About our story

Schwarz Financial Services LLC (SFS), doing business as DeafInvest, has a decades long history. SFS was formerly known as Income Tax Service for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing at first then changed the name to Schwarz Financial Concepts. 

The founder is Louis J Schwarz, a prominent deaf businessperson and a Gallaudet College alumnus. Mr. Schwarz looked at the financial landscape in the USA and saw nothing that is tailored for the Deaf community therefore he started preparing individual income tax returns at the homes of its clients, using ASL communication, in 1971.

In 1985, this firm became a first registered investment advisor full-fledged financial planning advisory firm located in Silver Spring, Maryland. Then, the firm moved to downtown Bethesda, Maryland near the intersection of East-West Highway and Wisconsin Ave in 2005. Joshua R Beal joined SFS in 2005 and became an investment advisor representative and a tax preparer. Charles R Sterling joined SFS in 2008.

Schwarz Financial Services LLC added a new name Deaflnvest to emphasize the exclusive of investment services for the Deaf community and the ease of brand identity. SFS spun off DeafTax, a subsidiary specializing in tax and bookkeeping services for the Deaf community in 2016. DeafTax became an independent company with a partnership with CSD Social Venture Fund.

Mr. Schwarz officially retired from SFS and investment world in 2016. Charles took up to run SFS and continue the legacy, philosophy, and principles Mr. Schwarz instilled in SFS. Charles moved SFS to Washington, DC in 2016 to be closer to the Deaf community and his home in Virginia. SFS was in DC for 2 years before SFS relocated to Fairfax County, VA due to change of school for Charles’ children and to be closer to home. 

Currently, SFS is a VA-based registered investment advisor with other states’ registrations in pending or in compliance with de minis rule in certain states. SFS is a primarily online focus business, serving the Deaf community all over the USA with local services for MD, VA, and DC.