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Matthew Brock, CFP®

Financial Planning and Investment Management for DC Metro Area Professionals

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Divergent Planning, LLC Matthew Brock, CFP®
Bethesda, MD

Serving Clients Nationwide

Financial Planning and Investment Management for DC Metro Area Professionals

(240) 428-8911

Website

Areas of Focus

  • Estate Planning
  • Financial Life Planning
  • Investment Management
  • Retirement Planning
  • Taxes

About Matthew Brock, CFP®

Matt Brock has spent his entire career helping people navigate the changes in their life through comprehensive financial planning.

As a Senior Advisor, the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional gets to know each client personally as well as their goals, and creates and implements the financial planning strategies to help them reach those goals.

As Managing Partner, he creates the firm’s vision, implements the processes to reach that vision, and ensures the firm remains in compliance with federal and state regulations.

With a degree in math and economics, Matt has always had an analytical mind. He knew early on that he wanted to apply that mind-set to a career in financial services. He quickly realized that he could have the most impact by focusing on a client’s entire financial life. He relishes the systematic problem solving he applies in integrating the whole picture of a client’s finances in reaching their goals. And he counts starting Divergent Planning as his most satisfying career moment.

Matt and his family live in Ashburn, where he and his wife, Natalie, like to go wine tasting in the area’s vineyards. Matt also counts coffee among his passions and jokingly admits he knows a weird amount about it. He finds therapy time in waking up with the sunrise to go for a walk and enjoys regular time on the golf course.

Professional Designations

  • CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER ®

Affiliations

  • Fee Only Network
  • Financial Planning Association
  • National Association of Personal Financial Advisors

Primary Location

6701 Democracy Boulevard, Suite 300, Bethesda, MD 20817

Meeting Options

  • Video Conference
  • In-Person
  • Phone
Book Intro Call

Compensation Methods

  • Fee Only
  • Flat Fee
  • Percentage of Assets Managed

What to expect in the first meeting

Click the 'Book Intro Call' button above to schedule a discovery consultation call. In this complimentary call, we will discuss your situation and determine if our firm is a fit for your needs. I look forward to speaking with you.

Offers Investment Management

Yes

About Divergent Planning, LLC

Our founders started Divergent Planning because they wanted to offer more accountability to clients than the big, national firms offered. Both Ara and Matt started their financial services careers in 2003 and came together in 2010 to open Divergent Planning with a commitment to transparency in financial planning and investment management fees.

That commitment led us to take it a step further, and in 2017, our financial advisory firm became a fee-only, fiduciary Registered Investment Advisor—we aren’t paid commissions, and our advice always puts clients’ best interests first. Located in Bethesda, MD, we have implemented the technology and processes to meet clients in person or virtually, with nearly all of our clients (99%) choosing to work with us remotely.

Who We Serve
Divergent Planning offers tailored financial guidance to professionals in Washington D.C., Maryland, Virginia, and nationwide including :

    ✔️ Mid-career professionals managing career growth, family responsibilities, and increasing financial complexity

    ✔️ Pre-retirees planning for retirement income transitions, Social Security, Medicare, and tax-efficient withdrawal strategies

    ✔️ Federal employees under FERS, including guidance on TSP rollover and withdrawal strategies, pension coordination, and pre-retirement planning for government employees

    Why Divergent Planning

    We diverge from both large, multi-national companies and many independent advisors. Here, your financial plan won’t be solely focused on your investment portfolio (though that is a crucial component) but will incorporate all areas of your money. We offer:

    ✔️ Adaptable financial planning: Covering investments, taxes, estate, insurance, and retirement as one connected plan that adjusts to your life transitions.

    ✔️ Team approach: . You work with a lead advisor while receiving the benefit of all team members’ expertise.

    ✔️ Transparency: Our technology can provide you with a 24/7 real-time picture of your finances whenever and wherever you want it.

    ✔️ Fiduciary commitment: No commissions, no product sales—just advice aligned with your goals.

    ✔️ Tax planning: We will draw on our in-house expertise to integrate tax strategies with your financial plan and will work with your CPA as well.

    ✔️ Planning for the long term: We stay current on changes to laws and trends that affect clients and have structured our firm to be here for the long term.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Q: Do you specialize in working with federal employees in the D.C. area?
    A:     Yes. Many of our clients are federal employees nearing retirement. We provide planning around FERS pensions, TSP withdrawals, Social Security timing, FEGLI options, and survivor benefit elections.

    Q: What retirement services do you offer pre-retirees?
    A:     We help pre-retirees build a tax-efficient retirement plan, optimize investment withdrawals, plan for healthcare, and feel confident they’re financially ready for life after work.

    Q: What areas do you serve?
    A:     While our office is in Bethesda, MD, we serve clients nationwide, including Montgomery County (Bethesda, Rockville, Silver Spring), Northern Virginia (Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax), and Washington, D.C. We offer both virtual and in-person meetings across the DMV.

    Q: What does “fee-only fiduciary” mean?
    A:     It means we never earn commissions or sell financial products. Our only compensation comes from you, and we are legally required to put your interests first at all times.

    Q: Can you help me decide when I can retire?
    A:     Yes. Whether you’re a federal employee or private-sector professional, we’ll help you create a custom roadmap for retirement with income timing, benefit optimization, and long-term security.

Education

Hampden-Sydney College

Hobbies and Interests

  • Family
  • Golf
  • Walking
  • Wine

SEC Lookup

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Who We Serve

  • Baby Boomers
  • Corporate Executives
  • Dual Income Family
  • Families
  • Gen X
  • Government Employees
  • Intergenerational Families
  • Living in Retirement
  • Parents

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