With more than 19 years of investment and financial services experience, Rob Klingensmith is charged with helping manage the strategic direction of Apella Wealth. 

As a Series 66-certified investment advisor, Rob was previously the CEO of a private bank catering to high net worth individuals and financial institutions throughout Europe. In his role as managing director, he focuses on operations and business development. He is also a Partner and Consulting Services Leader with PBMares, LLP.

Rob has also worked as a Senior Partner for a leading mutual life insurance company, growing and managing a team of advisors, as well as serving as a Managing Director for a private equity firm.

A veteran, Rob spent eight years in the U.S. Coast Guard as an Aviation Survival Technician (Helicopter Rescue Swimmer). He executed search and rescue missions on land and at sea in Alaska and California.

Rob has served on the boards of the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra, Boulder Crest Retreat for Wounded Warriors, and The Viola Vestal Coulter Scholarship Foundation. He was featured as the cover story in Wealth and Retirement Planner magazine, writing about leveraging artificial intelligence to drive trading signals.

He enjoys fly fishing, snowboarding, and painting. He lives in Washington, D.C. with his two children.

Dan Bender has 23 years of experience in the financial services industry. Along with his duties related to Apella Wealth, Dan is a partner of PBMares, LLP where he specializes in income tax planning.

Dan is a Certified Financial Planner and a Certified Public Accountant with a Personal Financial Specialist credential. He received a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from James Madison University.

He relocated to Fredericksburg upon graduation and has lived and worked with PBMares in the Fredericksburg office for his entire career. Dan currently lives downtown and actively supports not-for-profits in the local community including serving as treasurer for organizations such as the Central Rappahannock Heritage Center, 4-H, and Fredericksburg Center for the Creative Arts. He is also a past member of the Stafford Rotary Club.

When not working, Dan enjoys spending his free time with his two children.

The best advisors make the job of being a business owner easier and Tom is just that advisor. He always comes to the table with creative solutions to help clients improve their financial position and the information necessary to make informed decisions for today and the future.

Tom received the designation of Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) by the Certified Financial Planning Board in 2025. To obtain this designation, one must demonstrate experience in personal financial planning activities and complete a comprehensive examination that tests risk management, investment, retirement, estate and personal income tax planning knowledge. It is this dedication along with his well-rounded 15 years of knowledge that allows him to help his clients achieve positive outcomes as a result of successful planning.

When not at work, Tom enjoys spending time with his family and two children.

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS:

• American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
• Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants

EDUCATION:

• Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Information Systems, Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia
• Masters of Taxation, Virginia Tech

David Bush has been involved with the financial service industry for over 30 years and offers a unique skill set that combined strong tax knowledge and wealth management expertise. His focus is to create comprehensive wealth strategies for his clients to help guide them through their financial journey.

With deep roots in the CPA profession, he earns the trust of his clients by consistently delivering sound objective advice and serving as a partner with his clients. David values the trust his clients place in him and leverages his tax expertise by combining it with evidence-based investment knowledge to create a clear path for clients to achieve their financial goals.

David is a Certified Public Accountant, a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, and a Personal Financial Specialist. As a graduate of Virginia Tech, he received a Bachelor of Science in Accounting.

An active member of the Williamsburg community, David serves in leadership positions on numerous civic and charitable boards including the Williamsburg Land Conservancy, Superintendent’s Business Advisory Council, Chesapeake Bank, Kiwanis Club of Williamsburg, Greater Williamsburg Chamber & Tourism Alliance, Lead Historic Triangle Alumni, Hospice House and Support Care of Williamsburg and the Williamsburg Health Foundation.

David enjoys running, cycling, playing golf, and spending time with family.

As a Senior Wealth Advisor in Apella Wealth’s Williamsburg office, Shelly Braden has a passion for providing holistic financial planning to families and individuals.

Shelly graduated from Golden Gate University with her Masters of Science in Financial Planning and Taxation with a concentration in Estate Planning. She is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional (CFP®) having completed the CFP Board’s rigorous standards through the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Shelly also holds her Behavioral Financial Advisor™ designation.

In her spare time, Shelly enjoys running and baking bread. She serves as the President of the Board at Williamsburg Campus Childcare. Originally from North Carolina, she now resides in Williamsburg with her husband, Forest, son, Bowie and daughter Frances.

As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional (CFP®) and a Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA®), Kurt Johnson provides advice and consulting services to plan sponsors regarding their employer-sponsored retirement plans. In addition, he holds his Behavioral Financial Advisor (BFA™) designation and carries the VA Life and Health Insurance License.

As a Senior Wealth Advisor with Apella Wealth, Kurt has over 13 years of experience in wealth management. He is passionate about helping families and business owners achieve their financial goals and is committed to the long-term relationships he builds with clients.

Before joining Apella, he was a financial consultant with TIAA CREF and an investment consultant with Fidelity Investments. Kurt has a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Indiana Wesleyan University and a Master of Arts degree in Educational Administration from the University of Alabama.

Kurt is active in the Rotary Club of Harrisonburg, currently serving as club secretary. Originally from New Jersey, he has been married for 18 years and is the proud father of four children.

As a Senior Wealth Advisor, Addison specializes in wealth management and holistic financial planning, education planning, estate preservation, insurance, social security optimization. In addition to his CFP®, he carries the Virginia Life Health and Annuities Insurance License, as well as the Behavioral Financial Advisor (BFA™) designation. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from Virginia Tech.

Addison’s passion is to help guide clients to achieve their financial goals. Sometimes it’s helping ensure they can provide their children with an education, helping them avoid unforeseen financial pitfalls, or often giving them the knowledge to make informed decisions in order to maintain their lifestyle throughout retirement and provide a legacy for future generations.

As an active member of the Fredericksburg Chamber of Commerce, Addison also dedicates his time with the Fredericksburg SPCA and is on the board of the Fredericksburg Virginia Tech Alumni Association.

In his spare time, he enjoys running, rock climbing, and traveling. 

As a Senior Wealth Advisor at Apella Wealth, Daniel Yoo simplifies the financial lives of entrepreneurs, executives, and their families. Wealth often represents years of hard work and sacrifice, so his disciplined approach and fiduciary standards seek to achieve financial harmony with each family’s unique personal and business goals.

Daniel brings over a decade of experience from a top 5 global wealth management firm to Apella Wealth. He has guided many business owners through exits, succession, and valuation optimization by leveraging his Certified Exit Planning Advisor® and Certified Merger & Acquisition Advisor® designations.

Daniel is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional through Northwestern University. He also passed Level II of the CFA exam, demonstrating his commitment to real-world portfolio management skills. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Information Systems from Boston University’s School of Business.

When he’s not helping clients, Daniel prioritizes quality time with his family. He strategically built his life around Fairfax to minimize commutes and maximize moments with his wife Melanie and their children, Sophie and Caleb.

Alex serves as a Portfolio Manager and Senior Wealth Advisor in Apella Wealth’s Williamsburg office.

As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, he also holds a Life Health and Annuities license in Virginia. Alex graduated from Virginia Tech with a Bachelor of Science in Financial Planning. While at Virginia Tech, he joined the Financial Planning Association and continues to stay involved locally.

As a Wealth Advisor, Michael helps clients with comprehensive financial plans, investment analysis, insurance, and estate planning, business exit planning, and retirement plan administration.

Prior to joining Apella Wealth, Michael gained experience in other aspects of the financial services industry as a tax preparer and a business development representative. He also has experience as a medical scribe at Sentara Williamsburg Emergency Department. In addition to his Certificate in Financial Planning (CFP®), Michael holds the Series 65 license and received his Bachelor of Science in Business from Mount St. Mary’s University.

He enjoys watching and playing all sports, spending time with friends and family, and supporting the local D.C. professional sports teams.

He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance and a minor in Leadership Studies from Christopher Newport University in Newport News, Virginia. He now holds his Series 65 license.

After earning his degree, Anthony sought a career that combined his natural interpersonal skills with his educational background.

As a wealth advisor and financial planner, Anthony’s superpower is his active listening. This allows him to truly understand both colleagues’ and clients’ needs and customize strategies that align with their goals. He collaborates with the tax team to integrate strategies into comprehensive wealth and retirement planning, including tax-efficient withdrawal approaches and optimizing asset allocation across investment portfolios.

Rooted in the values of trust and integrity, his holistic approach is guided by Apella Wealth’s commitment to fostering lasting relationships and providing clients with thoughtful financial plans.

Based in Fredericksburg, Virginia, Anthony lives with his wife, Laura. A passionate reader and former athlete, he played baseball for ten years before discovering a love for rugby, which he played for three years. An Eagle Scout, Anthony also enjoys hiking, biking, and exploring the outdoors in his free time.

Carter Easley works with the Williamsburg Apella Wealth team as an Associate Advisor. He previously worked as a Life Event Specialist at Unum Insurance, managing short-term disability claims with empathy and support.

Carter holds a Bachelor’s degree in Finance with a concentration in Investments and a minor in Entrepreneurship from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. He is working toward his Series 65 license and has earned Bloomberg Market Concepts certification.

Carter values his role because it combines his passion for finance, helping others, and building meaningful client relationships to support long-term financial success.

Recently relocated to Williamsburg, VA from Tennessee, he enjoys playing golf and watching football, which he played for seven years.

As Director of Operations for Apella Wealth, Christine leads strategic and operational initiatives that enhance organizational efficiency and productivity, while ensuring full adherence to regulatory standards. With a strong background in operations, compliance, and superior client service, Christine brings a collaborative and personalized approach to every facet of the business. Her commitment to operational excellence and client-centric thinking supports the firm’s mission to deliver an exceptional wealth management experience. An avid sports fan, Christine approaches her role with the same passion, discipline, and team spirit found on the field—driving performance and encouraging a culture of continuous improvement.

Christine graduated from the University of South Carolina with a Bachelor of Science degree. She grew up in the coastal towns of Newport, RI and Charleston, SC, but has called Williamsburg home for the past 20 years. In her spare time, Christine enjoys traveling, hiking, paddleboarding, and spending time with friends and family.

Austin has over four years of experience in the professional services industry. His role is to ensure an excellent client experience by fostering strong relationships with clients and advisors through consistent communication, top-notch service, and exceptional operational support. In addition, Austin also assists in implementing portfolio strategies, facilitating research, and conducting investment analysis. Austin currently holds the Series 65 license.

Austin graduated from the University of Georgia with a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree in Finance. Prior to joining Apella Wealth, he worked for four years as a Paralegal for a law firm, helping to calculate and organize the necessary financial documentation for the firm’s attorneys to successfully litigate on their clients’ behalf.

In his spare time, Austin enjoys reading, skiing, watching sports, and spending time with friends and family. 

Lisa oversees all client service and administration functions for the team. She has always enjoyed working with clients to help facilitate the flow of paperwork during the onboarding process. Lisa has over 25 years of experience in administration and client service in the environmental, insurance, construction, and home building industries.

She and her husband raised three children in the Fredericksburg area and now enjoy spending time with their seven grandchildren.

Kendra has over five years of experience in the professional services industry. She is essential to the team’s client service model and prides herself on building meaningful relationships with each family and individual. Kendra assists with holistic financial planning, risk mitigation and insurance, retirement plan administration, and exit valuation for businesses.

Kendra received her Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from Bridgewater College.

In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her nephews and attending live music events.

Meg is a Client Relationship Specialist with over a decade of customer service and office administration experience. Meg works closely with the Williamsburg Apella Wealth Team to provide timely, accurate, and effective service for clients.

Meg attended State University of New York (SUNY) Purchase College, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in the History of Art. She received her paralegal certification from Suffolk County Community College.

Outside the office, Meg enjoys spending time with her family and friends. She is an avid fan of musicals and traveling.

Meg is a member of the Junior Woman’s Club of Williamsburg and currently serves on the executive board.

Along with their four-legged friend, Gertie, Meg lives in Williamsburg with her husband, Corey and son, Greyson.

Sarah is a Client Relationship Specialist who helps the Fairfax Apella Wealth Team deliver an exceptional service experience when it comes to client onboarding, account services,  and problem-solving.

Sarah graduated from George Mason University with a Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education. Prior to joining the financial services industry, Sarah was a kindergarten teacher that focused on teaching her students about mindfulness strategies.

Sarah grew up in Colorado but has called Virginia “home” for over 10 years. She enjoys traveling, hiking, and spending time with her family, friends, and 2 dogs Ted and Tyson.

Patricia Sanchez-Hawkins has built her two-decade career in commercial banking on a foundation of diligence and a commitment to excellence. This dedicated approach allows her to partner with clients, developing a robust understanding of their unique financial needs to help them achieve their goals. Specializing in portfolio management and commercial lending, she is a trusted resource for her clients. Fluent in Spanish and English, she provides clear and accessible guidance to a diverse client base. Patricia lives with her family in the Fredericksburg area and enjoys taking trips to the beach with her husband, four children, and two black labs.