Bel Air is Harford County’s seat, and many of our neighbors’ financial lives run through it: school and county pensions, hospital careers, home equity and Maryland’s tax rules. We’ll help you turn those pieces into one plan you understand.
See if You’re a Fit
Chesapeake Financial Planners is a fee-based fiduciary financial planning and investment management firm in Forest Hill, Maryland, led by Jeff Judge, CFP®, and Mark Rossbach, CPA. It serves professionals, business owners, retirees and families in Harford County and the Baltimore metro area, and clients nationwide through TeleWealth. Chesapeake Financial Planners sits on Scotlon Court in Forest Hill, a few minutes from Bel Air, serving families and business owners across Harford County and the broader Baltimore metro.
Many Bel Air households aren’t short on effort. They’re short on a single picture: a pensionA defined benefit retirement plan where your employer promises a specific monthly payment for life in retirement, typically based on salary and years of service. Pensions are increasingly rare in the private sector but remain common in government and some union jobs — and if you have one, understanding your payout options is an important financial decision. statement in one folder, a 403(b) or 457(b) in another, a house that has quietly become the biggest asset, and a will nobody has reread in years. Our job is to pull those pieces together and tell you, plainly, what comes next.
Turn savings, Social Security and any pension into a paycheck you can count on, with a withdrawal order built around Maryland and federal taxes.
For Harford County Public Schools, county government and hospital employees: how your pension, 403(b) or 457(b), and Social Security fit together.
Portfolios managed with an eye on what you keep after taxes, including the Harford County local income tax that sits on top of Maryland’s state rate.
Maryland has both an estate taxA federal (and sometimes state) tax on the transfer of assets to heirs at death, assessed on the total estate value above the applicable exemption. The federal exemption is $15 million per person in 2026: the 2025 law known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act set it at that level, indexed for inflation after 2026, with no scheduled sunset. and an inheritance tax. We work alongside your estate attorney on beneficiariesThe people or entities designated to receive your assets when you die — through retirement accounts, life insurance policies, or trusts. Keeping beneficiary designations current is one of the simplest but most overlooked parts of estate planning, and outdated designations can completely override what your will says., titling and trusts so the documents match the plan.
Use the Maryland 529A tax-advantaged savings account designed for education expenses, where contributions grow tax-free and withdrawals are tax-free when used for qualified education costs. Recent rule changes also allow unused 529 funds to be rolled into a Roth IRA, adding flexibility you may not have had before. state income tax deduction on purpose, and decide how college savings fit next to your own retirement goals.
Selling a Bel Air home to downsize or move? We plan for the capital gainsThe profit you make when you sell an asset for more than you paid for it. Short-term gains (assets held less than a year) are taxed at your ordinary income rate; long-term gains (held more than a year) qualify for preferential rates of 0%, 15%, or 20% — a meaningful difference that shapes many investment decisions. question and for what the proceeds should do next.
The local details that most often change a Bel Air household’s plan.
ZIP codes: Maryland Department of Planning, Harford County ZIP Code Areas map (2010); neighboring ZIPs from U.S. Census Bureau 2020 ZIP Code Tabulation Area boundaries.
Headquartered in Bel Air. Maryland Teachers’ Pension System benefits alongside a 403(b) or 457(b).
Based in the county seat. Pension, 457(b) and Social Security timing.
In Bel Air. Healthcare professionals weighing employer retirement plans, insurance and the timing of retirement.
Forest Hill is a few minutes from Bel Air. We also have an office in Perry Hall, in Baltimore County, and meet clients by video through TeleWealth.
Of our three offices (Forest Hill, Perry Hall and Lewes, Delaware), Forest Hill is the nearest to Bel Air. Come in, or meet on screen through TeleWealth.
Jeff Judge, CFP®, AEP®, ChFC®, CLU®, and Mark Rossbach, CPA, RICP®.**
The R.U.D.D.E.R. Method™ is our six-step process for building, putting in place and maintaining a coordinated plan.
Harford County pensions, the county income tax, Maryland’s estate and inheritance taxes and property assessments are the questions we write about and work through every week.
Mark and Jeff have handled my finances for over a decade. They have been great stewards for my investments which have grown substantially. They listen to my goals and give me recommendations and options to carry them out. I highly recommend them.
I have been extremely pleased with Mark’s services over the last 15 years and would very highly recommend. Mark has taken the time to get to know my needs, interests, long and short term goals. We evaluate my portfolio yearly for any adjustments, reevaluation, or study trends. Mark objectively presents the pros and cons of options, answers questions, and leaves the final decision to me. I have never felt pressured and always appreciate how understood and listened to I have felt. More recently I have had some opportunity to work with Jeff as well. Mark and Jeff present a unified team who want to make your investments work for your needs.
I have had the pleasure of entrusting my finances with Jeff and Mark for many years. Their expertise and advice are invaluable. My portfolio has grown significantly and has allowed me to retire comfortably with tremendous financial security. Mark is always available to answer my questions and provide solutions. I highly recommend Chesapeake Financial Planners.
Mark and Jeff have been my retirement advisors since 2011 and I could not be happier with them. They are knowledgeable and easy to talk with. They respond quickly to any questions and clearly explain all my options. I have been retired for 5 years and am fully confident that my financial future will continue to improve as it has so far with them. I would recommend them to anyone, and I only wish that I had met them sooner.
I have been working with Mark and Jeff for 10+ years. I recently asked for a review of my financial plan and was provided outstanding feedback that provided me a much better solution.
I am delighted with LPL. They’ve stayed with me for years and Jeff Judge has been exceptionally helpful. I’ve gotten good advice. He’s managed my assets professionally and has always been available answer my questions. He helped me consolidate several accounts into one manageable asset. He took the guesswork out of what could have been a complicated process. I trust him to be there and guide me through issues in which I have no expertise. But he does this all the time and has proven to be trustworthy. I do recommend Mr. Judge. You will not be disappointed.
My husband and I met Mark and Jeff in 2014 when my husband left his job after 23 years. We met with Mark and Jeff to decide where to invest his retirement money. Before that decision was made, they took their time to understand our entire financial picture and based on that they gave us several options on where we could invest. They were very easy to talk with and made the conversation easy to understand. They are easy to get in touch with if you have questions and provide answers quickly. When it came time for me to retire, I also rolled my retirement investments into accounts managed by Mark and Jeff. We have also setup our estate planning as well as long term health planning based on advice we have had in review meetings in the years following our initial meeting. We have even referred our daughter and son in law to them. Highly satisfied with the investment service and customer service.
I check in with Mark a couple times a year and he always helps me keep my money that he manages growing. He also helps us with general advise regarding the type of places our 401kAn employer-sponsored retirement savings account that lets you contribute pre-tax dollars, reducing your taxable income today while your money grows tax-deferred until retirement. Many employers also match contributions — which is essentially free money you don't want to leave on the table. money should be (growth vs value, etc)
Jeff has been helping me since 2014 with life insurance and retirement investment products. After a bad experience with a big insurance company, I found Mark and I’ve been working with him ever since. I’m successfully retired now and will begin drawing on my investments this year. I highly recommend Chesapeake Financial Planners for your retirement planning. – Mark G.
Jeff has been my financial advisor/ planner for several years. He has always guided me in the right direction and I have seen my retirement account continuously moving in the right direction. During the current uncertainty of the financial world right now Jeff has given me peace of mind that I continue to be in a safe and secure position with my finances. Jeff is very professional and quick to respond to my emails. As I approach my retirement years it is comforting to know my finances will be there when I need them.
I have been working with Jeff Judge and Chesapeake Financial Planners for about 3 years. Jeff has provided timely and well considered advice and acted promptly when I’ve needed access and changes to my portfolio. Highly recommend their services.
We have worked with Jeff at Chesapeake Financial Planners for over 10 years. Throughout that time he has provided valuable investment and retirement information. Our investments have navigated this turbulent market far better than expected. Thank you Jeff.
I’ve been working with Chesapeake Financial Planners for a little over six years, and it’s been an outstanding experience. They’re knowledgeable, responsive, and consistently provide clear, personalized advice that aligns with my financial goals. Their long-term commitment and reliability have given me real peace of mind.
Free planning calculators for the decisions above.
Maryland taxes estates above $5 million and some inheritances. See what your heirs could owe.
For HCPS and county employees who can use both plans.
Compare taking a pension as a check each month or as one payment.
Monthly savings needed for a child’s education goal.
Federal, Maryland and Medicare IRMAAIncome-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount — a surcharge added to your Medicare Part B and Part D premiums if your income exceeds certain thresholds. Based on your income from two years prior, IRMAA can add thousands of dollars per year to your Medicare costs, making income management in the years before Medicare enrollment a critical planning opportunity. effects of a conversion.
Estimate care costs and how they fit in a retirement plan.
Our closest office to Bel Air is at 2402 Scotlon Ct, Forest Hill, MD 21050, a few minutes from Bel Air. We meet clients there Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and also meet virtually through TeleWealth if driving in does not suit your schedule.
A fee-only advisor is paid solely through fees you pay directly and earns no product commissions. A fee-based advisor charges fees but may also earn commissions on some products, such as insurance. Both can act as fiduciaries. Knowing which model an advisor uses tells you where potential conflicts of interest may exist, so always ask. We’re fee-based and use the fiduciary standard.*
It means they’re legally and ethically required to put your interests first.* A fiduciary must give advice that’s best for you. That includes full transparency about fees, conflicts of interest, and recommendations.
It depends on the advisor, but here’s how we do things at Chesapeake: Flat annual fee for planning: Our comprehensive financial planning and personal oversight ranges from $3,000 to $10,000 per year, depending on the complexity of your situation. Optional investment management: We charge a percentage of assets under management. That starts around 1.3% for smaller portfolios and decreases to as low as 0.35% as your assets grow. We’re also licensed to offer commission-based products (like life insurance), but we only recommend them when they’re in your best interest and we’ll always disclose how we’re compensated.
Bel Air residents pay Harford County’s local income tax, which is 3.06% for 2026 according to the Comptroller of Maryland, on top of Maryland’s state income tax. Because the county tax is figured on Maryland taxable income, strategies that lower your state taxable income usually lower your county tax too.
Treat the pension as your income floor, then decide how a 403(b) or 457(b) and Social Security fill the gap. Many Harford County Public Schools teachers earn a Maryland Teachers’ Pension System benefit, and county government employees typically pair a pension with a 457(b). When you claim each benefit often matters more than which account you use.
Maryland does not tax Social Security benefits. It does tax most other retirement income, including IRA withdrawals and pensions, though retirees 65 or older (or totally disabled) may subtract part of their eligible pension income through Maryland’s pension exclusion. Harford County’s local income tax applies to what remains after state subtractions.
Use three free public tools. CFP Board’s Verify a CFP® Professional confirms certification and any discipline. FINRA BrokerCheck shows a registered representative’s licenses, history and disclosures. The SEC’s Investment Adviser Public Disclosure site shows adviser registration and Form ADV. Check every advisor you are considering, including us.
*Advisors are only obligated to apply the fiduciary standard in advisory relationships. They are not legally obligated to apply the fiduciary standard when working in Brokerage only relationships
**Mark Rossbach is the only advisor who has attained the RICP and CPA Designations and Jeff Judge is the only advisor who has attained the CFP, ChFC and CLU Designations
Book a short “Fit Call” to see if we’re the right partner for your financial life. No pressure, no jargon, just a conversation focused on your goals and whether our approach makes sense for your needs.