Know My Plan

Helping clients maintain, build, & transfer their wealth to their loved ones or charities. Financial planning doesn't have to be overly complicated. You don't have to do it alone. I enjoy working with clients who want to build a financial plan together thru a deep understanding of your goals both while working, in retirement, and beyond.

All investment advice is offered through Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC, a registered investment adviser.

CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™

SunTrust Investment Services, Inc.

VP, Financial Advisor

Financial Advisor

Licensed Financial Sales Consultant 2

I’m a Financial Planner that helps Sales Executives reduce financial anxiety with a 1-Page Plan.

Phone:  704-243-9376 | Email:  nic@knowmyplan.com | Website:  www.knowmyplan.com

I design financial plans for busy executives and their families.

Feel confident about your money with a complete overview of your financial situation

Reduce overwhelm by understanding exactly where you’re at in your journey

Reduce financial anxiety with a high-level plan for the future

You also want to reduce stress, save time, pursue your goals!

As a high earner, you deserve a customized plan to meet you and your family.  No more rules of thumb.  Your goals determine your financial plan, and your financial plan will determine your goals.

The financial plan is your life adventure map.  The plan will need to be monitored and adjusted over time.  That is why we love financial planning.  The process requires relationships built over years!

Securities offered through LPL Financial, Member FINRA/SIPC.  For links to FINRA/SIPC, refer to the Contact Information section above. Advisory Services offered through Independent Advisor Alliance a registered investment advisor and separate entity from LPL Financial. 


Know My Plan is an other business name of Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC.  All investment advice is offered through Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC, a registered investment adviser.  Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC is a separate entity from LPL Financial.

The financial professionals associated with this site may discuss and/or transact business only with residents of the states in which they are properly registered or licensed. No offers may be made or accepted from any resident of any other state.

Third party posts found on this profile do not reflect the views of LPL Financial and have not been reviewed by LPL Financial as to accuracy or completeness.

Nic Nielsen, CFP®

I had a great conversation this week with a 50-year-old prospect who asked a simple but important question:

👉 “If I retire at 62, how much income can I expect each month?”

The answer isn’t a guess — it’s a process.
Here’s how we walked through it together:

1️⃣ Start with what you have saved today.
His total investments formed the foundation of the conversation.

2️⃣ Look at ongoing contributions.
How much is being added each year — and are we maximizing employer matches?

3️⃣ Apply a reasonable rate of return.
Nothing extreme. Just disciplined, long-term assumptions based on history and risk tolerance.

4️⃣ Determine a sustainable distribution rate.
What percentage can we safely withdraw each year without jeopardizing long-term security?

5️⃣ Convert that to a monthly income number.
Because people don’t live life in annual increments — they live it month to month.

6️⃣ Convert future dollars back into today’s dollars.
Inflation is real. A $12K/mo lifestyle in the future may only feel like $8K/mo today.

7️⃣ Discuss asset allocation as retirement approaches.
The mix of growth and safety becomes increasingly important as the retirement date nears.

8️⃣ Highlight the role of fixed income.
Stability, predictability, and downside protection matter — especially when you’re drawing from your portfolio.

These conversations are my favorite because they take a big, overwhelming question and break it into something clear, logical, and actionable.

If you're wondering what your retirement income picture looks like — whether you're 45, 50, or 60 — I’m always happy to run the numbers.

Because clarity creates confidence.

Nic Nielsen, CFP®, CLTC®

I design financial plans for 45 to 55 year-old high-achieving professionals in the Charlotte area and virtually nationwide.

“We’re ready to get serious, feels like we’re just wasting time.”

For what it’s worth, this is EXTREMELY common:

• Two working parents, careers taking off
• Income has ballooned over the years
• Before you know it, you’re just spending and have no real idea where it’s all going

• Decent retirement savings
• Subpar brokerage account balance
• Way too much in HYSA 

• A nice home
• Family vacations, private schools
• Stress that there’s no plan, on the hamster wheel

NEED: A financial plan with real goals and a structure to fund it


(If you could use the help of a financial advisor or would like to explore making a change from your current advisor, now’s the time, please shoot me a message—I’m happy to talk)

Nic

One of my favorite parts of being a parent right now?

My kids (7, 9, & 12) are finally getting gifts that I secretly love… and that take me straight back to my own childhood. 

It’s a sweet reminder that I’m living in the “good ole days” — right now.

My parents are healthy and sharp, my kids are happy and still think hanging out with us is cool, and we get to share little moments like this together.

Sometimes joy looks like a LEGO Game Boy and a house full of laughter. 

--Nic

Raymond James

— Collaborate with retired couples and individuals and those nearing
retirement to provide sound retirement income planning and risk
management.

— Work hand-in-hand with next-generation clients to create unique financial
plans that allow them to navigate the competing financial goals they may be
facing, including saving for retirement and their children's education while
managing a career or running a business and paying down debt.

Raymond James financial advisors may only conduct business with
residents of the states and/or jurisdictions for which they
are properly registered. Therefore, a response to a request
for information may be delayed. Please note that not all
of the investments and services mentioned are available
in every state. Investors outside of the United States are
subject to securities and tax regulations within their
applicable jurisdictions that are not addressed on this site.
Contact your local Raymond James office for information
and availability. 
Please follow this link to additional
disclosures: http://raymondjames.com/smrja.htm
Raymond James & Associates, Inc., Member New York Stock Exchange/SIPC

Senior Vice President, Wealth Management  at Tenured Wealth Management

TIAA

— Led a team of 4 investment professionals overseeing a portfolio of clients with
over $1.2 billion in assets under management while serving as one of the highest
ranked Sr. Wealth Management Advisors in the U.S.

— Hand picked by C-suite and executive teams at some of TIAA’s largest
institutional clients in the Michigan market to serve as their dedicated advisor
and relationship manager.

— Routinely served as mentor and subject matter expert to fellow advisors and
Sr. Leadership within the organization.

Senior Wealth Management Advisor

Freedom One/Cap Trust

— Financial planning and investment consultant responsible for guiding
client portfolios.
— In charge of servicing and growing the Managed Account Portfolios for
the firm.

Director of Managed Accounts

— Partnered with clients to develop financial plans custom-tailored to their
specific situations and life and career goals.

Retirement Consultant

Wachovia Securities

HSBC Finance

— Provided individualized advice and assistance to clients on their retail
lending needs (Home, Auto, and Personal Lending)

Senior Account Executive

I help educators, medical professionals, business owners and independent women retire on their own terms | Senior Vice President, Wealth Management | Tenured Wealth Management of Raymond James

A lot of people don’t understand how demanding it is to be a teacher or a business owner.

Wouldn’t it be nice to work with a retirement planner who did?

As the husband of a teacher and the son of two Albanian educators, and as one of the co-founders of Tenured Wealth Management, I couldn’t agree with you more!

In fact, that's why I became a Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor® — so educators and entrepreneurs like you would have the support and expertise you need to feel confident in your retirement.

It’s not just your dedication to students, customers, and clients that sets you apart. You also have a unique set of questions you need answered, like how to maximize contributions to your 403(b) plan while determining which payout option will make the most sense for your pension.

That’s why William, Sam, and I started Tenured Wealth Management. We know how much time and effort goes into inspiring those aha moments you deliver every day, and we want you to be able to focus on helping people create a brighter future without having to worry about your own.

If you’re ready to start working with a team that shares your passion for transforming lives, send me a DM or email or give me a call, and we can talk about the ways we can help:

Erold.Merko@RaymondJames.com
(248) 539-5107

If now’s not the right time but you’d like to keep learning more, send me a connection request. 

You can also follow our blog on the Tenured Wealth Management website: https://www.raymondjames.com/tenuredwealth/resources/blog

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The Battle

Nic Nielsen, CFP®

Erold Merko, CRPC®

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taplio

The Battle

Nic Nielsen, CFP®

Erold Merko, CRPC®

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Nic Nielsen, CFP®'s LinkedIn Performance

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Performance ScoreNic Nielsen, CFP®'s LinkedIn Performance