Our Team

John Gracyalny, CLU, ChFC founded FAA with Jon Abbett in 1997 and has been providing financial services in the community since 1990. John specializes in helping business owners, families and executives with insurance, investments and financial services. With over 20 years of experience, he has developed an expertise in working with individuals and business owners to find individualized solutions to the complex financial challenges they face. He serves as FAA's Executive Vice President and provides numerous financial seminars and services to FAA's clientele.

Prior to becoming a Financial Advisor, John graduated from St. Bonaventure University with an accounting degree and his Chartered Life Underwriter and Chartered Financial Consultant designations from the American College. He then entered the financial services industry as an accountant with Ernst & Young in their Washington DC office.

John is a long time and active member in Business Network International (BNI) Rockville chapter and is an active member of his industry as a member of both Securian Financial Services Premier Resource Group (a group of select advisors under his broker dealer who advocate for all advisors) and as of 2014, he is an 12 year member of MDRT* (an industry group of top sales leaders.) He and his wife Melissa live in Potomac with their two sons Nick and Max.

He is a Registered Representative and Investment Advisor Representative of Securian Financial Services, Inc., A Securities Dealer, Member FINRA/SIPC. Financial Advantage Associates is independently owned and operated.

* Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) is an independent membership organization of life insurance and financial service professionals. Membership levels are based on commissions, premiums, or fees generated within a year from investment and insurance products. Members must apply annually and pay a fee. Members must be members in good standing of a Professional Association which has met the following criteria: in existence at least 2 years, have 100 or more members, must be a nonprofit organization, must have a code of ethics and an effective means of dealing with breaches of its code. Members must also adhere to the MDRT Code of Ethics. Working with this advisor is not a guarantee of future financial results. Investors should conduct their own evaluation.

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Jason Silverberg started his practice in 2005 with a mission to serve the ever-changing financial needs of the community. Jason's passion lies in helping individuals, families, and business owners to create new financial visions, opportunities, and futures, while overcoming obstacles that may hinder success.

By removing the fear, anxieties, and unknowns around money, time and energy can be better spent on what matters most. Jason strives to help his clients create a brighter future by helping them understand the nuances of their personal financial plan.

Jason takes a values-based approach, which allows him to connect with his clients on a deeper level than most other advisors, diving into the "why" behind the numbers. He focuses on helping clients achieve their goals by growing their wealth through intelligent investing and protecting those goals using risk management strategies and insurance solutions.

Jason graduated from the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland in 2005 with a degree in Finance. He is a CFP® (Certified Financial Planner™) and has received his CLU® (Chartered Life Underwriter) and ChFC® (Chartered Financial Consultant) designations from The American College. He is a past member of the Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT)* The Premier Association of Financial Professionals®. This level of education, recognition, and credentials shows that he is committed to serving his clients with exemplary performance and high standards of professional knowledge.

In 2017, Jason released the Amazon Best-Selling book, The Financial Planning Puzzle: Fitting Your Pieces Together to Create Financial Freedom. The book serves as a framework for helping people take ownership of their financial lives and motivation to move their plan forward.

Along with the book, Jason presents a seminar series which he uses as a platform for public appearances. He has appeared on ABC's The Savvy Investor Show and is a regular financial speaker at the United States Patent & Trademark Office. Additionally, he was a financial correspondent for Take Pride Community Magazine. What this means to clients is that they are working with a professional who focuses on educating individuals, so they can make informed and confident decisions about their future.

In addition to his work, Jason spends his leisure time with his wife, Lindsay, and children, Joshua and Rebecca. He enjoys running outside and in competitive races. He completed the Frederick Marathon in 2010 and participates in the Kentlands/Lakelands 5K each year.

Jason is a Registered Representative and Investment Advisor Representative of Securian Financial Services, Inc.

* Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) is an independent membership organization of life insurance and financial service professionals. Membership levels are based on commissions, premiums, or fees generated within a year from investment and insurance products. Members must apply annually and pay a fee. Members must be members in good standing of a Professional Association which has met the following criteria: in existence at least 2 years, have 100 or more members, must be a nonprofit organization, must have a code of ethics and an effective means of dealing with breaches of its code. Members must also adhere to the MDRT Code of Ethics. Working with this advisor is not a guarantee of future financial results. Investors should conduct their own evaluation.

Securities and investment advisory services offered through Securian Financial Services, Inc., Member FINRA/SIPC. Financial Advantage Associates is independently owned and operated.

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Perry Lazerus has been helping individuals achieve their financial goals through comprehensive, fee-based financial planning since joining Financial Advantage Associates (FAA) in June of 2011.  While he has clients across all stages of life, he specializes in helping:

Medical Professionals plan for, and overcome, the financial challenges unique to their profession, and

Pre-Retirees plan for a successful retirement by maximizing social security, generating income streams from savings, and protecting their assets through insurance and legacy planning.

His team is made up of his business partner, Allison McCarty, and junior advisors, Thomas (TJ) White, and Grant LaGasse.  Perry is passionate about helping his clients establish a secure financial future by addressing both insurance protection planning and wealth management strategies.  His strengths lie in his ability to spur clients to action, his responsiveness to client emails and phone calls, and his ability to explain complex financial concepts and products in a way his clients understand and appreciate.

Perry has earned his FINRA Series 7 and 66 registrations, as well as his Life & Health Insurance license.  He graduated from University of Maryland, College Park with a B.S. in Elementary Education, originally planning to become a math teacher!  While it was somewhat unexpected that he would become a financial advisor, Perry has found his background in education translates well to educating his clients about their financial situation and helping them understand their options.  Perry leads the medical division at FAA, and is regularly invited to present to medical students, residents, and fellows at numerous teaching hospitals across MD, DC and VA.  Furthermore, in 2016 Perry became an instructor for the Lifelong Learning Institute at Montgomery College, where he teaches a course for those approaching retirement called “Retirement Planning Today”. 

Born and raised in Montgomery County, Maryland, Perry currently lives with his wife, Allyson, in North Potomac. He is a huge baseball fan and often catches a lot of slack around the office (and from clients) for cheering on his favorite team, the New York Yankees.  Outside of work Perry enjoys spending time with family and friends, playing softball, attending Washington Capitals games, and of course, watching the Yankees.

Perry is a Registered Representative and Investment Advisor Representative with Securian Financial Services, Inc., Securities Dealer, Member FINRA/SIPC. Securities and investment advisory services offered through Securian Financial Services, Inc. member FINRA/SIPC. 2384097 DOFU 01-2019

Drew Brand joined the Financial Advantage team in November of 2012. Previously he worked as a Business Manager for a Fortune 100 company. He originally hails from California where, after graduating from the University of California at Davis, played professional beach volleyball for 10 years. One of Drew’s favorite quotes that he strives to apply on and off the court is, “The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will.” -Vince Lombardi.

Drew utilizes a blend of education, investment strategy, retirement goal analysis, life and income protection planning and estate planning to help his clients reach their financial goals. Since joining Financial Advantage Associates, Drew has earned his Series 7 and Series 66 FINRA securities registrations, as well as his Life and Health Insurance licenses.

Drew lives with his wife Jeanie and son Connor in Olney, Maryland. He gives back to his community by volunteering as an advisor for the Olney Investment Club. He is an active member of his church community. In his spare time he enjoys volleyball, basketball, skiing and playing the guitar

Drew is a registered representative and investment advisor representative of Securian Financial Services, Inc. Securities and investment advisory services offered through Securian Financial Services, Inc., Member FINRA/SIPC. Financial Advantage Associates, Inc. is independently owned and operated.

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Jennifer Roensch joined the Financial Advantage team in September of 2010. Jennifer began her career in the financial industry as a Financial Analyst for a local investment bank in the city of Monterrey, Mexico. After a few years of working as an Analyst, she moved to Germany and completed her graduate studies in Finance. She joined Germany's leading software company SAP as an intern for the Legal Entity Controlling Department.

Jennifer decided to get into financial services to enable her to use her current knowledge, experience, and intercultural background to be able to bond and create long term trusting relationships with clients. She enjoys giving back to her community and believes she can positively impact people's quality of life through her services. She joined Kris Kornemann's team in 2013 where she facilitates the fee-based financial planning process, and in addition, spearheads the employee financial education series.

She currently lives in Springfield, VA with her husband and daughters. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends, nature walks, traveling, oil painting and listening to music from around the world.

Jennifer currently holds the following FINRA securities registrations: Series 7, 66, as well as Life and Health insurance licenses.

She is a Registered Representative and Investment Advisor Representative of Securian Financial Services, Inc., A Securities Dealer, Member FINRA/SIPC. Financial Advantage Associates is independently owned and operated.

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Wade Friedel was born and raised in Bergen County, New Jersey. During high school, Wade attended multiple youth leadership forums that were held in Washington, D.C. and immediately fell in love with the area. When it came time to select a college to spend the next four years of his life, Wade gravitated towards schools in the D.C. Metropolitan Area. Once he stepped on campus at the University of Maryland, he knew that was where he wanted to continue his education.

While at the University of Maryland, Wade was a member of the Chevy Chase Leadership Internship Program where he studied, participated in and had a front row seat to leadership at a local and global level. The cohort of students traveled together to Prague and Olomouc, Czech Republic, where they met with and learned from many of the areas top political, educational and business leaders. In addition to his involvement with this program, Wade was a member of the Tau Epsilon Phi fraternity and, throughout his time in the fraternity, held nearly every position on the fraternity's executive board. 

When Wade graduated from the University of Maryland in 2012, he accepted a job working for a small law firm in Montgomery County, MD where he worked closely with individual clients and small business owners and provided valuable assistance with day to day business operations. His experience with the firm gave him a great appreciation for helping others understand and deal with complex situations.

Wades previous life experiences led him to Financial Advantage where he hopes to help others reach their financial goals. Wade has earned his Series 7 and Series 66 FINRA securities registrations, as well as his Life and Health Insurance licenses.

When he is not in the office, Wade can be found working out, hiking, playing golf, or socializing with friends. He lives in Rockville, Maryland with his fiancé, Annalise. He is a die-hard fan of the Maryland Terrapins and the Miami Dolphins and enjoys watching all collegiate and professional sports.  

Wade is a Registered Representative and Investment Advisor Representative of Securian Financial Services, Inc., a Securities Dealer, member FINRA/SIPC. Financial Advantage Associates is independently owned and operated.
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Ben Rudy was born and raised in Northern Baltimore County, Maryland. Being the son of a small business owner, Ben experienced the entrepreneurial spirit from a very early age. He often was exposed to the family business and shadowed his father to see how he would interact with his clients and run his company. Going into college, Ben knew that he wanted to be an entrepreneur himself.

While attending the University of Maryland, Ben found a passion for finance and for helping others. During his time at UMD, he often volunteered at the American Red Cross and with other student organizations across campus to serve and give back to the community. These passions led him down the path to becoming a financial advisor at Financial Advantage, where he could assist others in achieving financial freedom.

Ben hopes to work alongside individuals, families, and small business owners to expand their wealth and achieve their financial goals. Through his personal knowledge and by surrounding himself with other scholars and professionals at FAA, he hopes to bring clarity to the most complex financial situations and help create a plan to lead others to success. Since graduating, Ben has earned his Series 7 and Series 66 FINRA securities registrations, as well as his Life and Health Insurance licenses.

In his free time, Ben can be found with his friends, working out, playing tennis, or enjoying a good book. He now lives in Rockville, Maryland, where he is embedding himself in the community. He also is always looking to talk about his favorite football team, the Baltimore Ravens.

Ben is a Registered Representative and Investment Advisor Representative of Securian Financial Services, Inc., a Securities Dealer, member FINRA/SIPC. Financial Advantage Associates is independently owned and operated. 1615426 DOFU 10/2016

Following graduation with a BA degree from the University of Maryland, Poppy built her career as a Human Resource Specialist with a Fortune 500 company for over 10 years. She actively managed two retail stores with responsibilities to include the hiring and training of employees, operational management, merchandizing and all things HR. In early 2010, Poppy made a deliberate career transition when joining FAA, and has been instrumental in the operations of FAA's Financial Planning Center. She works with FAA advisors when strategic financial plans are recommended and created. Poppy will work with the advisor from start to finish, helping to ensure that the planning process is operating smoothly, with accuracy and tailored to the client's needs and expectations. Poppy and her husband live in Montgomery County, and enjoy family, friends, gardening and time spent on the beach!

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Shari is a graduate of The George Washington University, where she earned a BS degree in Education. Spanning her career, she coached and judged gymnastics in Maryland and Virginia while raising her three children. Shari joined FAA in 2002 and has been instrumental in the management of new business submission. She has proven invaluable in her working relationships with the advisor and the underwriting team, tracking and progressing each case to completion. It is because of Shari that the business submission is fluid and operational, allowing the advisor to focus his/her attention on the needs of the client. Shari thoroughly enjoys life, spending time with friends and family, experiencing fine wines and meeting new people. She and her husband are long-time residents of Gaithersburg, Maryland.

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