from Princeton and we bought and sold individual stocks guided by fundamental analysis and industry diversification. However, I knew that traditional financial planning with its commission-dependent or "fee-based" sales practices was not for me. Fortunately, I learned of the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA) and its fiduciary, fee-only approach to financial planning. After interviewing professionals in the field, attending its national conference, and finally joining the local NAPFA study group, I was ready to make the leap into fiduciary, fee-only financial planning.

I had the pleasure of working with an experienced solo-practitioner supporting his delivery of customer service and improving his practice management processes. At the same time, my family was working through something personal, the loss of my father. As is often the case in a relationship, one spouse takes the lead on finances and one follows. For my parents, my Dad took the lead and my Mom followed. When he passed, I was able to support my Mom by helping with her finances. I know there are others like her who have experienced loss in some way and have found themselves fully in control of their finances for the first time. I know I can help them.

I founded Wealthcare to provide support that is personal and affordable. I hope that I have the chance to help you.