Riley Saunders is a CFP® professional specializing in the intersection of investment management and behavioral finance. Riley designs wealth strategies that align financial logic with personal objectives.
"Understanding where you've come from is the first step to understanding where you're going."
— Riley Saunders, CFP®
Effective wealth management requires more than technical logic; it requires a deep understanding of the human perspective. Standard advice often assumes that investors are acting in a rational manner, yet wealth is almost always managed through the lens of individual history and emotional complexity.
A strategy that ignores the human element is structurally incomplete.
Riley Saunders is a second-generation CFP® professional and a graduate of Virginia Tech's Finance program. Riley studied financial planning under Dr. Ruth Lytton in one of the nation's premier CFP Board-registered tracks.
Riley also holds a Master's degree in Personal Financial Planning from Kansas State University, studying under Dr. Megan McCoy and concentrating on the psychology behind personal finance. As a student of the profession, Riley continues to work on ways to help clients navigate the unconscious beliefs and behaviors that shape their financial journey.
My approach is built on the philosophy that a truly comprehensive financial plan requires a symphony of expertise, not just a solo performance. While I serve as the primary "conductor" of your strategy, I work in lockstep with a dedicated team of specialists.
By integrating the technical insights of Cassaday & Company's in-house tax, estate, and investment professionals, we bridge the gap between complex financial silos to create one seamless, synchronized roadmap. This collaborative model allows us to address the nuances of career transitions and wealth management with a level of precision that a generalist approach simply can't match.
Tax Planning Estate Planning Insurance Planning Investment Management Career & Life Transitions Comprehensive Wealth Management ↗The work I'm most proud of happens in the room with clients — but these recognitions reflect a commitment to pushing the profession forward.
I entered this profession to honor my father — a CFP® professional himself — making me a proud second-generation planner. My approach to financial planning is built on the belief that an advisor must understand who you are before they can manage what you have.
I am also a third-generation Virginia Tech Hokie, a collector of records, and an avid basketball fan. I live in Vienna, Virginia with my wife, Yagna, our son, Theodore, and our Golden Retriever, Riva.
Whether you're navigating a major transition or ensuring your portfolio reflects your personal objectives, I invite you to start a strategic conversation.
riley@cassaday.com · 703-506-8200
Cassaday & Company, Inc. · 8180 Greensboro Drive, Suite 1180 · McLean, VA 22102