Financial Planning for D.C.'s Academic and Medical Community
The Washington, D.C. area is home to some of the country's most prominent research universities and nonprofit hospital systems — and the professionals who build careers there often have retirement plans, compensation structures, and financial decisions that most advisors have never encountered. We built Emeritus Wealth Management for exactly this audience.
A Specialist for the Institutions That Define This Region
Georgetown University, George Washington University, American University, Howard University — alongside major nonprofit hospital systems like MedStar, Sibley Memorial, and Children's National — employ thousands of faculty, administrators, and physicians whose financial lives revolve around 403(b) plans, TIAA accounts, defined benefit options, and benefit structures that require specialized knowledge to navigate well. We work with clients from this world every day. Our practice focuses exclusively on university and nonprofit hospital employees, which means we understand the decisions you face at a level a general financial advisor simply won't.
We're not affiliated with any of these institutions, and we don't claim to be. We mention them only to be clear about who we serve — and to signal that if you've built your career at one of D.C.'s major academic or medical employers, you're exactly the kind of client this practice was designed for.
What Working with a Specialist Actually Looks Like
Most financial advisors are generalists. They can help you open an IRA, build a brokerage account, and run a basic retirement projection. They may not be experienced in walking through the specific mechanics of a TIAA Traditional annuity, evaluating your university's defined benefit pension against your 403(b) balance, or modeling the income implications of different TIAA payout options at retirement.
That's where we're different. Our team has direct professional background with TIAA, and we work with Fidelity- and Vanguard-administered plans with equal fluency. When you bring us your retirement account statements, your benefits summary, and your questions, we know what we're looking at — and we know what questions to ask that you may not have thought to raise yet.
Our work with D.C.-area clients typically includes:
- Retirement income planning from TIAA, Fidelity, or Vanguard 403(b) accounts
- Evaluation of university pension and defined benefit options
- Financial planning for nonprofit hospital physicians navigating complex compensation
- Investment planning aligned with your timeline and risk tolerance
- Asset preservation and insurance planning appropriate for your career stage
No Office Visit Required — Serious Planning, Delivered Virtually
Our practice is fully virtual. We meet with clients by video, share screens to walk through financial plans and account projections, and handle everything that used to require a trip across town — without the commute. D.C.-area clients get the same experience as clients we work with in Boston, New York, or anywhere else in the country.
If you've assumed you need to find a local advisor with a physical office, you don't. The quality of the advice is what matters, and that travels just fine over Zoom.
Fee-Based Planning, Fiduciary Standard
We are an Investment Advisory practice. As fiduciaries, we're obligated to act in your best interest. Our compensation comes from client fees, disclosed upfront, and details on our services and any conflicts of interest are available in our Form ADV. Before working together, we encourage you to review that disclosure so you understand exactly how we're compensated and what that means for the advice we give.
That structure shapes how we help you evaluate your TIAA payout options or decide how to allocate your 403(b) going forward, working from your numbers and your goals. We take the time to walk through the reasoning behind each option so you can make an informed decision, not just receive a recommendation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you work with university employees and hospital physicians throughout the D.C. area?
Yes. We serve clients from universities and nonprofit hospital systems across the Washington, D.C. metro area, including those employed at institutions in the city and surrounding region. Because our practice is fully virtual, location within the area doesn't affect how we work together.I have a TIAA account through my university. Can you help me understand my options?
That's one of the core things we do. TIAA accounts — particularly TIAA Traditional — have payout structures and accumulation mechanics that most advisors aren't familiar with. Our team has direct professional background with TIAA and works with these accounts regularly, so we can help you evaluate your options clearly and make decisions that fit your retirement income goals.What if I'm a nonprofit hospital physician, not a faculty member? Do you still work with me?
Absolutely — nonprofit hospital physicians are a significant part of our client base. The financial planning needs of physicians at institutions like MedStar or Children's National often overlap with those of university employees: 403(b) plans, complex compensation structures, and retirement decisions that require specialized knowledge. We work with physicians at all career stages.How does virtual financial planning actually work?
We meet by video call, share screens to review your financial plan, account statements, and projections, and communicate between meetings by phone and email. Everything that would happen in a traditional office setting happens through our virtual process — with no travel required on your end. Most clients find it more convenient than they expected.Do you charge based on what products you recommend, or do you charge a fee directly?
We charge a fee directly to our clients. We are not compensated by TIAA, Fidelity, Vanguard, or any other provider, and we don't earn commissions on products we recommend. Our fee structure is transparent and disclosed upfront, so you always know what you're paying and why.
