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Retire Well

values-based Financial guidance and investment management for those about to retire

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Your Values Guide Your Decisions

Who We Serve

First Step Wealth Planning exists to help clients retire well by focusing on both their emotional and money readiness.  

They seek guidance on how to save, invest, manage taxes and live comfortably from their life savings so that they may spend time on what matter most to them. 

If this sounds like you, then take the first step and contact us to start a conversation about how to receive the guidance you need to envision, plan for and realize your ideal retirement.  


Flat-Fee Pricing

We are fee-only, and act as a fiduciary to ensure you make decisions that are in your best interest.  We do not offer any products or receive any commissions.   

We start with a plan based on your values.

Plans are $2,400, with half due upon our agreement and the other after delivery of the plan.

At the completion of the plan, we offer implementation and ongoing wealth management services that are billed monthly.  Monthly rates start at $350.   


True Wealth is Discretionary Time

Meet Erik Photo

Meet Erik

Erik Nero, CFP® | Founder & President

erik@first-stepwealth.com  | 

(518) 893-1592


Erik believes that harmony between one’s faith, fitness, family, friends, and finances can lead to a more fulfilled life.  Erik created First Step Wealth Planning to help his clients experience their ideal lives through creating greater confidence in their financial lives while removing the barriers and conflicts of interest that exist at other firms. 

Professionally, Erik has been helping families make smart decisions with their money for over 25 years.  He has held positions in wealth management for families and institutions at a variety of large, multi-national firms and has had the privilege of getting to know the stories, desires, and dreams of hundreds of clients.  This privilege has been both educational and rewarding.  Erik is grateful to have learned from so many wonderful people, which led him to realize what matters most to people is their time and their ability to live the life that they want.  He has narrowed his focus to work with those who seek greater simplicity in their lives, so that they can spend more time on what is most important to them.  Erik is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Practitioner.

Erik is a husband of over 20 years to his wife, Nicole.  They have three children, and a chocolate Labrador, Shiloh.  Although he spent many years of his career in New York City, Erik and his family have made a home near Saratoga Springs, New York.  He is a native of New York’s Hudson Valley region and a graduate of Siena College.  He loves being present and involved in the many activities his children participate in, as well as the art, culture, restaurants, and activities that are abundant in Saratoga Springs.



Plan with Purpose

Gain greater understanding of what your ideal retirement life is. 

We will use this understanding to align all your financial decisions with your vision and values so that your wealth can support your purpose.  We will create a plan that gives you the best opportunity, with a high level of confidence, to achieve your goals despite the many aspects of life you cannot control.  


“A journey of 1,000 miles begins with a single step.” 

Lao Tzu

Our First Meeting -
Getting to know each other

This meeting is at no financial cost or obligation and will require approximately one hour of your time.  We will discuss what is important about money to you, what you want to achieve and how you believe you will feel once you have achieved those goals.  We will illustrate what your current financial position is so that you can see where you stand in relationship to your goals.  Following this meeting, we will determine if there is a good fit between you and our team.  If you feel we are a good match we then will make an offer for you to join our client community.

The First Strategy Session
Develop a Roadmap

Using the information resulting from our first meeting, our team will work with you to produce a comprehensive analysis to show you how to align your wealth toward achieving your specific goals.   We will offer specific action items regarding every aspect of your financial life that can help support your goals.  At the conclusion, we will establish a schedule of meetings over the next 12 months that are designed to ensure that the agreed upon action steps are completed, that you are tracking toward your goals, and that you have the highest level of confidence in every aspect of our team’s support of your financial life.  

Strategy Progress Meetings

Navigate Together

It is during these meetings that we will review the progress toward your goals and cover specific items that we have surfaced that will require additional attention.  It is typical that we will have a greater frequency of meetings within the first year of your engagement with our firm.  Once you are highly confident in every aspect of your financial life, we will move to regularly scheduled strategy progress meetings at least twice annually. We recognize that life is dynamic, and we are always available when you need us should questions arise or circumstances change.


Get Started

Our Commitment to You

 Be Understood


To have all your financial decisions in alignment with your most important goals and deeply held values.   

To have your financial house fully organized and to keep it that way. 

For you to have the highest confidence in all aspects of your financial life.


Our team will provide you with a level of care, clarity and confidence that is supported by powerful tools and subject matter experts to help you make the best decision for any financial matter.  

Understanding leads to clarity and greater confidence.

Our Fully Comprehensive Wealth Planning Services

 

Income Planning

Achieve income security both now and in the future.

Tax planning

Potentially reduce your tax burden.

Tax Preparation*

Coordination with your tax strategies.

Social Security and Medicare Optimization

Education and guidance on the various options and choices.

Roth IRA Optimization

Potentially reduce taxes in the future.

Employee 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.

Debt Management

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

College Planning

Provide your family members the opportunity, while protecting your goals.

Investment Management

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

Charitable Giving

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

Contact Us

Let's start a conversation about how we can help you make even better decisions about your money and achieving your financial goals.