OUR FIRM
Alpha is a safe haven where clients engage a Certified Financial Planner Practitioner who has been educated on all financial subjects and is dedicated to upholding the highest ethical and moral standards. Clients get correct, straightforward answers to the multitude of questions they encounter in daily financial life. Clients are assured of personal attention and are not bothered with frivolous sales calls. Clients are kept abreast of market conditions and are educated to understand the long-term nature of investing.

Eric D. Hess, CFP™, ChFC®
Principal / Director

Eric Hess, CFP™, ChFC®, is a widely respected and trusted member of the financial advisor community. His professional designations and memberships demonstrate his dedication to maintaining the highest level of excellence and ethics in his profession. Eric is currently the president of the National Capital Area Financial Planning Association, one of the largest chapters of the FPA in the United States. He is also a member of the distinguished National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA). NAPFA is the country's leading professional association of Fee-Only financial advisors – highly trained professionals who are committed to working in the best interests of those they serve.

Eric was conferred degrees in Business Management and Economics from Eckerd College in 1991. Eric founded Hess Financial Services, Ltd. as an independent registered investment advisor in 1992. After growing the business and assembling an exceptional team of experienced financial professionals, the firm was aptly renamed Alpha Financial Advisors, LLC in December, 2000. Eric has helped hundreds of families in the Washington area achieve their financial goals.

Eric's ongoing studies have earned him the professional designations of Certified Financial Planner™ and Chartered Financial Consultant®, giving clients assurance of integrity, insight and reliability. These two designations are testimony to Eric's comprehensive preparation in the financial planning process, his commitment to continuing education, and dedication to maintaining the highest ethical standards. After over two decades of financial management experience, Eric firmly believes his clients deserve an advisor who understands their needs and cares about what is truly important in their lives.

Director of Operations - Sam Myer
Sam's areas of expertise include portfolio management and operations. His responsibilities include portfolio review and analysis, preparation and implementation of client investment plans, ongoing portfolio review and measurement, as well as financial reporting. His other areas of experience include retirement planning and financial planning. Sam received an Executive Certificate in Financial Planning from Georgetown University's Center for Professional Development and is currently a candidate for the Certified Financial Planner™ designation.

Sam graduated from James Madison University with a major in English and a minor in Small Business Entrepreneurship. He began his financial services career employed by a retail mutual fund and insurance sales company. Sam gained experience as an account executive with over a hundred clients. In his capacity as an account executive he was an NASD registered representative with series 6, 63, 65 investment licenses, as well as life, health and variable annuity insurance licenses in VA, DC and MD. His initial exposure and appreciation for fee only financial advisory services came from one of the regions well known consulting firms where he functioned as the Operations Manager in a Portfolio Management department with $1.2 billion in assets under management. He has been employed in the financial services industry since 1998.

Executive Assistant – Donna Quinn
Donna Quinn graduated from Bates College with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and later received certification in Business Communications from the Katharine Gibbs School of Business. After an early career with Wang Laboratories, she married and spent the next 20 years raising her two sons.

Donna developed her organizational skills and ability to excel in a fast paced environment managing 12 household moves and coordinating various volunteer activities. She has been an active member of the Great Falls and Ashburn communities for over 13 years and has established deep ties through school, athletic and community activities. In addition to her role at Alpha Financial Advisors, Donna serves on the board of the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy and writes for local nature publications.

Donna has excellent interpersonal and communication skills, is quick to understand a client's needs, and has a daily devotion to her work that generates exceptional levels of productivity. She’s an excellent example of high quality customer service at its best. Donna assists Sam and Eric in technical investment tracking functions and coordinates all communications and office activities.