Brett Bernstein, CFP^®

CEO & Co-founder

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Brett Bernstein is the CEO and Co-founder of XML Financial Group. He manages the operations of the firm, including the firm’s M&A strategy. Brett is an active financial advisor assisting clients with his holistic approach to goal-setting and problem-solving. Prior to co-founding XML in 2004, he was a Vice President and Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch, where he was designated Producing Sales Manager for a complex that managed over $5 billion in assets. XML has been a Focus Financial partner firm since 2016.
Brett is a serial entrepreneur actively investing in many start-up companies and has led his firm in acquiring three wealth management firms. This entrepreneurial spirit has led Brett to be active at the Bullis School as an Entrepreneur in Resident as well as volunteering at the Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business as an Advisor and Subject Matter Expert. Brett received a Bachelor of Science in finance from the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business and continued his education at Georgetown University and Harvard Business School’s Executive Leadership Program. He earned his CFP® certification in 2003.
Brett has served on various non-profit organization boards in numerous leadership positions but over the past 9 years has served as the Board Chair of So What Else, a local, grassroots charity helping at-risk youth with after-school and summer programs. Brett also serves as a Board Trustee for the Bullis School in Potomac, Maryland. Brett volunteers his time to the Bullis School’s entrepreneurial program, sponsoring the Capstone Entrepreneurial Shark Tank competition and was recently named to Bullis’ Entrepreneurs in Residence.

Education & Philanthropy

Brett received a Bachelor of Science in finance from the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business and continued his education at Georgetown University and Harvard Business School’s Executive Leadership Program.
Brett has served on various non-profit organization boards in numerous leadership positions but over the past 12 years has served as the Board Chair of So What Else, a local, grassroots charity helping at-risk youth with after-school and summer programs. Brett also serves as a Board Trustee for the Bullis School in Potomac, Maryland.
In Brett’s free time, he enjoys spending time at Bethany Beach, DE with his wife, two teenage daughters, and two dogs.
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