Five Star award winner Steven A. Aquino, RFC®, CSA

PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS

AWARDS

Five Star Wealth Manager award winner 2016-2024
NAIFA-MD Recipient of the Paul J. Murphy Award
NAIFA- MD Inducted into Hall of Fame
Carroll County Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Year Award
NAIFA Carroll/Howard member of the year

Recognition/Achievements: 2002 LFA-Baltimore Planner of the Year, 2005 National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors Carroll/Howard (NAIFA) Member/Advisor Award, Governor’s Volunteer Service Award 2008-2009, NAIFA Award of Excellence 2009, Carroll County Chamber of Commerce Small Business Award 2009, NAIFA-Carroll/Howard-Member of the Year 2010, Cannons Semi Pro Football Team Captain, Semi Pro Football All American (FB), Voted Carroll County’s Best, Million Dollar Round Table, NAIFA-MD- Paul J. Murphy Award 2014, NAIFA-MD Hall of Fame Induction 2014, Baltimore Magazine; Five Star Wealth Manager Award (2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024)

Education: McDaniel College (formerly Western Maryland College), Westminster, Maryland Bachelor Degree, 1996, The American College, 2007, CFP & ChFC Certification Curriculum, NAIFA-Life in Leadership Institute 2008. Leadership Carroll 2010-11 Carroll Community College/Carroll County Chamber of Commerce

Licenses/ Registrations: FINRA Series 7 (General Securities Representative), FINRA Series 66 (Registered Investment Advisor), Maryland Insurance Administration Life and Health Agent, Certified Senior Advisor (CSA), Registered Financial Consultant (RFC), Notary License for the State of Maryland

Professional Organizations:1. NAIFA-Carroll/Howard, (National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors) (Board 2005-present, President 2007-2009) 2. NAIFA- Maryland (Secretary/Treasurer 2009, Gov. Relations Chair 2010, State President (2012 &2013), International Association of Registered Financial Advisors (2007-Present), Society of Certified Senior Advisors (2006-Present)

Community Organizations/Boards:1.Carroll County Chamber of Commerce (Chairman of the Board 2011 & 2021, Board, Legislative Committee, Finance Committee) (2007-Present) 2.Bonds Meadow Rotary International (Board 2008-2013) 3.Rape Crisis of Carroll County (Board 2010-2012, Treasurer) 4.Community Media Center-Board of Director 2010-2013, CMC Chairman 2013 5.Marriage Resource Center of Carroll County (Board, Treasurer 2010-2013) 6.United Way Community Partnership Board (2011-2013) 7.New Windsor Economic Advisory Committees (2014-2018) 8.Carroll County Government (multiple committees)2012-present 9.Carroll Luther Village Finance and Investment Committee (2015- 2021) 10.Carroll Community College Planned Giving Committee (2015-present) 11.Boy and Girls Club Westminster Board Member- Capital Campaign, Finance, Scholarship & Committee, Treasurer (2017-Present) 12.Westminster Rotary Club Member (Board 2017-Present), President 2021 13. Treasurer-Tom Gordon Commissioner Campaign (2017-Present) 14. CCPS Board RSCC Advisory Committee-2018 15. Carroll Community Bank Advisory Board (2013- 2019) 16. Community Foundation of Carroll County (Board 2018-2021) 17. St. John Catholic Finance committee (2018- Present) 18. St John Pastoral Council (2019-2021) 19. Carroll Community College Foundation- Board Member (2017-Present) 20. Pregnancy Resource Center- Advisory Council (2019-2021) 21. Carroll County Chamber Board Chair 2021 22. St. John School Board of Education (2021- Present)

Hobbies/Interests: 1. St. John Catholic Church Parishioner 2. Knights of Columbus Westminster #1398 2002-Pres 3. Carroll County Cannons Semi-Pro Football (2007-2012) 4. Westminster Karate- Black Belt 5. Fraternal Order of Eagles #4378 (Board 2006-2010 & Vice President) 6. Ravens Nest #23, Westminster (Officer 2001-2007) 7. Towson Rec. Football Coach (2001-2002) 8. Order Sons of Italy 9. Buglers Across America 10. Delta Upsilon Fraternity (President 94-96) 111. Four Year College Football Varsity Letter (1992-1995) 12. Professional Musician- Trumpet (Present)

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This award was issued on 1/1/24 by Five Star Professional (FSP) for the time period 4/10/23 through 10/31/23. Fee paid for use of marketing materials. Self-completed questionnaire was used for rating. This rating is not related to the quality of the investment advice and based solely on the disclosed criteria. 2,149 Baltimore-area wealth managers were considered for the award; 257 (12% of candidates) were named 2024 Five Star Wealth Managers. The following prior year statistics use this format: YEAR: # Considered, # Winners, % of candidates, Issued Date, Research Period. 2023: 2126, 256, 12%, 1/1/23, 4/18/22 - 10/21/22; 2022: 2078, 260, 13%, 1/1/22, 5/10/21 - 11/12/21; 2021: 2029, 237, 12%, 1/1/21, 4/27/20 - 10/30/20; 2020: 1898, 234, 12%, 1/1/20, 4/1/19 - 11/13/19; 2019: 1865, 265, 14%, 1/1/19, 4/19/18 - 11/7/18; 2018: 1759, 232, 13%, 1/1/18, 4/21/17 - 11/6/17; 2017: 1093, 355, 32%, 12/1/16, 3/26/16 - 11/11/16; 2016: 1215, 356, 29%, 12/1/15, 6/16/15 - 11/9/15; 2015: 1749, 412, 24%, 1/1/15, 6/16/14 - 11/9/14; 2014: 1484, 395, 27%, 1/1/14, 6/16/13 - 11/9/13; 2013: 1490, 448, 30%, 1/1/13, 6/16/12 - 11/9/12; 2012: 1470, 262, 18%, 1/1/12, 6/16/11 - 11/9/11.

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Wealth managers do not pay a fee to be considered or placed on the final list of Five Star Wealth Managers. The award is based on 10 objective criteria. Eligibility criteria - required: 1. Credentialed as a registered investment adviser (RIA) or a registered investment adviser representative; 2. Actively licensed as a RIA or as a principal of a registered investment adviser firm for a minimum of 5 years; 3. Favorable regulatory and complaint history review (As defined by FSP, the wealth manager has not; A. Been subject to a regulatory action that resulted in a license being suspended or revoked, or payment of a fine; B. Had more than a total of three settled or pending complaints filed against them and/or a total of five settled, pending, dismissed or denied complaints with any regulatory authority or FSP's consumer complaint process. Unfavorable feedback may have been discovered through a check of complaints registered with a regulatory authority or complaints registered through FSP's consumer complaint process; feedback may not be representative of any one client's experience; C. Individually contributed to a financial settlement of a customer complaint; D. Filed for personal bankruptcy within the past 11 years; E. Been terminated from a financial services firm within the past 11 years; F. Been convicted of a felony); 4. Fulfilled their firm review based on internal standards; 5. Accepting new clients. Evaluation criteria - considered: 6. One-year client retention rate; 7. Five-year client retention rate; 8. Non-institutional discretionary and/or non-discretionary client assets administered; 9. Number of client households served; 10. Education and professional designations. FSP does not evaluate quality of services provided to clients. The award is not indicative of the wealth manager's future performance. Wealth managers may or may not use discretion in their practice and therefore may not manage their clients' assets. The inclusion of a wealth manager on the Five Star Wealth Manager list should not be construed as an endorsement of the wealth manager by FSP or this publication. Working with a Five Star Wealth Manager or any wealth manager is no guarantee as to future investment success, nor is there any guarantee that the selected wealth managers will be awarded this accomplishment by FSP in the future. Visit www.fivestarprofessional.com.