Maryland Capital Advisors Inc.
Maryland Capital Advisors, Inc. is an SEC-registered, independent, referral-only investment adviser headquartered in Chester, Maryland. Founded in 1997 by Michael Damas, who continues as President and Chief Investment Officer, the firm provides investment advisory services to individuals, families, retirement plans, corporations, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations. MCA employs approximately 6 professionals as of 2025 and emphasizes individualized, tax- and cost-efficient portfolio management rooted in academic finance theory.
Investment Strategy
Maryland Capital Advisors employs an investment approach grounded in Modern Portfolio Theory and the academic research on factors of expected returns. The firm believes markets are efficient, meaning securities are fairly priced in liquid, competitive markets and that active management, such as market timing or stock-picking, is unlikely to outperform consistently after fees and taxes. Portfolios are constructed and managed to be tax- and cost-efficient, with each client’s unique goals and constraints as a central focus. MCA does not attempt to forecast market trends, instead leveraging diversification, risk management, and the relationship between risk and reward to optimize client outcomes.
Top Holdings
Equity Positions (254)
| Ticker | Security | Weight | Market Value | Shares | Avg Cost | Price | Change (QoQ) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
I IGSB | ISHARES TR | 20.92% | $58.4M | 1,102,081 | $51.94 | $53.03 | +$9.4M |
V VCSH | VANGUARD SCOTTSDALE FDS | 8.06% | $22.5M | 281,713 | $75.80 | $79.93 | -$123.6K |
V VTI | VANGUARD INDEX FDS | 6.66% | $18.6M | 56,705 | $254.02 | $328.17 | +$1.2M |
D DFAU | DIMENSIONAL ETF TRUST | 5.88% | $16.4M | 359,273 | $36.14 | $45.76 | +$3.0M |
V VTV | VANGUARD INDEX FDS | 4.62% | $12.9M | 69,196 | $149.65 | $186.49 | +$586.1K |