Our People

Profile of James P. Ruth, CFP®

A native Washingtonian and Certified Financial Planner®, Jim has been a respected member of the financial services community for over 30 years. He is recognized nationally as a speaker and author on retirement planning and investments and has written a popular monthly column on Managing Money in a national seniors’ magazine. A graduate of the University of Maryland, he has also completed two years of post-graduate studies at the American College achieving certification as a Chartered Financial Consultant and a Chartered Life Underwriter. Jim is a Registered Principal of INVEST Financial Corporation.

Jim has been interviewed and quoted in articles on retirement planning and investing in USA Today, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, U.S. News & World Report, AP Radio and others.

Jim has been named continuously since 1988 to Who’s Who in America published by Marquis. He has been president or chairman of numerous professional and charitable organizations, including the Asbury Foundation of Asbury Village, the Estate Planning Council of Suburban Maryland, the National Association of Insurance & Financial Advisors – both Maryland state and local chapters and was the founding president of the Montgomery County Police-Sheriff’s Boys & Girls Club. Jim has been married for more than 40 years and has two grown children.  Contact Jim at jim.ruth@investfinancial.com. 
 

Profile of Michelle L. Bender, CFP®

Michelle grew up in Pittsburgh, PA but has called the Washington area home for the last thirteen years. She is a Certified Financial Planner® and brings over 15 years of solid financial and asset management experience to PFG. During Michelle’s career she has held positions at Arthur Andersen, Private Wealth Advisors and several other financial and asset management firms including Potomac Financial Group. 

She is a graduate of Seton Hill College with dual degrees in accounting and human resource management. Michelle achieved the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® designation through the College of Financial Planning. She is actively involved in the financial services industry and is currently a member of the Financial Planning Association and a registered representative of INVEST. Michelle is a past president of Women Business Owners of Montgomery County.

In Michelle’s spare time she is an avid marathon runner. Michelle is married and has twin toddlers.  Contact Michelle at michelle.bender@investfinancial.com.

 Profile of Cindy Gordon

Cindy was born in Washington, D.C. and raised in Montgomery County. She currently resides in Germantown. Graduating from Winston Churchill High School in Potomac, she went on to Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina earning a B.A. Degree in Sociology. Most recently, she earned her Series 6 securities license, and is a Registered Sales Assistant of INVEST Financial Corporation.

Working at Potomac Financial Group is actually Cindy’s second career. Out of college, she worked for the federal government at the Pentagon. Then she moved on to Capitol Hill as office manager for Congressmen Tony Beilenson and Brad Sherman. She capped her 25 year career on the Hill as tour coordinator for Senator Tom Daschle. She came to PFG in January, 2000 and is our Securities Coordinator and Office Manager.

Away from the office, she’s a volunteer at the Black Rock Center for the Arts in Germantown and as a Montgomery County Election Board closing judge, and mother to a daughter who recently graduated from UCLA and a son at Towson University.  Contact Cindy at cindy.gordon@investfinancial.com.