Each of our advisors brings a unique perspective to financial planning, shaped by his or her own years of experience. With our cooperative, team-focused approach, when you work with one BFG advisor you work with us all—a deep bench of advisors and specialists who work together to find the best solution to every financial question.
Kobe Bolanos joined BFG Financial Advisors in August 2021 as an Investment Operations Associate and transitioned to the advisory team in 2022. Kobe works with the Lead Advisors to develop and update clients’ financial plans and prepare for client meetings.
Embodying our mission of spreading financial literacy, Kobe is passionate about helping families gain the knowledge and resources they need to encourage quality financial decisions for generations. He is excited to work with a team that puts education first—both for clients and employees—and looks forward to learning from his colleagues and bringing about positive change in the lives of clients.
Kobe attended Stevenson University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in finance and a minor in information systems. He earned his CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ designation in 2023 and holds his FINRA Series 7 (General Securities Representative) license, FINRA Series 66 (Uniform Combined State Law Exam) license, and his Life and Health Insurance license.
When not in the office, he can be found with his nose in a book or running on local streets and trails.
Chief Executive Officer
Eric D. Brotman, CFP®, AEP®, CPWA®, is Chief Executive Officer of BFG Financial Advisors. He began his financial planning practice in Baltimore in 1994, and founded Brotman Financial Group in 2003, which later became BFG Financial Advisors. He and his team focus on supporting families and individuals by providing comprehensive financial planning and wealth management services.
Eric holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Pennsylvania. He earned his Certified Financial PlannerTM (CFP®) certification in 1998 and completed his master’s degree in financial services (MSFS) at the American College in 2003. He is also an Accredited Estate Planner (AEP®), a Certified Private Wealth Advisor (CPWA®), a Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU), a Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC), a Chartered Advisor in Senior Living (CASL), and a Retirement Income Certified Professional® (RICP®). Eric is a Registered Representative with Kestra Investment Services and an Investment Advisor Representative with Kestra Advisory Services.
Eric is presently serving on the Board of Trustees for Bryn Mawr School in Baltimore, Maryland. He previously served two four-year terms on the Board of Trustees for the Maryland State Retirement & Pension System as an appointee of former Governor Larry Hogan, and on the Business Advisory Council for former Comptroller, Peter Franchot. Eric served on the Board of Trustees and as Chairman of the University Advancement Committee at Stevenson University. He is a 2006 alumnus and former board member of Leadership-Baltimore County, a 2009 alumnus and former Chairman of the Board of Directors of Leadership Maryland, the Past-President and Chairman of the Board of the Financial Planning Association of Maryland, and a member of the Baltimore Estate Planning Council and the Investments and Wealth Institute.
In addition to BFG Financial Advisors, Eric founded Brotman Consulting Group, LLC, which works with other financial advising firms to amplify their practices and create influence, and Brotman Media Group, LLC, which focuses on creating and distributing educational resources to help spread financial literacy throughout the community.
Eric hosted the Don’t Retire…Graduate! podcast which has over 100 episodes available on all major podcast platforms. He has published three books on personal finance: Don’t Retire…Graduate! Building a Path to Financial Freedom and Retirement at Any Age in 2020, Retire Wealthy: The Tools You Need to Help Build Lasting Wealth – On Your Own or With Your Financial Advisor, in 2014, and Debt-Free for Life: The Tools You Need to Free Yourself from Debt, in 2009.
Eric has appeared on dozens of occasions on television on 11 News Sunday Morning on WBAL in Baltimore and has been a frequent contributor to Forbes.com. He frequently hosts financial wellness programs for companies and membership organizations and delivers educational workshops and facilitates professional groups for fellow financial advisors.
Manny Essien joined BFG Financial Advisors in June 2020 as an Investment Operations Associate, after spending his final college semester as an intern in the Investment Operations department. He transitioned to an Associate role with our advisory team in 2022.
Manny pursued a career in finance after realizing a lack of financial literacy among those he grew up with. He now hopes to use his position to educate himself further as well as help the firm in its efforts to spread financial literacy to the masses.
Manny earned a Bachelor degree in Business Administration with a focus in Finance and a minor in Information Systems from Stevenson University. While getting his degree, Manny worked hard both in the classroom and on the football field as an offensive lineman and team captain. In 2023, he earned his CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ designation.
When not in the office, Manny can be found watching and playing sports and working toward his goal of running another marathon.
Advisor & Chair of the Investment Committee
Claudia Glover joined BFG Financial Advisors in October 2021 as an Associate and rose to Advisor in 2023. She is also the Chair of the Investments Committee here at BFG.
Drawn to BFG by a shared passion for spreading financial literacy, Claudia strives to educate her clients and empower them to make sound financial decisions throughout their lives. She brings a wealth of experience in the financial planning industry, having spent 17 years at Wells Fargo Advisors and its predecessors. Starting as a Client Associate, she worked her way up the ranks, holding various positions including Portfolio Manager and Financial Consultant.
A graduate of James Madison University, Claudia holds a B.B.A. degree in finance and earned her M.S. degree in financial planning from the University of Georgia in 2021. She has earned both her Certified Investment Management Analyst® and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ designations.
Outside of the office, Claudia spends her days with her husband and two daughters, to whom she hopes to pass down her enthusiasm for financial literacy, philanthropy, and community involvement.
Advisor
Andrew Harrell joined BFG Financial Advisors in May 2018 as an Associate and advanced to Advisor in 2023.
Upon joining the firm, Andrew quickly saw financial advisors’ impact on their clients, solidifying his passion for the industry. He began pursuing certifications and designations to help him further establish relationships with clients and help them build meaningful lifestyles.
In 2020, he earned his Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor designation, followed by his CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Practitioner designation in 2021. He has also earned his FINRA Series 7 (General Securities Representative Examination) and 66 (Uniform Combined State Law Examination) licenses, Maryland Life and Health Insurance license, and his Wealth Management Specialist certification.
Andrew graduated Cum Laude from Coastal Carolina University, earning a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Finance. In 2023, he was presented with an Outstanding Alumnus Award from CCU’s Wall College of Business. He is currently a candidate for Class 8 of The Ensemble Practice’s G2 Leadership Institute.
Outside of work, Andrew spends time with his wife, Madeline, or can be found playing or watching basketball, football, and volleyball.
President & Chief Operating Officer
Lena M. Nebel, CFP®, MSFS is the President and Chief Operating Officer at BFG Financial Advisors. Lena joined BFG in 2018, bringing with her nearly two decades of financial advisory experience.
Never shying from a challenge, Lena has found herself working primarily with engineers and corporate executives—two groups requiring very high levels of attention to detail and patience. In her mind, being a successful and trustworthy financial planner means taking the time to listen and fully understand each clients’ financial situation and having a deep bench of team members to collaborate with—as she has at BFG.
Lena discovered her passion for finances at a young age, from setting up lemonade stands as a child to witnessing the financial struggles of her parents as she grew older. After focusing on business in college and interning with different companies in the financial field, she found a calling in financial planning. The variety of clients with unique stories and situations posed a challenge of continuously staying apprised of changing strategies and techniques—a challenge she was excited to tackle.
In 2007 she became the first female president of the Financial Planning Association of Maryland, where she was also presented with a Leadership Award for her board service. Today, her passion for the financial planning process and community is demonstrated through her commitment to various industry organizations and her work as a mentor for up-and-coming advisors at BFG. She is passionate about inspiring young students—girls, especially—to want to pursue careers in finance and is a regular guest speaker for middle and high school classes and after-school student groups.
An advocate for women in finance, Lena is constantly working to build a path for other female advisors, whether as a mentor to the associates within her firm or through leadership in the industry itself. Lena completed the Towson University Professional Leadership Program for Women in 2021 and is a member of the Leadership Maryland Class of 2022. Lena’s financial advice and professional journey can be heard on various podcasts and webinars, which focus on spreading financial literacy education to the masses.
Lena received a Bachelor of Science in 1999 from York College of Pennsylvania where she helped establish the college’s first Investment Club. After graduation, she received her Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®) Certification at the American College and her Master of Science in Financial Services through the Institute of Business and Finance.
Outside of the office, Lena is a wife and mother of three and spends her time with her family.
Chief Investment Officer
Yanni Niebuhr, CFP® is a Principal and the Chief Investment Officer at BFG Financial Advisors. In this role, he is responsible for understanding, managing, and monitoring the assets of the firm, and ensuring that all due diligence is carried out regarding the portfolios managed for clients.
In 2021, Yanni was instrumental in the development and implementation of the firm’s Financial Planning for All program, a revolutionary new offering that made financial planning services accessible to more families throughout the country. He is also a leading force in the firm’s Corporate Financial Wellness initiative that helps companies across the country provide valuable financial guidance and advocacy for their employees.
Yanni joined Brotman Financial Group as an intern in 2011 and joined the firm’s investment operations department full time later that year. In 2014, he was promoted to Associate Advisor, providing technical support for the firm’s lead financial advisors on all client work, including handling client inquiries, preparing for and attending meetings, and completing the necessary follow-up. In 2019 the firm changed its corporate identity to BFG Financial Advisors, and he advanced to Director of Investment Operations, and later to Chief Investment Officer.
Yanni holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Towson University. He earned his Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®) designation in 2015 and holds his FINRA Series 7 (General Securities Representative) and 66 (Uniform Combined State Law Examination) licenses through Kestra Investment Services, LLC.
Passionate about improving education for students in his community, Yanni sits on the Board of Directors for LETS GO Boys and Girls, Inc., a non-profit dedicated to providing STEM learning opportunities for under-resourced schools.
When he is not at the office, Yanni can be found at home with his wife and two young sons.
Advisor
Cody Niedermeier joined BFG Financial Advisors as an Investment Operations Associate in October of 2019 and transitioned to the advisory team at the end of 2020. In 2023, he advanced to the role of Advisor.
Cody is passionate about guiding people and families through all stages of life and has played a tremendous role in supporting the firm’s Financial Planning for All program.
Cody graduated from the University of Maryland where he studied Marketing and captained the soccer team. He later went on to earn a master’s degree in finance from the University of Baltimore. In 2021, he earned his CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Practitioner designation and holds his Series 7, Series 66, and Maryland State Life and Health licenses. A member of the Maryland Chamber of Commerce, Cody is constantly looking for ways to engage with his peers and move his community towards a more financially secure future.
Outside of the office, Cody enjoys traveling and staying active. Since completing his goal of running a marathon, he is always looking for new ways to challenge himself.
Associate
Beth Nori joined BFG Financial Advisors in October 2016 as an Associate after spending several years in the financial industry.
As an Associate, Beth works with the firm’s lead advisors, updating clients’ financial plans and assisting with recommendations for clients. She also attends client meetings and assists with the pre-meeting preparation and the post-meeting follow-up. Beth also serves as a member of the firm’s investment committee, where she assists in the selection of asset managers and investment vendors and partners.
Beth holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Salisbury University. She earned her CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ designation in 2020, and also holds her FINRA Series 7 (General Securities Representative) and her Series 66 (Uniform Combined State Law Examination) licenses through Kestra Investment Services, LLC.
Outside of work, Beth is a wife and a mother of two young children.
Contact
16 Greenmeadow Drive,
Suite 201
Timonium, MD 21093
410-252-4555 | info@bfgfa.com
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