Brett Bernstein

Brett is the CEO and Co-founder of XML Financial Group. He serves as the firm’s head of financial planning and manages the firm's operations, 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. Before 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. Brett is a serial entrepreneur actively investing in many start-up companies and has led his firm in acquiring two local wealth management firms. This entrepreneurial spirit has led Brett to be active 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. Additionally, Brett volunteers his time to the Bullis School’s entrepreneurial program, sponsoring the Capstone Entrepreneurial Shark Tank competition.

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. Over the past nine 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.