Headquarters:
1900 Campus Commons Dr., Ste 600, Reston, VA 20191
Year founded:
1996
Number of employees:
35
Phone:
703 293 3100
Email:
info@wealth.com
Website:
acorn-financial.com
LinkedIn:
linkedin.com/company/acorn-financial-services
“We hear time and time again from defence counsel and mediators that our lawyers and their files are the most prepared for mediations and pre-trials. That reputation matters when it comes to achieving top settlements”
Brenda Hollingsworth,
Auger Hollingsworth Accident & Injury Lawyers
James Gambaccini
Managing Partner
Michael Fowler
Director
Justin Gambaccini
Director
Leadership
As managing partner, James Gambaccini has led Acorn’s growth into a premier RIA firm by staying true to one simple mission: helping people make smart, confident decisions with their money. Under his leadership, the Acorn team has provided data-driven portfolio management and an unwavering commitment to fiduciary integrity to the community for over 30 years.
Gambaccini’s perspective is built on real-world experience. From his early days building a successful pizzeria franchise to his tenure at American Express Financial Advisors, he has spent his career solving complex problems. This entrepreneurial spirit allows him to see the “big picture” for his clients, helping them navigate everything from protecting their hard-earned wealth to planning a lasting legacy for their families.
A recognized voice in the financial world, Gambaccini is frequently asked to share his insights with the Wall Street Journal, Reuters, and ABC News. He holds a BS in Corporate Finance from the University of Akron and earned his CFP® designation from The College for Financial Planning.
When he isn’t steering Acorn’s strategic growth, he is an avid world traveler and outdoor adventurer, enjoying life with his wife, six children, and three grandchildren.
Managing Partner
James Gambaccini
DeAnna Gambaccini joined Acorn in 2015 and today serves as director of tax and trust services, aligning tax strategy with comprehensive financial planning. As a Certified Trust and Fiduciary Advisor (CTFA), she specializes in navigating the intricacies of complex estates and trust administration. By prioritizing proactive planning and rigorous fiduciary adherence, she ensures every financial decision is protected, purposeful, and aligned with her clients’ long-term intentions.
Beyond her advisory role, Gambaccini is a key driver of Acorn’s growth, spearheading the firm’s new business initiatives and recruitment efforts. A cum laude graduate of Cornell University, she holds a master’s degree from Virginia Tech.
Outside the office, Gambaccini is an avid traveler and outdoor enthusiast who enjoys the competitive spirit of pickleball, the art of cooking, and spending quality time with her children.
Director
DeAnna Gambaccini
Justin Gambaccini brings a distinct blend of strategic vision, technical expertise, and executive leadership to the Acorn team. Known for solving complex problems and building high-performance teams and systems, he specializes in translating intricate financial realities into clear, actionable narratives that drive critical decisions.
Prior to joining Acorn, Gambaccini served as a senior manager at Booz Allen Hamilton, where he directed a large business unit he built from inception, focused on financial management, data analytics, and program management. His career is defined by setting ambitious goals and engineering the infrastructure to achieve them. He earned dual degrees in finance and economics from Ohio State University. His drive for high performance extends far beyond the office.
Gambaccini is a dedicated husband and father, an ultra-endurance athlete, a skier, and an avid reader. Whether he is training for the 1,000 LB club, studying maps, storytelling, or amateur video editing, he applies relentless energy and focus to every endeavor.
Director
Justin Gambaccini
DeAnna Gambaccini
Director
With 20 years of experience at Acorn Financial Services, Michael Fowler has developed a comprehensive understanding of the firm’s operations through a variety of leadership roles. Currently serving as director of estate services and compliance, he focuses on maintaining rigorous standards of oversight and ensuring the seamless delivery of complex client services.
A graduate of George Mason University, Fowler also holds a Master’s in Sports Analytics and Management from American University. This academic background provides him with a structured, data-informed approach to management and strategic planning – skills that translate effectively into his daily professional responsibilities and the oversight of firm compliance.
After many years in the Virginia area, Fowler and his family relocated to the Philadelphia suburbs, where they currently reside. Outside of his professional life, he is a dedicated family man.
Director
Michael Fowler
Cindy Flores
Client Service Manager
Cindy Flores is client service manager at Acorn Financial Services, where she has built a reputation for precision, reliability, and exceptional client care. Functioning as a vital bridge between the financial advisory team and the daily needs of Acorn’s clients, she ensures every interaction is handled with meticulous attention to detail and proactive follow-through.
A graduate of George Mason University with a degree in Business Management and a minor in Information Technology, she uniquely blends leadership principles with modern tech solutions to streamline the client experience. With an established tenure at the Acorn team, she remains dedicated to fostering long-term relationships rooted in trust and operational excellence.
When she isn’t busy fostering long-term client relationships, Flores can be found exploring local hiking trails or scouting out the area’s best hidden restaurants.
Client Service Manager
Cindy Flores
Acorn Financial Advisory Services was established over 30 years ago after its founders saw too many successful families falling through the cracks of a flawed model. CPAs, attorneys, and investment advisors were working in isolated silos, leaving clients to play the middleman. This lack of coordination was costing clients time, peace of mind, and millions of dollars in preventable taxes.
To create a better way, Acorn was built from the ground up to be the antithesis of the siloed model. The firm brought the industry’s top tax strategists, wealth architects, and estate planners into the same room.
Today, led by managing partner and principal wealth advisor James Gambaccini, CFP®, the Acorn team offers institutional-grade management, retirement design, education and milestone planning, and lifestyle asset advisory services.
Acorn’s wealth advisors know that significant wealth requires more than just good advice. It requires transparency and diligent coordination. When they bring their expertise to the same table, they ensure that every move is synchronized and every strategy works toward a singular vision.
Acorn is proud to offer its clients the ultimate competitive advantage: your wealth, one team.
“We have created an entire system of educational materials to accompany our clients as their cases advance. Working to minimize the stress and uncertainty caused by litigation allows clients to focus on the hard work of rehab and adaptation”
Brenda Hollingsworth,
Auger Hollingsworth Accident & Injury Lawyers
Maryellen Bagley
Senior Tax Advisor
Justin Souder
Lead Wealth Advisor
Michael Wakeham
Wealth Advisor
Liane Brown
Partner
Maryellen Bagley brings nearly five decades of public accounting excellence to the Acorn team. As resident authority on tax research, she serves as a vital resource for complex accounting and taxation issues, providing high-level guidance for individuals and small businesses alike. While her expertise spans multiple sectors, she specializes in proactive tax planning and preparation for small business owners.
Bagley’s dual focus on technical research and hands-on bookkeeping ensures that Acorn’s clients receive both big-picture strategy and meticulous attention to detail. A proud alumna of Pennsylvania State University (BS in Accounting), she also holds a Master of Science in Taxation from Robert Morris University. Before joining Acorn, she honed her skills at a respected Oakton firm and a premier practice in McLean.
Senior Tax Advisor
Maryellen Bagley
Serving as lead wealth advisor, Justin Souder provides strategic oversight to the core advisory team while partnering with families to navigate their long-term financial journeys.
A graduate of the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business, Souder double majored in finance and information systems and was a member of the Banking and Private Wealth Management Fellows program. Over his eight-year history with the firm, he has leveraged this technical foundation, Series 65 license, and deep institutional knowledge to deliver sophisticated, comprehensive planning solutions for his clients.
A resident of Arlington, Souder is an avid (albeit struggling) golfer and a loyal supporter of his alma mater, the Maryland Terrapins, along with the other local sports teams. He frequently explores Washington, DC, enjoying the city’s historic architecture and vibrant atmosphere.
Above all, Souder values time spent with his family, particularly his four nieces and nephews, who remain a central part of his life outside of his leadership responsibilities at the firm.
Lead Wealth Advisor
Justin Souder
Michael Wakeham joined the Acorn team in August 2024 shortly after moving to Virginia from London, England. He has a wealth of experience in the UK financial services industry, having previously assisted financial planners in providing high-quality and comprehensive advice in one of the top global financial centers.
Putting the best interests of clients at the heart of everything he does, “British Mike” is a passionate client advocate and motivated to demystify the financial world.
Outside of the office, Wakeham enjoys exploring his new home with his wife, Christina, their two dogs, Parsley and Roo, and their seven chickens. He is always open to new restaurant or brewery suggestions and, if his knees allow, looks forward to joining a local pick-up soccer league.
Wealth Advisor
Michael Wakeham
Liane Brown is committed to representing individuals who have suffered serious personal injuries and to families who have suffered the loss of a loved one. Her practice concentrates on personal injury law, including accident benefits, motor vehicle collisions, medical malpractice, occupiers’ liability, product liability and wrongful death cases.
Partner
Liane Brown
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Ben Irantalab
Partner
Ben Irantalab enjoys the complexities of personal injury litigation. His practice is exclusively devoted to representing clients with brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and severe orthopedic injuries. For him, the cases that require special creativity and thinking outside the box are the most gratifying.
Partner
Ben Irantalab
Award Winner
ACORN FINANCIAL ADVISORY SERVICES