Your Retirement Partner
You provide the notes. I'll keep the tempo.
Committed To Your Retirement Success
Stage Ready Financial Planning specializes in fee-only financial planning and wealth management for retirees and retirement savers over age 50 in Dayton and Southwest Ohio.
Having worked with clients preparing for and enjoying retirement for over a decade, I've learned that a great retirement plan isn't just about the accounts you own; it’s about how your entire financial life works in sync. Which is why I built Stage Ready Financial Planning to help Dayton and Southwest Ohio families orchestrate and live their ideal retirement. As a fee-only financial planner, my total focus is your success and confidence.
I don't just manage your investment accounts. With the help of your CPA and Attorney, I'll coordinate your taxes, investments, and goals into an easy to understand, high-performance plan. From tax-efficient withdrawal strategies to risk-tuned portfolios, as a wealth management client, I'll be right by your side making sure every move stays in step with your vision. Let Stage Ready Financial Planning handle the math, so you can enjoy the music of a retirement well lived.
Proud To Be A Member Of
Stage Ready Financial Planning is proud to serve the Dayton & Southwest, Ohio communities as a fee-only fiduciary. Membership in these organizations demonstrates commitment to offering you the highest level of client advice and service.
Investment Management Partner
Altruist
Stage Ready Financial Planning has selected Altruist as the primary custodian for our client’s accounts. As a modern financial custodian, Altruist is responsible for safekeeping client assets, settling trades, and – just like Pershing, Charles Schwab, and Fidelity – adhering to a strict set of policy and regulatory requirements.
With Altruist, you can open and fund your investment accounts in minutes, track your investment progress and view your portfolio’s holdings, and download statements, tax documents, and other essential information in as little as a few clicks. It’s easy, simple, and intuitive. For more information visit www.altruist.com.
Joseph A. Eck, CFP®
Owner & Financial Planner
Since 2015, I've helped families in Dayton and Southwest Ohio retire with confidence and arrange their investments to support lasting and tax-efficient retirement income. Before founding Stage Ready Financial Planning, I was a Financial Planner at a large financial company, where I realized that the families I was lucky to serve deserved a more personal and dynamic partnership. I wanted to help them orchestrate a plan that stays "in step" with their evolving retirement.
With a background in music education and over a decade of experience in financial planning and wealth management, I'm a big believer that a confident retirement begins with understanding. I don’t just manage investments; I "handle the math" and always try to educate my clients so that they're empowered to make informed decisions about their money.
In addition to my years of experience, I've earned a bachelors degree from Wright State University, a masters degree from the University of Houston, along with an Executive Certificate in Financial Planning from Xavier University. As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional and a member of the XY Planning Network and NAPFA, I'm committed to the highest fiduciary standards.
My wife Kristen and I live in Oakwood with our awesome (and loud) dachshund pups, Lily and Henry. When I’m not "at the podium" helping clients, you can find me enjoying music, lifting weights, dreaming about swimming in the ocean, grilling with friends, and spending time with my family.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
I’m a huge believer that a successful retirement is built on evidence and precision, not predictions. My goal is to make sure that every investment you own serves a purpose in your overall plan.
Experience retirement in perfect harmony
☑️ Plan-driven portfolios. Your professionally managed portfolio will be built to stay in tune with the income you need in retirement.
☑️ The power of indexing. Rather than picking individual stocks, your strategy will use low-cost index ETFs that capture market growth without the guesswork.
☑️ Income guardrails and buffer. Dynamic spending rules and a bond buffer will help you enjoy your money with a plan to make it last.
My investment standards
| What I do | What I don’t do |
| Lead with your plan. Every investment will serve a purpose in your retirement. | Pick hot stocks. I don’t gamble with your life savings on a hunch or headline. |
| Keep costs low. I’ll use low-cost index funds to keep more money in your pocket. | Time the market. I don’t move your money in and out based on the daily news. |
| Keep it simple.I’ll use investments that you can understand and feel good about. | Use commission products. I’m legally bound to act only in your best interest. |
| Manage for taxes. I’ll look for every opportunity to reduce the tax drag in your accounts. | Make predictions. I’ll focus on the steady progress you need to live a confident retirement. |
Annual tax planning is a core part of ongoing wealth management. Rather than just looking back at what you owed last year, I'll work with your tax professional to look forward and identify opportunities to lower your lifetime tax bill. This includes managing your tax brackets, proactively planning tax-efficient income to avoid Medicare IRMAA, and exploring potential Roth conversions to reduce the long-term impact of Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs). For your taxable investments, I'll leverage advanced technology through our custodian, Altruist, to implement ongoing tax-loss harvesting where it makes sense. This allow me to scan your accounts for opportunities to realize losses that can offset capital gains, turning market volatility into potential tax savings.
I'm not an elder law attorney and don't provide legal advice, but part of the risk management planning we'll do is dedicated to protecting your hard earned savings from the rising costs of long-term care. With private nursing home stays in Southwest Ohio often exceeding $10,000 per month, many of my clients are worried about having to spend down everything they saved to pay for a nursing home or assisted living facility.
I'll help you navigate this by first putting a long-term care plan in place by documenting where you’d like to receive care, who you want to provide it, and how you’d prefer to pay for it. Together, we’ll evaluate the most effective funding strategy, whether that involves insurance or a dedicated self-funding plan. And I’ll coordinate with your attorney to make sure your estate plan is aligned to protect your home and your savings.
Stage Ready Financial Planning provides ongoing financial planning, investment management and implementation. I'll proactively coordinate with your tax and legal professionals to make sure your estate plan and tax returns are in sync with your retirement plan.
I have a formal Business Continuity Plan in place designed to protect your interests and provide a clear path forward:
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Secure Custody: Your investments are held at Altruist, an independent third-party custodian (Member SIPC). Altruist provides institutional-grade security for your assets, which are held in your name. I have the authority to manage your portfolio, but I never have physical possession of your money.
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Formal Continuity: Stage Ready Financial Planning has a documented plan to ensure a smooth transition in the unlikely event I'm unable to serve you. My estate and professional network are prepared to facilitate the transition of your accounts.
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Control and Portability: Your investment accounts are fully portable. If something ever happens to me, you maintain total control to move your money to any advisor of your choosing or manage them independently.
