John K. Bacci, CFP®, ChFC®, CLU®, EA®
Founder, President
John is president of Foundation Financial Advisors, Inc., which he founded in 1996. He has been in the financial services industry since 1983, has been quoted extensively in the local and national financial media, has been named to the Financial Times 400 Top Financial Advisers in 2015, Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Advisor in 2022, 2023 and 2025, and has been a Baltimore Magazine Five Star Wealth Manager every year that the designation has been awarded.
As of January 2026, Foundation Financial Advisors has over $1 billion in assets under management.
2022, 2023, 2025 Forbes Best In State Wealth Advisors, created by SHOOK Research. Presented in April 2023 based on data gathered from June 2021 to June 2022. 22,243 were considered, 7,321 advisors were recognized. Not indicative of advisor’s future performance. Your experience may vary. Click here for more award information.
2015 Financial Times 400 Top Financial Advisers, created by Ignites Research. Presented in March 2015 for the past 12 months. 1,500 advisors were considered, 400 advisors were recognized. Advisors pay a fee to hold out marketing materials. Not indicative of advisor’s future performance. Your experience may vary. Click here for more award information.
2011-2024 Five Star Wealth Manager Award, created by Five Star Professional. The 2023 award was presented in January 2023 based on data gathered within 12 months preceding the issue date. 2,126 advisors were considered, 256 advisors were recognized. Advisors pay a fee to hold out marketing materials. Not indicative of advisor’s future performance. Your experience may vary. For more information, please visit www.fivestarprofessional.com.
John has achieved the following professional registrations and designations:
FINRA Series 7, 63, and 65 securities registrations
CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® Professional
Chartered Financial Consultant®
Chartered Life Underwriter®
Life, health, and long-term care insurance licenses
Enrolled agent with the Internal Revenue Service
Accredited Investment Fiduciary®
John graduated with a BA in economics from Franklin and Marshall College in 1982 and commenced his financial career with Westinghouse Credit Corporation as a lender, where he met his wife, Marianne. In 1983, John began working in the financial services industry as an investment banking representative. He initiated initial public offerings of stock for small companies and used his experience as a lender to provide equity-based financing solutions for growing companies. It is there that John developed his passion for investing. John attended the University of Maryland College Park, where he received his master’s in business administration with a concentration in finance. John’s case study of the Disney Corporation as part of his final year’s studies was awarded the coveted “Best Analysis” award by the faculty of the Robert H. Smith School of Business.
Three years later, faced with the closing of the Maryland office of his firm, John decided to strike out on his own as a financial advisor with IDS Financial Services. While at IDS, John obtained his CFP® certification (1990), as well as his Chartered Financial Consultant® certification (1995). As his tax practice expanded, John became an enrolled agent, earning the privilege of representing taxpayers before the Internal Revenue Service. Enrolled agents, like attorneys and CPAs, are unrestricted as to which taxpayers they can represent and what types of tax matters they can handle.
Having “paid his dues” for 10 years and feeling equally equipped in both investment management and tax analysis, John struck out on his own in 1996 and formed Foundation Financial Advisors, Inc., with his business associate John Holtzman. In 1997, Foundation Financial Advisors became an independent Registered Investment Adviser in the state of Maryland to support its rapidly growing investment management business.
John has pursued his passion for helping individuals reach their financial goals for 40 years and sees no end in sight, calling the prospect of his own retirement “foolishness.” “I’m having too much fun to retire,” he says.
John is frequently quoted in the local and national financial media, such as the Wall Street Journal, Money Magazine, Baltimore Sun, Investment News Daily, Dow Jones News, and more.
John lives in Severna Park, Maryland, with his wife, Marianne. He has two adult children, Michael and Michelle. John enjoys golf, tennis, cooking, and music. In what is left of his spare time, John is a very active advocate for several Baltimore area nonprofits, having served on the board of directors of the Baltimore Community Toolbank for six years and as 2016 board president.
John Bacci is proud to have been recognized as a Leaders level advisor for 2025—a distinction based on annual production that places him among the top 11 percent of advisors affiliated with Commonwealth Financial Network.
Each year, Commonwealth, the broker/dealer–RIA that helps us process investment transactions on your behalf, recognizes Leaders level advisors by inviting them to an exclusive gathering of their peers, leading industry experts, and Commonwealth home office staff. Leaders level advisors benefit from an intensive learning and networking experience designed to help them hone their expertise, share best practices, and provide ever-higher levels of service, education, and leadership to their clients.
John Holtzman, CFP®, AIF®
Founding Member
John Holtzman is the cofounder of Foundation Financial Advisors, Inc. With more than 30 years of experience, John has earned numerous credentials and designations, including:
CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® Professional (1997)
Accredited Investment Fiduciary® (2011)
John had a different idea in mind when he cofounded his wealth management practice 30 years ago. After graduating from Loyola University Maryland in 1993 and establishing his career as a financial professional with American Express Financial Advisors, John quickly became dismayed with the conflicts of interest associated with the typical “sales-oriented” Wall Street business model. Determined to create a better way, he started Foundation Financial Advisors, where the individual needs of his clients have always been the primary focus.
Today, Foundation Financial Advisors, with over $1 billion in assets under management (as of January 2026), delivers independent and objective wealth management services to high-net-worth individuals and institutions based on the principle that every recommendation made is dependent solely on the client's individual needs.
John is committed to providing a holistic, client-focused financial planning process, and has obtained the specialized designations of CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional and Accredited Investment Fiduciary®. John has been invited to speak to many companies and organizations, including the National Security Agency, with a focus on helping employees integrate their complex benefits packages with their personal financial goals.
John is very active in the community and currently serves on the board of directors of St. Vincent de Paul Baltimore, a leading provider of community services to people suffering from the effects of hunger, homelessness, and poverty in the Baltimore region.
John resides in the historic neighborhood of Guilford in Baltimore and enjoys spending time with his wife, Karen, and daughters, Kaleigh and Chloe.
John Holtzman is proud to have been recognized as a Leaders level advisor for 2025—a distinction based on annual production that places him among the top 11 percent of advisors affiliated with Commonwealth Financial Network.
Each year, Commonwealth, the Registered Investment Adviser–broker/dealer that helps us process investment transactions on your behalf, recognizes Leaders level advisors by inviting them to an exclusive gathering of their peers, leading industry experts, and Commonwealth home office staff. Leaders level advisors benefit from an intensive learning and networking experience designed to help them hone their expertise, share best practices, and provide ever-higher levels of service, education, and leadership to their clients.
Mollie N. Crocker, CFP®, CDFA®, AIF®
CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® Professional
2015-2019, 2021-2023 Five Star Wealth Manager Award, created by Five Star Professional. The 2023 award was presented in January 2023 based on data gathered within 12 months preceding the issue date. 2,126 advisors were considered, 256 advisors were recognized. Advisors pay a fee to hold out marketing materials. Not indicative of advisor’s future performance. Your experience may vary. For more information, please visit www.fivestarprofessional.com.
Molly has achieved the following professional registrations and designations:
FINRA Series 7, 63, and 65 securities registrations (1986)
CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® Professional (2015)
Accredited Investment Fiduciary® (2012)
Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® (2013)
Life, health, and long-term care insurance licenses (1991)
Mollie Crocker joined Foundation Financial Advisors, Inc., in December 2011, bringing with her more than 26 years of knowledge and experience in the financial service industry. Although she has seen many changes in the markets over the years, her love of investments and helping people achieve their financial goals has never wavered. Mollie feels she is the most valuable to her clients when they are navigating major life transitions - whether it is a job change, sending children to college, navigating divorce, coping with losing a spouse, or preparing for retirement.
Mollie has a particular passion for helping people who lose a spouse unexpectedly. When Mollie was 10, her father passed away, and she watched her widowed mother work hard to find security for their family of four children. Because of this, Mollie finds deep fulfillment in helping clients through similar experiences.
She has also guided many clients away from common financial missteps that can arise during divorce. While the process can be unsettling, Mollie takes pride in seeing clients emerge on the other side with a plan that supports their new goals.
Once her girls were older, Mollie started playing tennis again and was hooked. She gets on the court every day she can and still plays competitively in the local USTA league. Recently, she and her husband discovered pickleball - and now they are hooked on that too. Mollie also enjoys tending her gardens, where she works on creating classic English perennial garden along with a vegetable patch. She and her husband, Cary, love cooking with ingredients from their garden and traveling. They try to plan one major trip a year, often returning home inspired to recreate favorite meals from their journeys.
Mollie and Cary recently celebrated being together for over 30 years. They have two beautiful daughters, Trew and Caroline. Caroline is pursuing work connected to her background in library sciences, while Trew is now working alongside Mollie as she gains experience and considers her next steps. It has been a year of transitions in the Crocker household, and they are excited to see what comes next.
Jim Roland, CFP®
Financial Advisor
CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® Professional
Professional Registrations:
FINRA Series 7, General Securities Representative
FINRA Series 66, Uniform Combined State Law
Variable Life and Annuity Insurance Resident Producer (Maryland Insurance Administration)
Life and Health Insurance Resident Producer (Maryland Insurance Administration)
CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® Professional
FedSmart Government Employee Benefits Financial Adviser Training Program
Jim joined Foundation Financial Advisors in 2017 as a registered senior client service associate and works with clients of John Bacci. He has been in the financial services industry since 2006 in various roles associated with financial planning, portfolio monitoring, and client service. In 2018, Jim earned his CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional certification to accompany his FINRA Series 7 and 66 securities registrations and his health licenses. He is dedicated to serving the client's best interests and presenting the most suitable options for each client's situation. As of August 1, 2023, Jim is now an advisor at Foundation Financial Advisors and is excited to continue to grow established relationships as well as discover new ones.
Jim graduated with a BA in 2006 from the University of Maryland, College Park. He immediately started in the financial services industry, and his passion for helping people navigate the journey toward financial freedom and the love of different markets has grown ever since.
Jim is married with three children and lives in Columbia, Maryland. When he isn’t busy running his boys to lacrosse practices and games, he enjoys downtime fishing, playing golf, and spending time at local parks with his family.
Rachael Gerjets, CFP®
Director of Client Services
CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Professional
Rachael has achieved the following professional registrations and designations:
CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Professional (2024)
FINRA Series 7, General Securities Representative (2017)
FINRA Series 66, Uniform Combined State Law (2017)
Rachael is a Director of Client Services at Foundation Financial Advisors, Inc., where she serves the clients of John Holtzman. She joined the firm in 2014 as a Client Services Associate and has consistently demonstrated her dedication to providing exceptional client service. With over a decade of experience in the financial services industry, Rachael has honed her skills in offering personalized support.
As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® Professional, Rachael leverages her financial expertise to assist clients in reaching their financial goals. She also holds a BS in Business Administration with a minor in Personal Financial Planning from the University of Maryland Global Campus. This combination of education, experience, and certification allows her to provide comprehensive financial assistance.
Outside of work, Rachael enjoys a vibrant life in Odenton, Maryland with her husband Dave and their two sons, Parker and Max. You might find her at a local concert, kickboxing class, or cheering on her sons at their various sporting events.
Michael Bacci
Client Relationship Manager
Michael joined Foundation Financial Advisors in 2020 as a client relationship manager working with clients of John Bacci. Prior to joining us, Michael worked in the Treasury Department of Allegis Group, supporting cash management for all North American operating companies with a special focus on MarketSource, a sales-based staffing firm. Michael also interned with Greenspring Associates, a venture capital firm in Owings Mills, Maryland, where he performed due diligence and tracked investment performance.
Michael earned a BBA in finance, graduating cum laude from Loyola University Maryland. At Loyola, Michael was an active supporter of all sports teams (Go Greyhounds!) as well as a member of the Financial Management Association Honor Society, Investment Banking Club, Investment Club, Entrepreneurship Club, and Building a Better World Through Business pitch competition.
Michael resides in Severna Park, Maryland. He is passionate about personal finance, capital markets, and helping people. In his free time, he enjoys being active, mountain biking, and spending time with close friends/family. You can typically find him searching out interesting locations to explore, mountain biking exciting trails, or having a drink with friends and family. He is a die-hard supporter of the Baltimore Ravens.
Devin M. Williams
Registered Client Relationship Manager
Professional Registrations:
FINRA Series 65, Uniform Investment Adviser Law
FINRA Series 7, General Securities Representative
Life and Health Insurance Resident Producer (Maryland Insurance Administration)
Financial Paraplanner Qualified Professional
Devin joined Foundation Financial Advisors in June of 2023 as a client relationship manager, providing dedicated support to clients of John Holtzman. Devin started working in the financial services industry in 2019, after graduating from the University of Maryland, College Park with a degree in economics.
He enjoys staying current with financial markets and learning about new trends and topics. Devin has a passion for forging connections with clients and helping them achieve their financial goals; this passion is what led him to pursue a career in financial services.
Devin resides on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, where he enjoys playing tennis, boating, and spending time with friends and family.
Trew Crocker
Client Relationship Manager
Trew joined Foundation Financial Advisors in October 2023 as a client relationship manager working with clients of Mollie Crocker. Prior to joining Foundation Financial Advisors, Trew worked as a business support manager for Genaesis, LLC, an investment firm where she assisted on mergers and acquisitions. She also was project coordinator at Abt Associates, where she helped support multiple aspects of oversight of department contracts.
Trew graduated from the University of South Carolina with a BS in mass communications and journalism and a minor in business administration.
Trew currently resides in Columbia, Maryland. She is passionate about providing the best solution possible, in the best way possible. When not at work or spending time with family and friends, she enjoys knitting, baking, and exploring the local sights.
Andrew Gorode, CPA
Certified Public Accountant
Andy has been associated with Foundation Financial Advisors since its inception in 1997, providing tax preparation and accounting services to individuals and small companies. As this area of our business has grown throughout the years, and the need for a consultative function to tax preparation has become more and more evident, Andy agreed to join our company on a full-time basis, effective January 1, 2013, to head our tax team.
Andy graduated from the University of Rochester with a dual BA degree in psychology and political science. During his senior year, he caught the “accounting bug” after taking a couple of accounting and business classes and went on to earn an MBA from the University of Pittsburgh with a concentration in accounting and finance. After moving to Maryland, Andy worked for a couple of public accounting firms, where he acquired a solid foundation in tax preparation and planning. In 1981, he became a Certified Public Accountant.
Combining his passion for working with people and a strong desire to give back to the community, Andy left public accounting and embarked upon a career in the nonprofit sector. He has worked with both local and national organizations, including the Johns Hopkins University, Epilepsy Foundation, Govans Ecumenical Development Corporation, and most recently as the CFO of the Helping Up Mission in Baltimore.
Andy lives in the Charles Village neighborhood of Baltimore City, where he has hopes of one day restoring his 100-year-old row house. He is an avid, lifelong tennis player and enjoys playing and listening to music, cooking, and rehabbing (endlessly) his house. Andy has two children who have left the nest to pursue their own careers in New Jersey and New York.
Marianne K. Bacci
Vice President
Marianne joined the company when it was formed in 1996. She manages the operations of the office, including accounting and marketing, as well as compliance, licensing, and corporate registration functions. Marianne also maintains the website and public relations initiatives of the company.
Marianne graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a BS in finance. She then spent 15 years in lending, first with Westinghouse Credit, where she met her husband, John, and later doing large-ticket equipment leasing as a vice president with Union Trust/Signet Bank. At the time Foundation Financial Advisors was being formed, and Marianne decided to make a career change that would also allow more time to spend with her then two young children.
Marianne lives in Severna Park, Maryland, with her husband, John. Now adults, their children Michael and Michelle are off pursuing their own life plans! Marianne enjoys playing piano, biking, reading, and spending time with good friends and family.
