Martin Eby, CFP®
SENIOR FINANCIAL ADVISOR
CO-FOUNDER, SHAREHOLDER
Martin co-founded WMS Partners in 1993, is a member of the firm's Board of Directors and serves on the Real Estate Investment Committee. Martin served as Chief Advisory Officer leading the firm’s Advisors and Client Services Teams from inception until December 2017. As Senior Client Advisor, Martin is responsible for the general operations and management of the firm’s Family Office Clients. This includes overseeing the investment of funds, managing risk, supervising cash management activities and executing strategies to support the family’s current and future needs.
Since 2016, Forbes has listed Martin as the number one independent “Wealth Advisor” in Maryland. In 2016 and 2017 Forbes named Martin on its list of “America’s Top Wealth Advisors” and was the only advisor from Maryland to be listed in the top 10. In 2014 and 2013 Martin was named to Barron’s list of the “Top 100 Independent Financial Advisors” in the nation. He was the only advisor named from the Baltimore area; and one of only three located in the entire state of Maryland. In addition, Martin was recognized as the top money manager in the Baltimore region in 2015 by SmartCEO.
Martin is a member of the Board of Trustees of Cristo Rey Jesuit High School where he serves as Chair of the Investment Committee as well as on the Development Committee. Previously Martin served on the Board of Trustees of The Odyssey School in Stevenson, MD as Chair of the Investment Committee. Martin has also been active in various associations including The Associated Catholic Charities of Baltimore, The McDonogh School, Notre Dame Preparatory School, The U.S. Naval Academy, as well as his church. Martin serves on the Fund Advisory Boards for Continental Realty Corporation and ValStone Partners.
Martin is a graduate of Loyola University where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration. He earned the Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) designation in 1986 and was a member of the National Association of Personal Advisors (NAPFA) for over 15 years. A fourth generation Baltimore native, Martin has been married for over 30 years and has three children. Prior to forming WMS Partners in 1993, Martin served as a Financial Advisor at CIGNA Individual Financial Services and the Charter Corporation.
WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO PURSUE A CAREER IN WEALTH MANAGEMENT?
Since a young age, I have been interested in growing one’s capital through investing. Early in my career, I began to question the objectivity of commissioned financial advisors. I was concerned that people were sometimes led to make financial decisions and investments that may not have been as beneficial to them as other alternatives. I wanted to share my passion for investing with clients by presenting them unbiased options to optimize their investment opportunities and realize the best bang for their buck.
ON A PROFESSIONAL LEVEL, WHAT ARE YOUR BIGGEST ACCOMPLISHMENTS?
Founding WMS Partners with Tim; we were pioneers in fee based and fee only personal financial planning. An early adopter, I became a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) over 30 years ago. I have been a member of NAPFA for over 15 years and have been named to Barron’s list of the Top 100 Independent Advisors in the nation as well as Forbes.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE TO DO OUTSIDE OF WORK?
Simply being outdoors with my wife and three kids, my large extended family as well as friends; whether it be hiking or biking in the woods, skiing or boating. I enjoy introducing people to these simple pleasures.
WHAT ARE YOU PASSIONATE ABOUT PERSONALLY?
Helping disadvantaged single mothers. They have such a rough, long exhausting road each and every day. I love finding ways to make their load a little lighter, whether it be helping educate their children or improving their own lot through education.
WHAT CAN’T YOU STOP TALKING ABOUT?
Real Estate. Investing in cash flowing real estate can be a predictable way to accumulate wealth and a great way to earn a return on your capital on a tax advantaged basis while providing attractive long – term returns that are not correlated to the U.S. stock markets. There are so many ways to approach this type of investment and endless ways of creating additional value at almost any point during the economic cycle.
WHAT’S THE MOST INFLUENTIAL BOOK YOU’VE READ?
A Higher Call. My father was a pilot, tail gunner and radio man on B25s and SPDs in the Philippines during World War II. Since he did not like to talk about his experiences, the author Adam Makos recreated my father’s experiences just as if I was there. We owe everything we have today to the “Greatest Generation”. I strongly believe all of us need to read books about the experiences of this generation so we never forget their self-sacrifice and courage.