John Heckler
Senior Financial Advisor
Managing Director – Investments

John Heckler is a Managing Director, working in Investments and Senior Financial Advisor based in the Bethesda, Maryland office at Wells Fargo Advisors. With more than 42 years of experience, he serves both individual and institutional investors, developing tailored strategies designed to help clients achieve their financial goals. His approach centers on understanding each client’s unique needs and delivering thoughtful, personalized guidance.

John’s areas of focus include advising ultra-high-net-worth families, estate planning strategies—including trusts and foundations—retirement planning, and portfolio construction aligned with each client’s objectives, time horizon, and risk tolerance. His disciplined approach emphasizes long-term planning and comprehensive wealth management.

John has been recognized as a Platinum Council Advisor in 2024 and 2025 (formerly Premier Advisor), a distinction awarded to a select group of Wells Fargo Advisors based on educational achievement, business production, and professionalism. In addition, John was named to the Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Advisors list from 2022 through 2024, a recognition based on industry experience, client service, compliance record, assets under management, and other qualitative and quantitative criteria.

Prior to joining Wells Fargo Advisors in 2024, John spent 16 years at Merrill Lynch as a Senior Vice President, Investments / Wealth Advisor, where he consistently earned top-tier recognition for his performance and client service.

John earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and studied at Wake Forest University. He began his professional career in politics, serving as a campaign district coordinator in Massachusetts, before transitioning to financial services in 1983 when he joined Paine Webber as a Financial Advisor. He has since completed advanced coursework at both Wharton and Stanford and holds the Qualified Plan Financial Consultant (QPFC) designation from the National Association of Plan Advisors (NAPA).

John is deeply committed to both his clients and his community. His mission is to provide comprehensive, results-oriented financial advice and portfolio management, delivered with the highest level of personal service and professional integrity. He has been actively involved in youth athletics, coaching boys’ and girls’ soccer and boys’ football for 30 seasons. He has also served in leadership roles with the University Club of Washington, D.C., including chairing multiple committees, and has contributed as Chair of the Board of Admissions and as a Trustee of the Employees’ Pension Plan.

In addition, John has supported various educational and community initiatives, including serving as Chair of the Giving Campaign at Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart and as Fundraising Chair for the Class of 2015 at Gonzaga College High School.

John is also the founder of the Tewaaraton Award, presented annually to the top male and female collegiate lacrosse players, as well as the Miles River Yacht Club Foundation, which supports junior swimming and sailing programs. Both organizations continue to thrive and grow.

John resides in Arlington, Virginia, with his wife, Kim, and their three children. Together, they enjoy spending time outdoors, particularly on and around the Chesapeake Bay.


Awards Disclosure:

2024 Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisors: Awarded April 2024; Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on the time period from 6/30/22 - 6/30/23 (Source: Forbes.com). 2023 Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisors: Awarded April 2023; Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on the time period from 6/30/21 - 6/30/22 (Source: Forbes.com). 2022 Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisors: Awarded April 2022; Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on the time period from 6/30/20 - 6/30/21 (Source: Forbes.com). The Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Advisors rating algorithm is based on the previous year’s industry experience, interviews, compliance records, assets under management, revenue and other criteria by SHOOK Research, LLC. Investment performance is not a criterion. Self-completed survey was used for rating. This rating is not related to the quality of the investment advice and based solely on the disclosed criteria.

Cynthia Fermin
Senior Financial Advisor

Cynthia Fermin is a Senior Financial Advisor serving affluent and ultra-high-net-worth individuals, families, business owners, executives, multigenerational families, foundations, and charitable organizations, primarily throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. She began working alongside The Heckler Group of Wells Fargo Advisors in June of 2026 based in the Bethesda, Maryland office.

With over 25 years of experience in financial services, Cynthia specializes in helping clients navigate the complexities that come with significant wealth. She provides sophisticated, tailored guidance designed to preserve, grow, and transfer wealth across generations.

Cynthia has been recognized as a Platinum Council Advisor in 2024 – Diamond (Top 25), a distinction awarded to a select group of Financial Advisors within Wells Fargo Advisors based on business production, professionalism, compliance, and commitment to ongoing education.

Her approach extends well beyond traditional investment management. Cynthia serves as a strategic advisor and trusted advocate, helping clients align their financial resources with their personal values, family priorities, and long-term legacy goals. Through a highly customized planning process, she coordinates a multidisciplinary team of specialists to deliver comprehensive strategies across investment management, estate and trust planning, tax-efficient wealth transfer, business succession, risk management, philanthropy, and family governance.

Recognizing that significant wealth presents both opportunities and challenges, Cynthia focuses on providing integrated strategies designed to enhance after-tax outcomes, preserve family wealth, and build enduring legacies. She collaborates closely with investment specialists, economists, attorneys, accountants, and other professional advisors to ensure every aspect of a client’s financial life is aligned and optimized.

Cynthia is known for her deeply personalized approach to client service. She believes that exceptional wealth management begins with a thorough understanding of each client’s unique circumstances, goals, and concerns. Her clients value her accessibility, proactive communication, attention to detail, and ability to simplify complex financial decisions while delivering sophisticated guidance.

Prior to joining Wells Fargo Advisors, Cynthia was a Senior Wealth Advisor at PNC Private Bank, where she consistently earned top-tier recognition. Earlier in her career, she held leadership roles with JPMorgan Chase and Wachovia Bank, where she led high-performing teams and financial centers and was recognized as a top-performing manager across the California and Nevada markets.

Cynthia holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing from the University of the City of Manila and a second Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from AMA University. She has also completed a nine-month Executive Financial Planning program at Georgetown University. In addition, she earned multiple Microsoft certifications (MCE, MCSE, and MCSA), reflecting her strong analytical and technical background.

Beyond her professional work, Cynthia is deeply committed to community leadership and philanthropy. She is an active member of the Northern Virginia Women’s Business Council, the Northern Virginia and Potomac Chamber of Commerce, and Professional Women in Business. She also hosts a quarterly roundtable for estate planning and business attorneys across Maryland and Virginia, supporting professional women and women-owned businesses.

Cynthia actively supports numerous charitable initiatives, including volunteer work with Loudoun County hunger relief programs. She served for three consecutive years as Honorary Committee Vice Chair for the Annual International Salute to the Life and Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., hosted by the Institute for the Advancement of Multicultural and Minority Medicine. She is also a founding member of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee of the Northern Virginia Estate Planning Council, promoting inclusivity through education, recruitment, and leadership initiatives.

Cynthia resides in Haymarket, Virginia, with her daughter, Alexa. Together, they enjoy international travel, the arts, music, and exploring diverse cultures around the world. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, fishing, and spending time outdoors, including daily walks with her German Shepherd, Xenia.

Trip Heckler
Client Associate

Trip Heckler is a Client Associate based in Bethesda, Maryland, where he serves ultra-high-net-worth individuals, families, business owners, and professionals, primarily across the Mid-Atlantic region through Wells Fargo Advisors. With a background that spans retirement planning, corporate consulting, and entrepreneurship, Trip brings a well-rounded perspective to helping clients navigate the complexities of building, preserving, and transitioning wealth.

He works closely with clients as a strategic partner, aligning financial decisions with their long-term goals, personal values, and family priorities. Through a personalized planning process, Trip helps develop comprehensive strategies that integrate investment management, retirement planning, risk management, and wealth accumulation. He also collaborates with internal specialists as well as clients’ external advisors, including attorneys and accountants, to ensure every aspect of a client’s financial life is coordinated and optimized.

Trip began his career at ADP, where he spent three years advising business owners and executives on payroll, employee benefits, and retirement plans. This experience gave him a strong understanding of the operational and financial challenges businesses face, along with the importance of designing benefits and retirement programs that attract and retain talent.

Following his time at ADP, Trip helped scale Strategy Red Sports, a sports marketing and consulting firm alongside a few close college peers. The firm focused on athlete branding, sponsorship development, and strategic partnerships. After being an integral part of the firm’s growth, Trip exited the business in 2023.

Following that chapter, he joined Principal Financial Group as an Internal Wholesaler and Marketing Director in the retirement space. There he partnered with financial advisors and firms to support retirement plan growth, client education, and business development strategies, further deepening his expertise in long-term financial planning.

In late 2023, Trip joined the Heckler Group, working alongside John Heckler. In June 2024, they transitioned their practice from Merrill Lynch to Wells Fargo Advisors, where they continue to serve clients with a focus on delivering thoughtful, customized financial guidance and building long-term relationships grounded in trust and discipline.

Trip graduated from Roanoke College in 2019 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, with concentrations in Entrepreneurial Studies and Finance. He also attended Gonzaga College High School in Washington D.C.

Outside of work, Trip enjoys spending time outdoors, staying active, and pursuing interests such as fishing and travel.

Amanda Heckler
Client Associate

Amanda Heckler is a Client Associate at Wells Fargo Advisors in Bethesda, Maryland, where she manages the day-to-day operations of her team advising ultra-high-net-worth individuals, families, business owners, and professionals across the Mid-Atlantic region. In her role, she provides structure, oversight, and organization to ensure a seamless and reliable client experience, and is known for building strong, lasting relationships through integrity, accountability, and a clear, direct communication style. Since joining The Heckler Group in January 2025, Amanda has passed the Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) exam and is actively preparing for her Series 7 and Series 66 licenses as she continues to expand her expertise in the financial services industry.

Prior to joining Wells Fargo, Amanda developed a strong foundation in client strategy and data-driven marketing at Gartner Digital Markets, where she served as both an Account Manager and Client Relationship Manager. In these roles, she partnered with software companies to enhance lead generation, strengthen their digital presence, and drive measurable improvements in return on investment through strategic use of data and marketing insights.

Amanda earned her Bachelor of Arts in Advertising, cum laude, from the University of Georgia’s Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication in 2021, with minors in Communications and Spanish. During her time at Georgia, she served as captain of the sailing team in both her junior and senior years and was an active member of Kappa Alpha Theta. She also studied abroad in Valencia, Spain, where she further developed her interest in global travel and strengthened her Spanish language skills.

Before college, Amanda attended Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart in Bethesda, Maryland, where she developed a strong commitment to community service, particularly through her work with individuals with disabilities in the Washington, D.C., area.

Outside of the office, Amanda enjoys sailing, exploring new restaurants in Washington, D.C., cooking, traveling, and attending live music events.