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Erik Nero, CFP®, RICP®

Financial guidance & investment management for those near and in retirement.

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First Step Wealth Planning, LLC Erik Nero, CFP®, RICP®
Saratoga Springs, NY

Serving Clients Nationwide

Financial guidance & investment management for those near and in retirement.

5 Certified Advisor Reviews™
5 out of 5 Stars
Jump to Reviews

Website

Areas of Focus

  • Money Psychology
  • Retirement Planning
  • Social Security
  • Tax-Smart Distribution Planning

About Erik Nero, CFP®, RICP®

For over 25 years, I have been helping people make wise financial decisions, so they can alleviate the burden of wealth and spend time doing the things that bring them fulfillment with those who matter most.

I am a husband, father, son, and friend. Live music is like air to me, and I love taking advantage of all the arts, music, and entertainment that thrive in my town of Saratoga Springs, NY.

In my free time, I'm likely listening to music, tinkering with my guitar and banjo, catching a Yankees game, and enjoying time with my family and friends.

Professional Designations

  • CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER ®
  • Retirement Income Certified Professional (RICP)

Affiliations

  • CFP Board
  • Financial Planning Association
  • National Association of Personal Financial Advisors
  • XY Planning Network

Primary Location

Saratoga Springs, NY

Video

Meeting Options

  • Video Conference
  • Phone
Book Intro Call

Compensation Methods

  • Fee Only
  • One-time Financial Plan
  • Subscription

What to expect in the first meeting

Our initial meeting is about you. We can talk about what you're looking to accomplish. What you have done up to this point, and what you think you need to do to get to where you want to go. It's not about facts and figures. It's about how you want to approach the next phase of your life and how your money can be aligned with it.

Offers Investment Management

Yes

About First Step Wealth Planning, LLC

First Step Wealth Planning is a fee-only firm, serving those nearing retirement and who are currently retired, that seek guidance on how to claim Social Security, create reliable income by withdrawing from savings, invest their money to last the rest of their lives, and to manage their tax planning and healthcare costs.

Our clients typically have saved $1,500,000, or more, for their retirement and want guidance on how to take withdrawals, claim Social Security, plan for healthcare and manage their investments.

We provide Guided Planning, a process that aligns your wealth with your values, helping you move forward confidently. The rate for a Guided Plan is $3,600, with half due at engagement and the remainder after delivery of the plan. A Guided Plan encompasses all aspects of your financial life and how they can support the retirement you envision.

Plan implementation, ongoing guidance, and investment management are available after completion of the Guided Plan and are offered for a flat, annual fee, starting at $12,000.

Education

Siena College

Hobbies and Interests

  • Banjo
  • Baseball
  • Basketball
  • Exercising
  • Family
  • Music
  • Reading

SEC Lookup

View Disclosure

Who We Serve

  • Baby Boomers
  • Blended Family
  • Business Owners
  • Corporate Executives
  • Individuals
  • Living in Retirement

To make Wealthtender free for readers, we earn a nominal monthly fee from financial advisors and firms in exchange for marketing services (including being featured on this profile page), subject to terms of use. This compensation creates a natural conflict of interest when we favor their promotion over others. Wealthtender is not a client of these advisors or firms. Testimonials may not be representative of other clients’ experiences and do not guarantee future performance or success.

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Five Star Rating for Erik Nero

✅ Wealthtender Certified Advisor Review™
Sep 11, 2025
Erik is extremely thorough, organized and very professional. I have the utmost respect for and trust I'm him in dealing with my finances. He is very knowledgeable and able to break issues/topics down for me to easily understand the process. I would highly recommend him.
Relationship to Financial Advisor: Client as of Sep 11, 2025
Compensation: This reviewer received no compensation for this review.
Conflicts of Interest: There are no material conflicts of interest.
Avatar for Katherine Laidlaw
Katherine Laidlaw

Erik is very responsive and makes complex topics easy to understand.

✅ Wealthtender Certified Advisor Review™
Sep 9, 2025
With the very first telephone conversation with Erik, I had the feeling we'd finally found our financial advisor and after the first meeting, I knew we had. I love that he has the background with some of the big financial companies and that he had rejected them to work on his own terms, advising individuals with their best interests at heart to achieve their financial goals. His"getting to know you process" is very thorough and patient. He never is condescending and treats every question earnestly. There are no stupid questions. He also has a great sense of humor and believes in giving back to his community. My husband and I immediately felt comfortable with him and are confident we can now relax about our finances, knowing we are in good hands for our retirement years.
Relationship to Financial Advisor: Client as of Sep 9, 2025
Compensation: This reviewer received no compensation for this review.
Conflicts of Interest: There are no material conflicts of interest.
Avatar for Nancy JeftsMike Comisky
Nancy JeftsMike Comisky

Honesty and Integrity Based - Results Oriented with Decades of Experience

✅ Wealthtender Certified Advisor Review™
Sep 8, 2025
My family has been working with Erik for more than a dozen years now. When we needed to move my Dad's trust, my Mom and I interviewed 3 large financial firms, including the firm where Erik worked. Erik was the deciding factor in going with the firm he represented. He was clear and patient with my mother who was 80 at the time. He also worked directly with the firm's Trust department for my Mom, even though this was a separate division. He worked proactively to ensure her investments aligned with her wishes. This was critical because the trust department would regularly default to their base parameters which were not inline with what my mom wanted and sub-optimal for returns. My wife and I ultimately moved our investment portfolio over to work with Erik a couple of years later. Erik has also been extremely proactive and creative in terms of helping us think about investments and taxes. When we came into a large payday after selling the company, Erik again came up with a creative way to make some good investments and pay the tax bill at the same time without taking everything out of our investment portfolio. This turned out to be a home run. My wife and I have worked with 5 other financial "advisors" over almost 40 years - none of whom created the value Erik has. Erik is not only proactive, but looks at more than the latest financial reports. He considers your entire financial situation. expenses, future expenses (both long term and short term) and tax considerations. If there is a change in tax policy, something to do with our investments or monetary policy Erik calls before we hear about it. With all other investment "professionals" I always had to call them to understand what was going on or to tell them to make changes after I had done the research or discovered a change or issue. Finally, Erik is transparent with his fees, expenses and rational for the approach to your money matters. With regard to fees and epenses, it has been my experience in speaking with many friends over the years, that most people who work with an individual or a firm do not know how much they are paying for advisory services. If you are working with someone who invites you to steak dinners, gives away turkeys or pumpkin pie at the holidays, hands our concert or event tickets or invites you to golf tournaments, you are likely paying considerably more than you should. If you are looking for guidance with your financial matters or looking for help for a loved one, there is no one else I would recommend.
Relationship to Financial Advisor: Client as of Sep 8, 2025
Compensation: This reviewer received no compensation for this review.
Conflicts of Interest: There are no material conflicts of interest.
Avatar for Eric Thaler
Eric Thaler

Erik is a source of knowledgeable and unbiased advice

✅ Wealthtender Certified Advisor Review™
Sep 7, 2025
Erik has helped my wife and I develop a retirement plan that is based in reality and considers our (low) risk tolerance. Erik is also there to work with us on questions and changes that occur as we navigate our retirement finances. We are very pleased with the support that we receive.
Relationship to Financial Advisor: Client as of Sep 7, 2025
Compensation: This reviewer received no compensation for this review.
Conflicts of Interest: There are no material conflicts of interest.
Avatar for Ellis and Sandy P
Ellis and Sandy P

Retirement/Tax Efficient Planning

✅ Wealthtender Certified Advisor Review™
Sep 6, 2025
I contacted Erik approximately three months prior to retiring from New York State service. I was looking for information and a commonsense, tax efficient plan to withdraw and/or invest the funds from my Deferred Compensation Plan (457-B), other investments, pension and future social security benefits. Erik was very knowledgeable, super easy to work with, and responsive to any questions or concerns. I was not looking for a financial advisor for fund management, but the most tax efficient strategy going forward and a flat fee for that information. Erik checked all the boxes, and I would highly recommend him.
Relationship to Financial Advisor: Client as of Sep 6, 2025
Compensation: This reviewer received no compensation for this review.
Conflicts of Interest: There are no material conflicts of interest.
Avatar for Kent T.
Kent T.
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