Financial planning, for Capital River Wealth Management (CRWM) founder Daniel Schiffman, has always been a discipline that hits close to home. He experienced a significant loss early on in life when his father passed away on Thanksgiving Eve of his high school senior year. One of the things he remembers most about that time was how his family’s financial reality shifted suddenly, and the challenges his mother faced as she began to sort through their affairs. Dan decided that he wanted to help other families have greater peace of mind. He began as a financial advisor with Northwestern Mutual in 1998, and as of 2025, has been with the financial services provider for 27 years.
His early choice to affiliate with Northwestern Mutual – a partnership he has continued after founding CRWM – wasn’t undertaken lightly.
“I did over a year of research before choosing a financial services firm,” he says, “and I met with several. What it came down to was Northwestern Mutual’s values.”
In particular, the principles that stood out to Dan most were Northwestern Mutual’s commitment to taking the long view and doing the right thing on behalf of clients.
“The question Northwestern Mutual is always trying to answer is, ‘What is in our clients’ best interest?’ They always do the right thing, even if it isn’t easier in the short-term.”
Furthermore, Schiffman says, “The firm has a great reputation. This allows us at CRWM to focus on the nuts and bolts of financial planning, investment management, and risk planning – what we do best.”
An Enduring Legacy, A Comprehensive Approach
Dan founded CRWM in 2021 to bring more of a personal touch to the financial planning practice. In addition, it was also to create continuity and a lasting firm to serve their clients.
“I wanted to develop an enduring organization where the people who have trusted me over the years can always be taken care of with the same values and standards – even after I move into retirement,” he says. The firm is united around a set of core values – Passion, Purpose, and Partnership – and CRWM functions based on Schiffman’s own unique approach.
The first key understanding that Schiffman brings to his work is that “finances themselves are not a goal.” Financial pictures emerge from a combination of decision-making and values, he says, and the priorities – usually linked to families, communities, and relationships – of people seeking financial advice. CRWM, as a result, tries to understand what is truly important to clients, and what they want their finances to help secure or build.
CRWM also has the capability and the expertise to manage and consider a comprehensive financial picture for each client. “We engage in both offensive and defensive planning, and we can cover all three bases of financial planning, insurance, and investments,” Schiffman says.
Building Relationships, Achieving Impact
Most conversations with clients, says Schiffman, center around things they’re either “excited about, thinking about, or concerned about.”
One thing he wants people to know about CRWM is that the firm meets clients wherever they are. Whether they’re just beginning to consider how they’ll fund college for their kids, or whether they’ve been legacy planning for years, CRWM is able to assess the opportunities and risks, and come up with solutions.
“Financial planning is never something to be intimidated by or afraid of. We want to help clients get these measures in place as early as possible so that they can have a sense of clarity and security,” he says.
CRWM serves both individual clients as well as institutions both locally and nationally. The thing that all of the firm’s clients have in common, Schiffman says, is that they’re concerned about impact. “The people we serve are family-oriented and often community oriented. They’re involved in their communities. They’re stewarding their finances for themselves, but also with others in mind. They get excited by the impact they have both at home, financially and often out in their communities.”
Since this is a value CRWM shares with clients, the firm works hard to co-create a “trusted advisor and client” relationship. Schiffman says: “We’re not a vendor with a customer. We believe clients have the best outcome and experience when build a long - term trusted advisor relationship rather than a transactional one.”
Passion & Purpose in the Community
The CRWM team, which also includes partners Annette Tinder and Luke McLaughlin, lives out their values of Passion, Purpose, and Partnership by staying engaged in the community. Each of the partners works to make an impact through various community organizations such as Rotary, Heartly House, Habitat for Humanity and Beyond Shelter Frederick.
Still, they agree that their most impactful purpose-driven channel thus far has been the difference they’ve been able to make in clients’ lives. According to Tinder, 19 years of working with Schiffman and the other CRWM team members have allowed her to “[witness] the life-changing impact of thoughtful financial planning.” Growing up, she says, “my parents didn’t have a lot of money, yet I saw them skillfully navigate financial uncertainties thanks to their diligent planning with a trusted advisor.”
McLaughlin echoes that his collaboration with Dan through CRWM has “[transformed] challenges into opportunities, proving that passion, purpose, and partnership is the foundation of success in financial planning and in life.” Advising their clients, for CRWM, will always be less about the dollars and cents and more about the people behind them – and how their financial flourishing can positively impact their families and the world. CapitalRiverWealthManagement.com
Daniel J Schiffman uses Capital River Wealth Management as a marketing name for doing business as representatives of Northwestern Mutual. Northwestern Mutual is the marketing name for The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company (NM) and its subsidiaries in Milwaukee, WI.
CRWM Core Values:
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Passion – We approach our work, our education, and our client relationships with bold responsibility
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Purpose – We are motivated to help our clients make a meaningful impact on their financial futures and lives
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Partnership – We work together with our clients in a trusted relationship that empowers them to achieve their vision
“I wanted to develop an enduring organization where the people who have trusted me over the years can always be taken care of.”