Private Wealth Partners - Our Team

Doug has more than 20 years of financial-services experience and focuses on asset-management services, retirement planning and investment planning. He has earned the Chartered Retirement Planning CounselorSM designation and is dedicated to helping his clients accumulate, preserve and distribute their wealth while providing unmatched personal service.

Prior to forming Private Wealth Partners in 2005, Doug was a Vice President – Investments at Legg Mason Wood Walker and a registered principal at Royal Alliance Associates. He has spent his career helping affluent families and business owners plan for and pursue their retirement goals. He has given educational seminars around the country and has been quoted in various financial media including Bloomberg, The Baltimore Sun and “Financial Fitness” on WBIS-AM.

Doug holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and finance from Salisbury University and has served on the university’s board of visitors. He is a member of the Perdue School of Business Department of Economics and Finance Advisory Council and serves on the business school’s Alumni Advisory Board. In addition, he is a member of the Heritage Foundation, the Cato Institute, the Oriental Institute at the University of Chicago and he has served on the Board of Director’s of Maryland Therapeutic Riding. Doug, his wife, Amy, and children, Sarah, Abigail, and Daniel, reside in Annapolis, where Doug is a parishioner and lector at St. Mary’s church.

 

What do you enjoy most about being a financial advisor?
I became a financial advisor to help people.  It is amazing how little most people know about looking after their money especially when it comes to saving for retirement.  Helping people identify and pursue their financial goals is very fulfilling to me.  There is a sense of accomplishment when your client is more confident and enjoys their retirement because of a plan you helped them create twenty years ago.  It was obvious early on in my career working with executives from large corporations that a lot of people needed help.  When I sit down with my clients and talk to them about their financial goals it can be eye opening. In many cases my clients have goals that they have no idea how to achieve and in some cases their goals can be unrealistic. Working with them to formulate a plan to get them on the right track to help meet their goals is the rewarding part of my job.

 

Where do you like to vacation?
I like to vacation outside the US to experience our world and learn about different cultures first-hand. You can always read a book about Egypt, but there is something special about sailing the Nile in a felucca and climbing on a pyramid.   Once you experience cultural differences firsthand, you can begin to understand where other people are coming from.  Travel gives you the opportunity to observe animals in their true habitat.  I have been fortunate to go cage diving with great white sharks, photograph a pride of lions, and hold a Koala Bear.  I would rather spend money on experiences that create lasting memories than on material things.

 

What was your favorite class in college?
I was finance and economics major in college.  My favorite class though was Philosophy taught by Dr. Miller.  We read Plato, Socrates, Descartes, Nietzsche, and many others which helped me to understand a life unexamined is not worth living and how to listen to others and then form my own opinion to engage in a dialogue not an argument.  Twenty years later I still remember some of the lectures.  Not only did the material shape the way I think and view the world I met my wife Amy in Dr. Miller's class.

 

What do you love most about living in this community?
Annapolis to me is the perfect mix of history, people, and seasons.  Annapolitans are privileged to live in a colonial city with all the modern day conveniences.  Founded in 1649 the downtown area hasn't changed much since the days when George Washington walked the cobblestone streets during the time Annapolis was the Capitol of the United States.  The people today are friendly, very civic minded, and love spending time on the Chesapeake Bay.  In Maryland we have a saying, “if you don't like the weather just wait an hour.”  I doubt many true Marylanders would trade our changing seasons.  I have travelled the US extensively and there is no other place I would call home.

Eric is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional and Managing Partner with Private Wealth Partners, LLC which he helped found in 2005 to assist families and business owners with the pursuit of their financial goals.

Previously, he was an Associate Vice President of Investments with Legg Mason Wood Walker, Inc.’s Annapolis, Maryland office focusing on Retirement, Estate and Education Planning. Prior to joining Legg Mason, Eric was a Registered Principal and Registered Investment Advisor Representative with Royal Alliance since 1997, and Vice President and Director of Retirement Services with Scarborough Retirement Services, LLC (SRS). While at SRS, Eric was responsible for cultivating relationships with corporate clients in addition to managing retirement assets for individuals. He was the Chairman of the Investment Committee and responsible for all investment related activities of the firm. Eric frequently lectured to employees of corporations on the principles of investing for retirement. In addition to his background in retirement planning, he is a licensed insurance professional.

Eric graduated magna cum laude from James Madison University and currently resides in Arnold, Maryland with his wife, Danielle, his son, Charlie, and his daughter, Finley. In his free time he enjoys coaching youth basketball. He is also an active volunteer with Habitat for Humanity.

 

Why did you choose to become an investment professional?

I knew from the time that I was in college that I wanted to work in Finance.  While that is a very broad area with many different possibilities, I also realized that I wanted to work with people and not be sitting at a computer as a trader or analyst all day.  Becoming an investment professional provided the opportunity to enjoy working in the industry I desired while also providing the interaction that would produce additional fulfillment.

 

What do you look forward to each day?
I look forward to the challenges that each day in our business brings.  Even after being in the business for almost 18 years, hardly a day goes by where I am not trying to solve a unique situation for a client.  No two clients need the exact same solutions, everyone is unique and approaching it that way is what I enjoy most.

 

What are you thankful for?
I am thankful for a wonderful and caring family, as well amazing and loyal clients.  Without the encouragement and support that I get at home as well as in the office, there is no way that I would be fulfilled in both my work and home life. 

 

How do you spend your free time?
Living in the Annapolis area, boating is my favorite way to spend my free time.  It is something that we often do as a family on weekends in the summer where we have the opportunity to interact with each other without the distractions that are often present elsewhere.  I also enjoy golfing and coaching youth sports. 

 

If you could be great at one sport which would you choose?
My answer to this question is far different now than what it would have been in my teens, twenties or maybe even early thirties.  At this point if I could be great at any sport, it would be golf.  That will likely never happen because I hardly ever get out to play and when I do, it is hardly ever pretty.   I answer this way because there is no better way to get to know someone new or strengthen existing friendships than to spend 4-5 hours together on a golf course.  Many of my favorite days in recent years have happened on the golf course.

With over a decade of financial industry experience, Mr. Murphy is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional and Managing Partner with Private Wealth Partners, LLC.  He began his career with Legg Mason Wood Walker in their Private Client Group.  In 2006 he joined Smith Barney as a result of their merger with Legg Mason before joining Private Wealth Partners, LLC in 2007.

Mark holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from Loyola College. While there, he served as Captain of their nationally-ranked lacrosse team and received the scholar-athlete and leadership awards for the program.

In addition to his work at Private Wealth Partners, LLC, Mark has previously served as president of the St. Mary’s Alumni Association Board of Directors.  Currently, he serves as president of the St. Mary’s Royal Blue Club Board of Directors and on the Board of Directors for Chesapeake Baysavers, Inc.  He is also a volunteer coach for both the St. Mary's Annapolis Lacrosse and Field Hockey Association and the Annapolis Youth Lacrosse Association.  He and his wife, Gail, live in Annapolis with their three children, Benjamin, Lily and Drew.

Why did you choose to become an investment professional?

Math and numbers have been my greatest academic strengths going back to my earliest school days.  As a finance major in college, I was able to continue to build on that foundation.  Becoming a financial advisor, for me, was the perfect blend of utilizing those skills in an environment where I could develop close personal relationships with the people I work with every day.   I believe it has proven to be the perfect professional path for my skill sets and deeply rewarding at the same time.


What do you look forward to each day?

A friend of mine once shared a quote with me, “you only get one shot at today.”  That is something that for me really resonates.  I look forward each day to maximizing whatever opportunity lies ahead whether it is with family, friends, at work or any other path the day takes me down.


What are you most proud of?

While I am extremely proud of what we have built at Private Wealth Partners, my family is far and away my greatest source of pride.  To have a beautiful wife and three wonderful kids to come home to every day provides a happiness and contentment that I hope everyone gets to experience in their own way.


How do you spend your free time?

I love being outside as much as possible when I am out of the office.  Playing golf, fishing and spending time on the water with my family are at the top of the list of activities.  I also get great joy out of coaching sports for my kids.


What's your favorite book?

My favorite book is Unbroken, the story of Louis Zamperini.  What he went through is an overwhelming lesson in the triumph of the human spirit.  Reading his story is a healthy dose of perspective that the things that many of us complain about on a day to day basis are really quite trivial.  With perseverance and fortitude, the human mind and body can get us through things we never could have imagined.

Matthew is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ practitioner and has worked in the financial-services industry for over 20 years. He enjoys helping his clients pursue their life goals through sound investment, retirement and education planning. Throughout his career, he has helped many families and business owners to plan for and work towards their retirement goals.

A former co-host of “Financial Fitness,” a weekly radio show broadcast in the Baltimore/Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, Matthew worked for Legg Mason Wood Walker in Annapolis. Before founding Private Wealth Partners, LLC, in 2005, he also worked as a Senior Retirement Advisor with Royal Alliance Associates and did tax and audit work with Whelan, Barsky and Graham as a Certified Public Accountant.

In addition to his CFP® certificate and CPA designation (non-practicing), Matthew holds a Chartered Retirement Planning CounselorSM designation and a bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance from the University of Maryland. He and his wife, Denise, live in Severna Park with their four children, Calvin, Amy, Jake, and Leo.

Why did you choose to be an investment professional?

I always had a knack for numbers growing up and was an avid saver.  (My parents joked that as a child they used to give me $10 at the start of our annual beach vacation and I would have $15 by the time it ended!) I knew that I wanted to pursue a career in business when I went to college and ended up majoring in Accounting and Finance at the University of Maryland.  I started my career as a CPA (not currently practicing) and after several years, I realized that I wanted to do something different that involved more interaction with clients.  Becoming a financial advisor was a natural progression for me as I was able to use the skills I learned as a CPA and also create relationships with clients on a more personal level.

What do you look forward to each day?

First and foremost is waking up and seeing my wife and 4 kids.  After we get them off to school, I arrive at work ready to see what the day will bring.  Every day is a new day in our profession as the stock markets move up and down and each client has different needs.  However, all of my clients have a goal to eventually retire and I look forward to helping them formulate a plan to pursue that goal.  The past 20 years has been a challenging time for financial advisors and investors alike as we've endured two of the worst bear markets in recent memory.  However, history allows us to look back at how we navigated those markets and kept focused on the long term goals and objectives and not the day to day fluctuations.


What are you most proud of?

I have to answer this in two parts- Personal and Business.  From a personal standpoint I am most proud of being a Father and having an active part in the lives of my four children.  I've received a lot of advice from my clients over the years and one that always resonates with me is to be aware of how quickly time goes by.   I've worked with some clients for almost 20 years and have seen their children go from elementary school to college to living on their own and getting married- and it all happens so quickly!  I try to appreciate what I have every day as I know my kids will move through these same stages before long.   From a business standpoint I am most proud of starting my own business with Doug, Eric, Paul and Mark.  In 2005 we left the perceived safety of Legg Mason/Smith Barney to start Private Wealth Partners, LLC.  It was the best business decision I've ever made and I couldn't have done it without the counsel and friendship of the other partners and our employees. 


How do you spend your free time?

I like being outside as often as possible when I am not working.  With four active children our schedule can be very busy, but I truly enjoy spending time with them as they pursue their passions.  I've been a coach for all four of my children and enjoy watching them develop.  When I do have some free time, I enjoy golfing, skiing, biking and spending time on the water.


What is your favorite book?

Growing up I was obsessed with sports and didn't do much reading other than what I was required to do in school. My definition of reading was “The Washington Post” Sports section and Sports Illustrated.  That all changed when I worked in Ocean City, MD the summer after my freshman year of college and got sick of listening to my Sony Walkman every day at the beach. (My kids don't even know what a “Walkman” is) My older brother recommended I read some John Grisham books and ever since then I was hooked on reading. I've come to enjoy reading non-fiction and “Into Thin Air” is one of my favorites.  The group of climbers depicted in this book came from different backgrounds, were different ages, but all had the same goal- To reach the Summit of Everest.  Some were better prepared than others and some unfortunately didn't make it.  There are similarities in our business as we help people pursue their goals but you always have to be aware of the risk you are willing to take to get there.  To reach Everest you sometimes have to take undue risk and unfortunately people had to pay the ultimate price to try and reach that goal.

Paul has more than two decades of industry experience. He serves an array of business and individual clients and throughout his career has helped affluent families plan for and achieve their retirement goals.  

Paul started his career with American Express Financial Advisors and later worked for Legg Mason Wood Walker as an Associate Vice President – Investments and Royal Alliance Associates as a Senior Retirement Advisor. He holds a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification, a Chartered Market Technician designation and an Executive Certificate in Financial Planning from Georgetown University’s Center for Professional Development.

Outside of the office, Paul is active in his local community having served on the finance and stewardship committee of his church and coaching youth soccer. He resides in Severna Park with his wife, Tina, and three children, Connor, Kara, and Brendan. He received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Columbia Union College.



Why did you choose to become an investment professional

I have always had a natural ability with math and numbers, and at an early age, I became fascinated by the stock market.  But the idea of going into the financial services industry didn't occur to me until college.  Like most college students, I dreamed big.  I wanted to make a difference.  I wanted to know I actually meant something to people.  That's when I met a financial advisor and saw how I could combine my interest in the markets with my desire to help people improve their lives and reach their goals. 

It's been a perfect fit ever since.


What are you most proud of?

I take a tremendous amount of pride in helping clients reach their goals.  It might seem cliché, but it really is why I get up in the morning.  It's impossible to describe the jolt of excitement I get whenever I see a client smile because their financial problems have been solved. It's impossible to describe how fulfilling it is to see the light come on in a client's eyes as they say, “I really can retire how I want!  I didn't think I'd be able to!” It is impossible to describe, and impossible to get enough of. 

Having been in the business for over two decades, I've helped clients in every stage of planning and have seen many of them evolve and go full circle.  It's amazing to sit down with someone, lay out a plan, and then see that plan come to fruition. 

Having a positive impact on someone's future is an honor, and something I am very proud of.


How do you spend your free time?

With 3 children, much of my free time is spend around them and their activities.  During the week, if I am not coaching one of their teams, I am taking them to various practices or training in martial arts.  On weekends, I enjoy boating and water sports with the family.


What do you enjoy most about being a financial advisor?

I enjoy the variety.  Every day is different!  I also enjoy the personal interaction I have on a daily basis with my clients.  Finally, there is a problem-solving aspect to my job.  Clients come to me for personal, customized solutions to help them overcome challenges, fulfill needs, and most of all, attain their desires.  It's a real thrill to put the puzzle together.  To use my mind, imagination, and training to strive to exceed a client's expectations. 


What are you thankful for?

I am most thankful for my family.  My wife, Tina, and I have been together for over 20 years.  After many years of trying to start a family, our son Connor was born in 2005, followed by my daughter Kara in 2007, and our youngest son Brendan in 2008.  Watching them grow and develop is awe-inspiring, and something I look forward to everyday.  I think I have a front row seat to the best reality show possible.