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, 2021, 2022, 2023 & 2024*
*This award was issued on 1/1/24 by Five Star Professional (FSP) for the time period 4/10/23 through 10/31/23. Fee paid for use of marketing materials. Self-completed questionnaire was used for rating. This rating is not related to the quality of the investment advice and based solely on the disclosed criteria. 2,126 Baltimore-area wealth managers were considered for the award; 256 (12% of candidates) were named 2024 Five Star Wealth Managers. The following prior year statistics use this format: YEAR: # Considered, # Winners, % of candidates, Issued Date, Research Period. 2023: 2126, 256, 12%, 1/1/23, 4/18/22 – 10/21/22; 2022: 2078, 260, 13%, 1/1/22, 5/10/21 – 11/12/21; 2029, 237, 12%, 1/1/21, 4/27/20 – 10/30/20; 2020: 1898, 234, 12%, 1/1/20, 4/1/19 – 11/13/19; 2019: 1865, 265, 14%, 1/1/19, 4/19/18 – 11/7/18; 2018: 1759, 232, 13%, 1/1/18, 4/21/17 – 11/6/17; 2017: 1093, 355, 32%, 12/1/16, 3/26/16 – 11/11/16; 2016: 1215, 356, 29%, 12/1/15, 6/16/15 – 11/9/15; 2015: 1749, 412, 24%, 1/1/15, 6/16/14 – 11/9/14; 2014: 1484, 395, 27%, 1/1/14, 6/16/13 – 11/9/13; 2013: 1490, 448, 30%, 1/1/13, 6/16/12 – 11/9/12; 2012: 1470, 262, 18%, 1/1/12, 6/16/11 – 11/9/11. Wealth managers do not pay a fee to be considered or placed on the final list of Five Star Wealth Managers. The award is based on 10 objective criteria. Eligibility criteria – required: 1. Credentialed as a registered investment adviser (RIA) or a registered investment adviser representative; 2. Actively licensed as a RIA 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 FSP, 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 FSP’s consumer complaint process. Unfavorable feedback may have been discovered through a check of complaints registered with a regulatory authority or complaints registered through FSP’s consumer complaint process; feedback may not be representative of any one client’s 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. FSP does not evaluate quality of services provided to clients. The 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 FSP 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 FSP in the future. Visit www.fivestarprofessional.com.
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.