Business Details
14 Years
experience
Your Trusted Financial Advisers in Washington, DC
Donalies Financial Planning was founded in 2012 with a clear mission to provide fee-only financial planning and investment management advice to individuals and families. Our firm serves a diverse clientele, including retirees, mid-career professionals, small-business owners, and government employees, many of whom have international backgrounds. We specialize in helping clients navigate life-changing events such as career transitions, inheritances, and family planning through personalized financial strategies. Our team of CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERS brings decades of combined experience in holistic financial planning, emphasizing long-term relationships and proactive client engagement. We prioritize transparency, fiduciary responsibility, and education, ensuring clients understand how each recommendation aligns with their unique goals.Our process begins with comprehensive data gathering and interactive goal setting, followed by tailored plan formulation and implementation support. We believe in the power of diversified, index-based investing and emphasize risk management through strategic asset allocation. Our commitment to ongoing client education empowers individuals to make informed decisions about their financial futures. With offices in Washington, D.C., and a team of seasoned professionals, we combine technical expertise with a client-centric approach to deliver lasting value. Our track record of serving clients through major life transitions underscores our dedication to helping individuals achieve financial independence on their terms.
Services
Financial Planning
Investment Management
Retirement Planning
Tax Planning
Estate Planning
Portfolio Development
Risk Management
College Funding Strategies
Government Employee Planning
Sustainable Investing
Details
- Year established: 2012
Highlights and features
- We offer fee-only financial planning since 2012 with no hidden costs.
- Our team includes CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERS with decades of combined experience.
- We specialize in serving government employees and internationally-minded clients.
- Our holistic approach integrates investment management with comprehensive financial planning.
- We prioritize fiduciary responsibility and transparent, education-focused client relationships.
Services
Financial Planning
Our comprehensive financial planning service creates personalized roadmaps for achieving long-term financial goals. We analyze clients' current financial situations, risk tolerance, and future objectives to develop tailored strategies. The process includes cash flow analysis, retirement projections, and customized implementation plans that adapt to life changes.
Investment Management
We implement diversified investment strategies using index funds and ETFs tailored to individual risk profiles. Our approach emphasizes passive investing, tax efficiency, and long-term growth through strategic asset allocation. We continuously monitor and rebalance portfolios to maintain alignment with clients' evolving financial objectives.
Retirement Planning
This service focuses on creating sustainable retirement income strategies for government employees and private sector professionals. We analyze pension options, Social Security optimization, and tax-efficient withdrawal strategies to ensure financial security throughout retirement while maintaining portfolio longevity.
Tax Planning
Our tax planning service integrates with overall financial strategies to minimize tax liabilities through strategic investment placement, tax-deferred account optimization, and coordinated withdrawal strategies. We focus on long-term tax efficiency while maintaining compliance with evolving tax regulations.
Estate Planning
We develop comprehensive estate plans that ensure smooth wealth transfer while minimizing tax implications. This includes analyzing wills, trusts, and beneficiary designations, while coordinating with legal professionals to implement strategies that preserve family wealth across generations.
People
Chuck Donalies
Senior Advisor
Chuck Donalies is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER with 15+ years of experience in fee-only financial planning. He founded Donalies Financial Planning in 2012 after working at a wealth management firm since 2006. He holds an MBA from Johns Hopkins University and a BS in Kinesiology from the University of Maryland.
Courtney Calotta
Lead Advisor
Courtney Calotta, a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER, leads client onboarding and financial planning at DFP. She graduated with a BS in Financial Economics from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and specializes in integrating financial technology tools into client planning processes.
Irina Gabidullina
Wealth Management Advisor
Irina Gabidullina is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER and Accredited Portfolio Management Advisor with 25+ years of financial services experience. She holds a Master's in International Economics and the Sustainable Investing Certificate from the CFA Institute, specializing in portfolio development.
Catherine Kirchner
Junior Advisor
Catherine Kirchner provides financial planning services to public lands agency professionals. A former educator with a Series 65 license, she focuses on retirement transition strategies and sustainable wealth management, drawing on her experience operating a regenerative farm business.
Julia Braum
Client Service Associate
Julia Braum has ten years of experience in financial planning operations. She graduated from the University of Colorado with a Communications degree and manages client interactions, ensuring seamless service delivery and administrative support for the advisory team.
Questions
What services does Donalies Financial Planning offer?
We provide comprehensive financial planning, investment management, retirement planning, tax and estate planning, and sustainable investing strategies tailored to individual client needs.
How are your fees structured?
We charge $5,000–$7,000 for initial financial planning and 0.25%–1% annually for ongoing investment management based on assets under management.
Do you work with government employees?
Yes, we specialize in serving federal, state, and local government employees with tailored financial strategies for their unique circumstances.
What is your investment philosophy?
We use passive/index investing with diversified portfolios focused on long-term growth, emphasizing risk management and tax efficiency.
How do you educate clients about financial decisions?
We provide detailed explanations of all recommendations and offer ongoing education to help clients understand their investment strategies and financial plans.
