You've worked hard to build your wealth. You deserve an advisor who works just as hard to protect it, grow it, and make sure it lasts. At PointOak, we serve as your personal financial advocate — cutting through the noise so you can make confident decisions about your financial future.
PointOak Retirement Advisors is a full-service wealth advisory firm specializing in retirement planning and wealth management. We were founded on a simple idea: that financial advice should be clear, personal, and always in your best interest.
We take sophisticated financial concepts and explain them in a way that truly makes sense. We know the jargon — but our day-to-day relationships with clients are much more personal than that. We're the team that identifies the gaps in your financial picture, proactively addresses issues before they become problems, and helps streamline your entire financial life.
What makes PointOak different? We bring a dual expertise that few firms can match. Our deep background in corporate retirement plan consulting means we've seen thousands of real-world retirement scenarios across every industry. That experience translates directly into smarter retirement income planning, better investment strategies, and a level of insight that generalist advisors simply don't have.
With three partners, a practice dating back to 2005, and a commitment to serving fewer than 100 clients per advisor, we deliver the kind of high-touch, white-glove service that turns clients into lifelong relationships.
To serve as our clients' personal financial advocate — helping individuals and families build, protect, and maximize their wealth through every stage of life, while guiding businesses toward retirement plan outcomes that truly serve their people.
Whether you're planning for retirement, navigating a life transition, or managing a corporate benefit plan, we believe you deserve independent, fiduciary-level guidance delivered with clarity, accountability, and genuine care.
Every client relationship begins with listening. We follow a straightforward process that puts your goals at the center of everything we do.
We start by getting to know you — your financial picture, your goals, your concerns, and what keeps you up at night. This isn't a questionnaire. It's a real conversation about where you are, where you want to be, and what matters most to you and your family.
Based on what we learn, we build a personalized strategy tailored to your specific situation. From investment management and retirement income planning to tax-efficient strategies and risk management — every recommendation is designed around your life, not a template.
We put your plan into action and stay engaged for the long haul. Markets shift. Life changes. We provide ongoing monitoring, regular reviews, and proactive adjustments so your financial plan evolves as you do. You'll never wonder where things stand.
At every step, you work directly with a partner — not a call center, not a junior associate. That's the kind of direct accountability that makes all the difference.
We're a fee-only, SEC-registered investment advisor. No commissions, no proprietary products, no hidden agendas. Our advice is completely independent — we choose from the entire marketplace to find what's genuinely best for you.
We've been a Full-Scope Fiduciary since inception. That means we're legally obligated to act in your best interest — not just held to a “suitability” standard. It's a higher bar, and it's how we've operated from the very beginning.
Three partners managing $1.08 billion in assets, with fewer than 100 clients per advisor. You won't get handed off to a junior associate. You work directly with experienced partners who know your name, your family, and your goals.
We take complex financial concepts and explain them in a clear, practical way that truly makes sense. You'll always understand the “why” behind every recommendation — no jargon walls, no confusion, no nodding along and hoping for the best.
Our deep background in corporate 401(k) consulting gives us an edge that most private wealth advisors simply don't have. We've analyzed thousands of retirement plans across every industry — which means we understand real-world retirement scenarios at a level of detail that directly benefits your personal retirement income planning and investment strategy.
Not all financial advisors are the same. Here's how an independent RIA like PointOak compares to traditional wirehouses and broker-dealers.
| Feature | PointOak (Independent RIA) | Wirehouse / Broker-Dealer |
|---|---|---|
| Fiduciary Standard | Full-Scope Fiduciary — legally obligated to act in your best interest | Suitability standard — only needs to be "suitable," not best |
| Compensation | Fee-only — no commissions, no hidden incentives | Commissions and proprietary product sales incentives |
| Product Selection | Open architecture — access to the entire marketplace | Limited to firm-approved or proprietary products |
| Independence | 100% independent — no parent company, no conflicts | Employed by a large corporation with its own revenue goals |
| Who You Work With | Directly with partners — fewer than 100 clients per advisor | Branch employees who may manage 300+ households |
| Accountability | Your advisor is an owner with direct accountability to you | Advisors answer to corporate management first |
Founder & Principal
Darsh Makim has been advising clients on their financial futures since 2005. He founded PointOak Retirement Advisors in 2013 with a clear vision: build a firm where every client gets the caliber of advice and attention usually reserved for the ultra-wealthy — delivered with genuine care and zero conflicts of interest.
As a Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC) and Accredited Investment Fiduciary (AIF), Darsh brings deep expertise across wealth management, retirement income planning, and corporate retirement plan consulting. His unique background spanning both private wealth and institutional retirement plans gives clients a perspective that few advisors can offer.
At PointOak, you won't get handed off after the first meeting. You work directly with Darsh and his partners — experienced professionals who are personally accountable to you, who know your goals, and who treat your financial well-being as their own responsibility.
We work with individuals and families who are serious about their financial future — whether you're in the accumulation phase building wealth, approaching retirement and planning your income strategy, already retired and focused on preservation, or navigating an inheritance or business transition.
Based in McLean, Virginia, we serve clients across the DC metro area and nationwide. Our typical clients have $500K or more in investable assets, though we evaluate every relationship on a case-by-case basis. What matters most is that we're the right fit for each other.
We also serve as trusted retirement plan consultants for businesses across the country — including business owners, CFOs, HR directors, and investment committee members managing 401(k) and other retirement programs.
Our corporate retirement plan consulting is one of the foundations PointOak was built on, and it remains a core strength. We serve as named ERISA fiduciaries, provide rigorous provider and fee benchmarking, and deliver the kind of specialized plan oversight that helps protect both fiduciaries and participants.
Comprehensive, personalized financial guidance for every stage of your life:
Strategies designed to turn your savings into reliable, tax-efficient income that lasts through every year of retirement.
Open-architecture portfolio management tailored to your risk tolerance, goals, and timeline — with access to the full marketplace.
A holistic view of your financial picture — from cash flow and debt management to estate planning and insurance needs.
Guidance for the critical years leading up to retirement — maximizing savings, optimizing Social Security, and planning your transition.
Protecting what you've built through tax-efficient strategies, risk management, and thoughtful estate planning.
Expert guidance through inheritances, business sales, divorce, career changes, and other pivotal financial moments.
Specialized consulting for businesses that want to do right by their employees:
Named 3(21) or 3(38) fiduciary services to help you meet ERISA obligations and reduce liability exposure.
Live Bid benchmarking studies that ensure your fees are competitive and your provider is delivering real value.
Quarterly investment monitoring using our proprietary scoring system to keep your plan on track.
Customized plan design recommendations that drive participation, improve outcomes, and align with your goals.
Specialized TDF evaluation and selection aligned with DOL guidelines and your participants' demographics.
Interactive sessions led by licensed advisors to help employees make informed retirement decisions.
Investment advisory services offered through PointOak Retirement Advisors, LLC, an SEC-registered investment advisor. This site is published for residents of the United States only. Not all of the products and services referenced on this site are available in every state and through every representative or advisor listed. PointOak Retirement Advisors, LLC does not provide tax or legal advice.
Schedule a complimentary consultation to discuss your financial goals and how we can help. There's no cost for the initial meeting. No obligation. Just a conversation to see if we're the right fit for your needs.
Our initial consultation typically lasts 30–45 minutes. We'll discuss your goals, current situation, and how we might work together. Come prepared with questions.