SULLENDER UTLEY

Mr. Sullender is a Financial Advisor, Partner and Managing Director of the Sullender Utley Financial Group, LLC affiliated with Steward Partners, located in Tysons Corner, Virginia. Since starting his business in 1995, he has helped individuals and families with retirement, estate and personal financial planning. Mr. Sullender specializes in working with Federal Government employees and retirees, using his knowledge and experience with the Federal retirement systems to help them incorporate their Federal benefits into a comprehensive plan.

An active educator and speaker, Mr. Sullender frequently teaches retirement, tax and financial planning seminars both locally and nationwide for the National Institute of Transition Planning (NITP) and has been doing so for more than 20 years. In the past, he has also taught financial planning courses for Fairfax County’s Adult Education Program and has provided seminars to Federal employees around the world. He is also a frequent guest on Federal News Radio, discussing financial planning issues for Federal retirees.

Mr. Sullender is a graduate of North Carolina State University with a degree in Finance and Business Management. He was awarded the CFP® designation in 2007. His practice is built on the commitment to help his clients develop and implement the proper financial plan and strategy to realize their goals.

Joe lives in Vienna with his wife Jill and has three children – 22 year-old twin daughters and an 18 year-old son.

John Utley is a Financial Advisor, Partner and Managing Director of the Sullender Utley Financial Group, LLC affiliated with Steward Partners. He has been working with clients since 1987. John is dedicated to helping our clients achieve their financial goals while making a positive impact on their lives.

Having graduated from the University of Richmond with degrees in Economics and Sociology, John brings a well-rounded perspective to his financial advisory approach. As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ practitioner, he upholds the highest standards of professionalism and ethics in guiding our clients towards financial success.

A native of Northern Virginia, John's roots run deep within the community he calls home. He embarked on his financial advisory career at Johnston Lemon in 1987, later transitioning to what is now Wells Fargo Advisors in January 1990. Throughout his career, he has cultivated profound relationships with clients, grounded in trust and fortified through personalized, proactive financial strategies.

John's dedication to family is evident in his enduring marriage to Diane since 1987, alongside raising two remarkable adult children, Leah and Ben. In fact, Ben has joined our group as a Financial Adviser, bringing fresh perspectives and insights to our team. Ben is a graduate of The Pennsylvania State University, holding a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics and minor in Finance.

Beyond his passion for financial advising, John enjoys leisure activities such as golf, travel, and cherishing moments with his loved ones. He is an active participant in his church, and his dedication to making a positive impact extends beyond his professional life.

Professional Experience

Ali specializes in comprehensive and collaborative financial planning to help clients build, manage, protect, and transition their wealth. By focusing on clients’ unique financial situation, Ali helps clients prioritize their goals and prides herself in the deep relationships she’s able to foster. After building a client’s financial roadmap, Ali believes revisiting and updating the plan after the initial implementation is key to long-term success. From the joyous milestones to the unexpected life events, Ali’s commitment is to be there through every season of life.

Ali received her CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification in 2023 after completing the multi-year program that entails in-depth courses, training, and comprehensive examinations in all areas of financial planning including investments, taxes, insurance, estate, and retirement planning.

Professional Background

Ali entered the financial services industry in 2008 and later spent several years working as a Strategic Development Consultant with Wells Fargo Advisors’ home office in St. Louis, MO. As a consultant, Ali primarily analyzed industry trends and worked with branch managers to increase productivity.

Ali transitioned to a Practice Administration Manager in 2012 where she learned wealth management from the ground up and functioned as the business development coordinator and operations guru. Simultaneously, Ali pursued her MBA from Georgetown University and graduated with honors in 2015 after three years of working full-time and attending class in the evenings and on weekends.

Previous Experience

• Wells Fargo Advisors
• Fannie Mae

Designations

• CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®)
• Accredited Asset Management Specialist (AAMS®)

Education

• Georgetown University McDonough School of Business
• Master of Business Administration with Beta Gamma Sigma Honors
• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Kenan-Flagler Business School
• Bachelor of Science in Business Administration

Personal Life

In an attempt to counterbalance the Virginia tilt of the team, Ali is a Maryland native through and through. Her family has lived in Potomac, MD for over 50 years and she is carrying on the tradition with her husband, Kevin, and their two sons, Jack and Beau. Although free time with young children often feels out of reach, Ali values leading an active lifestyle either by playing tennis, pickleball or more recently, golf. She also enjoys painting and needlepointing whenever a quiet moment arises.

Ben Utley, Financial Advisor, Vice President of the Sullender Utley Financial Group, LLC affiliated with Steward Partners. With a Bachelor of Science in Economics and a minor in Finance from the prestigious Pennsylvania State University's Smeal College of Business, Ben brings a strong foundation of knowledge to our team.

Before joining us, Ben honed his skills in project management at Baker DC, LLC, where he expertly managed budgets for various commercial construction projects. In 2023, he achieved the highly esteemed CFP® designation, showcasing his dedication to excellence in financial planning and advising.

At Sullender Utley Financial Group, Ben's practice is founded on a profound commitment to helping his clients thrive by developing and implementing tailored financial plans and strategies that align with their unique goals and aspirations. Ben has gained wisdom and insight showcasing wisdom beyond his years, shaped by his experiences doing planning for both Joe and John. Being part of John's legacy provides an immediate focus on planning, recognizing the substantial benefits and the profound impact we can continue to make.

Beyond his professional endeavors, Ben knows how to enjoy life. When he's not in the office, you can find him hitting the slopes for some thrilling snowboarding adventures. He also has a passion for exploring new places through travel and cherishing special moments with his wife Monica and beloved dog, Dozer.

Together, we look forward to building a brighter financial future for you, one that brings fulfillment and prosperity.

Melanie Schwartz serves as Vice President and Client Administrative Manager of the Sullender Utley Financial Group, LLC affiliated with Steward Partners. With over 15 years of experience, Melanie is a performance driven professional who helps maintain our client accounts and relationships. Her responsibilities include preparation of client reviews, processing service requests, and extensive operational support. She maintains her Series 7 (General Securities Representative) and Series 66 (Uniform Combined State Law) securities licenses.

Melanie studied psychology at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA. She was born and raised in the Washington, D.C. area and currently lives in Clifton, VA with her husband Derrick and their four children. They are a blended family with the kids ranging from an 11-year-old to a 16-year-old. When they are not busy with sports and kid’s activities - they enjoy weekends in their RV camper, music festivals/concerts and going on adventures together.

Cathy Martines serves as Vice President and Registered Client Administrative Manager of the Sullender Utley Financial Group, LLC affiliated with Steward Partners. With over 10 years of experience, Cathy is a performance driven professional who helps maintain our client account and relationships. Her responsibilities include handling all administrative tasks, client onboarding, and extensive operational support. To better serve her clients Cathy holds her Series 7 (General Securities Representative) and 66 (Uniform Combined State Law) securities licenses.

Cathy studied business administration at Northern Virginia Community College. She was born and raised in the Northern Virginia area and currently lives in Woodbridge, VA with her 15-year-old son. Cathy enjoys spending time with her family and spending time outside going on long walks.