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A few years before retiring, I realized something troubling.

Nearly all of my portfolio sat in tax-deferred accounts. That meant that once Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) began, my taxable income, and thus my taxes, would spike, whether I needed the money or not.

I asked our accounting firm, which offered annual tax strategy meetings, whether Roth conversions made sense for us, and if so, how much and when.

Their answer was both surprising and disappointing. They said it was outside the scope of their expertise.

Really? Roth conversions, outside the scope of tax strategists?

It turned out to be a case of, “If you want it done right, do it yourself.”

So, I turned to the huge spreadsheet I developed to project our income, expenses, taxes, and net worth for the next several decades, and added two new pieces:

  • Estimated annual taxes
  • Adjustable annual Roth conversion amounts for the 10 years I had until RMDs hit

I’d have loved to tell you the results led to a clear and inescapable conclusion.

Unfortunately, that would be a lie.

The projected results were nuanced: 

  • In the years we’d run the conversions, our taxes would naturally increase, significantly reducing our projected net worth by the time we had to start RMDs. 
  • Then, gradually, our net worth would recover and climb back to breakeven in my mid-80s. 
  • To really benefit, we’d need to survive into our 90s or beyond. 
  • Even then, the difference would have amounted to just a couple of percentage points of our net worth at that point.

In short, I’d need to voluntarily write large tax checks in my 60s and 70s and then wait decades to benefit, with only a one-in-seven chance of reaching my 90s, a famously changeable tax code, and projections far less precise than 2%. 

All of that made Roth conversions feel like an expensive bet on a future I might not even see.

So, is the logical conclusion that there’s no point in converting, ever?

Not so fast.

Now that I’m retired, I added another tweak to my spreadsheet, optimizing the source of money we’d draw to cover expenses, how much we’d take each year from our relatively small taxable accounts vs. tax-deferred ones.

This showed me that there will be some years when our taxable income will be low enough that our marginal federal tax rate will be 12%.

When that happens, Roth conversions can make sense.

But how can you decide whether to do a Roth conversion, and if so, when and how much, without building a monster spreadsheet?

That’s what this article is all about.

The Immediate Tax Impact of Roth Conversions

When you convert money from a tax-deferred account to a Roth, the converted amount is treated as taxable income that year. That increases your current-year tax bill. 

If the conversion pushes your income high enough, you may land in a higher marginal bracket and even have to pay Medicare surcharges (more on that later). That can be an expensive mistake.

But what if you convert from a post-tax traditional IRA?

If you hold both pre-tax and post-tax funds across your traditional IRAs, the IRS applies the pro-rata rule. Each dollar converted is treated as a proportional mix of both.

For example, if you have $495,000 in pre-tax IRA funds and $5,000 in post-tax contributions, then 99% of any conversion would be taxable income.

Another important note is that, if you’re younger than 59½, withdrawing converted funds less than five years post-conversion gives rise to a 10% penalty on top of the tax hit.

A possible workaround is to roll pre-tax IRA funds into a tax-deferred 401(k), if your plan allows it, reducing your pre-tax IRA balance to zero before converting the post-tax portion. That can work in certain situations, but it is beyond the scope of this article.

The key point here is simple. Roth conversions usually create an immediate tax cost, driving people to look for a “window” when that tax impact would be lowest.

Roth “Windows” – Helpful, But Not Definitive

Several scenarios are often mentioned as ideal times to convert.

  • When you expect tax rates to increase in the future. 
  • After a market crash, when you can convert assets at temporarily depressed prices.
  • During a temporary income dip, such as following a job loss, a no-bonus year, etc.
  • When you’re still filing married filing jointly, before your widow(er) must file as single.
  • If you plan to move from a high-tax state to a state with lower (or no) state income tax, converting after the move offers more value.
  • In early retirement, before RMDs begin, when taxable income may be lower.

The first requires a functioning crystal ball. (If you have one, I have some questions about the future.)

The second and third can work, but require you to pay higher taxes when you can least afford it.

The fourth and fifth are valid reasons to consider converting when other factors align, but they don’t stop it from being a bad idea if the brackets don’t support it.

The sixth is the most persuasive. You retire. Your taxable income drops. Your marginal tax rate falls. Thus, it must be the best time to convert aggressively.

That logic sounds airtight.

And in some cases, it’s exactly right.

The problem is that in many other cases, it’s incomplete.

A lower tax rate today doesn’t automatically improve your long-term outcome. The benefit depends on how long you live, future tax brackets, RMD size, and taxable income flexibility.

That is why a generic “window” narrative can be misleading.

Roth conversions aren’t about following a generic rule. They’re about managing your marginal tax brackets over many years.

The danger isn’t because Roth conversions are necessarily bad. It’s in converting aggressively out of fear, rather than clarity.

For some retirees, conversions can make sense, and emphatically so.

For others, the benefit may be modest, delayed, and/or dependent on assumptions that may never materialize.

Which brings us back to the core problem: How do you decide, without building a massive projection model, whether converting makes sense for you?

Roth Conversion Strategy – a Three-Legged Stool

Detailed projections are the best way to assess if, when, and how much to convert.

This can be using a spreadsheet, if you have a good grasp of all the relevant factors, or you can ask your financial advisor to run the numbers, including Monte Carlo simulations of market returns.

If you don’t want to build such a spreadsheet and don’t have (and don’t want to hire) a financial advisor, three straightforward considerations offer a framework to identify if Roth conversions are likely to work out well.

  1. Tax Rate Difference
  2. Time Until RMDs
  3. Income Flexibility

If one leg is weak, the stool wobbles. If more legs are weak, let alone missing, it collapses.

Let’s dive a bit deeper into these legs.

Leg #1: Tax Rate Difference

For any specific year in which you’re considering a conversion, how does your current marginal tax rate compare to your likely rate once RMDs hit? 

This includes state and local income tax and surcharges such as Medicare’s Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA). For 2026, the IRMAA Part B surcharge ranges from $974 to $5,844 annually, on top of the base premium. That’s a significant concern for those whose taxable income gets pushed too high.

Vanguard makes a compelling case that how you pay for conversion-related taxes may significantly impact the math: “… the tax payment source can shift the break-even point in meaningful ways. For example, when conversion taxes are paid from a taxable account — particularly one holding tax-inefficient assets or cash — the BETR [break-even tax rate] drops well below the investor’s current marginal tax rate. Likewise, basis in a traditional IRA or the potential for future backdoor Roth contributions can shift the math in favor of converting. This creates a wider ‘conversion zone,’ where even modestly lower future tax rates can still justify a Roth conversion.”

BETR takes into account the current marginal ordinary income tax rate, the basis of assets sold to fund tax payment for the conversion, investment time horizon, annual investment return, and dividend yields. Under Vanguard’s assumptions, someone in a 35% bracket who pays conversion taxes from idle cash could see the break-even tax rate drop to 14%!

The larger and more certain the spread between tax rates (or BETR and future rates), the stronger this leg of the stool.

If your current marginal federal rate is 12% and you expect RMDs to push you into the 24% bracket, or even the 22% bracket, that makes for a compelling conversion case. 

If your current rate is 22% and RMDs aren’t likely to push you any higher than 24%, paying much more in taxes now to possibly save 2% in 10+ years is far less compelling. 

This is what my own assessment was before I retired, and stays the same for most years now that I am retired. 

But not for all years.

Clearly, none of us (not even those in Congress) can guess how the US tax code will change over the coming years or decades. What I do here is assume the rates will stay the same, with the brackets adjusting for inflation. This isn’t intended to be accurate, just a best guess for how an uncertain future will unfold in at least this one regard.

Leg #2: Time Until RMDs

How long do you have until RMDs hit?

RMDs now start at age 73, but if you don’t have to start before January 1, 2033, that will be pushed further out, to age 75.

Does that give you five years? Ten? Fifteen?

The longer your runway, the less certain the calculus.

  • More time for the tax code to change.
  • More time for investments to grow tax-deferred (or tax-free if converted).
  • More time for your spending habits to change. 
  • More time during which you could die.

My spreadsheet projected a breakeven point in my mid-80s. To benefit meaningfully, I’d need to live into my 90s, which is less likely than not.

This does not make conversions useless. It means the payoff is distant and uncertain, while the cost is immediate and guaranteed.

You’d have to prepay taxes today for a benefit that may not arrive for 20-plus years, if ever. That’s a serious trade-off, not a casual decision.

The longer you need to wait for an eventual benefit, the more cautious you should be. 

One caveat to that is that if you’re considering a Roth conversion as an estate management tool, that will, by definition, benefit your heirs no matter how long you live.

Leg #3: Income Flexibility (Source and/or Amount)

This is one that many people overlook.

How flexible is your taxable income?

This could be because you can choose how to cover expenses, from taxable (ordinary income rate or long-term capital gains rate), tax-free, or tax-deferred money. It can also be because a large fraction of your budget is discretionary, allowing you to reduce spending in years when the tax impact is greatest.

This lets you deliberately lower your taxable income some years to make a Roth conversion more beneficial, while pushing higher taxable income into other years.

This is what I’m planning to do, now that I’m retired.

In years when I sell a property held for more than a year, I’ll owe taxes on any appreciation and/or depreciation recapture at lower long-term capital gains tax rates. However, this won’t push me into a higher marginal tax bracket.

The proceeds from such a sale may allow me to cover expenses without needing to draw tax-deferred money that triggers ordinary income taxes. This will allow me to make a highly beneficial Roth conversion, paying no more than 12% federal income tax, far lower than the brackets I’ll be in once RMDs hit.

If you have little flexibility here, your case for conversion becomes that much shakier.

When the Conversion Stool Is Most Stable

This is when a Roth conversion is most beneficial to you:

  • Your current marginal tax rate is meaningfully lower than it will be once RMDs start.
  • You have a long runway to time conversions strategically and for the converted funds to grow tax-free in a Roth account.
  • You can deliberately manage your budget and how you fund it.

When the Conversion Stool Is Most Wobbly

This is when a Roth conversion is least likely to benefit you:

  • Your current tax rate isn’t meaningfully lower (or even higher) than what it will be when RMDs kick in.
  • Your breakeven point is decades away.
  • Future benefits depend on optimistic assumptions.
  • You have little to no flexibility in controlling your taxable income through lowering spending and/or funding at least some of it from taxable, low-tax, or tax-free sources.

In such cases, you may still benefit, but the margin of safety is thin and the upside uncertain. The potentially small eventual benefit likely won’t justify the immediate cost.

If you prefer a quick diagnostic instead of a spreadsheet, here’s how the three legs work:

A comparison table with three factors for converting: taxes, time horizon, and income flexibility, showing strong vs. weak cases for each with specific criteria under each category.
Table 1: Quick Diagnostic: How Stable Is Your Conversion Stool?

What the Pros Say

I asked financial advisors for their thoughts on Roth conversions. Some of what they say may not be surprising, but some goes beyond conventional wisdom.

Jeffrey J Smith, Founder and Managing Partner of OWL Private Wealth Advisors, says, “To quote Ed Slott, ‘Your IRA is an IOU to the IRS.’ It may make sense to rip the band-aid off and accelerate the conversions to keep the marginal tax rate and Medicare IRMAA increase to only a few years early on in retirement, preferably more than two years before turning 65. If you have non-qualified funds to pay the taxes due, this can significantly increase the overall results, not only for the IRA owner but ultimately their beneficiaries. Like the tax code itself, a decision to convert or not isn’t a black or white answer for most, but we all know the saying that the only certainties in life are death and taxes. With a Roth conversion, you can decide when to pay the taxes, at a tax rate you know now, versus not knowing where you will fall in future years. That second part is out of your control.”

Mike Hunsberger, Owner, Next Mission Financial Planning, agrees, “The biggest factor [affecting the benefit of a Roth conversion]is future tax rates. It’s hard to know what those will be.” He adds several more important things,“Another big impact is whether you’ll actually use the converted dollars or if they will be passed on to your heirs. If the latter, it’s important to consider theirlikely tax rates when they inherit. Finally, it’s always useful to understand what happens when the first member of the couple dies, and the remaining spouse reverts to single tax rates. The important thing to remember is not to over-convert. If you don’t have other projected income, keeping some tax-deferred money can help you fill up the lower tax brackets in retirement, possibly in a lower tax bracket than what you converted at.”

Stephen Mazer, Senior Wealth Advisor and Principal, Rational Wealth Solutions, points out how the decision is deeply dependent on your personal situation, “There are NO rules for who should or shouldn’t proceed with a Roth conversion, or when to do it. Solutions should be considered based on many factors. One of Thomas Sowell’s famous quotes, ‘There are no solutions. There are only trade-offs,’ applies here. Did you know you may not have to pay the taxes owed out of your own current accounts? Did you know there are ways to keep full market volatility/risk and other ways to negate much, if not all, of the market downside/risk during the conversion period? Talking with someone familiar with these strategies and who understands your goals will shine a light on what might be appropriate for your situation, bringing clarity to the process.”

The Bottom Line

At its core, a Roth conversion is a trade-off, paying guaranteed costs today for a likely benefit tomorrow that may be worth the cost and the wait.

A comparison chart with two columns: "If You Convert" and "If You Don’t Convert," listing tax impacts, future risks, RMDs, and liquidity pros and cons for each option.
Table 2: The Real Trade-Off

Roth conversions are not about generic “windows” or rules.

They’re a bet that depends on three factors: (1) your tax-rate spread, (2) your time horizon until RMDs and your lifespan, and (3) your taxable income flexibility. When all three align, you’re most likely to gain a significant advantage from a conversion.

When one or more is weak, your benefit is less certain and likely smaller.

Conversions reduce your tax uncertainty, but at a cost you need to be willing to pay.

You don’t have to have an advisor (though a good one offers a lot of value).

You don’t need a monster spreadsheet.

You don’t need certainty about the future. 

You just need a solid decision framework that clarifies your trade-offs.

Disclaimer: This article is intended for informational purposes only, and should not be considered financial advice. You should consult a financial professional before making any major financial decisions.

Opher Ganel

About the Author

Opher Ganel, Ph.D.

My career has had many unpredictable twists and turns. A MSc in theoretical physics, PhD in experimental high-energy physics, postdoc in particle detector R&D, research position in experimental cosmic-ray physics (including a couple of visits to Antarctica), a brief stint at a small engineering services company supporting NASA, followed by starting my own small consulting practice supporting NASA projects and programs. Along the way, I started other micro businesses and helped my wife start and grow her own Marriage and Family Therapy practice. Now, I use all these experiences to also offer financial strategy services to help independent professionals achieve their personal and business finance goals. Connect with me on my own site: OpherGanel.com and/or follow my Medium publication: medium.com/financial-strategy/.


Learn More About Opher

    Do you work at Delta Air Lines?

    Get expert insights from financial advisors who specialize in helping Delta Air Lines employees and executives make the most of their compensation package and benefits.

    Looking for a financial advisor who specializes in working with Delta Air Lines employees? You’re in the right place. Below, you’ll find an advisor who understands Delta Air Lines benefits and compensation — along with his answers to common financial questions from Delta Air Lines employees and executives.

    Whether you recently joined Delta Air Lines or you’ve advanced into a management or executive leadership role over a multi-year career, making smart decisions about your income and Delta Air Lines benefits can have a lasting impact on your financial future. For example:

    ✅ Do you know the right moves to get the greatest value from the Delta Air Lines benefits available to you?

    ✅ If you’re thinking about leaving Delta Air Lines for another job or planning to retire in a few years, are you taking the right steps today to receive all the compensation and benefits you’ve earned?

    Key Takeaways

    1

    Delta Pilots Can Silently Miss MBCBP Benefits by Exceeding 401(k) Contribution Limits

    Because Delta’s employer 401(k) contribution is unusually large, senior pilots can unknowingly exceed IRS annual contribution limits, causing overflow that should flow into the Market Based Cash Balance Plan to go uncaptured. This happens without the employee realizing it and requires checking each year whether the overflow condition is being met. It is one of the most common and costly blind spots an advisor identifies in an initial review.

    2

    The Mandatory Age-65 Retirement Cutoff Forces Pilots to Sequence Planning Decisions Earlier Than Most Professionals

    Unlike most employees who can delay retirement if their finances aren’t ready, pilots face a hard, non-negotiable retirement age of 65 that compresses the planning timeline. This requires sequencing Roth conversions, Social Security claiming, and account drawdown decisions backward from that fixed date well in advance. It also means stress-testing the retirement income plan against multiple market scenarios earlier than would otherwise be necessary.

    3

    Delta Profit-Sharing Checks Should Be Treated as Recurring Compensation, Not a Windfall to Spend

    Profit sharing has historically represented a meaningful share of eligible earnings, yet many employees absorb those checks into everyday spending rather than directing them toward specific financial goals. Planning how to deploy each check before it arrives — whether toward maxing tax-advantaged accounts, paying down debt, or diversifying concentrated Delta stock — can meaningfully accelerate long-term wealth building. The NQDC plan may also allow eligible pilots to defer a portion of profit-sharing income to a lower-tax year, though that benefit must be weighed against the plan’s unsecured nature.

    Why Delta Air Lines Employees Work with a Specialist Financial Advisor

    Throughout the year, Delta Air Lines provides its employees and executives with updates about their benefits, from health insurance and health savings accounts to retirement plans like a 401(k), profit sharing, and — for eligible employees and executives — nonqualified deferred compensation and an employee stock purchase plan. While the company offers many useful resources and access to knowledgeable staff who can assist with questions, you’ll also find financial professionals not affiliated with Delta Air Lines who specialize in helping Delta Air Lines employees make the most of their income and benefits.

    Whether you’re based at Delta’s Atlanta headquarters and Hartsfield-Jackson operations, at a hub like Minneapolis-St. Paul, Detroit, Salt Lake City, New York, Boston, Los Angeles, or Seattle, flying the line from anywhere in the system, or working remotely from home, you may have questions about your compensation package and benefits better suited for a financial professional who can offer unbiased advice and guidance.

    Sensitive topics — like the steps you should take before quitting your job at Delta Air Lines to work elsewhere, protecting yourself in advance of a corporate layoff, or deciding when you should plan to retire — are all conversations that may be more comfortable with a trusted financial advisor.

    Should You Hire a Delta Air Lines Specialist or a Local Financial Advisor?

    You’ll likely find dozens of nearby financial advisors well-suited to help you reach your money goals with a personalized plan. But it can be harder to find a financial advisor who specializes in serving Delta Air Lines employees. Fortunately, many financial advisors offer virtual services, so you can meet online no matter where you (or they) live — which means you can hire a specialist financial advisor who lives hundreds of miles away if their knowledge and experience working with Delta Air Lines employees is the better fit for your unique needs.

    💡 In the Q&A below, you’ll gain insights from a financial advisor who works with Delta Air Lines employees to help them make smart decisions, get the most value from their compensation and benefits, reduce their money stress, and prepare for a comfortable retirement.

    🙋‍♀️ Have a question not yet answered? Use the form below to submit it anonymously and watch this article for updates with answers to your questions. You can also reach out to the financial advisor below to set up an introductory call or contact him with your questions by email.

    Q&A: Financial Planning Tips for Delta Air Lines Employees & Executives

    In this section, you’ll learn how you can make the most of your Delta Air Lines employee benefits and gain valuable tips from a financial advisor who specializes in working with Delta Air Lines employees and executives.

    Financial Advisor Q&A  ·  Delta Air Lines Employees

    Hunter Hays, Financial Advisor for Delta Air Lines Employees at Crestmark Wealth Group

    Hunter Hays

    Crestmark Wealth Group  ·  Littleton, CO  ·  Serves clients nationwide

    Specializes in Delta Air Lines employee financial planning & equity compensation
    Book Intro Call

    Hunter Hays is a financial advisor based in Littleton, CO who specializes in offering financial planning services to Delta Air Lines employees. Hunter helps clients get the most value from their Delta Air Lines benefits and compensation package so they can enjoy life and feel confident about their financial future.

    QAs a financial advisor with experience helping Delta Air Lines employees save for their retirement, how do you help them make the most of their employee benefits?

    I start by mapping the full benefit stack for the employee’s specific role, since pilots juggle as many as four retirement vehicles; the 401(k), the Market Based Cash Balance Plan, profit sharing, and the new nonqualified deferred comp plan.  While flight attendants and ground employees have a simpler structure where the priority is capturing the full match and putting every profit-sharing check to work rather than letting it get absorbed into spending. From there, I check whether contributions are actually hitting the IRS limit, since Delta’s employer contribution is large enough that overflow often spills into the MBCBP without the employee realizing it, and I evaluate NQDC participation as a genuine risk tradeoff, weighing the tax-deferral upside against the fact that it’s an unsecured company obligation, rather than recommending it by default. Because pilots face a hard, non-negotiable retirement age of 65, I sequence Roth conversions, Social Security timing, and account drawdown decisions backward from that fixed date instead of assuming the flexibility most other professionals have, and I review beneficiary designations regularly since they override the will and multiply in number across these accounts. The overall goal is making sure nothing falls through the cracks between these airline-specific plan mechanics, which is where most missed value actually happens.

    QWhen you first speak with a Delta Air Lines employee, what questions do you like to ask to better understand their unique circumstances and determine how you can best help them achieve their goals?

    When I first sit down with a Delta employee, I start with their role and seniority, since that determines which benefit stack applies to them and how complex the conversation needs to get. I ask about their timeline to retirement, since pilots face a hard age 65 cutoff that changes how aggressively we sequence decisions, while non-pilot employees have more flexibility. I want to know their current 401(k) contribution and whether they’ve ever checked if they’re hitting the IRS limit, since that often reveals MBCBP overflow happening without their knowledge. I ask how they’ve historically used profit-sharing checks, which tells me whether windfalls build wealth or just get absorbed into spending. For pilots, I ask about NQDC enrollment and their comfort with deferring income into an unsecured company obligation, since that’s a risk question as much as a tax question. I also ask about other income sources, a spouse’s benefits and timeline, outstanding debt, and upcoming life events like marriage, kids, or a home purchase, since those shape how much liquidity they need outside retirement accounts. Finally, I ask when they last reviewed their beneficiary designations, since that small question consistently uncovers a real gap. Together, these answers show me which of Delta’s plan mechanics matter most for this person and where the real planning leverage is.

    QIs there a particular benefit available to Delta Air Lines employees you feel isn’t as well utilized or understood by employees as it should be?

    The Market Based Cash Balance Plan (MBCBP) is the one I see misunderstood most often, and almost exclusively among pilots. Because Delta’s employer contribution into the 401(k) is so large, many senior pilots exceed the IRS annual contribution limit without realizing it, which means money that should be flowing into the MBCBP to shelter that overflow from taxes and union dues sometimes just isn’t being captured properly. Most employees have heard of the plan but don’t fully understand how it interacts with their 401(k) contributions or whether they’re even eligible for it in a given year, so it tends to sit underused simply because it requires checking each year whether the overflow condition is being met.

    QBeyond Delta Air Lines employee benefits for retirement savings, are there other types of benefits offered by the company that you find valuable to discuss with your clients (e.g. stock, education savings, health savings)?

    Yes, a few come up regularly. Delta’s ESPP lets employees buy company stock at a discount, which is valuable but needs to be paired with a plan to sell down concentrated positions over time, since employees often already have significant exposure to Delta through their paycheck and pension without adding more through stock. Health Savings Accounts are another area worth a closer look, since they offer triple tax advantages and can double as a long-term investment vehicle if someone has the cash flow to cover near-term medical costs out of pocket instead. Life insurance, including the company-paid policy and any supplemental options, is also worth reviewing to make sure coverage actually matches current income and family needs rather than just defaulting to whatever was elected at hire. And for employees with kids, I like to talk through education savings options like 529 plans, especially when there’s room in the budget after retirement contributions are optimized.

    QFor Delta Air Lines employees thinking about leaving the company to accept a job elsewhere, what actions do you recommend they take before resigning and shortly thereafter?

    Before resigning, I’d recommend reviewing vesting schedules on the 401(k) match, profit sharing, and any equity or ESPP holdings, since leaving even a few months early can mean forfeiting unvested money. It’s also worth checking eligibility cutoffs for pension type benefits like the MBCBP, confirming healthcare coverage timing so there’s no gap before new employer coverage begins, and getting a clear picture of any deferred compensation balances and how a departure affects access to those funds. I’d also suggest requesting final statements and documentation for all benefit accounts while still employed, since that information can be harder to access after leaving. Shortly after resigning, the priorities are deciding whether to roll over the 401(k) into an IRA or new employer plan, reviewing COBRA or marketplace healthcare options, updating beneficiary designations if life circumstances have changed, and making sure any outstanding stock or profit sharing payouts are received and accounted for correctly on that year’s taxes.

    QFor Delta Air Lines employees approaching retirement age, how do you recommend they prepare to make the transition from living off their salary to relying upon other sources of income?

    I’d start by building a clear picture of all expected income sources, including the 401(k), MBCBP, profit sharing, NQDC if applicable, Social Security, and any spousal income, then map out roughly when each one becomes available and how they’ll be taxed. For pilots specifically, since retirement at 65 is mandatory, this planning needs to start several years earlier than it would for most professions, because there isn’t flexibility to delay if the numbers aren’t quite ready. I’d also recommend deciding on a withdrawal order across accounts, since drawing from the wrong bucket first can create unnecessary tax exposure, and coordinating Roth conversions with Social Security claiming age can meaningfully reduce lifetime taxes if done early enough. It’s worth stress testing the retirement budget against a few different market scenarios so income isn’t overly dependent on one source performing well. Finally, I’d suggest reviewing healthcare coverage closely, especially for anyone retiring before Medicare eligibility at 65, and updating beneficiary designations and estate documents one last time before the transition.

    QFor Delta Air Lines employees who have managed their finances on their own to this point, what would you suggest they consider to help them decide if they should begin working with a financial advisor at this stage in their lives?

    I’d suggest they consider how complex their financial picture has become, since Delta’s benefits stack gets harder to optimize on your own as profit sharing, MBCBP eligibility, NQDC options, or equity compensation start to apply. It’s also worth asking how much time they realistically have to stay current on plan changes and tax rules, since these benefits are updated through union negotiations and IRS limits change yearly. If major decisions are approaching, like nearing the mandatory retirement age for pilots, changing jobs, or planning for a child’s education, that’s often a good signal that professional input could prevent costly mistakes. I’d also ask whether they’ve ever checked if they’re hitting contribution limits or missing overflow opportunities like the MBCBP, since that’s a common blind spot even for people who are otherwise financially disciplined. Ultimately, the decision comes down to whether the cost of an advisor is outweighed by the value of catching things they’d likely miss on their own, and a good first step is simply getting a complimentary review to see if there are gaps worth addressing.

    QWhat are some of the unique financial planning challenges you commonly see among your clients who are Delta Air Lines employees and how do you help them overcome these obstacles?

    One common challenge is the sheer number of overlapping accounts pilots juggle, like the 401(k), MBCBP, profit sharing, and NQDC, which makes it easy to miss overflow opportunities or contribute inefficiently. I help by mapping out all the accounts together and checking each year whether contributions are hitting IRS limits and flowing into the right places. Another challenge is the compressed timeline pilots face due to the mandatory retirement age of 65, which leaves less room to course correct than most professions allow. I address this by starting retirement income planning earlier and sequencing decisions like Roth conversions and Social Security claiming well in advance. Irregular income from profit sharing and per diem also makes budgeting harder for many employees, so I work with them to earmark windfalls for specific goals rather than letting them get absorbed into everyday spending. Finally, concentrated exposure to Delta through stock, salary, and pension is a recurring risk, and I help clients build a plan to diversify that exposure gradually over time.

    QWhat questions do you recommend Delta Air Lines employees ask financial advisors they’re considering hiring to help them decide if they’re a good fit?

    I’d recommend asking how many Delta employees, and specifically how many in their same role, the advisor currently works with, since the plan mechanics for pilots differ significantly from those for flight attendants or ground staff. It’s worth asking whether the advisor is a fee only fiduciary, since that clarifies how they’re compensated and whether their recommendations could be influenced by commissions. Employees should also ask the advisor to explain how the MBCBP, profit sharing, and NQDC plan interact with the 401(k) contribution limits, since a vague or incorrect answer is a quick way to spot someone who isn’t truly familiar with Delta’s specific benefits. For pilots, it’s worth asking how the advisor approaches planning around the mandatory retirement age of 65, since that should shape the entire strategy. Finally, I’d suggest asking what credentials they hold, how often they’ll meet to review the plan, and whether they can provide examples, without naming clients, of how they’ve helped someone in a similar role and stage of life.

    QIs there anything that comes up frequently in your initial meeting with Delta Air Lines employees that surprises you?

    One thing that comes up often is how many pilots don’t realize they’re already exceeding the 401(k) contribution limit and missing out on MBCBP benefits as a result, even though they’ve been with Delta for years. It’s also surprising how many employees haven’t reviewed their beneficiary designations since they were originally hired, despite major life changes like marriage or having kids in between. Another common surprise is how little employees know about the new NQDC plan and whether they’re even eligible, given how recently it was introduced. And on the non-pilot side, I’m often surprised by how much profit sharing gets treated as a bonus to spend rather than a recurring part of their compensation that deserves a plan of its own.

    QFor highly compensated Delta Air Lines employees and executives, are there any special benefits you believe it’s important to take into consideration when preparing their financial plan?

    For highly compensated employees and executives, the NQDC plan deserves close attention, since it allows deferring a large portion of income with no IRS contribution cap, but that benefit needs to be weighed against the fact that it’s an unsecured company obligation rather than a protected retirement account. Equity compensation and ESPP holdings also matter more at this level, since concentrated stock positions can grow large relative to total net worth and need a deliberate plan to diversify over time. I’d also pay close attention to how the MBCBP interacts with 401(k) contribution limits, since highly compensated employees are the ones most likely to be exceeding those limits and needing that overflow captured correctly. Tax bracket management becomes especially important too, since decisions around deferred comp timing, Roth conversions, and the eventual distribution of these accounts can have an outsized impact on lifetime taxes at higher income levels. Finally, estate planning tends to carry more weight here, since larger account balances and more complex compensation structures make outdated beneficiary designations or estate documents a costlier mistake if left unaddressed.

    QDelta Air Lines offers its employees a profit-sharing program that has paid out billions of dollars in some years — how should Delta employees think about planning for and deploying those profit-sharing checks rather than simply spending them?

    I’d encourage employees to think of profit sharing as a recurring, if variable, part of their compensation rather than a bonus to spend freely, since it’s consistently been a meaningful amount, in 2025 averaging close to 9% of eligible earnings company wide. The key is deciding where that money goes before it arrives, rather than after, so it doesn’t just get absorbed into everyday spending. For most employees, a good starting point is using it to max out tax advantaged accounts, whether that’s catching up on 401(k) contributions, funding a backdoor Roth, or contributing to an HSA if eligible. It can also be used to pay down high interest debt, build or top off an emergency fund, or fund specific goals like education savings or a future home purchase. For employees with concentrated Delta stock through ESPP, profit sharing can also be a good source of cash to support diversifying that position without needing to sell shares to do it. The overall approach is to treat each check as a planning opportunity rather than a windfall, since doing that consistently over time meaningfully accelerates long term financial goals.

    QHow do you help Delta Air Lines employees navigate the financial planning considerations unique to their profit-sharing program, including how to optimize the timing and tax treatment of those distributions?

    I help clients approach profit sharing as a predictable, recurring part of compensation rather than a one time windfall, since planning around its timing and tax treatment can make a meaningful difference over time. Because profit sharing is paid as taxable income in the year it’s received, I look at whether there’s room to offset that income through pre tax 401(k) contributions, HSA contributions, or other deductions before the check arrives, so the additional income doesn’t push someone into a higher bracket unnecessarily. For pilots who are eligible, I also look at whether deferring a portion of profit sharing into the NQDC plan makes sense, since that can shift the tax hit to a later year when income may be lower, though that needs to be weighed against the unsecured nature of that plan. Timing also matters around major life events, like a year with significant medical expenses or a planned Roth conversion, since profit sharing income can affect how much room there is to execute those strategies efficiently in a given year. The overall goal is making sure the tax treatment of each distribution is considered ahead of time rather than reacted to afterward, since that’s where the real planning value comes from.

    QHow do you advise Delta Air Lines pilots and crew members on coordinating their defined benefit pension plan with other retirement assets to build a comprehensive and tax-efficient retirement income strategy?

    For pilots, the closest thing to a traditional pension is the Market Based Cash Balance Plan, along with any legacy PBGC or NWA pension benefits for those who qualify from before Delta’s defined benefit pension was frozen. I help coordinate these by first identifying exactly what’s available to each individual, since eligibility and benefit amounts vary significantly based on hire date and history with the company. From there, I look at how MBCBP assets should be sequenced alongside 401(k) withdrawals, profit sharing, and NQDC distributions to manage tax brackets efficiently throughout retirement rather than drawing from everything at once. For pilots with a PBGC or NWA pension benefit, I also review the election options carefully, since choices like lump sum versus annuity or survivor benefit elections are often irreversible once made. Coordinating Social Security claiming age with these other income sources is another key piece, since claiming early or late can shift the most tax efficient withdrawal order from the other accounts. The goal throughout is building an income strategy where each source is drawn down intentionally and in the right order, rather than treating each account as a separate decision made in isolation.

    Considering a financial advisor who specializes in working with Delta Air Lines employees?

    Securities and investment advisory services offered through Hornor, Townsend & Kent, LLC (HTK), Registered Investment Adviser, Member FINRA/SIPC, 800-873-7637, www.htk.com. Any other business entity or name that your financial professional markets their securities and advisory services under is not affiliated with HTK. The material is not intended to be a recommendation, offer or solicitation. HTK does not provide legal and tax advice. Always consult a qualified tax advisor regarding your personal tax situation and a qualified legal professional for your personal estate planning situation. We are insurance and securities licensed in our resident state of Colorado, as well as other states. CA Insurance #4392569

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    About the Author

    Brian Thorp, Founder and CEO of Wealthtender and Editor-in-Chief

    Brian Thorp

    Founder & CEO, Wealthtender  ·  Editor-in-Chief

    Brian Thorp is the founder and CEO of Wealthtender and serves as Editor-in-Chief. With over 25 years in the financial services industry — including nearly 22 years at Invesco, where he led strategic partnerships with wealth management firms representing more than $100 billion in assets — Brian founded Wealthtender to help people find financial advisors they can trust and make more informed money decisions.

    A member of the National Society of Compliance Professionals and its SEC Marketing Rule Working Group, Brian was recognized by WealthManagement.com as one of its “Ten to Watch in 2024” for his work reshaping how financial advisors market their services. He holds a B.B.A. in Finance from The University of Texas at Austin.

    Brian and his wife live in Austin, Texas.

    Read Brian’s full bio →   ·   Connect on LinkedIn →

    Side-by-side professional headshots of two men, Gary Black and David Kalis, CFA, each labeled as Portfolio Manager and Managing Partner, with a blue and white abstract background.
    Image Credit: Institute for Innovation Development

    [“Investing in the future” is the holy grail of growth investing for some investment managers. By accurately researching the broader economic and social trends driving the innovations and disruptions that will change the future, they can then focus on identifying which companies win or lose as a result.

    To find these differentiated growth investment managers, both retail and professional investors need to look beyond the traditional “growth/innovation” hype and the repackaging of existing equity growth portfolios that are not always tilted towards disruptive, higher-growth companies to ensure their investment strategy is grounded in a clear future-focused investment thesis.

    It is vital to conduct thorough due diligence by examining the investment vehicle’s actual holdings, strategy, and the manager’s expertise in picking companies that can drive meaningful change, rather than relying solely on the strategy’s name and marketing proposition.

    How exactly can investors differentiate between future-focused investment vehicles? How can you tell how much of an innovation story is real versus how much is marketing hype? What should you be looking for?

    To help us answer those questions, we were introduced to Gary Black and David Kalis, Managing Partners and Portfolio Managers at The Future Fund – a Chicago-based asset management firm that manages high-conviction, secular growth portfolios for clients in their long-only One Global ETF1 (FFND), their hedged long/short equity The Future Fund Long/Short ETF (FFLS) and their small-/mid-cap FundX Future Fund Opportunities ETF (FFOX) portfolios. The firm’s strategy starts with the identification of long-term “megatrends” – the most influential multi-year growth opportunities that are changing the world. They then invest in companies they believe have the strategy, products, and proactive cultures to exploit these long-term trends. We asked them to share their differentiated perspectives with us.]

    Hortz: As experienced growth stock investors, how and why did you evolve your investment philosophy to a megatrend investment theme? How did that shape your investment methodology versus a traditional fundamental growth stock analysis approach?

    Black: When we launched our original Future Fund ETF in August 2021, we wanted to build on our 60-plus years of combined investment experience as disciplined growth managers using fundamental research (e.g., forecasting drivers of industries, competitive advantage, and economics). By combining that with identifying secular megatrends, we strive to pick stocks that we believe may have potential to outperform the indices by 3–4% per year over a full market cycle. Using these secular megatrends, which act as tailwinds, helps us find companies that are exploiting these major trends that are affecting the world and changing the future.

    David and I both believe that active management adds value (generates returns well in excess of fees) if done in a disciplined and rigorous manner. We employ a strategy that combines our passion for fundamental research, the use of secular megatrends, and a strong valuation discipline – buying stocks when they are priced below their intrinsic values, selling them when they exceed our estimates of intrinsic value.

    By identifying successful companies through fundamental research and assessing how they may benefit from long-term megatrends, we position the portfolio to capitalize on overlooked expectations or growth acceleration not readily seen by many growth managers. That is at the core of our investment strategy.

    Kalis: Most growth investors, in general, are just looking for pure growth. It does not really matter where it comes from. They are looking for acceleration and uncaptured expectations. The extra research layer that we added with a megatrends focus is a differentiated process and way to look at growth companies. We have identified ten megatrends in the economy and built a portfolio of longs or shorts around them. We typically take a three- to five-year timeframe on these stocks and also acknowledge that they can be quite volatile, allowing us to trade around these positions.

    Adding to this volatility are many investors taking aggressive positions on buying and selling growth positions through packaged vehicles like growth-themed ETFs, such as AI ETFs, without any thought about the valuation of the underlying stocks. Since there are always dislocations happening in growth markets, we determined three things you can do to make more in-depth stock selection decisions: first, you have to understand the long-term megatrends; second, know how your portfolio companies are positioned within those megatrends; and third, make sure that you are cognizant of your valuations. That is where alpha is created, from my perspective. It is a different approach to implementing a stock growth strategy that leads us to a concentrated portfolio of high-conviction companies and a high active share portfolio versus traditional growth indices.

    Hortz: How do you determine the leading megatrends that are shaping the future?

    Black: Megatrends are long-term secular forces that are changing the world. They should be relatively easy to identify, have long-term staying power, and most importantly, lead us to companies that are winning as the world evolves. In the case of identifying potential shorts, we look for companies that are not adapting fast enough to keep up with the rapid pace of change around us.

    Megatrends impact a broad swath of sectors, from technology to media and communications, healthcare, consumer discretionary, infrastructure, and financial services. Since beginning The Future Fund LLC in 2021, we have not dropped any of our ten basic megatrends, and we have not added any new ones, which we believe shows the staying power of the megatrends we have chosen to build our portfolios.

    Hortz: Can you share with us what you see as the leading megatrends that are shaping our future?

    Black: Briefly, our ten megatrends are:

    – 24/7 information and entertainment: Delivered digitally and in whatever form and devices consumers want.

    – Social media: Replacing traditional media channels.

    – Mobility: Working and interacting from anywhere, led by the advent of smartphones and laptops replacing traditional desktops, which frees people to work, communicate, shop, or consume media anywhere, and at any time.

    – E-commerce: Disintermediation of traditional brick-and-mortar retail, replaced by omni-channel distribution of goods and services, also anytime and anywhere.

    – AI and automation: Artificial intelligence and robotics are replacing traditional labor in factories, in the home, and in business.

    – Big data and security: Data management, productivity, privacy, and security.

    – Fintech: Digital transactions and financial innovation globally.

    – People living longer: Convergence of medical technology and propensity to consume more health care as the population ages.

    – Lifestyle betterment: As fertility rates fall and people delay starting families, emphasis on fitness, staying young, and enjoying life.

    – Climate sustainability: Technology to fight climate change; the advent of EVs and fully autonomous driving technology.

     Hortz: What is the size and scope of the universe of companies that include those you are looking for?

    Black: We are best described as multi-cap growth investors, which means we primarily start with a universe of growth companies in the $5 billion market cap range, up to companies valued at several trillion dollars in market cap. Our preferred universe is about 750 companies found in the MSCI ACWI Index, although we have several core holdings that we believe are exploiting or benefiting from the secular forces changing the world that are priced more modestly.

    We generally think of growth companies as those that can grow at twice the rate of GDP – so we look for a minimum of 10% top line growth and greater than 15% growth in profit or cash flows, although we are not beholden to those targets.

    Kalis: As a multi-cap growth manager, we also own a lot of small- to mid-cap (SMID) stocks. It is an area of the market that has always been a sweet spot for us, helping to find companies with the highest growth potential. We like these companies for a number of reasons. Smaller companies may be more adept at making moves quickly and building new innovative products in an effort to exploit megatrends. We also appreciate the research edge we gain as we move down the market-cap ladder, since there are not many analysts covering them. Some of these companies may have only five to ten people covering them on the street, and there is typically not a great deal of information out there on them. We can add value by talking to the company directly to understand their strategy and gain insight into where they fit in competitively in the market. We believe this is a competitive strength in our investment process.

    Hortz: What is your research and investment process for recognizing what could be winning companies versus also-rans?

    Black: Our research leads us to a universe of companies that we feel are well-positioned to exploit specific megatrends we previously identified. These companies generally have specific strategies, products, and management execution in place to increase market share, widen margins, and accelerate profits. We also look for catalysts that can drive uncaptured expectations and accelerate sales or earnings not already recognized by the market.

    Ideally, we use our own proprietary research or a credible sell-side forecast of units, pricing, margins, and profits going out 3-5 years. We try to compute a terminal value on the business 3-5 years out, which gets discounted back at a risk-adjusted cost of capital to come up with a measure of intrinsic value. We try to evaluate possible downside scenarios where our investment thesis could be wrong – usually scenarios where we are wrong on competitive product technology, brand superiority, or pricing strategy. We look for companies that can deliver at least 2:1 upside vs. downside for inclusion in our portfolios, and where we can identify specific catalysts for unlocking that value.

    What sets us apart from our competitors is our ability to do what we call 360-degree fundamental research on a company – understanding customers, competitors, suppliers, and the company itself. We believe our valuation discipline and understanding of catalysts set us apart from other growth managers.

    Kalis: Another critical point to make here is that there is also a huge advantage to recognizing that your views about the company and your views about its stock might be different. If you think about us versus other growth investors, we are very valuation conscious. We tend to like stocks that have fallen, where there is controversy, and where we feel that a lot of information coming out is really short-term noise and not relevant to the long-term growth picture of the company. You have to understand the expectations underlying the stock, which has to do with the psychology around the stock, how “popular” the stock is, and the stock crowding effects, to understand how much is captured in the stock price.

    We are always trying to find where the market is not seeing something the way we would look at it, and then we try to find where that controversy, or difference in view, can be resolved through some catalyst that will say, okay, here’s how to think about the company in a more accurate way. And so, I think that sets us apart just as much as using the megatrends; that we tend to embrace controversy. We like a good fight. We like it when a growth stock is temporarily hurt because of some differences in views or perspectives in the market.

    The point being, it is a combination of understanding the megatrends, the fundamentals, the valuations, and also understanding the psychology of the stock. That is when we look at risk on an individual stock basis and then on an overall portfolio basis, making sure we are not getting out over our skis because it is extremely easy to get excited or panicked with growth stocks.

    You have to pick your spots and make sure you understand what the valuation is, what you are paying for these stocks, and what the true intrinsic value of the company is. The intrinsic value does not change a whole lot, but the prices move around that intrinsic value quite a bit.

    Hortz: Can you give me an example of a current controversy and how you are handling it?

    Kalis: I will give you an example. Right now, there is a noticeably big controversy on AI versus software, where some say that software is essentially going away because AI is going to devour it. And it’s possible, right? That led to a $300 billion wipeout of software stock valuations just recently.

    You need to respond by keeping your head about you and not just “freak out.” We are actively entering this fight by continuing to do research and making judgments on where individual software companies are positioned, where their products are, and how sticky their products are with their clients.

    AI is going to hurt growth rates of software companies, but is it going to take it to zero? That is probably unlikely as software resides in one of our megatrends. We own a few of these stocks and we are short a few of them, but we have not made a big bet on software as of yet. We are looking at the sector very carefully because there are valuations that have just been crushed and there are opportunities here. I am not saying that we will take a position, as we definitely have to understand the risks and opportunities for us. Some of these stocks may fall 30% in three days and thereby allow us to add selective stocks that have good valuation discounts and positioning for the future.

    Hortz: How do you determine and quantify the unrecognized equity value of businesses that are “changing the world”?

    Black: We use different approaches to determining the intrinsic value of stocks in our portfolio. We start with the view that markets are not always efficient at recognizing how a business’s products can change the world, the way Google did with search and is likely to do with its Gemini AI tool, or Nvidia (NVDA)2 did with AI chips.

    We look at incremental earnings (or cash flows) that market expectations do not yet capture and attach a forward-looking EV/EBITDA or P/E multiple to those incremental profits to determine the unrecognized equity value not yet discounted by investors. Key to this is recognizing what catalysts are already discounted in a company’s stock price, and the probability and likely timing of the catalysts.

    Hortz: Can you share with us a few examples of companies you like?

    Black: Alphabet (GOOG)2, commonly referred to as Google, is a good example because we originally liked its dominant position on default search tools on both desktops and phones, which would allow it to capture advertising dollars as they migrated from traditional media to social media. We believed that Google could successfully withstand the competitive inroads being made by Microsoft’s Bing and other new search engines. More recently, we felt that Google’s Gemini AI tool was best positioned to take advantage of growing demand for “chatbot” AI queries, given its dominant real estate on both mobile and traditional desktop devices.

    Another name we continue to like is DoorDash (DASH) 2, which is dominant in food delivery to consumers who are too busy to cook for themselves but with ample disposable income to eat out regularly. In the past few years, DoorDash and Uber Eats have consolidated the US food delivery industry. DoorDash continues to expand to new markets outside the US and has extended its brand equity and infrastructure to delivery of groceries and other products (pet supplies, electronics, flowers, home goods).

    Another controversial name we hold is Uber (UBER) 2, which has struggled of late as Tesla, Google, and others that have invested heavily in unsupervised autonomy show clear progress. We believe Uber is ideally positioned to exploit the megatrend to autonomous self-driving vehicles and remove driver costs from the car, which could cut ride-sharing costs by approximately 25-50%, greatly expanding Uber’s total addressable market (TAM).

    Kalis: Speaking of software stocks before, Datadog (DDOG) 2 is a company that does observability and what that means is that they are in networks, where they observe and manage traffic, working with OpenAI and Amazon. So anytime you are talking about just internet traffic, it obviously has to be managed. The number of bits, bytes, and light that is going back and forth is tremendous. And someone has to manage that network, manage where the power is going, where it is being used, so on and so forth. So Datadog does that. We own that company and that is one area that I do think will hold up better because it is not really exposed as much to AI, because they are in the network.

    Halozyme (HALO) 2 is a healthcare technology stock and a good example of a differentiated healthcare company that people have not thought about with a technology that really helps individual patients. Halozyme has a technology that allows you to take a drug in a portable pen-like dispenser at home or quickly at the doctor’s office in about five minutes versus a three-hour IV. They partner with major drug companies with their pen delivery system and get a royalty from that for many years. This also enhances the ability for the drug to stay in the market longer. It is a stock that was not on a lot of people’s radar a few years ago. It has a lot of controversy around it, and is still very inexpensive. They have regularly beat their numbers and made acquisitions. It is a several-hundred-billion-dollar market-cap company that most people really have not heard of.

    These examples illustrate how we tend to gravitate toward growth stocks with vibrant controversy in opinions over a company or sector and where we perceive investors are valuing the company too low because of the controversy.

    Hortz: Can you explain your long/short investment strategies and how you implement them?

    Black: Our long/short investment approach is long individual stocks and short individual stocks. We are not shorting the S&P, or the Nasdaq or anything to hedge long exposures out. We tend to employ our short ideas as alpha-generating positions on their own, rather than as hedges against specific long positions.

    Our short ideas tend to originate from the same megatrend research that identifies potential long positions, where potential shorts are companies that cannot innovate or adapt quickly to the secular forces changing the world.

    We tend not to short companies solely because they trade at high relative valuations, but rather try to find those that we view as at a competitive disadvantage because of complacency, lack of innovation, or management’s inability to execute.

    Hortz: Can you share what you believe are the best ways to position and explain the value of overlaying megatrends when investing?

    Kalis: The landscape of growth-oriented investment strategies that are available can be tricky, even for sophisticated investors, to distinguish between the elevated names, unclear mandates, and speculative bets of in vogue technology versus the targeted, well-researched stock selection process run by seasoned innovation and growth stock-pickers. As seasoned future-focused stock pickers that overlay megatrends research, we are working to determine the higher probabilities of company success versus just the exciting possibilities in growth investing.

    The Future Fund investment process adds value for growth investors by adding another layer of fundamental research with a megatrends overlay, which looks for growth companies across industries with long-term tailwinds. This adds a differentiated source of long-term growth investing potential and an active share composition compared to a typical growth portfolio index. We achieve this by utilizing a 360-degree research process to find a research edge, a strict valuation discipline, and a willingness to embrace controversy by investing in companies facing market skepticism.

    This article was originally published here and is republished on Wealthtender with permission.

    About the Author

    A middle-aged man, Bill Hortz, with short dark hair wearing a dark pinstripe suit, white dress shirt, and a maroon tie, posing against a plain gray backdrop. He has a slight smile and is looking directly at the camera.

    Bill Hortz

    Founder Institute for Innovation Development

    Bill Hortz is an independent business consultant and Founder/Dean of the Institute for Innovation Development- a financial services business innovation platform and network. With over 30 years of experience in the financial services industry including expertise in sales/marketing/branding of asset management firms, as well as, creatively restructuring and developing internal/external sales and strategic account departments for 5 major financial firms, including OppenheimerFunds, Neuberger&Berman and Templeton Funds Distributors. His wide ranging experiences have led Bill to a strong belief, passion and advocation for strategic thinking, innovation creation and strategic account management as the nexus of business skills needed to address a business environment challenged by an accelerating rate of change.

    Big milestones can bring blended families closer, but they can also stir up financial friction if you’re not prepared. Whether it’s a wedding, college decision, or dream vacation, these events often come with high price tags and even higher expectations. And when different family histories and money values collide, the pressure to “get it right” can feel overwhelming.

    Your family is shaped by a shared love for one another and a commitment to moving forward together, even as both sides of the family bring unique experiences, traditions, and financial perspectives to the table.

    Here’s how to approach life’s major events with more clarity, communication, and comfort so your family can enjoy the moment without letting finances become a source of conflict.

    Weddings

    Few things in life are more joyful than a child or grandchild’s wedding. That said, weddings can also create a major financial challenge for blended families, in particular.

    Sorting out who contributes and how much isn’t always straightforward. In some traditions, the bride’s parents are expected to cover most of the wedding, while the groom’s parents handle the rehearsal dinner. In blended families, those expectations might be further complicated by remarriage, differing household finances, and relationships that are still evolving.

    Paying for your child’s or stepchild’s wedding can carry some emotional weight as well, as it might feel like a point of pride or unspoken expectation. Before writing a blank check, you and your spouse should pause and consider how you each feel about contributing to a child’s wedding, what a meaningful gift might look like, and where the line should be drawn. 

    As you’re likely aware, weddings can get expensive fast, especially when emotions are running high, and decisions feel urgent. Before you feel forced into reactive or impulsive choices (or risk feeling like you’re letting down a child or stepchild), determine together what you can reasonably contribute without interrupting your long-term priorities. Your retirement savings, emergency fund, and shared financial stability still deserve protection.

    If you and your spouse have considerably different financial situations, consider setting separate contribution expectations that preserve fairness and dignity. Clear, respectful boundaries can help prevent resentment from either side, while still allowing you both to support the child meaningfully.

    College Planning

    When you’re preparing to send a child or stepchild off to college, financial support conversations become crucial. Factors including financial aid, savings strategies, and contribution expectations all need to be discussed at length.

    Begin by talking through each child’s educational goals and your family’s collective financial capacity. College and career paths often look different from child to child. Some might pursue a more “traditional” four-year degree, while others opt for trade schools, gap years, or part-time programs. Align on what you and your spouse are willing and able to support to reduce confusion and prevent unspoken assumptions from getting in the way moving forward.

    From there, determine how much each of you can contribute without jeopardizing your shared goals. College support can’t come at the expense of your retirement security or long-term stability as a household.

    If you haven’t looked into them already, some tax-advantaged tools like 529 plans offer ways to save for whatever educational path your children pursue—plus, they can create opportunities for extended family to participate.

    Travel and Vacations

    Family travel is an incredibly important way to build bonds and create shared experiences. But those memories shouldn’t come at the expense of your broader financial goals. With the right planning, it’s possible to prioritize both.

    For example, you might want to create a dedicated family travel fund. Set clear goals around timing, estimated costs, and monthly savings targets. Knowing what you’re working toward allows everyone to feel included in the process.

    It’s also important to determine how expenses on vacation should be shared, and what each of you values most in your travel experiences. Is the priority to immerse yourself in another culture, find the best restaurants, or maximize relaxation? Understanding and sharing your values ahead of time can help guide your family’s spending decisions, so your vacations feel fulfilling for everyone involved.

    Keep Communication a Top Priority

    Throughout your lifetime, other major life events will likely arise, whether it’s caring for aging parents, navigating job changes, welcoming grandchildren, or simply adjusting to new seasons of life together.

    Through each transition, commit to communicating about your financial values consistently and respectfully. 

    Regular money check-ins can create a space to revisit goals, adjust priorities, and address concerns before they become problems. You and your spouse might want to consider tools like budgeting apps, shared planners, or financial dashboards to help keep conversations focused on the facts (especially if you struggle to leave emotions at the door).

    Framing decisions around “our goals” rather than “your money” or “my money” also helps reinforce the idea that you are building something together even though you took different paths to get here. 

    The Key? Make Decisions Together

    Whether it’s spending for the everyday or big milestones, your financial decisions should be made with intention, empathy, and partnership. And while many conversations can happen at your kitchen table, you may still benefit from professional guidance, especially when multiple life events overlap, or you feel like your priorities are competing.

    If your blended family is navigating major life transitions, Blended Family Financial can help. Schedule a call today with our team to get started. 

    This article was originally published here and is republished on Wealthtender with permission.

    About the Author

    Headshot of Brian K. Peterson, CFP®, CPWA®, MBA
    Brian K. Peterson, CFP®, CPWA®, MBA Planning Built For Blended Family Life

    Brian K. Peterson, CFP®, CPWA®, MBA | Blended Family Financial

    🔗 Website | Wealthtender Profile

    Find financial advisors in Evansville, Indiana ready to help with your financial planning needs so you can enjoy life more with less money stress.

    Whether you have lived in Evansville for years or recently moved to town, you may need help finding the right financial advisor in the community best suited for your individual needs.

    It’s important to first consider your own financial planning priorities before choosing an advisor. Here are a few quick tips to help you get started along with financial advisors in Evansville featured on Wealthtender you may want to add to your shortlist.

    As you prepare to interview financial advisors in Evansville who may be right for you, get to know local financial advisors featured on Wealthtender.

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    The Benefits of Hiring a Financial Advisor in Evansville

    Hiring a financial advisor can be a great move to help you build a long-term investing strategy. Advisors can help you build an investment portfolio to meet your financial goals and help you plan appropriately for retirement.

    As a resident living in Evansville, hiring a financial advisor who lives nearby and understands the local economy, cost of living, and regional employers can be quite valuable, especially if your individual circumstances are deeply tied to such factors.

    Do you work for one of the largest employers in Evansville? If so, there’s a good chance the local financial advisor you hire will also have other clients who work there. This knowledge could prove valuable if they are already familiar with your employee benefits, such as a 401(k) plan, Health Savings Accounts, and other components of your total compensation package.

    When you reach out to financial advisors you’re considering hiring, let them know where you work and ask if they are familiar with your employer’s unique benefits and compensation structure.

    Quick Tips For Hiring an Evansville Financial Advisor

    Before hiring a financial advisor in Evansville, here are a few quick tips to help you find the best advisor for you.

    1. Decide Which Services You Need

    Before hiring an advisor, determine what services you need from them. Whether it’s full-service investment management or a plan focused on a specific area of your finances, put together a list of what you’d like help with before contacting an advisor.

    Though most people use a financial planner simply to invest for retirement, this is only a small part of what many advisors offer. Here’s a quick rundown of potential services a financial advisor may offer you:

    • Budgeting and money management
    • Debt management
    • Insurance planning
    • Retirement planning
    • Other investment planning
    • Inheritance planning
    • Estate planning
    • Tax planning

    As you can see, financial advisors can help you with your entire financial picture, not just investing. As you start to plan for life’s bigger milestones, you should consider finding a financial advisor that specializes in those areas.

    Finding the right advisor can help you minimize risk, maximize gains and take advantage of tax breaks while investing for your future. They can also help you protect your assets with the right kinds of insurance and help you pass on your financial legacy with a proper estate plan.

    2. Consider Your Budget and Payment Preferences

    Once you have a list of services you would like, review the fee structures financial advisors offer. Finding a balance between the services you need and the cost of those services will help narrow down the field of advisors you may want to work with.

    If you are looking for a full-service advisor to manage all of your investments, consider searching among fee-based financial advisors. If you want to manage your money yourself, consider the flat fee and monthly subscription advisors for ongoing support.

    3. Interview Multiple Financial Advisors

    Once you have chosen the services and fee structure you prefer, it’s time to contact a few advisors and interview them. Here are questions to ask financial advisors:

    • What services do you provide?
    • What are all the ways you get paid? (fee transparency)
    • What is your investment strategy?
    • How do you measure investment performance?
    • How do we communicate about my plan?

    Interview multiple advisors to get a feel for who you want to work with. A combination of fees, services, and customer service will help you determine the best fit for your financial advice.

    4. Review Financial Advisor Credentials

    Once you find an advisor (or two) you feel comfortable with, it’s always a good practice to check their credentials and the firm’s details. You can do this at the Investment Adviser Public Disclosure (IAPD) website. 

    You can check both the individual and the firm to view their background and experience details, as well as any disciplinary action taken against them or their firm.

    As licensed financial professionals, there is oversight into how financial advisors conduct business, so running a quick (free) check on them is recommended.

    For additional information about advisor credentials, read our article to learn the most popular designations held by financial advisors, as well as specialized credentials which may be important to consider if you have unique financial planning needs.

    Frequently Asked Questions & Additional Resources

    How do I know if I’m ready to hire a financial advisor?

    You should strongly consider hiring a financial advisor if you have a significant amount of money available for saving or investing. This could occur after years of making annual contributions to a retirement plan like a 401(k) through your employer or suddenly if you receive a large inheritance or sell your house for a large profit.

    But even if you don’t have a lot of money saved, many financial advisors and planners provide reasonable pricing options and valuable services you should consider, especially if you’re facing a significant life event. For example, if you’re starting a new job, getting married, starting a family, getting divorced, lost your job, starting or selling a business, or approaching retirement age, working with a trusted financial advisor or planner may prove worthwhile.

    Before I hire a new financial advisor, should I fire my current advisor?

    You don’t need to fire your current advisor before beginning your search for a new financial advisor. In fact, your new advisor can help coordinate the transition of your assets from your previous financial advisor.

    Where can I read reviews about financial advisors written by their clients to help me decide if I should hire them?

    After 60 years of regulatory prohibition of financial advisor reviews in the US, a rule issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) became effective on May 4, 2021 that means both financial advisors and directory websites that help consumers search for a financial advisor can collect and display financial advisor reviews, an important factor worth considering when choosing who you’ll hire to manage your investments and life savings. 

    Wealthtender is the first independent advisor review platform designed to be fully compliant with the new SEC rule, and we look forward to helping you evaluate financial advisors based on reviews written by their clients.

    I’m a local financial advisor interested in being featured in this guide. How do I get started?

    Thanks for your interest. We look forward to learning more about your practice and helping you attract your ideal clients where you may be a good fit based on their individual needs and circumstances. Please click here to learn how you can join local financial advisors featured on Wealthtender.

    How Much Does a Financial Advisor Cost?

    ➡️ How Much Does a Financial Advisor Cost? Read the Article

    About the Author
    A headshot of Brian Thorp, the founder and CEO of Wealthtender

    About the Author

    Brian Thorp

    Brian is CEO and founder of Wealthtender and Editor-in-Chief. He and his wife live in Austin, Texas. With over 25 years in the financial services industry, Brian is applying his experience and passion at Wealthtender to help more people enjoy life with less money stress. Learn More about Brian

    The fastest-growing advisors excel at both client service and marketing. Discover how Asset-Map’s visual planning tools and Wealthtender’s digital marketing platform work together to create a growth flywheel, where exceptional client experiences generate reviews that boost AI search visibility and increase lead conversions.

    If you’ve explored visual planning tools like Asset-Map or currently use the platform in your practice, you’ve likely discovered something powerful: visual communication transforms client relationships. When clients see their entire financial picture mapped on one page, comprehension increases, trust deepens, and complex planning conversations become remarkably clear.

    But how do you get more of the right prospects to learn who you are and understand the exceptional client experience you deliver in the first place?

    The advisors winning today know that delighting clients and attracting new ones aren’t separate priorities, they’re two sides of the same coin. Visual planning tools like Asset-Map help you deliver extraordinary planning experiences. Digital marketing platforms like Wealthtender ensure the right prospects find you, trust you, and schedule an introductory call with you before any other advisor.

    Table of Contents

    The Growth Challenge Advisors Need to Tackle in 2026

    How prospects find and research advisors continues to evolve. The advisors adapting are the ones getting found and hired.

    In 2026, more consumers are asking ChatGPT and Gemini for advisor recommendations. They’re comparing advisors based on specialization, not just location. And even if they receive referrals offline to a shortlist of advisors, 83% of Americans plan to go online to read reviews and learn firsthand what clients have to say about their experience.

    Yet many advisors with exceptional planning skills, whether using visual tools or traditional approaches, get outranked by other advisors in Google search results and remain invisible in popular AI answer engines. They’ve mastered the art of the client conversation but haven’t built the digital presence that gets them into prospect conversations as frequently or consistently as they deserve.

    A summary of key findings from the Wealthtender 2025 Study - How Consumers Find and Hire Financial Advisors. 96% of people referred to a financial advisor will research them online before making contact. 97% of consumers plan to contact two or more advisors before making a hiring decision. Over 80% of people want to read online reviews about financial advisors. A third of people said an advisor’s location doesn’t matter as they prefer to meet exclusively online. Source: Wealthtender 2025 Study of $100K+ Households Seeking Financial Advice. Visit wealthtender.com/find to learn more.

    1+1 > 2: Combining Asset-Map with Wealthtender for Outsized Impact

    The wealth management firms experiencing the greatest sustainable growth recognize the need for exceptional service and effective marketing to work in tandem.

    A distinguishing feature of Asset-Map is its ability to turn an otherwise mundane conversation about finances into an engaging visual experience that converts delighted clients into advocates of your firm and advisors.

    And incorporating Wealthtender into your practice provides your delighted clients with a compliant way to share their experiences online. By publishing your client reviews on Wealthtender, you gain the most power of any platform for your clients’ influential voices to reach prospects at the right time and everywhere online, whether they’re researching advisors through Google, Gemini, ChatGPT, Wealthtender, and/or your own website.

    By integrating both Asset-Map and Wealthtender into your practice, the combination creates what every advisor needs: a powerful system that attracts your ideal clients, delights them once they’re aboard, and turns them into advocates whose testimonials influence more prospects to become clients, creating a sustainable growth flywheel.

    How Visual Planning and Your Digital Presence Work Together

    By implementing a digital marketing strategy that shines a light on your reputation for delivering an exceptional financial planning experience, several powerful dynamics emerge to accelerate the growth of your firm.

    1. Your Planning Expertise Fuels New Client Acquisition

    Your ability to simplify complex financial conversations with visual tools like Asset-Map is a competitive advantage. But only if prospects know about it. Here’s how a strong digital presence helps showcase your unique approach to financial planning everywhere prospects are searching online:

    • A modern website that includes a video explainer and screenshots of what prospects can expect in financial planning conversations demonstrates what sets you apart and how you incorporate visual planning tools to make the conversations more effective and engaging.
    • Your profile on Wealthtender is coded with schema markup for maximum visibility in ChatGPT, Gemini, etc.; Embed your video explainer and publish FAQs optimized for AI visibility to help prospects and AI tools understand your visual approach to financial planning.
    • Online reviews published on Wealthtender and embedded on your website with client feedback praising your intuitive financial planning experience provides prospects with a sense of your approach and the superb service they can expect if they choose you over another advisor.

    By ensuring the investment you’ve made in delivering an exceptional visual planning experience for your clients carries through to your online presence seen by prospects, search engines and AI tools, the combination is powerful. Even before your first meeting, prospects know what to expect and will already feel like they can trust you.

    2. Turn Client Delight Into Powerful Social Proof

    Those “aha moments” you create in planning meetings, when clients finally see their complete financial picture and suddenly feel like they “get it”, generate genuine enthusiasm. Whether you achieve this through visual planning tools like Asset-Map or a combination of tools and conversation, these moments are marketing gold.

    To make the most of the moment, you’ll want to ensure you have a compliant approach to capture that client enthusiasm and maximize its impact beyond the meeting room.

    Think about your last exceptional client meeting where your visual planning tools contributed to the magical “aha moment”. The client probably left thinking, “This was completely different from what I expected. I finally understand my financial situation.” That emotional response, properly captured as an online review and compliantly promoted for maximum reach, transforms your marketing and sets you apart from the 90% of advisors and wealth management firms not (yet) using testimonials to grow their business.

    A graphic showing "89%" in a circular chart, with text stating that nearly 90% of client reviews for financial advisors focus on relationship quality, planning, and emotions, while only 1 in 10 reviews mention investments.
    Source: 2025 Wealthtender Voice of the Client Study

    This is where Wealthtender shines to provide you with the most powerful reach for your online reviews with a compliant digital marketing platform optimized for AI discovery.

    By the time you’re in that first introductory call with a prospect, they’ve already decided you’re credible thanks to your stellar online presence and effective digital marketing strategy. Now you get to show them you’re exceptional and create your next raving fans.

    The Flywheel Effect: How Asset-Map & Wealthtender Reinforce Each Other

    Here’s where your Asset-Map and Wealthtender combination becomes incredibly powerful: Your approach to visual planning and digital marketing creates a self-reinforcing growth cycle:

    1. Prospects find you through Google, AI search, SEO/AEO, and platforms like Wealthtender
    2. Reviews build trust with prospects before you even know they’re researching you
    3. Introductory calls with prospects increasingly turn into onboarding conversations
    4. You deliver an exceptional client experience using visual planning tools like Asset-Map
    5. Delighted clients submit reviews through your Wealthtender profile for maximum reach with prospects and AI search tools
    6. Your growing collection of 5-star reviews and enhanced online presence attracts more prospects aligned with your Ideal Client Profile (ICP)
    7. Your conversion rate of prospects into clients increases as social proof compounds

    Each client testimonial becomes a powerful marketing asset with considerable power and reach. Your testimonials set you apart from other advisors and bring in more prospects for you to serve exceptionally well. The flywheel keeps spinning, accelerating your growth.

    Why Advisors Who Invest in Client Experience Are Perfectly Positioned for Digital Marketing Success

    If you’re considering visual planning tools like Asset-Map, or if you’ve already built a reputation for exceptional client service, you’re ahead of the game for successful digital marketing. Here’s why:

    You’re already client-centric. Advisors who invest in tools and processes that improve the client experience value clarity and communication. This same client-first mindset makes you naturally effective at the transparency and authenticity that comes with testimonial marketing.

    You create memorable experiences. The visual “aha moments” from effective planning meetings are exactly what clients want to talk about in reviews. You’re not gathering testimonials describing commoditized service; you’re capturing genuine enthusiasm about transformative experiences and how you make your clients feel in the process.

    You understand differentiation. If you’re using Asset-Map in your practice, you already know that standing out matters. Your digital presence extends that differentiation, helping you stand apart from other advisors when prospects are researching who to hire.

    You value efficiency. Modern planning tools help you cover more ground in less time during client meetings. Digital marketing optimized for AI visibility does the same for your client acquisition effectiveness.

    Whether you’re already using Asset-Map, considering it for the future, actively building your Wealthtender presence, or exploring both for the first time, the principle remains: exceptional service delivery and digital marketing aren’t competing priorities, they’re complementary investments that amplify each other’s impact.

    Positioning Your Firm for Outsized Growth

    The advisors who will thrive over the next decade won’t be those who make the most cold calls or with the largest advertising budgets. They’ll be the ones who:

    1. Deliver genuinely differentiated client experiences (e.g., use of tools like Asset-Map, exceptional service experience, etc.)
    2. Establish an authentic digital reputation (e.g., SEC-compliant online reviews, modern website, AI-optimized Wealthtender profile)
    3. Show up everywhere consumers search online (e.g., Google, AI search tools, directories, social media, YouTube)
    4. Turn service excellence into marketing momentum (the flywheel effect)

    Visual planning tools like Asset-Map position you for #1. Digital marketing platforms like Wealthtender position you for #2, #3, and #4.

    The question isn’t whether you need both exceptional service and a strategic digital marketing strategy, it’s whether you’re going to build them intentionally or leave it to chance. The advisors growing fastest in today’s market aren’t choosing between great service and great marketing. They’re doing both, with the right tools for each.

    Ready to explore how Asset-Map & Wealthtender can work together in your practice?

    Want to see how individual advisors and leading wealth management firms are successfully using Wealthtender to grow their business? Visit Wealthtender.com/grow or schedule a demo to learn how you can start converting more prospects into clients with the industry’s first digital marketing platform for AI-optimization and compliant online reviews.

    A headshot of Brian Thorp, the founder and CEO of Wealthtender

    About the Author

    Brian Thorp

    Brian is CEO and founder of Wealthtender and Editor-in-Chief. He and his wife live in Austin, Texas. With over 25 years in the financial services industry, Brian is applying his experience and passion at Wealthtender to help more people enjoy life with less money stress. Learn More about Brian

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    What to Read Next
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    For Russian-speaking Americans, navigating the U.S. financial system can feel like translating two languages at once, both the words and the concepts. A financial advisor who understands your cultural background, immigration journey, and cross-border financial complexities can make all the difference in achieving your long-term goals.

    Whether you immigrated from Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, or another Russian-speaking country, or were born in the U.S. to immigrant parents, your financial life likely carries a unique set of circumstances that most advisors simply aren’t equipped to address. From cross-border planning considerations to understanding the cultural hesitancy around trusting financial institutions, experiences shaped by economic instability in the former Soviet Union, your path to financial security calls for guidance that goes beyond standard advice.

    Many Russian-speaking Americans find it easier and more comfortable to discuss sensitive financial matters in their native language, and to work with an advisor who genuinely understands the cultural context behind their relationship with money. While you’ll find no shortage of nearby financial advisors who can help with general planning, finding one who speaks Russian and has experience serving this community can be far more challenging. The good news: many advisors today offer virtual financial planning services, meaning you can work with a specialist no matter where you live in the U.S.

    Financial Planning for Russian-Speaking Americans

    💡 In the Q&A below, you’ll gain insights from financial advisors who specialize in serving Russian-speaking Americans, helping them navigate the intersection of U.S. financial planning and the cultural nuances that shape how this community approaches money and wealth.

    🙋‍♀️ Do you have questions not answered below? Use the form on this page to submit your questions, and we’ll update this article with answers from the financial professionals and educators in the Wealthtender community. You can also contact the financial advisors featured in this article directly to set up an introductory call or ask your questions by email.

    💸 Smart Money Insights for Russian-Speaking Americans

    This page is organized into sections to help you quickly find the information you need and get answers to your questions:

    1. Q&A with Financial Advisors Specializing in Serving Russian-Speaking Americans
    2. Get Answers to Your Questions About Financial Planning for Russian-Speaking Americans
    3. Browse Related Articles

    Q&A: Financial Advisors Specializing in Serving Russian-Speaking Americans

    Three Questions with Jakhongir “King” Mirtalipov, CRPC™, CRPS™

    We asked Charlotte-based financial advisor, Jakhongir “King” Mirtalipov, to answer questions about his experience and services tailored to the needs of Russian-speaking Americans.

    Q: How do the services you offer Russian-speaking Americans distinguish your firm from other advisory firms?

    Mirtalipov: As an immigrant myself, I know firsthand the challenges my clients went through to be where they are today. My practice is bult on personal relationships and genuine care for my clients. As Russian-speaking Americans, they need someone who understands their unique journey in the country, shares their values, speaks their language and has the knowledge and experience to help them reach their goals.

    Q: What is a common financial planning challenge unique to Russian-speaking Americans that you frequently encounter when working with your clients? How do you work with them to overcome this challenge?

    Mirtalipov: One of the most common challenges working with Russian-speaking Americans is their lack of education about the US financial system (e.g., retirement, taxes and tax planning, investments and Social Security benefits). Partly due to this lack of education, a large number of people I speak with have low or no retirement savings, simply because nobody taught them how to save for retirement or the tools available to them.

    Another common similarity I encounter among Russian-speaking Americans is many who keep large amounts of cash instead of investing and benefiting from tax deferral opportunities and compounding growth of their money.

    Many invest only in real estate, because it is a tangible asset and they “understand” how it works and can generate monthly income. A large percentage of people in the Russian community do not diversify their assets and keep real estate as their primary, if not the only, asset.

    Also, most people I meet with do not have a written budget or know how to manage their cash flow effectively. They often have a very small or no emergency fund. And a majority of parents with minor kids do not have life insurance. Nearly 99% of people I talk to have not done any estate planning (e.g., no wills, trusts, POA, Health Proxy, etc.).

    Education is a primary service I provide in the first 12 months and continues long after the first year. In order to build a long-term plan and successfully implement it, we start with the basics. We create and implement cash flow and budgeting, set up and fill up emergency fund, ensure the family has appropriate insurance coverage and pay off any debt (except a mortgage) before we engage in long-term goals.

    Q: For Russian-speaking Americans who are unsure whether or not they should hire a financial advisor at the current point in their lives, what guidance can you provide to help them make a more informed and educated decision?

    Mirtalipov: It all starts with self-education about the basics of finance. The early years of immigration are the hardest, and from my experience, the most important. I believe everyone needs to have at least a conversation with a financial advisor and possibly a short-term project based engagement to help them set up the basics and most important aspects if their financial life.

    When immigrants are thinking about hiring a full-time financial advisor/planner for more complex help, they first need to identify what exactly they want to achieve (e.g., their end goal). And then focus on searching for the advisor who has the experience and specialization to help them achieve those goals.

    Q: When you first speak with a Russian-speaking American, what questions do you like to ask to better understand their unique circumstances and determine how you can best help them achieve their goals?

    Mirtalipov: When I speak to a Russian-Speaking American for the first time, I always try to learn about their story. Immigrants have many different reasons for leaving their home countries and immigrating to the US, but most of them share a common goal of building a dream life here. Over the years, I’ve heard fascinating stories about their immigration journeys. Understanding their situation and future goals is the most important part of my initial conversation.

    Q: What questions do you recommend Russian-speaking Americans ask financial advisors they’re considering hiring to help them decide if they’re a good fit?

    Mirtalipov: Here are some of the questions I encourage Russian-speaking Americans to ask a financial advisor before making a hiring decision:

    1. Ask if the financial advisor has formal financial education and/or extensive experience (tenure) in the industry.
    2. What licenses and professional designations does the financial advisor have? (read about designations and understand what they mean)
    3. How is the financial advisor being paid? Does he/she work on commission? (Big red flag if answer is YES) 
    4. Does the financial advisor have a professional website/social media accounts with client reviews?
    5. BrokerCheck – Find a broker, investment or financial advisor, this is a great place to start vetting financial advisor before initial meeting. You can learn where advisor works now and, in the past, current licenses, and any client complaints and disclosures. 

    Q: Is there anything that comes up frequently in your initial meeting with Russian-speaking Americans that surprises you?

    Mirtalipov: The majority of people I talk to believe that financial advisors can help only with investment accounts. They are really surprised when I start asking questions about financial planning, tax optimizations, retirement income and estate planning. This is why I initially spend a lot of time on educating my clients with different aspect of my work and how it can benefit them.

    Q: Is there a particularly memorable experience or a moment you recall with a Russian-speaking American client when you first realized they have unique opportunities and circumstances when it comes to their financial planning needs?

    Mirtalipov: The majority of Russian-speaking Americans are great savers, especially older generations. It is very hard for them to trust someone else with their hard-earned money. Early on in my career, I met a few baby boomer generation clients that were happy to begin working with me. I spoke their language (Russian), knew their culture and traditions, and that commonality helped us to build very strong and productive relationship. They were smart with their money, but lacked knowledge and experience for complex financial decisions that I helped them understand. At that moment I realized that there are thousands more who need professional help and genuine care from someone who understands them and speaks their language.

    Get to Know Jakhongir “King” Mirtalipov, Financial Advisor for Russian-Speaking Americans:

    Headshot of Jakhongir “King” Mirtalipov, CRPC™, CRPS™
    Dream Life Wealth Management Jakhongir “King” Mirtalipov, CRPC™, CRPS™
    Charlotte, North Carolina
    Serving Clients Nationwide
    Retirement Planning for Russian speaking Americans age 50+
    5 Certified Advisor Reviews™
    Areas of Focus
    Capital Gains Cash Flow Estate Planning Family and Money High Net Worth

    Book Intro Call with King

    View King’s profile page on Wealthtender or visit his website to learn more.

    Are you a financial advisor who specializes in serving Russian-speaking Americans?

    ✅ Join Wealthtender and get featured as a specialist financial advisor based on your knowledge and experience. (Subject to availability and terms.)
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    Resources to Help You Choose a Financial Advisor

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    ✅ How Much Does a Financial Advisor Cost?

    🙋‍♀️ Have Questions About Financial Planning for Russian-Speaking Americans?

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    About the Author
    A headshot of Brian Thorp, the founder and CEO of Wealthtender

    About the Author

    Brian Thorp

    Brian is CEO and founder of Wealthtender and Editor-in-Chief. He and his wife live in Austin, Texas. With over 25 years in the financial services industry, Brian is applying his experience and passion at Wealthtender to help more people enjoy life with less money stress. Learn More about Brian

    Find financial advisors in Parsippany, New Jersey ready to help with your financial planning needs so you can enjoy life more with less money stress.

    Whether you have lived in Parsippany for years or recently moved to town, you may need help finding the right financial advisor in the community best suited for your individual needs.

    It’s important to first consider your own financial planning priorities before choosing an advisor. Here are a few quick tips to help you get started along with financial advisors in Parsippany featured on Wealthtender you may want to add to your shortlist.

    As you prepare to interview financial advisors in Parsippany who may be right for you, get to know local financial advisors featured on Wealthtender.

    📍 Map: Financial Advisors with their Primary Office Location in Parsippany

    Double-click (or pinch the map on mobile devices) to zoom in and expand the details for financial advisors whose primary office location is in Parsippany.

    📍Double-click or pinch pins to view more.

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    The Benefits of Hiring a Financial Advisor in Parsippany

    Hiring a financial advisor can be a great move to help you build a long-term investing strategy. Advisors can help you build an investment portfolio to meet your financial goals and help you plan appropriately for retirement.

    As a resident living in Parsippany, hiring a financial advisor who lives nearby and understands the local economy, cost of living, and regional employers can be quite valuable, especially if your individual circumstances are deeply tied to such factors.

    Do you work for one of the largest employers in Parsippany? If so, there’s a good chance the local financial advisor you hire will also have other clients who work there. This knowledge could prove valuable if they are already familiar with your employee benefits, such as a 401(k) plan, Health Savings Accounts, and other components of your total compensation package.

    When you reach out to financial advisors you’re considering hiring, let them know where you work and ask if they are familiar with your employer’s unique benefits and compensation structure.

    Quick Tips For Hiring an Parsippany Financial Advisor

    Before hiring a financial advisor in Parsippany, here are a few quick tips to help you find the best advisor for you.

    1. Decide Which Services You Need

    Before hiring an advisor, determine what services you need from them. Whether it’s full-service investment management or a plan focused on a specific area of your finances, put together a list of what you’d like help with before contacting an advisor.

    Though most people use a financial planner simply to invest for retirement, this is only a small part of what many advisors offer. Here’s a quick rundown of potential services a financial advisor may offer you:

    • Budgeting and money management
    • Debt management
    • Insurance planning
    • Retirement planning
    • Other investment planning
    • Inheritance planning
    • Estate planning
    • Tax planning

    As you can see, financial advisors can help you with your entire financial picture, not just investing. As you start to plan for life’s bigger milestones, you should consider finding a financial advisor that specializes in those areas.

    Finding the right advisor can help you minimize risk, maximize gains and take advantage of tax breaks while investing for your future. They can also help you protect your assets with the right kinds of insurance and help you pass on your financial legacy with a proper estate plan.

    2. Consider Your Budget and Payment Preferences

    Once you have a list of services you would like, review the fee structures financial advisors offer. Finding a balance between the services you need and the cost of those services will help narrow down the field of advisors you may want to work with.

    If you are looking for a full-service advisor to manage all of your investments, consider searching among fee-based financial advisors. If you want to manage your money yourself, consider the flat fee and monthly subscription advisors for ongoing support.

    3. Interview Multiple Financial Advisors

    Once you have chosen the services and fee structure you prefer, it’s time to contact a few advisors and interview them. Here are questions to ask financial advisors:

    • What services do you provide?
    • What are all the ways you get paid? (fee transparency)
    • What is your investment strategy?
    • How do you measure investment performance?
    • How do we communicate about my plan?

    Interview multiple advisors to get a feel for who you want to work with. A combination of fees, services, and customer service will help you determine the best fit for your financial advice.

    4. Review Financial Advisor Credentials

    Once you find an advisor (or two) you feel comfortable with, it’s always a good practice to check their credentials and the firm’s details. You can do this at the Investment Adviser Public Disclosure (IAPD) website. 

    You can check both the individual and the firm to view their background and experience details, as well as any disciplinary action taken against them or their firm.

    As licensed financial professionals, there is oversight into how financial advisors conduct business, so running a quick (free) check on them is recommended.

    For additional information about advisor credentials, read our article to learn the most popular designations held by financial advisors, as well as specialized credentials which may be important to consider if you have unique financial planning needs.

    Frequently Asked Questions & Additional Resources

    How do I know if I’m ready to hire a financial advisor?

    You should strongly consider hiring a financial advisor if you have a significant amount of money available for saving or investing. This could occur after years of making annual contributions to a retirement plan like a 401(k) through your employer or suddenly if you receive a large inheritance or sell your house for a large profit.

    But even if you don’t have a lot of money saved, many financial advisors and planners provide reasonable pricing options and valuable services you should consider, especially if you’re facing a significant life event. For example, if you’re starting a new job, getting married, starting a family, getting divorced, lost your job, starting or selling a business, or approaching retirement age, working with a trusted financial advisor or planner may prove worthwhile.

    Before I hire a new financial advisor, should I fire my current advisor?

    You don’t need to fire your current advisor before beginning your search for a new financial advisor. In fact, your new advisor can help coordinate the transition of your assets from your previous financial advisor.

    Where can I read reviews about financial advisors written by their clients to help me decide if I should hire them?

    After 60 years of regulatory prohibition of financial advisor reviews in the US, a rule issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) became effective on May 4, 2021 that means both financial advisors and directory websites that help consumers search for a financial advisor can collect and display financial advisor reviews, an important factor worth considering when choosing who you’ll hire to manage your investments and life savings. 

    Wealthtender is the first independent advisor review platform designed to be fully compliant with the new SEC rule, and we look forward to helping you evaluate financial advisors based on reviews written by their clients.

    I’m a local financial advisor interested in being featured in this guide. How do I get started?

    Thanks for your interest. We look forward to learning more about your practice and helping you attract your ideal clients where you may be a good fit based on their individual needs and circumstances. Please click here to learn how you can join local financial advisors featured on Wealthtender.

    How Much Does a Financial Advisor Cost?

    ➡️ How Much Does a Financial Advisor Cost? Read the Article

    About the Author
    A headshot of Brian Thorp, the founder and CEO of Wealthtender

    About the Author

    Brian Thorp

    Brian is CEO and founder of Wealthtender and Editor-in-Chief. He and his wife live in Austin, Texas. With over 25 years in the financial services industry, Brian is applying his experience and passion at Wealthtender to help more people enjoy life with less money stress. Learn More about Brian

    Discover financial advisors trusted by Raleigh residents in the only local directory featuring 5-Star Certified Advisor Review™ recipients and Wealthtender Voice of the Client Award™ winners—recognition earned for exceptional client feedback. Compare fiduciary, fee-only advisors, CFP® professionals, and specialists to find the right fit for your unique financial needs.

    Thousands of people visit Wealthtender each month to find and compare financial advisors based on their location, education, experience, areas of specialization and online reviews. Wealthtender’s Certified Advisor Reviews™ help consumers make informed hiring decisions with important details about the relationship between reviewers and advisors always displayed to ensure you gain the transparency you deserve when your life savings could be at stake.

    Types of Financial Advisors You’ll Find on Wealthtender

    On Wealthtender, you can explore a diverse range of financial advisors and wealth management firms that include:

    • Fiduciary advisors committed to acting in clients’ best interests
    • CFP® professionals with advanced financial planning credentials
    • Fee-only advisors compensated solely by clients
    • Advisors for growing families, people nearing retirement, and business owners
    • Specialists across multiple categories (e.g., life stage, occupation, ethnicity, lifestyle, religion)
    • Highly-rated advisors with positive client reviews
    • Firms of varying sizes with advisors who can meet with you in person or online
    • Fee-based advisors who offer access to insurance and alternative investments

    Financial Advisor Directory for Raleigh, North Carolina

    How to use this directory: Compare financial advisors in the Raleigh area based on what matters most to you. Use the directory to:

    • View advisor profiles to evaluate credentials, services, and areas of specialization
    • Read Certified Advisor Reviews™ to learn what clients value most
    • Identify advisors recognized with Wealthtender Voice of the Client Awards™
    • Contact advisors and schedule free introductory video calls

    📍 Map: Financial Advisors with their Primary Office Location in Raleigh

    Double-click (or pinch the map on mobile devices) to zoom in and expand the details for financial advisors whose primary office location is in Raleigh.

    📍Double-click or pinch pins to view more.

    Roth Conversion: Smart Tax Strategy or Overly Expensive Bet?
     
    0 Ratings
    Get to Know Hunter Hays: Financial Advisor for Delta Air Lines Employees & Executives
     
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    Megatrends: Investing in Companies That Can Change the World
     
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    Handling Big Expenses as a Blended Family: Keep the Joy, Skip the Stress
     
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    Looking for a Financial Advisor in Evansville, Indiana?
     
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    Asset-Map + Wealthtender: Turning Client Delight Into Client Acquisition
     
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    Looking for a Financial Advisor for Russian-Speaking Americans
     
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    Looking for a Financial Advisor in Parsippany, New Jersey?
     
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    Looking for a Trusted Financial Advisor in Raleigh, North Carolina?
     
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    Showing

    📍 Additional Advisors Who Serve Clients in Raleigh

    In addition to the advisors featured above, these advisors can also meet with you in person in Raleigh.

    Headshot of Don Rudolph
    Don Rudolph FLAT FEE CIO Greenville, NC
    0 Certified Advisor Reviews™
    Headshot of Yohance Harrison, BFA™, CRPC®
    Yohance Harrison, BFA™, CRPC® Money Script Wealth Management Cedar Hill, TX
    27 Certified Advisor Reviews™

    Wealthtender Voice of the Client Awards™: Top Rated Raleigh Financial Advisors

    Wealthtender Voice of the Client Awards™ recognize financial advisors and firms that consistently earn exceptional client feedback. Below are Raleigh-area advisors and firms that have met the criteria for Highly Rated recognition.

    Firm/Advisor Firm City State Voice of the Client Award Website

    To qualify for a Highly Rated award, advisors and firms must achieve an average client review rating of 4.75 or higher (on a scale of 1 to 5) based on a minimum number of eligible client reviews published on Wealthtender within a defined timeframe for each particular award (Timeframe for 2025 Award: 1/1/24 – 12/31/25; Timeframe for Subsequent Year Awards: July 1 of the preceding year through December 31 of the Award Year (e.g., Timeframe for 2026 Award 7/1/25 – 12/31/26). Eligible reviews are limited to clients (as of the review submission date) that advisors/firms must self-attest have no material conflicts of interest and received no compensation in exchange for their reviews. ↗️ View full award methodology & FAQs

    Although financial advisors and wealth management firms compensate Wealthtender for marketing services (including eligibility to be considered for awards), Wealthtender’s award criteria is objective and not influenced by compensation. Wealthtender Voice of the Client Awards are not a guarantee of future performance or success and client reviews may not be representative of the experience of all past or future clients.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What makes a financial advisor “trusted”?
    A trusted financial advisor typically earns positive client feedback over time, operates transparently, and clearly explains how they’re compensated. On Wealthtender, trust is reflected through Certified Advisor Reviews™ that combine insights into the client experience and character of advisors with important disclosures about each reviewer to ensure you gain the transparency you deserve when your life savings could be at stake.

    Financial advisors and wealth management firms that consistently receive superior client reviews can also qualify for Wealthtender’s Voice of the Client Awards™ designed to recognize America’s most trusted advisors. Learn More About Wealthtender Voice of the Client Awards™
    What are Certified Advisor Reviews™?
    Certified Advisor Reviews™ from Wealthtender help consumers make smarter hiring decisions when choosing a financial advisor.

    Clients and other individuals can submit reviews for financial advisors and wealth management firms that have turned on the reviews feature. Before each review is publicly displayed, financial advisors agree to disclose important information about their relationship with the reviewer to ensure consumers gain the transparency they deserve when their life savings could be at stake. These disclosures also help financial advisors satisfy compliance with industry regulations.

    After financial advisors provide the required disclosures, Wealthtender publishes the review with the Certified Advisor Review™ mark. Learn More About Certified Advisor Reviews™
    Can I find fiduciary financial advisors on Wealthtender?
    Yes, you’ll find hundreds of fiduciary financial advisors on Wealthtender. Fiduciary financial advisors must act in their clients’ best interest. Before hiring an advisor, always ask if they will act in your best interest as a fiduciary.

    For example, financial advisors who have earned their Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation are fiduciaries. To hold themselves out as a CFP, these credential holders must acknowledge they will adhere to the CFP Board’s Code of Ethics and Standards of Conduct and act as a fiduciary when providing financial advice to their clients. Learn More About Fiduciary Financial Advisors
    Can I find fee-only financial advisors on Wealthtender?
    Yes, you’ll find hundreds of fee-only financial advisors on Wealthtender. Fee-only financial advisors are paid directly by their clients. Since they aren’t compensated based on the products and services they recommend (e.g., commissions), their compensation model helps reduce potential conflicts of interest.

    When viewing financial advisor profiles on Wealthtender, look for the Compensation Methods section that shows ways each financial advisor can be paid for their services, including if they offer fee-only financial planning services. Learn More About Fee-Only Financial Advisors
    What distinguishes Wealthtender Voice of the Client Awards™ from other advisor recognition programs?
    Wealthtender’s Voice of the Client Awards™ recognize financial advisors and wealth management firms that consistently receive superior client reviews. Unlike award programs with ranking factors that favor financial institutions with the most assets and the fastest revenue growth, the Wealthtender Voice of the Client Awards provide both local financial advisors who choose to remain small and large wealth management firms with the opportunity to be recognized on a metric that matters more to consumers – actual client feedback reflecting the quality of their experience. Learn More About Voice of the Client Awards™

    The Benefits of Hiring a Financial Advisor in Raleigh

    Hiring a financial advisor can be a great move to help you build a long-term investing strategy. Advisors can help you build an investment portfolio to meet your financial goals and help you plan appropriately for retirement.

    As a resident living in Raleigh, hiring a financial advisor who lives nearby and understands the local economy, cost of living, and regional employers can be quite valuable, especially if your individual circumstances are deeply tied to such factors.

    Who are the largest employers in Raleigh?

    Raleigh is home to employers of all industries and sizes. The largest employers in the Raleigh area provided by Wake County Economic Development include:

    • Duke University and Duke Health Systems
    • State of North Carolina
    • Wake County Public School System
    • Wal-Mart
    • University of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
    • WakeMed Health & Hospitals
    • North Carolina State University
    • Food Lion
    • Target Stores
    • IBM (International Business Machines)

    Do you work for one of the largest employers in Raleigh? If so, there’s a good chance the local financial advisor you hire will also have other clients who work there. This knowledge could prove valuable if they are already familiar with your employee benefits, such as a 401(k) plan, Health Savings Accounts, and other components of your total compensation package.

    When you reach out to financial advisors you’re considering hiring, let them know where you work and ask if they are familiar with your employer’s unique benefits and compensation structure.

    Quick Tips For Hiring a Raleigh Financial Advisor

    Before hiring a financial advisor in Raleigh, here are a few quick tips to help you find the best advisor for you.

    1. Decide Which Services You Need

    Before hiring an advisor, determine what services you need from them. Whether it’s full-service investment management or a plan focused on a specific area of your finances, put together a list of what you’d like help with before contacting an advisor.

    Though most people use a financial planner simply to invest for retirement, this is only a small part of what many advisors offer. Here’s a quick rundown of potential services a financial advisor may offer you:

    • Budgeting and money management
    • Debt management
    • Insurance planning
    • Retirement planning
    • Other investment planning
    • Inheritance planning
    • Estate planning
    • Tax planning

    As you can see, financial advisors can help you with your entire financial picture, not just investing. As you start to plan for life’s bigger milestones, you should consider finding a financial advisor that specializes in those areas.

    Finding the right advisor can help you minimize risk, maximize gains and take advantage of tax breaks while investing for your future. They can also help you protect your assets with the right kinds of insurance and help you pass on your financial legacy with a proper estate plan.

    2. Consider Your Budget and Payment Preferences

    Once you have a list of services you would like, review the fee structures financial advisors offer. Finding a balance between the services you need and the cost of those services will help narrow down the field of advisors you may want to work with.

    If you are looking for a full-service advisor to manage all of your investments, consider searching among fee-based financial advisors. If you want to manage your money yourself, consider the flat fee and monthly subscription advisors for ongoing support.

    3. Interview Multiple Financial Advisors

    Once you have chosen the services and fee structure you prefer, it’s time to contact a few advisors and interview them. Here are questions to ask financial advisors:

    • What services do you provide?
    • What are all the ways you get paid? (fee transparency)
    • What is your investment strategy?
    • How do you measure investment performance?
    • How do we communicate about my plan?

    Interview multiple advisors to get a feel for who you want to work with. A combination of fees, services, and customer service will help you determine the best fit for your financial advice.

    4. Review Financial Advisor Credentials

    Once you find an advisor (or two) you feel comfortable with, it’s always a good practice to check their credentials and the firm’s details. You can do this at the Investment Adviser Public Disclosure (IAPD) website. 

    You can check both the individual and the firm to view their background and experience details, as well as any disciplinary action taken against them or their firm.

    As licensed financial professionals, there is oversight into how financial advisors conduct business, so running a quick (free) check on them is recommended.

    For additional information about advisor credentials, read our article to learn the most popular designations held by financial advisors, as well as specialized credentials which may be important to consider if you have unique financial planning needs.

    Frequently Asked Questions & Additional Resources

    How do I know if I’m ready to hire a financial advisor?

    You should strongly consider hiring a financial advisor if you have a significant amount of money available for saving or investing. This could occur after years of making annual contributions to a retirement plan like a 401(k) through your employer or suddenly if you receive a large inheritance or sell your house for a large profit.

    But even if you don’t have a lot of money saved, many financial advisors and planners provide reasonable pricing options and valuable services you should consider, especially if you’re facing a significant life event. For example, if you’re starting a new job, getting married, starting a family, getting divorced, lost your job, starting or selling a business, or approaching retirement age, working with a trusted financial advisor or planner may prove worthwhile.

    Before I hire a new financial advisor, should I fire my current advisor?

    You don’t need to fire your current advisor before beginning your search for a new financial advisor. In fact, your new advisor can help coordinate the transition of your assets from your previous financial advisor.

    Where can I read reviews about financial advisors written by their clients to help me decide if I should hire them?

    After 60 years of regulatory prohibition of financial advisor reviews in the US, a rule issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) became effective on May 4, 2021 that means both financial advisors and directory websites that help consumers search for a financial advisor can collect and display financial advisor reviews, an important factor worth considering when choosing who you’ll hire to manage your investments and life savings. 

    Wealthtender is the first independent advisor review platform designed to be fully compliant with the new SEC rule, and we look forward to helping you evaluate financial advisors based on reviews written by their clients.

    I’m a local financial advisor interested in being featured in this guide. How do I get started?

    Thanks for your interest. We look forward to learning more about your practice and helping you attract your ideal clients where you may be a good fit based on their individual needs and circumstances. Please click here to learn how you can join local financial advisors featured on Wealthtender.

    How Much Does a Financial Advisor Cost?

    ➡️ How Much Does a Financial Advisor Cost? Read the Article

    About the Author
    A headshot of Brian Thorp, the founder and CEO of Wealthtender

    About the Author

    Brian Thorp

    Brian is CEO and founder of Wealthtender and Editor-in-Chief. He and his wife live in Austin, Texas. With over 25 years in the financial services industry, Brian is applying his experience and passion at Wealthtender to help more people enjoy life with less money stress. Learn More about Brian