Delivering Financial Advice With Passion & Integrity
DARBY SIMMONS, CFP®, PRESIDENT
Senior Portfolio Manager
I was born in Baltimore and graduated from Towson State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Pure Mathematics. I worked my way through college in the kitchens of The Crease and Peerce’s Plantation, while also founding my own fraternity and serving as the Vice President of the Student Council.
In 1998, I started my advisory career with Legg Mason which was a great experience. I learned the tenets of value investing and the hallmarks of professionalism. It also taught me to focus on what would ultimately become the core of The Simmons Partnership ethos: making clients the most money, after fees and taxes, without undue risk.
That experience took two unexpected turns: the sale of Legg Mason’s advisor division to Citigroup (Smith Barney) in 2005 and the ultimate rescue sale of Smith Barney to Morgan Stanley in 2009, following the Great Financial Crisis. Those two “mergers” were gut-wrenching and difficult for my staff and my clients. However, the experience provided me with an inside look at how the large New York wire-houses operate (which gave me intimate knowledge of my competition) and it fueled a desire to open my own independent Registered Investment Advisory (RIA) firm. In 2011, I did just that, forming The Simmons Partnership, LLC.
In a way, I am fortunate to have guided my clients through two of the biggest boom and bust cycles of the past century—the Dot-com Bubble of the late 1990s and early 2000s and the Great Financial Crisis from 2007 to 2009. Though I would never choose to live through them again, those events provided me a lifetime of investing experience in a short amount of time.
As a Certified Financial Planner (CFP), I take a holistic approach to wealth management, partnering with my clients on all aspects of their financial planning, including investment management, taxes, retirement, college savings, planned giving, and estate planning. Clients come to me not only for my proven skill and decades of experience as an advisor, but because of my work ethic and passion for educating them. My work ethic demonstrates my commitment to their success and my willingness to educate clients fosters trust and encourages them to be an active partner in the financial planning process.
I grew up playing baseball and lacrosse and spent the last 30 years racing sailboats. I am desperately trying to master golf which may turn out to be a life-long pursuit. I live in Glen Arm with my wife, Meredith, our dogs (Lydia and Putter), cat (Reeces), and horse (Will).
If you’re frustrated by your current advisor/firm and think that I can add some needed perspective, please give me a call or email me.
Ricci L. Reber, Ph.D.
Chief Economist and Portfolio Manager
Dr. Ricci Reber is an economist, portfolio manager, and investment strategist specializing in macroeconomic analysis, portfolio construction, risk management, options strategies, and long-term wealth management for high-net-worth individuals and families.
With nearly two decades of experience spanning institutional finance, economic policy analysis, academia, and investment management, Ricci brings an uncommon combination of real-world market experience and deep analytical rigor to client portfolios. His work integrates macroeconomic research, valuation analysis, household finance, tax-aware portfolio strategy, and options-based risk management to help clients navigate increasingly complex financial markets.
Before joining The Simmons Partnership, Ricci held investment management, corporate finance, and risk management roles with organizations including Morgan Stanley, Allianz Trade, and Jos. A. Bank.
Ricci later served as an economist with the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, where he was responsible for estimating GDP-by-industry and input-output statistics for the U.S. finance and insurance sectors and authored research on economic forecasting methodologies.
He has held positions as Visiting Professor of economics and finance at St. Mary’s College of Maryland and the University of Baltimore Merrick School of Business, teaching courses in macroeconomics, finance, forecasting, econometrics, economic statistics, and game theory.
He subsequently worked as an economist at the U.S. Congressional Budget Office, where he helped develop and maintain CBOLT, CBO’s long-run dynamic microsimulation model used for macroeconomic forecasting, policy analysis, and long-term projections for the federal budget and Social Security system.
His academic research focused on applied microeconomics, household finance, labor economics, econometrics, and forecasting. He holds a Ph.D. in Economics from American University, an MBA in Finance from Mount St. Mary’s University, and a B.A. in Economics from McDaniel College.
Ricci works extensively with professionals, executives, business owners, academics, and government employees seeking a more analytical and research-driven approach to investment management. His areas of focus include managing concentrated stock positions, retirement income strategy, portfolio risk management, options overlays, macroeconomic analysis, and integrating investment decisions with broader household financial planning.
He lives in the North Roland Park area with his wife Sarah and their two children. Outside of work, he serves on the board of the North Roland Park Improvement Association and is active in local schools, Roland Park Baseball Leagues, and charitable organizations throughout the Baltimore region. Email me.
KATIE FOX
Client Relations Manager
Katie joined The Simmons Partnership in October 2014. She has worked in the Marketing and Hospitality industry for over 12 years. Katie serves as our Client Relations Manager and receptionist. A Baltimore native, and Darby’s little sister, Katie has grown up playing Field Hockey and Lacrosse, racing sailboats and is a World Champion Irish Dancer. When she is not working in the office, she lives in Parkville with her husband Jim and their dogs Peanut and Bunny Foo Foo, or you can find her around town performing with her husband, in their Irish band The ShamRogues. Email me.