Retire With Confidence: The 5 Non-Negotiable Criteria for Choosing a Financial Advisor Who Actually Puts You First

Discover the proven framework from 30 years of experience that helps you protect your life savings and retire on your terms.
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I found Retirement Success to be beautifully laid out, easy to read, and full of practical insights. I appreciated how the book reflected Joe’s personalized approach, tailoring strategies based on each person’s comfort level and life situation. Having worked with Joe since his Wachovia days in 2005, I’ve always valued how I’m treated like a person, not a number. Even during times like 2008, when others were jumping ship, I stuck with the plan and was glad I did. This book is a great reflection of that same steady, thoughtful guidance. I’d recommend it to anyone looking for clarity and confidence in retirement.
Terry B

You've Done Everything Right. So Why Does Retirement Feel So Uncertain?

You’ve worked for decades. Saved diligently. Made sacrifices.

Maybe you’re lying awake at 2am wondering: “Did I save enough? What if I run out of money? What if the market crashes right after I retire?”

Here’s the uncomfortable truth most financial “experts” won’t tell you: Most people have investments, not a retirement plan.

And there’s a massive difference.

  • You have no idea if your money will last 30+ years while inflation quietly erodes your purchasing power
  • Your portfolio could collapse in the next bear market because you don’t have a predetermined strategy to stay the course
  • You’re paying thousands in unnecessary taxes every year because nobody structured your withdrawals properly
  • Your “advisor” might be a salesperson pushing products that earn them commissions—not building a real plan for your unique situation
Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.
Mike Tyson

The first 10-20% market drop? Most investors stay calm. But when losses hit 30-40%, fear takes over. That’s when even the most disciplined investors start second-guessing everything.

After 30 years guiding clients through the 2000-2002 tech crash, the 2008-2009 financial crisis, the COVID-19 meltdown, and the 2022 bear market, Joseph Falbo wrote this book to make sure panic-driven decisions don’t destroy your retirement.

Dysfunctional Advisor vs Functional Retirement Advisor

Not all advisors are created equal. Here’s the difference:
Dysfunctional Advisor
Leads with products and sales pitches
Focus only on investment returns
Tries to time the market and chase hot trends
Ignores the qualitative (your values, fears, dreams)
Lets you make emotional decisions during market crashes
Functional Retirement Advisor
Starts with a comprehensive plan based on your unique goals
Focuses on whether your money lasts your lifetime
Maintains disciplined, diversified strategy through all market cycles
Gets to know you as a person, not just your account balance
Acts as behavioral coach to prevent panic-selling at the worst times
The wrong advisor can cost you millions. The right one can transform you from a fragile investor into an antifragile one.

What You'll Discover Inside

This isn’t another generic retirement book. This is your field guide to finding the rare advisor who will actually protect your future—and avoiding the dysfunctional ones who won’t.
  • The 5 Must-Have Criteria every great advisor should meet: Trust & Empathy, 20+ Years Experience, Personal Financial Security, Professional Credentials (CFP®, ChFC®, AIF®), and Behavioral Management
  • Why 20+ years of experience is non-negotiable and what questions to ask to verify they’ve navigated clients through multiple complete market cycles
  • From Fragile to Antifragile: How to transform from an emotional investor who panics during downturns into one who uses volatility as opportunity
  • The 4% Rule and “Your Number”: The exact formula to calculate how much investment capital you need to retire and stay retired
  • Red flags to run from: Narcissistic advisors, product dumps, hidden conflicts, bankruptcy in their past, and the subtle signs your advisor puts their mortgage ahead of your retirement
  • Bear Market Truth: Why all 16 bear markets since 1950 recovered—and the behavioral strategies to stay invested when everyone else panics
  • Real stories from the field: The client who lost everything in Wachovia stock, the political investor who missed the recovery by sitting in cash, the couple who had “investments not a plan”
  • Why credentials matter: The difference between CFP®, ChFC®, CFA®, CIMA®, AIF®—and why some letters after a name mean everything while others mean nothing

But What if I’m Already 5 Years Into Retirement?

Good news: It’s not too late.

As Joseph writes in the book: “Many clients come to us AFTER retirement has already started—and we’ve helped them course-correct, optimize taxes, and restructure portfolios to last decades longer.”

Whether you’re 10 years from retirement, 5 years out, or already retired, the principles in this book apply. The best time to start was 10 years ago. The second-best time? Right now.

What Clients Are Saying

Joe Falbo’s second book is a major step up, the first hundred pages alone are a 10 out of 10. What stood out most to me was the emphasis on finding a trustworthy, experienced advisor who follows a plan, a process, and uses proper diversification. The chapter on calculating what you need monthly in retirement really hit home. It’s practical, clear, and delivers the kind of discipline and strategy that too many investors lack.

The book also calls out the risks of procrastination and the dangers of falling for one-size-fits-all advice from the so-called experts on TV. I’ve lived through the pitfalls of investing solo, including a major loss on a single stock where I waited too long to sell. If anything, this book reinforces that having a professional advisor who understands your risk tolerance and goals is essential. Highly recommended

Michael L.

I wish I had read this book ten years ago, it would have saved me from some costly mistakes. It’s essential reading for anyone nearing or already in retirement. The way it breaks down overlooked planning areas really opened my eyes, especially around overcommitting to real estate. While real estate can look attractive upfront, the book helped me see that a diversified portfolio and structured financial plan are often more powerful long-term.

More than anything, it reminded me why I’ve stuck with Joe for nearly two decades. Banks may offer a flashy CD rate, but turnover is constant. With Joe, the relationship is steady, the advice is thoughtful and custom, and the focus is always on the big picture.

Frank B.

Joe’s book helped me understand the real differences between true fiduciary advisors and sales-driven firms. The section on fake certifications and the importance of vetting an advisor’s credentials really stood out. I’ve seen firsthand how some advisors talk a good game but don’t have the experience or independence to actually guide clients in their best interest.

This book is a great tool for anyone wanting to get clear on what to look for and what to avoid in a long-term financial partner

Bob M.

Reading Joe’s book really opened my eyes to how important it is to work with a financial advisor who actually takes the time to understand your situation. In the past, I worked with someone who barely communicated, didn’t know much about my goals, and left me feeling frustrated, especially when I lost money and had no idea why.

What stood out in Joe’s book were the real-life stories, like the client who brought in an oak tag to organize their accounts, it helped explain financial planning in a way that felt approachable and real. More than anything, the book made me grateful that I finally found Joe. I only wish I had met him sooner

Pamela M.

About Joseph Falbo, CFP®

Joseph Falbo, President
Joseph Falbo is a Certified Financial Planner™ with over 30 years of experience guiding individuals and families through retirement.

He started his career at Merrill Lynch during the dot-com bubble, worked through the 2008 financial crisis at major firms like Wachovia/Wells Fargo, and founded his independent firm in 2009 to ensure he answers only to his clients—not a big corporation pushing product quotas.

Credentials & Experience

  • Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®)
  • Accredited Investment Fiduciary (AIF®)
  • Certified Retirement Counselor (CRC®)
  • 30+ years in financial planning for individuals
  • Founder, Falbo Wealth Management (2009)
  • Serves on LPL’s Financial Planning Board

He’s personally guided clients through:

  • The Dot-Com Crash (2000-2002) (CFP®)
  • The Financial Crisis (2008-2009)
  • The COVID-19 Market Crash (2020)
  • The Inflation Bear Market (2022)

Joseph has seen both the brilliant decisions and the devastating mistakes that define retirement success. He wrote this book to help you make the former and avoid the latter.

This Book Won't Sell You Products. It Will Give You Power.

You won’t find get-rich-quick schemes. You won’t find product pitches. You won’t find promises that retirement planning is “easy”.
Retirement isn’t just escaping the 9-to-5. It’s a whole new game with its own curveballs… Without a solid game plan, this next chapter can turn into a nightmare. But with the right coach in your corner, retirement could be the best time of your life.
From the Introduction