Sam Brownell, CVA, CFA, MBA has been a financial professional since 2006 and formed Stratus Capital Management in July 2013 to provide goals-based financial planning and investment management to individuals, families, and independent business owners. As the firm grew, an increasing number of independent business owners sought Sam’s advice on their short and long-term planning needs, including valuation, tax strategy, business continuity planning, and succession planning. In 2019, Sam obtained the CVA certification from the National Association of Certified Valuators and Analysts (NACVA) in order to better serve the valuation and succession planning needs of his independent business owner clients.
Sam earned his BA in Economics from Loyola University in Maryland and his MBA from the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business. Prior to forming Stratus, Sam worked in trading, valuation, and research at two investment banks, where he became a CFA Charterholder, and was an economic consultant analyzing structured financial products and other fixed income securities.
In his free time, Sam gives back to his community as treasurer of a local, DC-area non-profit focused on teaching children to swim, and he is also an avid fly fisherman. Sam and his wife, Sara, reside in Kensington, MD, with their sons Felix and Finn.
Amanda Monschein joined Stratus Wealth Advisors in January 2022, bringing over a decade of expertise in the financial services industry. She specializes in advising small business owners, leveraging her skills to analyze operations and streamline processes for growth and increased profitability. Amanda's diverse experience spans financial services, television production, healthcare, non-profit organizations, and education.
With over 20 years of hands-on client service experience, Amanda excels in financial planning, estate planning, asset consolidation, and fraud detection. She has a proven track record of assisting seniors, busy professionals, small business owners, and adults with disabilities in managing their finances and planning for the future. Her previous role as a Senior Financial Analyst for a publicly traded healthcare company involved delivering data analysis and projections for stockholders while ensuring SEC compliance.
Amanda earned her degree from Wake Forest University. Outside of work, she enjoys cheering on her children at sports events and relaxing on the beach with her family and dogs. A native of Montgomery County, MD, Amanda proudly resides there with her husband, two children, and dogs.