Gratus Wealth Management

Helping clients close to or in retirement transition purposefully

Specialized retirement planning for the decumulation stage. Because the next chapter of your life deserves a focused, relationship-first approach.

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The questions that matter most

“When can I retire?”
“How much can I withdraw once I retire?”
“Will I run out of money?”
“When should we start Social Security?”
“Will my family be OK when I’m gone?”

What We Do

Our Services

Gratus Wealth Management caters to clients looking to retire in the next 10 years and people who are already retired. We answer the questions that keep you up at night.

Financial Planning

  • Cash flow planning
  • Retirement planning
  • Decumulation strategy
  • Social Security timing
  • Tax-efficient account withdrawals
  • Transferring wealth
  • Charitable gifting
  • Donor advised funds

Investment Management

  • Holistic approach
  • Risk management
  • Investment discipline
  • Rebalancing
  • Diversification

Our Story

About Gratus

You’ve been working for the last thirty years, most likely balancing raising a family with establishing yourself in the workplace. You have sent your children off to college and into adulthood and have found ways to contribute positively to society. Whatever path you are on, you are most certainly finding enjoyment in all the small things in life.

As we get closer to retirement, most of us consciously or unconsciously ask ourselves “who will I be if I retire?” Our careers have helped us establish an identity in the world and how we serve others. Focusing on the things we are grateful for and being intentional about what we will do with our time and money can help.

That’s where Gratus Wealth Management comes in. Gratus, which in Latin means “grateful,” is a name we chose to convey our firm’s commitment: to help retirees be grateful for what they currently have, the family they are a part of, the precious moments they have experienced, and the laughter that has come with them.

These things which you cherish are important to you, which makes them important to us. At Gratus, we provide you with advice and financial confidence so you can focus on making memories you and your family will be grateful for, for years to come.

Justin Marcus

Founder & CEO

Justin is an Investment Adviser Representative (IAR) registered in the State of Maryland and has passed the Series 65 Securities exam. He provides fee-based investment advisory services through Fortis Capital Advisors, a Registered Investment Advisory firm. He also holds life insurance licenses in Maryland, Virginia, and DC.

As a fiduciary, Justin is required to always put his clients’ needs first. His proprietary processes—The Gratus Approach and The Gratus Flight—focus on the key areas of retirement planning: Income, Investments, Taxes, Health Care, and Legacy.

Justin studied Finance at Towson University and has 11 years of experience in the Financial Services industry. He started Gratus Wealth Management to focus exclusively on planning for the decumulation process.

Who We Serve

Why Gratus is different

Retirement Specialists

Just as you wouldn’t have your primary doctor perform a complex neurosurgery, we believe financial professionals aren’t experts in every area. We specialize exclusively in retirement—our solutions are retirement-focused, not generic wealth management.

Relationship Focused

Instead of using industry jargon and big words, we relate to you as a person, understand your perspective and true needs, then tailor plans to fit your goals.

Holistic & Tax-Efficient

We put together a holistic plan with tax-efficient strategies so you can create retirement income you can’t outlive, fund your travel plans, and take care of your family. While we are not CPAs, we work closely with outside CPAs.

Our People

Meet the Team

Justin Marcus

Justin Marcus

Founder & CEO

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Robert Hagg

Robert Hagg

Director of Wealth Strategies

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Karol Krucinski

Karol Krucinski

Head of Portfolio Management

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Roman Moldavsky

Roman Moldavsky

Head of Operations

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Get In Touch

Contact Us

We’d love to hear from you

Office
11810 Grand Park Ave, Suite 500
Rockville, MD 20852

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Legal

Disclosures

Gratus Wealth Management offers Investment Advice through Fortis Capital Advisors, LLC, 7301 Mission Road Suite 326, Prairie Village, KS 66208. Additional information about Fortis Capital Advisors is available on the SEC’s website at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov. Fortis Capital Advisors, LLC is an investment adviser registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Registration with the SEC should not be construed to imply that the SEC has approved or endorsed qualifications or services Fortis Capital Advisors and/or Gratus Wealth Management offers, or that its personnel possess a particular level of skill, expertise or training.

While the Advisor uses reasonable efforts to obtain information from sources believed to be reliable, the Advisor makes no representation that the information or opinions contained in this website are accurate, reliable, or complete. All information and opinions contained in this website are subject to change without notice.

All investments carry a degree of risk, and there can be no assurance that the future performance of any specific investment or investment strategy proposed or implemented by a representative of Gratus Wealth Management and/or Fortis Capital Advisors LLC will be profitable or achieve proposed investment objectives. Past performance should not be considered indicative of future results.

This website is limited to the dissemination of general information pertaining to advisory services. Nothing available on this website constitutes specific investment advice, tax or accounting advice, legal insurance or regulatory advice or an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any security.

Fraud Prevention Guidance

Stay Alert Against Fraud And Suspicious Activity

At Fortis Capital Advisors, safeguarding our clients, prospective investors, vendors, and employees from fraud is a top priority. We exclusively communicate through verified and official channels, such as recognized phone numbers, company email addresses, and in-person meetings. We do not engage in business or provide investment advice via private messaging apps like WhatsApp, WeChat, Telegram, Signal, or similar platforms. Moreover, Fortis will never provide investment advice, ask for sensitive personal information, or request payments through these unofficial methods.

Unfortunately, scammers may attempt to impersonate our employees or misuse the Fortis name to deceive others. Below are some common types of fraud and important tips on how to protect yourself. Please remember Fortis will never ask for your user name or password for any service.

Common Types Of Fraud

Fraudsters often use advanced methods to impersonate legitimate companies, including Fortis, in attempts to exploit individuals and organizations. Be cautious of the following schemes:

Email Phishing

Fraudulent emails may appear to come from a trusted source, asking for sensitive information, requesting payments, or prompting you to click on harmful links. These scams can lead to malicious websites or the installation of malware on your devices.

Text Phishing

In addition to being aware of email phishing scams, you might also receive text messages phishing for information from seemingly reputable companies. These text requests might mention changes to your account or ask you to verify your identity. Do not click on any links sent via text and contact your advisor immediately.

Impersonation Of Fortis Employees

Scammers may try to imitate Fortis employees by using our logos, creating fraudulent websites, or contacting you via unofficial channels. Always verify the authenticity of communications by checking that they originate from Fortis’ official domain.

Phone Scams (Telemarketing)

Fraudsters may use phone-based schemes, including AI-powered voice impersonation, to deceive victims. They may claim you’ve won a prize, threaten legal action, or ask for personal information under false pretenses.

Identity Theft

Cybercriminals may attempt to steal your personal or financial information, such as Social Security numbers, to access your banking, credit, or investment accounts for illicit gain.

Cryptocurrency Scams

Scammers may use fake relationships to lure victims into fraudulent cryptocurrency platforms or wallets. These schemes often result in significant financial loss, targeting those unfamiliar with digital currencies.

Charity Fraud

In the wake of major disasters or crises, scammers may pose as representatives of charitable organizations to solicit donations. Be especially cautious of unsolicited requests via social media or crowdfunding platforms.

“Don’t tell your advisor” Scams

Look out for fraudsters trying to convince you to take action such as move money, sell securities, or transfer your account and urge you to not tell your advisor or their compliance department.

Warning Signs Of Fraud

Look out for these red flags:

  • Unsolicited requests for personal information or money via phone, email, or text.
  • Unexplained charges or withdrawals from your accounts.
  • Urgent communications designed to pressure you into taking quick action, such as time-limited offers or threats of penalties.
  • New or unfamiliar accounts or inquiries appearing on your credit report.
  • Fraudulent “Officials” trying to convince you that your Fortis advisor might be the one who is scamming you, forcing you to hide the real scam from your advisor.
  • Urgent requests to share or provide control of your computer screen.
  • Requests for user names or passwords.

Steps To Protect Yourself

Being proactive is the best defense against fraud. Here’s how you can protect your personal information and assets:

  • Avoid opening attachments or clicking links from unfamiliar sources.
  • Always verify calls by contacting the organization directly through a trusted number.
  • Scrutinize email addresses and website URLs for slight misspellings or other inconsistencies.
  • Use strong, unique passwords and update them frequently.
  • Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on your accounts where possible.
  • Limit the amount of personal information you share online, particularly on social media.
  • Block suspicious calls and texts.
  • Consider using identity protection services offered by reputable credit bureaus.
  • Never share or give control of your computer screen to a third party.

Reporting Fraud Or Suspicious Activity

If you believe you’ve encountered fraudulent activity involving Fortis Capital Advisors, please contact Fortis’ compliance department at compliance@Fortiscapitaladvisors.com or (414) 312-4579.

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