How to Evaluate a Financial Advisor

Most FDNY retirees meet financial advisors through referrals, recommendations, or lists. That is a starting point — not the final decision.  The real question: Does this advisor understand your situation and know how to put it all together?

SIX THINGS TO LOOK FOR

1.  Fiduciary Responsibility.  Is the advisor legally required to act in your best interest? The fiduciary standard is the highest standard — especially when investments, taxes, and insurance are involved.

2.  Credentials & Expertise.  Look for advanced credentials such as CFA® (Chartered Financial Analyst), CFP® (Certified Financial Planner), or CPA (Certified Public Accountant) — these signal a deeper, tested commitment to the work. Also ask whether the firm has direct experience with FDNY pension structures and decisions.

3.  How They Are Paid.  Ask directly. Fee-based, commission-based, or a mix — knowing how the advisor is compensated helps you understand how recommendations are made.

4.  Practical Strategy, Not Paperwork.  A retirement plan should be a framework for decisions — not a 40-page report in a drawer. Pension fit, withdrawal order, portfolio design, annual tax planning, and beneficiary decisions should all be coordinated.

5.  They Integrate Everything.  Your FDNY pension, Deferred Compensation, IRA / Union Annuity, and New York State taxes need to work together, not separately.

6.  Accountability.  One person who understands your full picture, answers your questions, and can adjust the plan when life changes. 

THE BOTTOM LINE

Introductions are helpful — but they are just the starting point. What matters is whether the advisor understands your situation, explains things clearly, and builds a strategy that actually works together.

OUR APPROACH

Brave Eagle Wealth Management focuses exclusively on FDNY retirees. We bring together investment management, tax planning, pension analysis, and beneficiary decisions into one integrated, practical strategy — explained in plain language.