About Us…

It was quite a risk, especially considering Bob had two small children at home. Bob soon got his first client and business had begun.

In 1982, to be closer to his wife and kids in Fallston, Bob moved his office to Bel Air, Maryland. This time the ad in the paper announced "the expansion of R.L. Compton and Associates.

The move also included hiring Bob's wife, Bobbi. As Bob continued to provide excellent service to small businesses in the area, Bobbi started preparing the company for the 21st century, bringing R.L. Compton its first computer and streamlining all its work.

As business continued to grow in clients and complexity, the office moved in 1991 to Jarrettsville, Maryland, where a small farm tenant house was converted into an office affectionately known as "Global Headquarters." 

Even more changes were on the horizon for R.L. Compton & Associates.

Bob and Bobbi's son, Chris, graduated from college in 1997 and after a few months working with Lincoln Financial Group, quickly saw the opportunities available to him by working with his father and absorbing all Bob knew. 

Chris joined R.L. Compton & Associates and began to broaden the firm's scope to include investment and financial planning. Realizing wealth management requires comprehensive resources, the firm established a relationship with LPL Financial.

The name of the family business was soon changed to Compton Financial Group to more appropriately reflect the services provided.

With its clients in mind, Bob and Chris moved the main office from Global Headquarters to Lutherville, Maryland, in 2002 to be more convenient.

Chris' responsibilities continued to grow and that same year he became the managing partner. The business also continued to flourish, which meant a growing staff - a team of employees that is talented, educated and, most importantly, attentive to its clients.

Compton Financial Group moved down the road a few miles in 2009 to Towson, Maryland. While the new office provided enough room for a growing staff, it provided the warmth and family image associated with Compton Financial Group. Chris could also be closer to his three young children.

Another major milestone occurred on January 1st, 2022, when Compton Financial Group changed the company name to Red Oak Financial Group (And Red Oak Retirement). For nearly half a century the family name ‘Compton’ had been reflected on the insignia of the company, but the firm had become more than just one name over the decades.

The group has grown to a current size of 19 professionals who are diversified in talent, thought, and expertise. It is because of this growth and breadth of knowledge outside of the Compton family that bore today’s modern name of Red Oak Financial Group.

Why Red Oak?

Well, anyone who knows the founder, Bob Compton, knows he is a true woodsman at heart! If Bob is not in the office, your best chance to find him is out in his yard splitting firewood!  As homage to the person who bootstrapped a small family business to a successful enterprise, it only felt right to rename the company with a nod to the wonderful man who started it all. 

The red oak is one of his favorite trees and native to the mid-Atlantic region (and it sure makes great firewood!).  With the red oak being a symbol of strength, wisdom, and endurance around the world, the meaning behind our new name perfectly melds our past with our future as a firm steeped in both tradition and growth.

Red Oak Financial Group remains a family-run business to this day, with almost 50 years of experience.