Sean Gallahan Partner

Sean Gallahan, CFP®, CMFC®, is a Partner at Cassaday & Company, Inc., and has been with the firm since 2008. Sean provides comprehensive strategies for his clients’ financial planning needs. Using a model of integrated wealth management, he guides his clients through all of the complexities associated with personal finance, which include investment management, retirement planning, cash flow generation, income and estate tax planning, and insurance. By working collaboratively with CPAs, estate planning attorneys, and insurance agents, Sean seeks to become a central resource for all of his clients’ financial affairs.

Sean is a senior member of Cassaday & Company, Inc.’s Investment Policy Committee (IPC), which develops the firm’s overall investment selections and policies. He assists with collaboratively reviewing our clients’ holdings and asset allocations, market conditions, research studies, economic analyses, and other areas relevant to the investment process. Sean initially served as a Research Associate at the firm before becoming a financial advisor and worked under the Director of Investment Management.

Sean is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®)*, a professional designation he attained through Georgetown University’s Executive Certificate in Financial Planning program, as well as a Chartered Mutual Fund Counselor (CMFC®), accomplished through the College for Financial Planning.

Sean has been recognized by Forbes as a Best-In-State Wealth Advisor (2023) and a Best-In-State Next-Gen Wealth Advisor (2019, 2020, 2022, 2023). In 2023, Sean was voted a Top Financial Professional by NorthernVirginia Magazine and recognized by InvestmentNews as a 40 Under 40 honoree. The InvestmentNews 40 under 40 award recognizes and celebrates up-and-comers in the financial advice industry that exhibit qualities of leadership within the financial advice field, such as the drive to succeed, along with prospects for a bright future. Sean was also named to the Loudoun Times-Mirror 2015 List of 40 Under 40, honoring business and community leaders from Loudoun County.

Sean is a graduate of Radford University, where he received his Bachelor of Business Administration in finance. During his time at Radford, Sean was a member of the international honor society of Beta Gamma Sigma and Delta Sigma Pi, a professional business fraternity.

Outside of Cassaday & Company, Inc., Sean donates his time as a Wish-Granting volunteer with Make A Wish® for their Mid-Atlantic chapter. He currently lives in Ashburn, Virginia with his wife, Zari, and sons, Zayd and Malik.

Sean is an Investment Advisor Representative with Cassaday & Company, Inc. and a Registered Representative with Osaic Wealth, one of the largest independent broker-dealer firms in the country; he holds the Series 7 and Series 66 securities registrations, as well as Life and Health Insurance licenses.

*Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (CFP Board) owns the CFP® certification mark, the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification mark, and the CFP® certification mark (with plaque design) logo in the United States, which it authorizes use of by individuals who successfully complete CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements.

Award Disclosures:

Forbes – Best-In-State Wealth Advisors – (2023) – The Forbes ranking of Best-In-State Wealth Advisors, developed by SHOOK Research, is based on an algorithm of qualitative criteria, gained through telephone, virtual and in-person due diligence interviews, and quantitative data. Those advisors that are considered have a minimum of seven years experience, and the algorithm weighs factors like revenue trends, assets under management, compliance records, industry experience and those that encompass best practices in their approach to working with clients. Portfolio performance is not a criterion due to varying client objectives and lack of audited data. Neither Forbes nor SHOOK receive a fee in exchange for rankings. 

Forbes – Best-In-State Next-Gen Wealth Advisors – (2019, 2020, 2022, 2023) – Developed in 2019 by SHOOK Research, this list is based on an algorithm of qualitative criterion, mostly gained through telephone and in-person due diligence interviews, and quantitative data. Those advisors that are considered have a minimum of four years’ experience, and the algorithm weighs factors like revenue trends, assets under management, compliance records, industry experience and those that encompass the highest standards of best practices. Portfolio performance is not a criterion due to varying client objectives and lack of audited data. Neither Forbes nor SHOOK receive a fee in exchange for rankings. 

Forbes – America’s Top Next Generation Wealth Advisors – (2020) – SHOOK Research considered advisors born in 1980 or later with a minimum 4 years relevant experience. Advisors have built their own practices and lead their teams; joined teams and are viewed as future leadership; or a combination of both. Ranking algorithm is based on qualitative measures derived from telephone and in-person interviews and surveys: service models, investing process, client retention, industry experience, review of compliance records, firm nominations, etc.; and quantitative criteria, such as assets under management and revenue generated for their firms. Investment performance is not a criteria because client objectives and risk tolerances vary, and advisors rarely have audited performance reports. Rankings are based on the opinions of SHOOK Research, LLC. Neither SHOOK nor Forbes receives compensation from the advisors or their firms in exchange for placement on a ranking.  

InvestmentNews – 40 under 40 – (2023) The InvestmentNews 40 Under 40 program recognizes and celebrates up-and-comers in the financial advice industry. Each year, our editorial team reviews more than 1,000 nominations to create a list of 40 outstanding financial advisers, or industry professionals supporting advisers, who are 39 or younger. Honorees are judged on their accomplishments, contribution to the industry, leadership and promise. Nominees will be considered by InvestmentNews editors based on the following key points: Accomplishments: We are looking for professionals who are successful in the advisory business, industry-related projects and the wider world in an advisory capacity, as exhibited by their credentials and achievements. Contribution: We are searching for professionals who promote the financial advice profession, advocate for financial literacy and engage in pro bono financial planning work. Leadership: We are interested in professionals who offer guidance and successful management within a company or the industry as a whole. Promise: We want to celebrate professionals who have passion, enthusiasm, great ideas and show a commitment to the field. Cassaday did not compensate InvestmentNews for this award.

Loudoun Times-Mirror – 40 under 40 – (2015) – The Loudoun 40 Under 40 Awards recognize Loudoun’s rising business and community leaders. The selection committee, comprised of former 40 Under 40 honorees, received more than 100 nominations for this year’s class. Cassaday did not compensate The Loudon Times Mirror for this award. 

Northern Virginia Magazine – (2011-2023) – The Top Financial Professional list is compiled by the Northern Virginia magazine. The magazine sends out nomination forms to Financial Associations in Northern Virginia to nominate professional advisors in the various categories. The “Top Financial Professional” listing is given to those financial advisors that receive the most nominations. Financial professionals do not pay a fee to be included.