Category: Investment Advisory

Debora E. May, co-founder and senior advisor of May Barnhard Investments, CBM’s fee-only wealth management subsidiary, was recognized in Bethesda Magazine’s Readers’ Picks as a finalist in the Top Financial Advisors category. Read more on the MBI website. Councilor, Buchanan & Mitchell (CBM) is a professional services firm delivering tax, accounting and business advisory expertise throughout the Mid-Atlantic region from offices in Bethesda, MD and Washington, DC.

May Barnhard Investments (MBI), a Bethesda, MD-based fee-only wealth management firm and a subsidiary of Councilor, Buchanan & Mitchell (CBM), expanded its client service capacities and expertise by welcoming Stephanie Anderson, CFA, CFP®, CDFA®, a wealth manager with more than 30 years of experience in the investment management and strategy consulting industries, and Lisa Sippel, a manager with more than 20 years of operations management and accounting experience. Stephanie Anderson and Lisa Sippel represent the newest team members to join… Read more ›

Judith P. Barnhard, CPA, CFP®, CDFA®, an executive vice president and director of professional services, wealth management and financial planning at CBM, and Stephanie Anderson, CFA, CFP®, CDFA®, manager of divorce financial planning and wealth management at CBM, are scheduled to present on December 12 at the 2023 Greater Washington Society of CPAs Nonprofit Symposium. Their session, entitled Investing for Impact: A Guide to Not-for-Profit Investment Policies, is scheduled from 8:00 – 8:50 am, will address the foundation of an… Read more ›

Successful investments can be extremely profitable. But the stocks with the greatest potential tend to be the riskiest. And underlying risks aren’t always obvious. In fact, there are several different types of risks for investors to consider, based on your portfolio’s asset allocation. Here are six ways to review and calculate the risk of an investment before you decide to put down your money: 1. Market risk. This is the risk that the price will decline due to market factors… Read more ›

May Barnhard Investments (MBI), the wealth management subsidiary of Councilor, Buchanan & Mitchell, celebrated its 10th anniversary on Wednesday, October 11, at the Marriott Bethesda Downtown at Marriott HQ in Bethesda, Maryland. The MBI team celebrated in an intimate gathering alongside several clients and CBM partners for hors d’oeuvres and conversation. Click here to view photos from the celebration.

  For many people, getting better at budgeting is near the top of their to-do list. However, developing and sticking to a budget isn’t always a simple task. Creating complicated spreadsheets, learning budgeting software and dealing with spending restrictions — all of these things can end up derailing even the most dedicated budgeter. Here’s a synopsis of a simple — but effective — approach to budgeting. The Mechanics Start by splitting your monthly income into three simple “buckets” or budget… Read more ›

  From high prices and interest rates to increased demand, now is a particularly challenging time to buy a home. But with no idea what the market could do next, becoming financially prepared to buy a home moves you one step closer to making it happen. In this how-to, we’ll walk you through the essential steps to financially prepare for this large purchase, even in the current housing market. Before Looking at a House Assess Your Current Financial Situation Before… Read more ›

This article appears in a longer, more detailed white paper with exclusive content focused on building a strong financial foundation for early career stage professionals. Download the white paper here. Manage Your Debt Not all debt is bad debt, especially if you have a low interest rate that’s helping you finance an asset and thus increasing your net worth. A mortgage is an example of what is typically considered a good debt. Student Debt If you have student debt, it’s… Read more ›

Bonds have a reputation as a “safe” investment compared to stocks. In some respects, that’s true. But they can also be risky, which is why investment advisors generally recommend that people in typical circumstances keep a balanced portfolio — in other words, one that includes both stocks and bonds. If you have a retirement savings account, you probably do own stocks and bonds, contained within large institutionally managed funds, such as a retirement target-date fund. When you buy a bond… Read more ›

When planning a trip, you probably focus on making the travel arrangements, ensuring you’ll have enough spending money and other practical issues, such as having someone cover you at the office and someone else keep an eye on your house or pets. The last thing on your mind may be putting your financial and other personal documents in order. However, if you expect to be away for any length of time — especially if your loved ones won’t be traveling… Read more ›