FOUNDATION FOR PERSONAL
FINANCIAL EDUCATION
Northern Virginia, VA
GREGORY BERNHARD, CFP MBA
Financial Advisor — Chapter Director
Greg Bernhard has fifteen years of experience in financial planning and investment management. He works with individuals and business owners to understand their personal objectives and circumstances, and creates customized wealth management plans to help them accomplish their financial goals. His professional experience started as a Financial Advisor with Prudential Securities in 2001. Greg is now an LPL Financial affiliated advisor and founder and president of PlumTree Financial, Inc.
Greg has the patience and knowledge to explain the increasingly complex financial markets and the impact of longer life expectancies on wealth planning. He believes in listening to his clients and helping them define their unique goals. Then his team establishes a customized financial plan; implements investment strategies that focus on client needs and helps them stay on track. Greg also provides fiduciary and investment management services to 401(k)s and other corporate retirement plans.
Greg is involved in his community and industry through associations such as the Vienna Business Association, Financial Planning Association, Town of Vienna Business Liaison Committee, and Vienna Rotary Club. In 2014 and 2015 Greg received the Paul Harris Fellow “in appreciation of tangible and significant assistance given for the furtherance of better understanding and friendly relations among peoples of the world”. Greg is CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™.
Greg graduated Cum Laude with a bachelor’s degree in Management and Finance from Providence College, and has an MBA from The College of William and Mary. He lives in Vienna, VA with his wife Robin and his six year old son, Gregor.
PHILIP DONDES, CFP, CLTC, MSC
Financial Advisor
Philip Dondes’ passion is to help clients seek financial security. His aim is to find innovative financial strategies to his help clients enjoy their lifestyles, build their personal wealth, educate their children, and live a worry-free retirement. Hallmarks of Phil’s practice include honesty, communication, timeliness, compassion, attention-to-detail and a sense of humor.
Before beginning his financial services career in 2007, Phil helped hundreds of families plan their final arrangements in accordance with their cultural, ethnic, and religious preferences. His first-hand experience with diverse families coping with dying loved ones bears witness to his strong advocacy for advance planning. Phil endorses protecting families whenever possible from life’s misfortunes. He believes caring for your children whatever the circumstances and helping people through difficult times brings a sense of balance and fulfillment to our professional and personal lives.
Two unforgettable moments took place when Phil taught his daughters to ride their bicycles. When he finally let go of their bikes, his heart skipped a beat fearing the worst. After a couple of wobbles and a scraped knee, his daughters were all set. What a metaphor of life!
Phil is a native Washingtonian. He earned his Bachelor and Master degrees in Computer Science from University of Maryland and George Mason University, respectively, and his Certificate of Financial Planning from University of Virginia. He enjoys biking, hiking, classic cars, restoring furniture, and reading. Phil is an outdoorsman, equally at home at the beach or the mountains. He and his wife, Renee, spend much of their time providing opportunities for their two young daughters, Sydney and Ashley.