Our team is broad and broad-minded to guide you in your transition and in continued growth.

Experienced and passionate entrepreneurs

From MBAs to CPAs, from CFPs to JDs, we provide extensive expertise in a wide range of related fields. We tap our team depending on your specific needs and situation.

David Blisk

Chief Executive Officer

David Blisk, CEO of Spire Investment Partners, LLC, has made his mark on the leading edge of the financial services industry – especially the independent financial advisor channel. Describing himself as a “large break-away broker,” David made news when he left one of the major wire-houses in February of 1997 and established Spire Investment Partners, LLC, in McLean, Virginia.
David’s vision is that Spire is a home for financial advisors who want to be independent in their investment choices but do not want to worry about the daily administrative and management chores. At Spire, advisors own their respective practices. David and his team work to provide state of the art access to a number of leading vendor partners and the back-office support necessary to function in today's highly regulated environment.
Since Spire’s inception in 1997, with $90 million under management, Spire now consults to excess of $1.7 billion for high net worth individuals. Spire operates with near 40 consulting teams, which include 70+ individual licensed consultants working in numerous locations around the country. Wealth Manager Magazine ranked the firm as one of its top financial advisory firms six consecutive years from 2004 through 2010.
Spire is a boutique firm that is built on the hybrid model. Spire is first an SEC Registered Investment Advisor and second a FINRA broker/dealer, not the other way around. Under David’s leadership, Spire is unique in that it established relationships with three of the industry’s leading clearing firms. David believes that technology is an integral part of business that can help advisors reach their goals and improve process efficiency. Cloud computing, data survivability and a document imaging system are examples of the innovative technology available at Spire.
David firmly believes that consultants should be supported to develop their own brand identity and advertise their individual strengths. As such, Spire was first to establish an in-house marketing and creative design group to differentiate its consultants from their competitors.
Under his leadership, Spire has launched a major expansion program in 2009. David envisions developing new relationships and enhancing Spire’s exposure across the country. Spire was recently featured in a national advertising campaign by a major custodian that bestowed on him the title of “Mr. Hybrid.” This year Spire will also be exhibiting at two major national conferences -- IMCA & FPA.
With more than 20 years of combined experience as a wire-house broker and leading an independent firm, David is a frequent speaker on industry trends, and in particular: “going independent” for wire-house representatives. He is periodically featured in publications such as: in Financial Advisor magazine, Investment News, Registered Rep magazine, and Financial-Planning.com.
David is a Distinguished Graduate of the US Air Force Academy, has an MBA from Wright State University, and a JD from Duke University’s School of Law. A former USAF Judge Advocate, David served 13 years of active duty and retired from the USAF Reserve in 2003. Prior to founding Spire, David rose to the level of Sr.VP and Sr.IMC at Smith Barney in McLean, VA.
David is active in numerous alumni, civic, social and church activities:

Steering Committee Member of the ’78 Challenge funding the Holoday Athletic Center at the US Air Force Academy
Chaired the Pipe Organ installation effort for Good Shepherd Lutheran Church.
A 10 year participant in Dan Sullivan’s: “The Strategic Coach” Program

Member of both FSI and IMCA

Paul T. Murphy

Chief Marketing Officer, Executive Vice President

Paul T. Murphy is the Chief Marketing Officer with Spire Investment Partners. Paul is responsible for integrating, acquiring and merging existing Wealth Management Practices into Spire Investment Partners , as well as, overseeing the organic growth of the Spire Sales Solutions Platform.

Paul comes to Spire after 7 years as a Financial Consultant with Merrill Lynch and 7 years as a Branch Manager for Morgan Stanley.

Paul is a graduate of Villanova University from which he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting and minored in Business Law. Prior to his financial services industry career he served for 10 years as a United States Air Force fighter pilot. Paul has broad business and life experience having served as, among other things, the non-Executive Chairman of a privately held manufacturing firm and as Founding President of a local Villanova University Alumni Association Chapter.

He resides in West Chester, PA, with his daughter and son. When not watching or coaching lacrosse, football, basketball or field hockey he enjoys a round of golf and is an avid reader.

Chris Wilkinson

Director of Business Relations, Vice President

Chris Wilkinson is the VP, Director of Business
Relations. He is responsible for supporting the business growth of Wealth Advisors associated with Spire Investment Partners. Chris also works to facilitate the affiliation process for existing financial
services practices into Spire Investment Partners family of elite practices. Additionally, he manages the relationships with our partners at Fidelity, Pershing and Schwab to ensure that Spire Investment
Partners have all of the resources required to provide exceptional service as well as access to top- shelf products for their clients.

Chris is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University. His 16+ years’ experience in the financial services industry transcends the entire industry from the wire house to the independent channels in a variety of positions including wealth manager, business coach and branch manager. He is proud to have earned a reputation as a strong advisor advocate within in the industry.

Chris and his wife, Meredith, have two beautiful daughters, Riley and Kendall. Chris and Meredith stay busy keeping up with the girls’ activities, particularly supporting their love for theater.

Sue McKeown

Chief Compliance Officer, Vice President

Sue McKeown is a Vice President and the Chief Compliance Officer for Spire Investment Partners, LLC where she is responsible for Spire’s firm wide compliance including Anti-Money Laundering, Audit and Review processes, Continuing Education, Registration and Licensing, Compliance Training, establishment and review of the firms written supervisory processes and procedures. She is the point of contact for regulatory inquiries and examinations.

Ms. McKeown entered the financial services industry in 1982. Her experience spans both retail and institutional as well as with fully disclosed correspondent firms and self –clearing firms. She is a member of the National Society of Compliance Professionals.

Sue is a native of the Northern Virginia area. Earning a BS in Business Administration from George Mason University. A proud graduate of the Leadership Loudoun class of 2005 she is active in the local non-profit community.

Steven Donald

Operations Director, Vice President

Steven Donald is Vice President, Operations Director. Steve is responsible for operations, customer service, trade compliance and transitions for Spire Investment Partners, LLC. He is a key member of Spire’s conversion team that setup Spire Securities and Spire Insurance Agency, established dealer relationships and converted all of the company’s accounts.

Prior to joining Spire he spent 14 years as the president and COO of two bank-owned broker-dealers/RIAs where he was responsible for sales, compliance and operations. Steve managed an independent regional broker-dealer for six years successfully converting the firm to a full service broker-dealer and RIA. Most recently he was the head of banking operations for an internet bank where he was responsible for developing and implementing technologies to improve operating efficiencies. He is a graduate of George Mason University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration.

Stuart Brawley

Finance Director, Vice President

Stuart Brawley is the Vice President, Finance Director with Spire Investment Partners, LLC. Stuart joined Spire in 2008 and brings with him 13 years experience in the investment advisory industry which he acted as the Corporate Controller, General Securities Principal and Financial Operations Principal.

Stuart was born in Queens NY and raised in Maryland. He graduated from University of Maryland where he earned a bachelor of science in accounting. He holds a CPA license in the state of Virginia and securities licenses including the Series 7, 24 &27.

He now lives with his wife Jenny in Virginia. Stuart and Jenny spend much of their free time working with animal rescue groups and helping pet owners with dog behavior training.