Darius Bakhtiar, CLU, ChFC, CFP®, MSFS, RFC - President

Darius has 20 years experience in the Financial Services industry, working in personal production, general agency management, and in brokerage general agency management.

From a sales perspective, his areas of expertise include basic and advanced estate planning, business succession planning, executive compensation planning, charitable giving, and traditional premium financing.

Operationally, he specializes in assembling jumbo cases for both term and universal life policies. In 2001, he put together 250 million of term coverage for a corporate client, using all domestic carriers.

Darius graduated with a B.A. in Economics from the University of Pittsburgh and received his Master's degree in Financial Services from The American College. He is a Certified Financial Planner® and has his Chartered Life Underwriter, Chartered Financial Consultant, and Registered Financial Consultant designations. He is a member of various Industry Associations, serving on a variety of boards. He lives in Clarksville, Maryland with his wife and two children.

Ronald J. Smith, CLU, ChFC - Vice President

Ron Smith has more than 38 years of experience in the financial services industry.  His broad background in financial services, and from his many years in personal production and agency management, has greatly enhanced his abilities to work closely with Financial Advisors and their clients.

Ron specializes in the national accounts sector working with the regional and national wirehouses in assisting Financial Advisors with sound life insurance solutions in order to assist their clients achieve their financial objectives.

His areas of expertise include advanced estate planning, wealth transfer strategies, charitable planning, business succession planning, and executive compensation planning.  His primary focus is in assisting Financial Advisors in understanding the complex strategies and assisting in the case design and presentation of the various concepts which enables the Financial Advisor meet the goals and objectives of their clients.

Ron excels in his interpersonal skills in building a strong relation with the Financial Advisors and their clients.  He is skillful in analyzing client data and with the Financial Advisor jointly developing the appropriate financial solutions to meet the needs of each client.

Ron is a certified continuing education instructor in Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania, having conducted instruction to Advisors in all areas of advanced life insurance subjects.  He is often requested to speak at numerous regional seminars for both the Financial Advisor and their high net-worth clients.

Ron graduated from Loyola College with a Bachelor of Science in Business Management.  He has received both his Chartered Life Underwriters and Chartered Life Consultants designations.  He is a member of the Washington, DC Chapter of the Society of Financial Services Professionals and served on its Board of Directors.  He holds a Series 6, 22 and 63 license.  Ron is a retired Colonel from the U.S. Army Reserve and resides with his spouse in Catonsville, Maryland.

Bradley N. Mercer, CLU, ChFC - Senior Director of Brokerage

Brad is a financial advisor specializing in the areas of qualified retirement plan design and implementation as well as estate planning for business owners.

Brad has more than 36 years experience in the financial services industry.  He is a member of the Society of Financial Service Professionals and the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors.  He was the President of the Washington D.C. Chapter of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors, one of the largest chapters in the nation.

Brad received his certification from the American College as a “Chartered Financial Consultant” as well as a “Chartered Life Underwriter.”

In addition to working with his clients in the areas of estate and retirement planning, Brad also provides continuing education courses in these same subjects for CPA’s, financial planners and insurance professionals.

Shawn C.A. Beatty - Director of Brokerage Services

Shawn has over 15 years of experience in the financial services industry. He started as an Investment Advisory Representative offering financial advice and consulting with Integrated Financial Services, LLC and Jefferson Pilot Securities Corporation. His diverse industry experience has been built upon that foundation. His time as a small business owner working within his accounting background, lends him perspective for the small business community needs.

Shawn now specializes as an advisor to advisors in the national accounts working with regional and national wirehouses. He offers guidance in case design and management. His advisors can expect personal client support in basic and advanced estate planning, business succession planning, and wealth transfer strategies. As well they will learn to recognize the fundamentals of life insurance in their client’s financial plans.

Shawn is a certified continuing education instructor in Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and DC. He is currently working to achieve his “Charter Financial Consultant” and “Chartered Life Underwriter” designations from the American College. He is a member of the National Capital Area Chapter of the Financial Planning Association.

Shawn resides in Baltimore, Maryland with his daughter.

Jeffrey V. Merwin, CLTC, CLU, RHU - Director of LTC Brokerage Services

Jeff Merwin has more than 24 years in the financial services industry, developing personal production in both individual and group insurance markets.  He also partners with financial advisors and insurance professionals to assist them with implementing long term care plans for their individual and business group clients.