The Starting Point of Our Blueprint

Get Organized

The first step in any strong financial plan is clarity. We help every client get fully organized so decisions become easier, faster, and more confident.

Build Your Net Worth Statement

Your net worth is your financial report card — the clearest and most honest measure of progress.

At Incline Financial Planning, we start every client relationship by building a complete net worth statement that lists everything you own and owe.

We update this statement annually to track progress, spot trends, and guide long-term decisions. Over time, growing your net worth becomes the single best measure of financial health — more important than income, spending levels, or even investment returns.

Create a Cash Flow Plan (Zero-Based Budget)

Money without a plan disappears. That’s why we work with clients to build a zero-based budget — a system that gives every dollar a job before the month begins.

This plan becomes a powerful tool:

  • It exposes hidden leaks.

  • It reduces financial stress.

  • It ensures spending aligns with your values and goals.

  • It creates a feedback loop between what you want for your future and how you behave today.

A thoughtful cash flow plan turns intention into real, measurable progress.

Additionally, we help answer questions specific to our careers:

  • How much should I spend on my house?

  • How should I pay for it?

  • If you promote not taking on debt.

    • How do I purchase a car, boat, and/or airplane?

    • How much can I spend on things with motors?

Play Defense

Before we can help our clients grow wealth, we help them protect it. Solid defense keeps one unexpected event from destroying years of hard work.

Insurance — Transfer Risk Wisely

Insurance is not an investment; it’s protection. We help clients secure only the coverage they need — no more, no less and answer the questions specific to their unique financial life. Our goal is to identify the “threat” and put barriers in place to protect against those threats!

  • Life Insurance:

    • How much should I purchase?

    • What type of Insurance should I buy?

    • Where should I buy Life Insurance?

  • Disability Insurance:

    • What does my income look like if I become disabled?

    • Should I select the Taxable or Non-Taxable company benefit?

    • Should you buy PMA?

    • Should you buy POD?

  • Umbrella Liability:

    • What is Umbrella Insurance?

    • How much do I need?

    • Where should I buy it?

  • Health Insurance:

    • Which plan is right for me?

    • Should I use an HSA or an FSA?

    • How should I invest my HSA?

  • Home/Auto Insurance:

    • How much do I need?

Basic Estate Plan — Protect the People You Love

Estate planning isn’t about wealth — it’s about responsibility. We help clients put the right documents in place so their wishes are honored and their loved ones are protected.

Every adult needs:

  • A Will — to name guardians and direct asset distribution.

  • Financial & Healthcare Powers of Attorney — so trusted people can act if you cannot.

  • A Living Will — to outline medical preferences.

  • Updated Beneficiaries — on retirement plans and insurance policies.

A simple estate plan removes uncertainty and safeguards the people who depend on you.

Once our clients are organized, protected, and clear on where they stand, we are ready to move forward with intention. This is where the Baby Steps come in. At Incline Financial Planning, we use Dave Ramsey’s 7 Baby Steps as the behavioral and structural foundation for building wealth, but we don’t apply them blindly. We adapt the details to each client’s situation while keeping the order and principles intact, because the sequence is designed to create momentum, confidence, and lasting results.

Baby Step 1: Build a Starter Emergency Fund

This is your first line of defense. A small cushion prevents small setbacks from becoming big financial derailments. It’s not meant to cover every catastrophe — it’s designed to stop you from going further into debt the next time life throws you a car repair or unexpected bill.

Baby Step 1 FAQ:

  • Where should I keep my Starter Emergency Fund?

  • How Much should my Starter Emergency Fund be?

Baby Step 2: Pay Off All Consumer Debt (Except the House)

In Baby Step 2, we guide pilots at American Airlines to attack debt strategically, using the Debt Snowball method to gain momentum and motivation.

By the end of this step, you’re debt-free (except the mortgage) and ready to start building your emergency fund and long-term wealth.

Baby Step 2 FAQ :

  • What is the Debt Snowball and why use that compared to the Avalanche technique to paying off debt?

  • Why pay off my consumer debt when I can earn more with my investments?

  • How long should Baby Step 2 take?

  • Should I save for retirement while paying off debt?

Baby Step 3: Build a Fully Funded Emergency Fund

Once you’re debt-free (except the mortgage), we help pilots build a serious safety net by helping you:

  • Determine the right size of your fund based on your individual circumstances.

  • Decide where to keep the funds for safety and accessibility.

  • Ensure you earn a competitive rate of return for your emergency savings.

By the end of this step, you’re debt-free (except the mortgage) and financially resilient, ready to move from defense into strategic wealth-building.

Baby Step 4: Invest 15% of Your Household Income for Retirement

Building wealth for freedom means investing consistently and intelligently. At Incline Financial Planning, we guide our pilots to invest 15% of their gross household income for retirement, using a clear, prioritized approach that balances tax efficiency and long-term growth. We help them answer questions such as:

  • I’m already getting 18% from the company placed into my 401(k), should I contribute 15% on top of that?

  • Should I utilize the MBCBP (Market-Based Cash Balance Plan)?

  • 15% is well above the IRS limit for my 401(k) what accounts should I use for the amount over the IRS limit?

  • Should I contribute to the 401(k) using the Roth, After Tax, or Pretax option?

  • What is a Back Door Roth IRA, and how do I utilize one at American Airlines?

  • What is a Mega Back Door Roth IRA, and is one available to me at American Airlines? Do I want to utilize it?

  • Should I take advantage of our Brokerage Link account?

  • How do I effectively use the Bucket Strategy to determine an asset allocation?

  • How do I invest tax efficiently?

  • What should I invest my 401(k) in?

  • What should I invest my Roth IRA in?

  • What should I invest my taxable account in?

  • How often should I rebalance?

  • What is, and should I implement tax loss harvesting?

  • How and why to create an investment policy statement?

Baby Step 5: Save for Higher Education

Education is a gift — but without a plan, it can become a financial burden. By this stage, you’re already investing 15% of your income for retirement, and now you are ready to tackle paying for higher education. Here we help clients:

  • Determine how to pay for higher education.

  • Choose the appropriate investment account to save for college.

  • Calculate how much you need to save.

  • Determine an appropriate investment allocation for those funds allocated towards future educational needs.

Baby Step 6: Pay Off the Mortgage Early

At Incline Financial Planning, we encourage pilots to pay off their home early, removing their largest monthly expense and unlocking financial flexibility. Many people underestimate how much peace of mind this brings — and we help them see the tangible benefits.

Once your mortgage is paid off, we will have freed up even more cash flow, allowing you to increase the amount you invest. Additionally, by reducing your monthly liabilities, you can confidently take on a bit more long-term investment risk, allowing your portfolio the ability to grow even more.

This step isn’t just about eliminating debt — it’s about creating freedom, reducing risk, and giving your money the ability to work harder for your future. We walk clients through how strategically paying off the home becomes a powerful lever for building lasting wealth and ultimately providing you with the flexibility to fly the schedule you have always dreamed of.

Baby Step 7: Build Wealth

Reaching this stage of financial planning marks a meaningful shift. With debt eliminated and a strong foundation in place, we help clients move from simply accumulating wealth to optimizing it, protecting it, and stewarding it for future generations. Our focus is on aligning financial resources with your long-term values and goals while managing risk, taxes, and transitions across generations.

At Incline Financial Planning, we guide the pilots of American Airlines through several key advanced planning areas:

Balancing Living, Giving, and Growing Wealth

The question at this stage is no longer “Do I have enough?” It becomes:

  • Do I have enough to be financially independent?

  • How much can I safely withdraw from my portfolio in retirement?

  • If I continue to work, how much do I now spend, save, and give?

Tax Planning and Optimization

At this point, we help further help pilots take advantage of tax strategies that can aid in reducing their lifetime tax liability. Our approach ensures your portfolio grows efficiently while keeping taxes under control. We do this by answering questions such as:

  • Managing a Tax-Efficient Portfolio

    • Which accounts should you draw from first and in what order?

    • How do I create a tax-efficient retirement portfolio?

  • Roth Conversions & Tax Bracket Management

    • What are the right years and tax brackets to convert pre-tax accounts to Roth?

    • How do I limit taxes while being mindful of IRMAA surcharges over your lifetime?

  • Charitable Strategies

    • How do I build a giving plan that maximizes both impact and efficiency using Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs)?

    • When and should I utilize Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs)?

    • Does it make sense to use a Charitable Remainder Trusts (CRTs)?

Estate and Legacy Planning

We help our pilots protect their family and ensure wealth is passed on intentionally by:

  • Implement gifting strategies to family members to avoid tax and administrative headaches.

  • Utilizing 529 plans to not just pay for education but build generational wealth.

  • Facilitate legacy conversations for the Next of Kin.

Our goal is to make sure your hard-earned wealth benefits your family fully and carries forward your values.

Strategic Charitable Giving

We help clients move beyond ad-hoc donations to a coordinated giving strategy. By leveraging tools like:

  • DAF - Donor Advised Fund

  • QCD - Qualified Charitable Deductions