Our Approach

The Financial Operating Manual (FOM)

At Incline Financial Planning LLC, we operate from a simple belief:

American Airlines pilots deserve a financial system that is as structured and reliable as the procedures they trust in the cockpit.

The cockpit runs on discipline.
Checklists.
Standard operating procedures.
Repeatable execution.

Your financial life should operate the same way.

Why a Financial Operating Manual?

Aviation does not rely on intensity or guesswork.
It relies on systems.

We built the Financial Operating Manual (FOM) to serve the same purpose in your financial life:

A clear, sequential, behavioral framework that produces predictable progress — regardless of markets, contracts, or schedule volatility.

This is not a collection of financial tips.

It is the exact framework we use:

  • Personally

  • Professionally

  • With every client relationship

It is also the operating philosophy behind The Financial Operating Manual — our step-by-step system for building stability first, then wealth, then freedom.

Because lasting financial success is not built on timing.

It is built on:

  • Clear structure

  • Proven principles

  • Consistent execution

  • Disciplined behavior

The Design Principle

The FOM follows one core progression:

Stability → Wealth Building → Freedom

In that order.

Not reversed.
Not rushed.
Not customized around market predictions.

Most high-income professionals try to optimize before they stabilize.

Pilots know better.

The FOM Framework

This system is designed specifically for the realities of flying for American Airlines.

Your income structure is unique.
Your retirement plan is unique.
Your career volatility is unique.

A generic financial plan does not account for those realities.

The FOM does.

The Financial Planning Process

The steps are sequential.
Each builds on the previous.
No skipping ahead.

Step 1: Establish Cash Flow Control

Create a written cash flow plan.
Build awareness.
Eliminate drift.

Step 2: Eliminate Consumer Debt

Remove all non-mortgage debt using a disciplined payoff strategy (The Debt Snowball).
Free future income for wealth building.

Step 3: Maximize Tax-Advantaged Investing

Systematically fund:

  • 401(k)

  • Backdoor Roth IRA

  • HSA

Invest consistently using a structured allocation strategy aligned with long-term goals — not headlines.

Step 4: Fund Future Education

Save intentionally for children’s college without compromising retirement stability.

Step 5: Eliminate the Mortgage

Reduce long-term fixed obligations.
Increase flexibility.

Step 6: Fly on Your Terms

At this stage, work becomes optional.
Decisions are driven by preference — not financial pressure.

Protecting the System

Building wealth is only half the mission.

Protecting it is equally critical.

Throughout every stage of the FOM, we integrate risk management and legacy planning to ensure one unexpected event does not undo decades of disciplined progress.

Insurance Planning

We evaluate and structure coverage appropriate for American Airlines pilots:

  • Term life insurance

  • Disability income protection

  • Umbrella liability coverage

  • Aviation-specific considerations

The objective is simple:

One event should not compromise the mission.

Estate Planning

Every client relationship includes coordination around a proper estate plan:

  • Wills and guardianship planning

  • Healthcare directives and powers of attorney

  • Beneficiary alignment

  • Legacy and inheritance planning

Your family deserves clarity — not court involvement.

The Operating Standard

Markets will change.
Contracts will change.
Schedules will change.

Your financial direction should not.

The Financial Operating Manual replaces guesswork with structure.

It replaces emotion with process.

It replaces complexity with disciplined execution.

Financial progress becomes predictable when behavior becomes repeatable.

If This Aligns With How You Operate

The FOM is not designed for everyone.

It is designed for American Airlines pilots who value:

  • Structure over speculation

  • Discipline over intensity

  • Long-term freedom over short-term performance

If that aligns with how you operate in the cockpit —
it should align with how you operate financially.

The next step is simple.

Start Your Plan