Buffalo, New York
Tax-smart retirement planning for WNY families
You’ve spent decades saving for retirement. Now you need a roadmap to spend confidently, reduce taxes, and make the most of what you’ve built.
Fee-only fiduciary · CFP® · Serving Western New York since 2019
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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
Retirement comes with a lot of moving pieces.
Turn savings into income
Know where your retirement income will come from and how much you can comfortably spend.
Plan ahead for taxes
Coordinate withdrawals and Roth conversions to manage taxes throughout retirement, not just one year at a time.
Enjoy what you've built
Have the confidence to spend, give, travel, and enjoy retirement without second-guessing every decision.
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
Intro call
A 30-minute conversation about what you're looking for help with and whether I might be a good fit.
02
Discovery meeting
We'll dig into your finances, goals, family, and what you want retirement to look like.
03
The retirement strategy session
I'll analyze your situation and walk you through the opportunities, tradeoffs, and decisions I see.
04
Decide what comes next
If we decide to work together, we'll put the plan into action and continue adjusting it as life changes.
What I Help with
The decisions that come with retirement
Tax planning
How can you pay less in taxes over time?
Plan withdrawals, Roth conversions, and charitable giving around your broader retirement tax picture.
What this means for you
- More proactive tax planning throughout the year
- A strategy for managing required distributions and future taxes
- Tax decisions that account for both spouses, now and later
Who I work with
Where are you in your retirement journey?
Five years out
You're approaching retirement and want to understand when you can comfortably retire, what your income will look like, and which decisions you should be making today.
See their situation
Newly retired
You've made the transition into retirement and want a thoughtful strategy for turning your savings into income while making the most of the years ahead.
See their situation
A few years into retirement
You're enjoying retirement but recognize there are opportunities to manage taxes, plan for required distributions, and make thoughtful decisions about your wealth.
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
Good planning helps you see the bigger picture
When decisions are made separately
- Retirement income and investment decisions are handled as needs arise.
- Tax planning focuses primarily on the current year.
- Social Security, Medicare, and withdrawals are considered individually.
- A surviving spouse can face higher taxes on the same retirement income.
- You spend less than you could because you’re not clear on how much income your plan supports.
When everything works together
- A retirement income strategy guides how and when you draw from savings.
- Tax decisions consider both today's opportunities and future implications.
- Social Security, Medicare, IRMAA, and withdrawals are coordinated.
- Your financial plan accounts for your family, legacy, and changing priorities.
- Greater clarity may help you make more informed decisions about spending and giving.
Straight answers
Common questions
I typically work with individuals and couples approaching or already in retirement who have at least $1 million in savings and investments. Most have done a good job saving and want help turning those savings into income while making smart decisions about taxes, investments, Social Security, Medicare, and their estate.
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.
Eudaimonia Wealth is a small, independent firm, which means you'll work directly with me. I intentionally keep the number of families I serve manageable so I can provide personalized advice, be accessible when questions come up, and develop meaningful relationships with my clients over time.
Yes. I’m a fee-only CFP® professional and fiduciary. I don’t receive commissions for recommending investments or financial products.
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.
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 with a conversation.
The first step is a 30-minute phone call. Tell me what’s on your mind and what you’re hoping to accomplish, and we’ll see if working together makes sense. No preparation required.