Our Qualifications

Crescent Financial, an office of MetLife, was formed when Robert (Ali) Virden, President and founder of the independent financial services firm,  Crescent Financial LLC, joined forces with MetLife's Ambassador Financial Group in Rockville, Maryland.*   "I am honored be a part of MetLife, perhaps the best known brand name in the financial services industry, and believe that the clients we serve at Crescent Financial, an office of MetLife, stand to benefit from the wide range of the highest quality financial services and investment advisory programs available."   In his most recent role prior to the Crescent Financial project, Mr. Virden was Director, Eastern U.S., for Saturna Capital, the portfolio manager for the Amana Mutual funds. Born in Baltimore in 1965, Mr. Virden earned his B.S. in Finance at the University of Maryland. He has more than 20 years of  experience in the capacity as a Financial Advicer in the investment industry with firms including Merrill Lynch, UBS Financial Services, Salomon Smith Barney and Legg Mason Wood Walker as well as Branch and Sales Manangement at Smith Barney and Legg Mason.  Of particular note, while in management with Smith Barney, he appeared in a series of short films which aired on United Airlines Flightsa about important individual retirement (IRA) issues concerning distributions, required mandatory distributions (RMD's) and beneficiary designations.   As a Branch Manager, has been quoted in several noteworthy newspapers during turbulent market periods.

Robert is a member of the University Club of Washington DC and the National Capital Lyme Disease Association, U.M.A.A. and the Muslim Congress, attending their annual conferences as well as having attended ISNA, MAS, and ICNA conferences.  Residing in Potomac, MD, Robert (Ali) coaches youth lacrosse and plays for the Capital Masters Lacrosse Club.  A convert to Islam, Ali, the name he chase upon his conversion, has a passion for studying, learning, and promoting interfaith efforts in the community. He also helps teach classes on a part-time basis at the Muslim Community School on business entrepreneurialism for high school students.

 * www.crescentfinancial.Net  has been under construction during this transition.  We apologize for the delays in completing the changes necessary to bring our site back online.

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