Alpha Financial Advisors provides a safe haven where clients are offered prudent and straight-forward answers to questions encountered in daily financial life. Eric Hess, CFP®, ChFC™, and the Alpha team of professionals are committed to developing long-term relationships with you based on a foundation of ethics, service and trust. Clients are assured of exceptional customer service and personal attention, and are not bothered with frivolous sales calls. Alpha Financial Advisors’ clients include individuals, small businesses, sole proprietorships and trusts.
Left to Right: Nirvan Khaksarfard, Emily Carr, Eric Hess, Leslie Tovar, and Culley Hess
Eric Hess, CFP®, ChFC™
Principal and Managing 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 served over ten years on the board of the National Capital Area Financial Planning Association (FPANCA), one of the largest chapters of the FPA in the United States, including as President in 2011 and Chairman in 2012. 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.
Land Trust of Virginia Steward of the Year 2022
The Steward of the Year Award is given to a landowner of a property in conservation easement with LTV who has demonstrated significant care in the stewardship of their property and its natural and/or historic resources.
Culley Hess, Series 65
Client Service Associate
I am pleased to announce the addition of a new member to the Alpha Financial Advisors team. My son Culley Hess joined the firm this past November as a Financial Planning Associate.
Culley graduated in May of 2021 from James Madison University with a Bachelor of Science in Public Policy and Administration. Many of his courses revolved around the intricacies of fiscal and legal interactions between the government and private entities, including but not limited to economics, budgeting, taxation, accounting, and law ranging from the municipal to federal level. These classes also satisfied the educational requirements and allows Culley to take the Certified Financial Planner, (CFP)® exam.
Culley has gained a wide range of job experience in his young career, including work as an intern at Alpha Financial Advisors. He also interned at the contracts department of an IT reseller, worked as an enumerator for the U.S. Census Bureau during the COVID-19 pandemic, interned with the Clerk of Court in Augusta County, and served as President of JMU’s Madison Fly Fishers. This last position led him to a brief sabbatical as fly-fishing guide based out of Vail, Colorado during the summer of 2021.
Culley Wrote: Alpha Financial Advisors set a standard for what I consider to be the right way to do business. I am a lifelong witness to the high level of expertise, knowledge, and integrity that made this company what it is today. I’m looking forward to upholding that standard for years to come. As I study to take the CFP exam, I know that the foundations of this course will allow me to build a wealth of knowledge that will compound for years to come. I look forward to working with you! – Culley Hess
The addition of Culley to our firm will allow us to continue to provide exceptional personalized financial, investment and life planning as we grow into the future. In his free time, Culley enjoys playing guitar, reading, fishing, golf, and being around animals. Please join us in welcoming Culley to the firm!
Emily Carr
Office Administrator/Operations Associate
Emily has worked in the financial service industry for over 16 years in various capacities including customer service, operations, reporting and communications. She continually strives to exceed client expectations and provide an exceptional client experience. Emily is a vital Alpha team member coordinating office activities as well as providing operational and administrative support.
Emily graduated from Bob Jones University in South Carolina with a Bachelor of Science degree in Organization Communication and a minor in Technical Writing. Originally from Michigan, Emily lives in Arlington, Virginia.
Leslie Tovar, Series 65
Director of Operations
Leslie began her financial services career over 9 years ago providing operational support to financial advisers in an independent broker-dealer firm. She gained experience providing client assistance to hundreds of clients, preparing analytical financial reports using investment research software, executing financial transactions, monitoring the execution of financial plans, and implementing technological and operational improvements.
A native of Venezuela, Leslie has called the Northern Virginia area home for over 20 years. She graduated magna cum laude from George Mason University with a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and was a member of the international economics honor society, Omicron Delta Epsilon. Leslie plans to further her study at John Hopkins University where she is pursuing a dual master’s degree in Economics and an MBA.
Nirvan Khaksarfard, Series 65
Portfolio Management Assistant
Nirvan has always had an interest in finance from a young age. He was an intern at Alpha in the summer of 2018 where he obtained valuable experience in the field of portfolio management. He went on to achieve a bachelor’s degree in Economics and Mathematics from Indiana University. While at Indiana University he was a member of the Investment Management Workshop at the Kelley School of Business with a concentration in private wealth management and trading. He then interned at CIH Trading in Chicago where he increased his knowledge of investments and risk management. Nirvan continues his studies and securities degrees as time allows. Nirvan has lived in Northern Virginia for 22 years. In his free time he enjoys road cycling, fishing, Backgammon and spending time with family and friends.
