Approaching Retirement? Make Every Decision Work Together.
One advisory relationship that coordinates your retirement income, taxes, investments, benefits, and estate considerations, so no decision is made in isolation.
30 minutes. No cost. No pressure. Bring your retirement date, pension or Social Security question, or portfolio concern.
Financial stress often starts when decisions are made separately.
Investments over here. Taxes over there. Estate documents somewhere else. Retirement income left to guesswork.
Fortress helps clients coordinate these decisions through a comprehensive financial planning process.
Start With the Question on Your Mind
Most families reach out when one decision starts to feel connected to every other part of their financial life.
Can I retire, and what needs to happen first?
Pressure-test income timing, Social Security, and portfolio readiness before you make the leap.
Plan before retirement Already retiredHow do I turn savings into a dependable income strategy?
Keep withdrawals, investments, and tax-aware planning working from the same plan.
Build retirement income Healthcare careerShould I take the lump sum or keep the pension?
Compare your pension options, retirement accounts, and benefit timing before a decision you cannot undo.
Compare pension options Greater complexityHow do I make decisions when everything is connected?
Bring accounts, real estate, concentrated wealth, and legacy planning into one view.
Plan around complexityFrom First Call to Financial Clarity
Introductory Call
30 minutes. No cost, no obligation. We listen, you decide.
Discovery
Deep dive into your full financial picture: accounts, goals, concerns, family.
Risk Assessment
Identify exposures, blind spots, and tradeoffs across your income, investments, taxes, benefits, estate, and cash flow.
Your Plan
Planning strategy across retirement, investments, taxes, estate, and family priorities, with CPA and attorney collaboration when appropriate.
Ongoing Guidance
Proactive check-ins. Life changes? Your plan adapts. We prioritize proactive communication and responsiveness.
Use the Retirement Readiness Scorecard.
This educational assessment can help identify retirement planning areas that may be worth reviewing before a major decision.
What makes Fortress different.
Three commitments shape every relationship we build and every plan we put in front of you.
We simplify the complex.
Retirement has a lot of moving parts. We turn the complicated decisions into clear, step-by-step choices you can act on with confidence.
The plan comes first.
We use your goals and financial plan as the starting point for recommendations. The plan then helps set the agenda for our work together.
Fiduciary, and personal.
When providing investment advisory services, Fortress acts as a fiduciary. Fortress does not receive product-sales commissions. We disclose material conflicts before an engagement.
Independent custody. Direct visibility.
Assets managed by Fortress are held at Fidelity under your account registration. Fidelity provides account access and statements directly to you; Fortress provides the planning and investment management.
That separation gives you an independent record of your holdings and account activity.
Fidelity
Fidelity Investments is an independent company, unaffiliated with Fortress Financial Group. Brokerage services are provided by Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC, Member NYSE, SIPC.
Know the team behind the plan.
Fortress is built around personal advisory relationships. A small, credentialed team that knows your situation, not a rotating call center or a product sales desk.
Dan Langworthy
CIMA® · CPWA®
Founder
Cody Schaefer
CFP® · RICP®
Senior Advisor
Jack Zinser
CFP®
Advisor
Jake Hagen
Advisor
Aidan Ryan
CFP®
Advisor
You work with a dedicated lead advisor, and your questions reach the same small team every time, not a different voice on every call.
The relationship matters as much as the plan.
Hear one client describe the experience of working with Fortress, or read voluntary feedback from current and former clients on Google.
50+ client reviews on GoogleOne client’s perspective
Client disclosure: The featured speaker is a Fortress client. The linked Google reviews include feedback from current and former clients. No compensation was provided. Current clients have an ongoing fee-paying relationship with Fortress, which presents a potential conflict of interest. These statements reflect individual experiences, are not representative of every client, and do not guarantee future results.
Clear thinking for the decisions retirement brings.
See how the Fortress team approaches both the financial and personal decisions that shape retirement.
How to Build Purpose Beyond Finances in Retirement
A practical conversation about identity, connection, and building a meaningful next chapter beyond the numbers.
Watch this conversationSelected reading
Browse all articles-
Retirement planning
9 Retirement Mistakes We See Most (And How to Avoid Them)
The avoidable missteps that derail otherwise solid plans.
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Retirement income
How to Turn Your Savings Into a Reliable Monthly Paycheck
Building a paycheck from your portfolio once the W‑2 stops.
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Pension decisions
Mayo Clinic Pension: A Simple Guide
Lump sum or monthly income, considered in the context of your full plan.
Educational content only; not individualized investment, tax, or legal advice. Fortress is not affiliated with or endorsed by Mayo Clinic.
Start with clear expectations.
Fortress is built for families who want one team coordinating the financial decisions that shape retirement over time.
You want ongoing coordination.
One consistent team across retirement income, investments, taxes, benefits, and estate decisions.
You only want a transaction or product recommendation.
Fortress is built for coordinated planning, not product sales or occasional account servicing.
Questions before the first call
What happens during the first conversation?
We’ll talk about what prompted you to reach out, what still feels unresolved, and what you hope an advisor will help coordinate. You do not need to prepare documents before the call. If our approach matches what you need, we’ll explain the next step; if not, we’ll say so plainly.
How does Fortress charge for advice?
Fortress is fee-only. We are paid by our clients through advisory fees, never through commissions for selling investment products. For ongoing wealth management, that is typically an annual fee based on the assets we manage; the exact rate is agreed before you engage and detailed in your client agreement.
Prospective clients can review Fortress Financial Group’s Form ADV and Form CRS for important details on services, fees, conflicts, and risks.
Do you have an account minimum?
Fortress does not use a strict account minimum. What matters more is whether an ongoing, comprehensive advisory relationship is likely to add value for your situation. The introductory call helps us make that determination together.
Are you a fiduciary?
Yes. Fortress Financial Group is a registered investment adviser. When providing investment advisory services, Fortress acts as a fiduciary to its advisory clients.
Do you coordinate with my CPA or attorney?
Yes, when appropriate, so your financial plan, tax considerations, estate documents, and investment strategy work from the same set of facts. Fortress does not provide legal or tax advice.
Let’s talk about what you’re deciding.
Tell us what has changed and what still feels unresolved. We’ll listen, ask a few useful questions, and tell you plainly whether we can help.
30 minutes. No cost or obligation. No preparation required.
Prefer another way to connect?Meet by video, or visit one of our offices.