Our Advisors

Our Advisors

Click on the photo or name of the any of our advisors to learn more about their experience and credentials. 

Michael J. Ward, ChFC®, AIFA®

Founder and President

Michael is the founder and president of Wealth Management Partners, LLC, a Pittsburgh-based wealth management firm. Prior to establishing WMP in 2001, Michael was the associate managing director of the Acacia Financial Center of Pittsburgh. During his 16 years with Acacia, Michael held a variety of management positions.

Michael is a Registered Representative, Investment Adviser Representative, and securities principal with Commonwealth Financial Services® (Member FINRA/SIPC). 

In addition, Michael is a Chartered Financial Consultant®, holds the Accredited Investment Fiduciary Analyst® (AIFA®) designation, and maintains FINRA Series 7, 24, 63, and 65 securities registrations. Michael’s primary focus is on providing financial and investment advice based on the client’s long-term goals and objectives.

Michael lives in Beaver, Pennsylvania, with his wife and two children. He is a member of the Saints Peter and Paul Church finance council and the Brighton Township zoning board. His hobbies include skiing, boating, and family time.

Chairmans_seal
 

Michael J. Ward, ChFC®, AIFA® is proud to have been recognized as a Chairman's Level advisor for 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019—a distinction based on annual production attained by just 3 percent of advisors affiliated with Commonwealth Financial Network®.

Each year, Commonwealth, the Registered Investment Adviser–broker/dealer that helps us process investment transactions on your behalf, recognizes Chairman's Level advisors by inviting them to an exclusive gathering of their peers, leading industry experts, and Commonwealth home office staff. Chairman's Level advisors benefit from an intensive learning and networking experience designed to help them hone their expertise, share best practices, and provide ever-higher levels of service, education, and leadership to their clients.

Office Location:
790 Holiday Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15220
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R. Ashley Webb, MBA, AIF®, CFP®

Wealth Manager

Ashley focuses on what he calls elegantly simple financial planning. He has refined this process through his diverse background as a financial advisor. It includes work experience in the insurance industry as a financial services representative for New England Financial and previous investment research experience at a Pittsburgh-based financial advisory firm. 

Ashley holds an MBA from California State University in Bakersfield, California, and a BA from Westminster College in New Wilmington, Pennsylvania. He is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional; is licensed in life, accident, health, and disability insurance; and holds FINRA Series 7, 63, and 66 securities registrations through Commonwealth Financial Network®.

Ashley enjoys antiquing, home restoration, rock 'n' roll, classic movies, and classic cars.  He currently resides with his wife and daughter in the historic Allegheny West community of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Office Location:
790 Holiday Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15220
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Brendan M. Ward, AIF®

Wealth Manager

Brendan joined Wealth Management Partners, LLC, as an investment research assistant in January 2011. After graduating from Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, he worked as a financial solutions advisor at Merrill Lynch.

Brendan holds FINRA Series 7 and 66 securities registrations through Commonwealth Financial Network®.  He is also an Accredited Investment Fiduciary (AIF®) and is licensed life, accident, health, and disability insurance.  He resides in Highland Park with his wife, Courtney, and son, James. Brendan is an avid Pittsburgh sports fan and enjoys spending time with his family.

Office Location:
790 Holiday Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15220
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Melissa S. Maxwell, CFP®, CLTC

Wealth Manager

Melissa (Missy) is an original member of Wealth Management Partners, LLC, since the firm's inception in November 2001. She enjoys assisting WMP clients with all aspects of the financial planning process to help them pursue their goals. She graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a BS in psychology/business. Melissa is a registered representative of Commonwealth Financial Network®, (Member FINRA/SIPC) and holds FINRA Series 6, 7, and 63 securities registrations. She is licensed in life, health, and accident insurance. In addition, Melissa holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification and is Certified in Long-Term Care (CLTC).

Office Location:
790 Holiday Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15220
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John Yee, MBA, AIF®

Wealth Manager

John has been a registered representative of Commonwealth Financial Network® (Member FINRA/SIPC) since 2002. Prior to his work in the financial services industry in 1992, John held a number of engineering and management positions for a multinational company.

He holds the Accredited Investment Fiduciary® (AIF®) certification and maintains securities registrations in a number of states. He also holds life, health, and accident insurance licenses.

John’s practice focuses on wealth accumulation, orderly income distribution, and wealth transfer for high-income and high-net-worth families.

He is a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University, the University of Pittsburgh, and Kent State University with a BS in sciences/engineering and an MBA. An Army veteran, John is also a graduate of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

John and his wife, Susana, live in Beaver, Pennsylvania. They are the parents of three grown children and proud grandparents of eight.

Office Location:
790 Holiday Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15220
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Eric E. Elek, CFP®

Wealth Manager

Eric is the founder and president of Elek Wealth Management, LLC, and has been a registered representative of Commonwealth Financial Network® (Member FINRA/SIPC), since 2001. Prior to joining Commonwealth, Eric was a registered representative with The Advisors Group.

Eric is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional holding FINRA Series 6, 7, 63, and 65 securities registrations, and is life, health, and accident insurance licensed. Eric helps high-net-worth individuals design a financial plan that is tailored to their unique situation while managing investable assets in a broadly diversified manner.

Eric graduated from Texas A&M University with a BS in finance. While at Texas A&M, he was a nationally ranked tennis player on the Aggie tennis team. The relationships that were initially created at A&M gave Eric the opportunity to build a strong client base in Texas to complement his Western Pennsylvania client base. Along with tennis, Eric, his wife, Elizabeth, and son, Henrik love to explore the great outdoors of Western Pennsylvania with their primary residence in Ligonier, Pennsylvania. Elizabeth and Henrik also enjoy the opportunities to accompany Eric on his regularly scheduled trips to Texas to visit friends and family.

Office Location:
112 North Market Street, Ligonier, PA 15658
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A. Dennis Muia, CLU®, ChFC®

Wealth Manager

Dennis is the founder and president of Muia Financial Corporation located in Ligonier, Pennsylvania. He joined Commonwealth Financial Network® (Member FINRA/SIPC) as a Registered Representative in March 2023. In addition, Dennis is a Chartered Financial Consultant® and maintains a FINRA Series 6 securities registration. Prior to joining Commonwealth, Dennis was affiliated with Cambridge Investment Research and Cambridge Investment Research Advisor, Inc., and TD Ameritrade and/or Pershing, LLC, all Members of FINRA/SIPC.

Having founded Muia Financial in 1974, Dennis specializes in all areas of business and personal life insurance, estate planning, employee benefits, investment, and retirement planning.  

Dennis has been recognized by his peers and the industry over the years and has received many awards and certifications.

Dennis lives in Ligonier, Pennsylvania, with his wife, Tina.  In his free time, he enjoys woodworking and spending time with his family.

Office Location:

1118 Griffith Road, Ligonier, PA 15658