CJM Wealth Advisers is proud to announce that Washingtonian Magazine has named David D. Greene, Brian T. Jones, Jessica R. Ness, and Parker G. Trasborg to their list of Top Financial Advisers for 2024.  Washingtonian arrives at the list of top professionals by distributing surveys to hundreds of people who work in the local financial industry and asking them whom they would trust with their own money. Washingtonian also does its own research, consulting with industry experts and publications. The “Top Financial Adviser” names on the list are the people who received the strongest recommendations.  The full list was published in the December 2023 edition of Washingtonian.

Read important disclosure information regarding awards.

End of Year Reflection – Be Authentic by David Greene

As a firm, we always try to pause as the year comes to a close to reflect on the past 12 months and consider what the next year may have in store for us.  2023 often seemed consumed with headlines about AI (artificial intelligence), deep fakes, and ChatGPT.  Now, almost as a counterbalance, my thoughts lead me to the concept of “authenticity”.  It seems that I am not the only one thinking of this – did you know that Merriam-Webster’s word of the year for 2023 was, in fact, “authentic”?!?

Exploring what it means to be authentic fits quite well with this time of year when many of us focus on the very REAL triumphs and challenges that we faced in 2023.  It’s highly likely that our success in those ventures relied on the genuine authenticity of everyone involved to get to the root of the problem and find a long-term solution.  In a world of ten-word tweets and five second sound bites, we often miss the genuine parts of a story or the very real consequences of an event.  More and more, we seem to depend on computers and computer-generated content to do our thinking for us.  Yet, I maintain hope and confidence that REAL people will maintain their AUTHENTIC dreams and see those dreams to fruition.

We see this authenticity of living REAL lives on a daily basis through the lives of our clients.  Adult children generously supporting one aging parent serving as caregiver to another parent struggling with a life altering condition like Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s.  Professionals inspired to reinvent themselves with a second or third career focused on various non-profits with the mission of helping those in need. Young adults leveraging their parents’ investment in their education to lead fulfilling lives with inspiring careers.  Artists and musicians in our client family who show incredible creativity and talent through music, painting, etc.  Families suffering through the loss of a cherished grandparent while honoring their legacy through hard work and sacrifice.

At CJM, we also strive to model such authenticity in our support of and interaction with our clients. It can be as simple as sympathy card written by a real person with genuine emotion. Even the act of actively listening to a client without interruption to truly understand their current situation.  Our team strives to consistently and genuinely help our clients with REAL solutions and an authentic interest in their lives and their futures.

So, as we all hopefully find time to celebrate the holidays with friends and family, let us commit to each other to maintain our authenticity as human beings.  To have empathy and grace.  To challenge each other while maintaining mutual respect.  To harness passion, innovation, and inspiration.  Look out 2024…it is about to get REAL!!!

Day of Service 

This fall CJMers volunteered at the Audrey Moore Rec Center in Annandale. We were graced with beautiful weather to do some pruning, weeding, and planting of colorful bushes. We all really enjoyed the positive feedback from the local residents and spending time together out in the community.

GMU Externship Day at CJM

Brian Jones hosted a group of students from George Mason University’s Financial Planning & Wealth Management department. Brian has served on their Advisory Board since its inception and works with the financial planning community to promote the degree program, recruit, and outreach to the student body, as well as accreditation.  As part of the Financial

Planning & Wealth Management Externship Experience, the students got to spend time at CJM and learn more about the inner workings of a wealth management firm.

PINK DAYS!

This year CJM had several Pink Days in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. CJM has 4 breast cancer survivors, several of whom also fundraise to support the cause and bring awareness and outreach to their communities. We are stronger together!

July 12, 1936 – June 11, 2023

As most of our clients are aware, Richard “Dick” Cooper, original founder and former President of CJM, passed away this Summer (June 2023).  We want to pay tribute to Dick for his tremendous service to CJM and the financial planning profession as a whole. For several decades, Dick helped to push and grow the financial planning world into the client-centric, ethics-driven community that it is today.  Dick was a leader – serving as one of the first presidents of the IAFP which is now known as the FPA (Financial Planning Association).  He was also a pioneer – helping to start the shift away from commission-based product selling to fee based comprehensive wealth management.  He truly embraced the concept of the fiduciary standard – making decisions in the client’s best interest.

Dick was born in Washington, D.C. and soon moved with his parents and sister to Fairfax County, VA.  He graduated from Fork Union Military Academy and the University of Virginia. Dick was an ardent supporter of both schools throughout his life.  He and his wife Nancy were married in 1957. Upon graduation from UVA, Dick was commissioned in the U.S. Army, where he served 2 years of active duty. After several years of working in Northern Virginia, he founded Richard L. Cooper & Associates in 1978 which eventually became the firm CJM Wealth Advisers that we all know today. Dick and Nancy were married for 66 years – amazing!  Dick made sure he was constantly surrounded by his kids, grandkids and ten great-grandkids, all of whom he adored spending time with.

Dick was fun, gregarious and a great storyteller.  All of his former clients certainly can remember a humorous anecdotal tale involving “Mr. Cooper”.  They will also remember his generous heart and ethical standards which focused on helping his clients achieve their goals.  That basic principle continues to be a foundation here at CJM 45 years after Dick originally founded the company.  Thank you, Mr. Cooper, for having the courage and leadership to create this amazing firm; we look forward to honoring and continuing your legacy for many decades to come.

CJM Wealth Advisers is proud to announce that Northern Virginia Magazine has named Tracey A. Baker, David D. Greene, Brian T. Jones, Jessica R. Ness, and Parker G. Trasborg to their list of Top Financial Professionals for 2023.  Northern Virginia Magazine arrives at their list of top financial professionals by distributing a peer survey to people who work in the local financial industry and asking them to whom they would refer a friend or family member for financial planning.  The “Top Financial Professionals” names on the list are the people who received the strongest recommendations.  The full list is published in the September 2023 edition of Northern Virginia Magazine.

Read important disclosure information regarding awards

CJM Wealth Advisers is thrilled to share that  Tracey A. Baker, Brian T. Jones, and Jessica R. Ness have all been named to Washingtonian Magazine’s Top Wealth Advisers Hall of Fame.  To earn a spot in the Hall of Fame, they have each been named as a Top Wealth Adviser at least 8 times out of the past 14 years.  This puts them among a most elite group of peers and they will be celebrated as “the best of the best” in a special section in the February 2023 issue of Washingtonian Magazine, featuring the names of every Washingtonian Top Wealth Adviser Hall of Fame member.

Read important disclosure information regarding awards.

At the end of each year, we bring you the latest news from inside CJM’s office.  The spirit of the season has us shift our focus from portfolio management and financial projections to celebrate all that happened since we all know life is about more than money.  Even amid the market turbulence, it’s been a wonderful year at CJM filled with growth and new beginnings!

We are thrilled to have added four team members to the CJM family throughout the year.  They each bring unique experience and knowledge to our team that compliments and enhances our strengths. We asked them to share a few thoughts about their experience with CJM so far, read below for their answers.

Outside of the office, we have even more to celebrate! Our team members have been expanding their families and welcoming loved ones.  We’re blown away by all of our blessings and grateful for all the smiling faces (and chubby baby cheeks)!

New Team Members

• Rica Joplin (center right) – CJM is a huge blessing that fell into my lap! I appreciate the family-oriented atmosphere of the company. As soon as I started, I was welcomed with open arms by my fellow associates and CJM clients. My work experience in the financial industry and customer service field has given me the skills to carry out my Client Service Associate role. I can’t wait to see and be a part of the company’s continuing growth and success.
• Anthony Lombard (center left) – I am passionate about serving others and have witnessed how improved financial awareness and value alignment empowers people to live their best lives. I am excited to bring my 18-year professional experience in financial services and technology to the incredible team and clients of CJM. I look forward to interacting with many of you in the year ahead.
• Melanie Knox (left)- I just started working at CJM this month, and I’m very excited to join a team of such incredible individuals. I come from a diverse background of customer service, which I believe is great asset to have. I’m looking forward to all my future endeavors with CJM.
• Chris Payne (right) – Having worked for the last 20 years in the Financial Services and Insurance arena I am really pleased to be with CJM. I am impressed with the how many employees have been with the firm for ten, fifteen and even 20 plus years. That is unusual these days and I think it speaks volumes. I’m excited to be part of the Client Service team and work with a firm that has a long-standing reputation for exceptional service.

New Family Members

Griffin Baker and his wife, Anne, welcomed the birth of their second child, Ari, in August of this year. Griffin and Anne’s older son, Theo, could not be happier to finally have a little brother

Parker Trasborg and his wife, Beckie, were thrilled to welcome their third child, Hazel Jolene, on July 13th. Hazel’s older siblings, Skyler and Hudson, are both excited to have another person to play with.

Amie Lockhart welcomed her youngest grandson Daniel to the family.

Amanda Patrick and her husband welcomed their granddaughter Raelynn Leigh on August 30th of this year. “We’re enjoying spoiling her every second we can get.”

Tracey Baker’s family also welcomed Laine Kincheloe, their first granddaughter, in February.  “She is the darling of our eyes with smiles at the ready and charm to spare.”

Lisa Brandau welcomed a new son-in-law, Ryan Haskett.

CJM Wealth Advisers is proud to announce that Northern Virginia Magazine has named Tracey A. Baker, David D. Greene, Brian T. Jones, Jessica R. Ness, and Parker G. Trasborg to their list of Top Financial Professionals for 2022.  Northern Virginia Magazine arrives at their list of top financial professionals by distributing a peer survey to people who work in the local financial industry and asking them to whom they would refer a friend or family member for financial planning.  The “Top Financial Professionals” names on the list are the people who received the strongest recommendations.  The full list is published in the September 2022 edition of Northern Virginia Magazine.

Read important disclosure information regarding awards

CJM Wealth Advisers is proud to announce that Washingtonian Magazine has named Tracey A. Baker, Brian T. Jones, Jessica R. Ness, and Parker G. Trasborg to their list of Top Financial Advisers for 2022.  Washingtonian arrives at the list of top professionals by distributing surveys to hundreds of people who work in the local financial industry and asking them whom they would trust with their own money. Washingtonian also does its own research, consulting with industry experts and publications. The “Top Financial Adviser” names on the list are the people who received the strongest recommendations.  The full list was published in the March 2022 edition of Washingtonian.

Read important disclosure information regarding awards

Brian Jones was recently featured in a Barron’s Magazine article, “Should Financial Advisors Mix Family and Business?”.   He discusses working with his father, Tim Jones, for 22 years and Tim’s retirement from the business. Read the full article here: https://www.barrons.com/advisor/articles/financial-advisors-family-business-51643829598

Welcome to our new office space!

In August, after working remotely for the better part of 17 months, we were beyond thrilled to return to a beautiful new office space in Falls Church! The new
suite is on the ninth floor and affords spectacular views. The building is nestled amongst a forest of lush green trees and boasts a peaceful pond and walking
trails. Watching the leaves change color in the fall and the landscape transform as winter approaches has been a delight. The office is modern in design and
décor and flooded with natural light. The reception area welcomes you with supple camel leather club chairs and a gleaming white marble coffee bar filled
with tasty beverages. The conference rooms are comfortable and bright with a neutral color pallet that takes full advantage of the gorgeous scenery while also
offering privacy. There are visitor parking spots in the front of the building and dedicated CJM assigned spots in the parking garage behind the building. We are conveniently located near I495, US50, US29 and I66.

The More the Merrier!

2021 has been a year of change at CJM, including adding two new employees! We are thrilled they joined the team and were experts at using Zoom from the
beginning. Emily Holmes started in early January and Rich Grant started shortly after. Both graduated from the Financial Planning program at Virginia Tech, much to the delight of our other Hokies, Jessica and Parker. They offer new ideas and unique experiences we know our clients will benefit from in the years to come. We asked them to share what it was like working at CJM this past year.

Emily: I feel like I just started at CJM; I have learned so much in such a short amount of time! Starting out as an Operations team member, I learned the
innerworkings of what it takes to provide excellent service for our clients. I quickly transitioned into a Client Service Representative where I was able to start
building relationships with our clients. As the new year approaches, I am eager to get to know more of our clients and build deeper relationships with our clients and my coworkers. Outside of work, I enjoy DIY projects and spending time with my two Bichons.

Rich: My first year at CJM has flown by! I have been working hard in Operations learning what needs to be done behind the scenes to service our clients well. It is rewarding to not only put together financial plans and prepare paperwork, but to do it all with such a friendly and knowledgeable team of people. As the new year comes, I look forward to becoming a Client Service Representative and developing my own relationship with our clients. Outside of work, I like to spend time with my friends, travel and savor a good cup of tea.

From the CJM family to yours, have Happy Holidays and a wonderful New Year!

What is Terrified? – Anthony Jones

Earlier this year I was fortunate enough to fulfill a lifelong dream of being a contestant on the game show Jeopardy! Taking the test was an annual exercise
in futility, but lightning struck in 2018 when I got an email offering an in‐person interview about 3 months after taking the test. My initial euphoria over scoring an in‐person interview was tempered by the fact that there were 99 others there as well, many of whom had gotten to this point on multiple occasions. That day, which included another written test and a mock run through of the game itself, went as well as I could have hoped and at the end of the day, I was told that I would be in the contestant pool for the next 18 months. Within two months or so, the woman I sat with during the interview process appeared as a contestant, followed by a few others I recognized. At the very end of my contestant window, I finally received the phone call I had been waiting for since I was 9 or 10. I was offered the chance to be on the show. My excitement turned to momentary terror when I realized that my friends and family, as well as millions of strangers, would be watching.

I was originally scheduled to tape the show in late March of 2020, but COVID ultimately delayed that by 10 months. Unfortunately, Alex Trebek, the show’s
beloved host for over 35 years, passed away near the end of last year, so I would not get the chance to do the show with him. The time had arrived and I
nervously hopped on a flight to Los Angeles to begin my march towards world domination. Jeopardy! tapes 5 shows per day when in production. I arrived at the studios at 6:45 a.m. on Inauguration Day and the staff walked us through the day’s schedule. Before long, we went to the studio for a mock run through. Due to the pandemic, no guests were allowed, so the contestants and staff served as the audience for each episode. The categories for each episode are set in
advance, but the contestants are selected at random. During the taping of the second show, I was picked for the next show. After lunch and makeup, it was
finally time to see if I was ready for my closeup.

The cameras started rolling and I heard, “This is Jeopardy”, followed by my name. It was exhilarating, yet I felt oddly calm. Katie Couric was our guest host. I
didn’t get off to the start I hoped. During each break people come out to each contestant to give advice, etc. I was struggling with the buzzer, but I was too
quick, not too slow. There is a lot happening during the show. You are listening to and reading the question, while watching the red lights on the side of the
board tick down to let you know when to buzz in. Buzzing in too quickly locks you out for a quarter of a second, which is an eternity on the show. I gained some traction over the remainder of the show, but never gained enough momentum to get over the top. On the positive side, I didn’t stare at the camera for 30 minutes without speaking.

Getting to be a contestant on the show was a dream come true. The experience was everything I hoped it would be. Outside of not winning, my only regret was not being able to do the show with Alex Trebek. I even ran into Katie Couric at a traffic light the next night while driving around L.A. She called out to me by name, so I assume we are now best friends. We laughed at the unlikeliness of the encounter and I took a picture lest no one believe me. The show aired on March 17th and can be found on the internet if you missed it live.

Retirement in 2021 – Tim Jones

So what is it like to be “retired”? How does one find fulfillment after a business career that involved multiple interactions with people each and every day?
Those are the questions that we must try to get answered if we are going to be “successful” in retirement.

One of the first things is finding some activities that are enjoyable, but flexible. None of us wants to be committed to doing things all the time on a set schedule ‐ that is what we did when we were working. So finding activities that you can participate in or do when it is convenient is very important. There are multiple opportunities for each of us to volunteer our time and/or talent in our community, so finding some activities to occupy our time is a good idea (and
trust me, your spouse wants you occupied). When you are a type A person, this requires some patience and persistence ‐‐ many volunteer activities are not
operated as efficiently as a well run business, so some activities may be tried and found not to be exactly what we want or need to be doing. But be patient ‐‐ the right opportunity is out there ‐‐ you just have to find it.

So after finding the right mix of activities to do, and starting to do some traveling to places we had dreamed of visiting, along comes COVID. All at once the
activities ceased or were substantially restructured and reorganized. So we did not see people in our day to day activities, and could not visit with others here in our community. Travel ended almost everyplace ‐‐ we did not see our grandsons in Utah for almost 1.5 years. Almost all international travel stopped ‐‐ so the planned trip to Scandinavia in the summer of 2020 was postponed to 2021, and then postponed again until 2022. But thank God for technology ‐‐ Zoom
meetings and FaceTime allowed us to see people and have conversations ‐‐ not the same as face to face ‐‐ no hugs allowed, but there was some interaction and exchange of ideas, smiles, and conversation. But Zoom will not get us to Scandinavia or anyplace else. So what’s in our collective future?

My feeling is that COVID in one form or another is not going away. It will be part of our lives forever, so we need to figure out a way to live with it. With our
vaccinations in place, we are trying to just get on with our lives. This looks different for everyone depending on a variety of factors like life stage, health,
and financial means. It’s your life, and if you are age 74 as I am (or older), you don’t have that many years left to do the fun stuff on your “list”. There are lots
of things that need doing, and some of these things have your name on them. Get busy!!

(The opinions in this article may not be shared by all, but considering that this was written by an old guy, give him a little slack