Joe Conroy

A prophet may be rejected in his hometown, but it can be a place where an investment advisor thrives.

Conroy founded Harford Retirement Planners in 2019 in Bel Air, Maryland, a town between Baltimore and the Delaware state line where he grew up. He had worked nearby for more than a decade prior to that as an independent advisor affiliated with LPL Financial.

Since Conroy hung out his own shingle as HRP, the firm’s assets under management have grown from $79 million to $178 million. In naming the business, he sought to convey what it does — offer comprehensive financial planning focused on building a nest egg.

“We’re not just going to manage your money, we’re going to plan all aspects of your retirement,” Conroy, 37, said. “The value we provide is greatest when we’re coupling an investment plan with a financial plan.”

He takes a similar holistic approach to growing his staff. He pays for all the education and training related to earning a certified financial planner credential. One of the firm’s advisors started as an intern and then advanced to an administrator, associate advisor and full-time advisor.

“Everybody here knows there’s a path to becoming a partner,” Conroy said. “They’ll have a seat at the table. It will grow the pie, which is good for everyone.”

The table where he and his colleagues sit is located in a 100-year-old building in downtown Bel Air that Conroy recently renovated. “We rebuilt it for another 100 years, which we hope is how long the firm will be around,” he said.

—Mark Schoeff Jr.