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Planning For What Comes Next

Most people plan their exit from work.

Nobody helps them plan for what comes next. 

That's what we do here.


Schedule an Introductory Call Here

Retirement is one of the most significant transitions of your life.

You deserve guidance that treats it that way.


Elderly couple walking on a forest trail

You've done everything right. You've saved, invested, and built something real. What feels uncertain now isn't the money, it's what comes next. The questions have changed. The familiar rhythms no longer guide you in the same way. That's exactly where we start.

Retirement is one of the most significant transitions you will ever navigate. Not just financially, but in terms of who you are, how you spend your time, and what you want the next chapter to look like.

The financial questions matter. Tax planning, Social Security timing, investment strategy, income sequencing. These are real and we work through all of them. But they exist to serve something larger. A life that feels like yours.

That is what we build together.


Learn About The Process

Retirement done right starts with a conversation.

Explore Our Services



Plan with Confidence. 

Focus on what is relevant. 
Gain greater understanding.

Act with intention.

Here is how we work together.


Introduction

We start with a conversation. No agenda, no pitch. I want to understand where you are, what you are trying to figure out, and whether working together makes sense. You will leave with something useful regardless of what you decide.


The Roadmap

We talk about your life before we talk about your money. What matters to you, what you want more of, what you want less of. That conversation shapes everything that follows.


Family posing for a picture at a dinner table


Older couple taking a selfie in front of a car


Drafting The Plan

We look at your financial reality and work through the choices in front of you. Not to find the optimal answer, but to find the right one for you.

Final Draft & Implementation 

We review the plan together, make sure it reflects who you are and what you want, and put it into motion. Ongoing guidance and investment management are available for a flat monthly fee.


Take Your First Step


Harmony between one’s faith, fitness, family, friends, and finances can lead to a more fulfilled life. 
- Erik Nero, Founder & President

I want the people who work with me to feel understood, guided, calmer, and less alone as they navigate one of the most significant transitions of their lives.

My role is to help people think clearly, accept what they cannot control, prepare wisely for what they can, and use their time and resources to bring meaning, joy, and fewer regrets.

I charge flat fees. No products, no commissions, no assets under management. Just guided planning.

I know what financial pressure feels like, and that shapes how I work and who I work with.

I spent over 20 years at the large firms before starting First Step Wealth Planning. I left because I wanted to do this work without the conflicts between what is good for the client and what is good for the advisor.

I live in Saratoga Springs with my wife and children. I coach youth basketball, follow Formula 1, and enjoy live music with more enthusiasm than is probably reasonable. I believe the arts matter and enjoy supporting them.

If this sounds like what you have been looking for, I welcome a conversation.

What Others Are Saying

Does this sound like the kind of guidance you have been looking for?


My typical client is grounded in their values and have built their lives through hard work, dedication, and a deep sense of responsibility to their families and communities.  


Who I help:

Grandparents and grandchild on christmas


Example Couple 1

  • Ready to focus on their finances, after  assisting their kids
  • Have grandchildren
  • Dual Earners
  • Money does not define them
  • They feel fortunate and grateful for what they have accomplished
  • Hold $2+ million is total savings, mainly in retirement accounts
  • They don’t like the phrase “high net worth” nor do they think of themselves as such

Older couple looking at a magazine on a train


Example Couple 2

  • Lifelong savers 
  • Value hard work, frugality, fairness, charity in both time and money
  • Humble beginnings - not from wealth
  • Typically earn $300,000+/year and at peak earnings years
  • Typically worked as employees and ascended to higher positions in their companies

Elderly couple with yoga mats in a field


Example Couple 3

  • Married or on second marriage 
  • Believe there is something greater than themselves
  • One spouse is the “money person”
  • See the value in paying a fee for guidance
  • Value the opinions of those they know and trust and prefer to be introduced to a planner

Does this sound like you?

Schedule an Introductory Call

How we work together.






Introduction:

We start with a conversation. No agenda, no pitch. I want to understand where you are, what you are trying to figure out, and whether working together makes sense. You will leave with something useful regardless of what you decide.



The Roadmap:

We talk about your life before we talk about your money. What matters to you, what you want more of, what you want less of. That conversation shapes everything that follows.




Drafting The Plan:

We look at your financial reality and work through the choices in front of you. Not to find the optimal answer, but to find the right one for you.    



Final Draft & Implementation:

We review the plan together, make sure it reflects who you are and what you want, and put it into motion. Ongoing guidance and investment management are available for a flat monthly fee.  



"I like what I see. Get me started!"

Schedule an Introductory Call

What we work on together.

Good planning does not eliminate uncertainty. It helps you think clearly, prepare wisely, and live with fewer regrets. That is what we build together.


Your Key Takeaways:



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Lower Your Lifetime tax Bill

money in hand
Avoid Mistakes With Your Pension

umbrella in hand
Get The Most Out Of Social Security


dna strand
Protect Your Legacy

money in hand
Know How Much You Can Spend

stocks going up
Invest Wisely



Your Menu of Custom Tailored Services:


checkIncome Planning

Achieve income security both now and in the future.

checkTax Planning

Potentially reduce your tax burden.

checkSocial Security & Medicare Optimization

Education and guidance on the various options and choices.  

checkRoth IRA Optimization

Potentially reduce taxes in the future.

checkEmployee

Benefits Analysis

Understand how the benefits available through your existing plan can support you and what changes you can expect if you leave.

Insurance Planning

Protect yourself, your family, and your property from various calamities.

Estate Planning

Properly account for all your assets and ensure they are left efficiently to those you wish.

Investment Management

Design a mixture of investments that supports your plan in a manner you feel confident in.

 Debt Management

Reduce your expenses as you head to the next phase of your life.

 Charitable Giving

Offer you ways to efficiently contribute to the causes you have passion for.


I'm ready! How do I get started?


Ready to take your first step?


Time to Get Started!

Fill out the form below to schedule a complimentary consultation.