Buffalo, New York
Tax-smart retirement planning for WNY families
You’ve spent decades saving for retirement. Now you need a roadmap for income, spending, taxes, and the decisions ahead.
Fee-only fiduciary · CFP® · Serving Western New York since 2019
Brett has been quoted in
The logos above represent publications in which Brett Koeppel has been quoted for general market commentary. These appearances were facilitated through the Financial Planning Association's media platform, for which the firm pays an annual membership fee. Neither Brett nor the firm receives compensation from the publications, and the appearances should not be construed as endorsements, testimonials, or rankings of the firm or its services.
If this sounds familiar
You saved enough. Nobody told you the second half was harder.
Most of your savings have never been taxed
You spent decades contributing to your 401(k) and IRA. Now the challenge is deciding when and how to withdraw that money without paying more in taxes than necessary.
Eventually, withdrawals become required
Required minimum distributions begin at 73 or 75, depending on when you were born. Planning ahead can give you more control over when you recognize income and pay taxes in retirement.
Your plan needs to work for both of you
A surviving spouse may have similar income with less favorable tax brackets. Good retirement planning considers not just the years ahead, but how the plan works for either spouse on their own.
Hover for the less formal version
Your guide
Hi, I’m Brett.
I’m a born-and-raised Buffalonian passionate about helping others make more informed decisions with their money.
I left the brokerage world in 2019 to build a firm where fee-only fiduciary advice comes first. Today, I help Western New York families at or near retirement turn a lifetime of savings into income, plan their spending, and make tax-aware decisions.
CFP®
CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional
Fee-only
No commissions, no products, no hidden fees
Fiduciary
Legally bound to your interest, always
Buffalo
Born here, live here, love it here
How this works
From questions about retirement to a clear path forward.
01
The intro call
30 minutes, by phone
A conversation to find out whether your situation is the kind of thing I am good at.
02
The discovery meeting
About 90 minutes, in person or virtual
The long conversation about your money, your family, and what you want this to look like.
03
The retirement strategy session
I do the work, you go about your life
I build the analysis and come back with what I found, whether or not you hire me.
04
The decision
Take as long as you need
We both decide, without pressure, whether to work together for the long haul.
What I do
Five decisions worth getting right.
Tax planning
How can you manage taxes throughout retirement?
Everything in the 401(k) went in untaxed, and the bill comes due on the way out. Left alone, that balance compounds until 73 or 75, when the IRS starts setting your withdrawal schedule and your bracket with it.
What this means for you
- You stop guessing in December
- RMDs arrive smaller
- Your spouse inherits a plan instead of a puzzle
Who I work with
Three versions of the same crossroads.
Five years out · Around 58
Still working, saving hard, and finally close enough to retirement to want the arithmetic done properly.
See their situation
Newly retired · Around 64
Six months in, learning that spending down a portfolio is a different skill than filling one.
See their situation
The conversion window · Around 68
A few years into retirement, watching a large pre-tax balance grow toward a required withdrawal schedule they did not choose.
See their situation
From clients
What clients have to say
These testimonials were provided by current Eudaimonia Wealth clients and may not be representative of the experiences of other clients. The clients were not compensated, nor are there material conflicts of interest that would affect the given testimonials. You can read every review on Brett’s Wealthtender profile, an independent review platform that verifies each reviewer is a real client.
What's at stake
The difference a retirement roadmap can make
Without a coordinated plan
- Pre-tax savings continue to grow, potentially creating larger RMDs and future tax bills.
- Social Security is claimed without considering the long-term impact on you and your spouse.
- Roth conversions are made without considering Medicare premiums and other tax consequences.
- A surviving spouse can face higher taxes on the same retirement income.
- You spend less than you could because you’re never quite sure what’s safe.
With a plan
- Roth conversions are planned around your income and tax brackets.
- Social Security is coordinated with your broader retirement income strategy.
- Medicare and IRMAA are considered before making tax decisions.
- One deposit arriving monthly, funded in an order set in advance.
- You have a clearer picture of what you can comfortably spend and enjoy.
Straight answers
Common questions
Saving and spending are different challenges. Once you retire, decisions around withdrawals, taxes, Social Security, Medicare, and investments start affecting one another. My role is to help you coordinate those decisions and build a plan for turning your savings into income.
I run a small, independent firm focused on retirement planning. You work directly with me, and I get to know your financial situation, goals, and family over time.
At Charles Schwab, in accounts registered in your name. I never take custody of client assets. Schwab holds the money, sends your statements, and reports to the IRS. I manage the accounts and deduct the agreed fee, and you can view every position and transaction directly at Schwab whenever you want.
As a fee-only advisor, I only get paid by you, never through commissions or product sales. I sell no insurance and no investment products, and I take no referral payments or third-party incentives. The fee ranges from 0.50% to 1.20% of assets under management, with a minimum annual fee of $12,000, and the percentage falls as the assets grow.
No. The first conversation is a 30-minute call at no cost, and there is no obligation attached to it. If I am not the right fit, I will tell you and point you toward someone who is.
Eudaimonia, pronounced you-day-MOH-nia, is a Greek term for human flourishing. It describes a life of meaning and purpose, which I believe can be achieved by aligning your money with what you value most.
Start a conversation
The first step is a 30-minute phone call. We’ll talk about what’s on your mind, what you’re hoping to accomplish, and whether my approach might be a good fit for what you need.