Our Team

Jacob L. “Jake” Sturgill, CFP®, is the founder of Sturgill Financial Partners, where he serves as a financial advisor to individuals and families seeking clarity around the financial decisions that matter most to them. He works primarily with retirees and those preparing for retirement who want a thoughtful partner to help them make informed decisions as life evolves.

Jake provides comprehensive financial and retirement planning, investment management, and ongoing guidance designed to adapt as clients’ goals, priorities, and circumstances change. His work often centers on retirement income planning, tax-aware strategies, and risk-aligned portfolio management, while coordinating closely with clients’ CPAs, estate planning attorneys, and other trusted professionals to support coordination across every area of their financial lives. He is known for breaking down complex topics into clear, straightforward conversations so clients can feel organized, confident, and well-prepared for what lies ahead.

Jake’s approach to financial planning is shaped by a lifetime spent around service-minded professionals. Growing up, he watched his grandfather and father serve the local community as CPAs, where the focus was never just on numbers, but on helping people make decisions they could feel good about. A simple conversation with his father about saving through a 401(k) left a lasting impression and reinforced the value of small, consistent decisions over time. That perspective continues to guide his work today, especially when clients are navigating transitions and want clear, steady guidance.

Jake began his professional career at T. Rowe Price, where his early experience shaped a strong appreciation for clear communication and provided insight into how people make financial decisions. In 2015, he joined Puckett & Sturgill Financial Group, where he later became President of the firm and spent more than a decade advising clients. He founded Sturgill Financial Partners to deliver planning-first advice rooted in independence and thoughtful, client-focused guidance.

Jake earned his Bachelor of Science degree from James Madison University and is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional. The CFP® designation reflects a commitment to thoughtful, well-rounded planning and advice that puts clients’ interests first. In 2025, he was recognized as a Forbes Best-in-State Next-Gen Wealth Advisor.

A lifelong resident of Westminster and the greater Carroll County area, Jake remains actively involved in the community. He and his wife, Hannah, are raising their two sons, Colton and Ben. Outside of work, he enjoys staying active, spending time with family, and continuing to study markets and planning strategies that support his clients’ long-term goals.

Dawn Combs supports clients at Sturgill Financial Partners by helping them feel well cared for and confident throughout their financial journey. With a focus on organization, communication, and follow-through, she ensures clients have a smooth, welcoming experience from their very first interaction. Dawn assists with scheduling, preparing documents, coordinating service requests, and helping clients stay connected to their planning process. Her goal is simple: to make every client feel supported, heard, and valued.

What motivates Dawn most is being someone clients can rely on. She has always enjoyed creating order, solving problems, and offering reassurance at moments when people need it. Over the years, she has seen how meaningful it is when clients feel comfortable asking questions and know they have a dependable point of contact. That sense of trust is what drives her to bring kindness, patience, and clarity to every conversation.

Dawn brings more than twenty-five years of experience in the financial and insurance industries. Her background includes relationship banking, licensed insurance production, and extensive administrative support within financial firms. She has coordinated client meetings, prepared proposals and presentations, maintained accurate records, and supported busy offices through countless day-to-day needs. Dawn earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Towson University and holds her Maryland Life and Health Insurance License as well as her Property and Casualty License. Her ability to create structure and keep things running smoothly is a foundation of the client experience at Sturgill Financial Partners.

Dawn has deep roots in the Carroll County community. Her children attend school in Carroll County, and she and her husband own a small business in the community - connections that keep her grounded and reinforce the importance of serving families with care and attention.
Outside of work, Dawn believes strongly in giving back. She has volunteered with several nonprofit organizations, including BridgingLife Hospice & Palliative Care, where she has helped raise funds to support families during difficult times. Service and compassion are values she carries into every part of her life.

Dawn cherishes time with her family, relaxing around a campfire, and enjoys taking group fitness classes at the gym. Camping trips and simple moments together remind her why helping families plan for their futures is so meaningful. She looks forward to getting to know each client and supporting their financial journey with professionalism, warmth, and a personal touch.

Jason Koval, a CFP® professional, is a Financial Advisor with Sturgill Financial Partners. He helps individuals and families make thoughtful decisions about the financial life they have worked hard to build.

For Jason, that work is personal.

His parents immigrated to the United States from Ukraine with very little, facing a new country, a new language, and sacrifices he still has a hard time imagining. Through years of hard work, his father eventually built a dental practice and created opportunities for their family that once seemed impossible.

Watching that journey shaped the way Jason thinks about money. He saw firsthand how much sacrifice can go into building a life and supporting a family, and it gives him a deep respect for what a client’s savings can represent. To Jason, those dollars are often the result of years of work, difficult choices, and sacrifices made for the people someone cares about. He also came to understand that working hard and making responsible decisions does not automatically mean every part of a financial life is working as effectively as it could.

Later, when his parents began working with a financial planner, Jason saw the difference a coordinated plan could make. It was not simply about making better financial decisions. They had greater clarity about what they had built, where they were going, and how the pieces fit together.

That experience still shapes the way he works today.

Jason enjoys working with people who have worked hard for what they have and want to be intentional about what comes next. He helps clients reduce avoidable lifetime taxes, prepare for retirement, make thoughtful investment decisions, and make sure their money is supporting the life they actually want to live.

He believes good financial planning should make life clearer, not more complicated.

Jason attended Gerstell Academy in Finksburg before earning his Bachelor of Science in Finance with a minor in Marketing from Loyola University Maryland. He is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional and today attends St. John's Church in Westminster with his wife, Rory.

Outside of the office, Jason enjoys spending time with Rory and family, along with tennis, hiking, photography, traveling, and staying active.