As you’re approaching retirement, you want to…
Reduce Your Tax Bill
Invest Smarter
Optimize Your Income
We help people over 50 develop and implement a solid and reliable plan for retirement.
I’m Ryan Morrissey, and I live for 3 things (in order):
My wife and 2 kids
Retirement planning
Golf
I’m also an author, speaker, and the Founder and CEO of Morrissey Wealth Management, a fee-only and commission-free retirement planning firm.
I share all the lessons from over two decades in the financial field — and not just the success stories. It’s also important to share the horror stories to help you avoid making the same mistakes. I shifted from fee-based financial advisor to fiduciary to better serve my clients’ peace of mind, portfolios, and retirement years. And today, I teach everything I know.
This isn’t an overnight success story.
Far from it. I’ve had some bumps in the road along the journey. You can read these details in my book, Fiduciary: What Clients Should Demand from Their Financial Advisors.
How’d I get here?
It’s been a ride.
Growing up, I watched both my parents manage a full-time work schedule and household. Thanks, Mom & Dad, for the strong work ethic!
I put that work ethic to use and caddied and delivered pizza so I could save up for a membership to a local golf club.
Hard working role models
1980’s
Competed in the USGA Junior Amateur Golf Championship in Flagstaff AZ.
Pinnacle of My Golfing Career
1996
An Internship Opened My Eyes
2000
2001
I interned as a Financial Advisor between my junior and senior years in college. Even though I was in charge of answering phones and doing admin, I grew curious about the industry.
Caps off!
2001
Graduating from the University of Delaware with a BA in Economics, ready to take on the world — and pay off my student debt.
I landed the job!
After submitting my résumé many times and after multiple interviews, Morgan Stanley offered me a position — I was scheduled to start in June, right after graduation.
Whoah. Slow down!
2001
I was excited to start my 3-month training at Morgan Stanley, but the University of Delaware had a language requirement. Even though I begged the teacher to reconsider, I had to finish Spanish 2 and delay my job start date.
The Morgan Stanley office was a stone’s throw away from campus, so I could walk from class. I remember trekking toward the office that day, hoping I’d still have a job after telling them I couldn’t start until July.
Thankfully, they agreed.
Gracias to Spanish 2 for saving my life!
2001
Morgan Stanley’s training included 3 months of local branch training, followed by 3 weeks in the World Trade Tower.
A terrifying realization — if I’d graduated on time, I would have been in the World Trade Towers on 9/11.
I was in the local office, where the air immediately became unsettled as we saw the chaos unfold on TV.
Morgan Stanley rolled out a new compensation plan for trainees to foster longer-term growth. Goals became more achievable, they shifted focus to fiduciary-type work, and they encouraged us to earn the designation of Certified Financial Planner.
By incentivizing us with fiduciary work, we could better plan long-term growth strategies.
Years of working at a large firm led me to examine if this was truly in everyone’s best interests.
Preparing for an Independent Path
2001- 2008
Like many others, Morgan Stanley’s stocks tumbled and the new CEO took action and cut costs quickly — closing 500 offices, including mine. This added an extra hour of commuting to my day.
It was a panic-ridden time for the financial industry as we watched the disintegration of major firms. Employees waking up to find their company’s doors locked, jobs vanishing into thin air, and their client’s money being locked up.
Since people have always come first, I began taking precautionary measures and printed my client information each night.
2010
Ripple Effects of the Downturn
2008
Sharing Financial Knowledge
A former colleague told me about his new firm’s marketing strategy — teaching adult education classes at several schools, including my alma mater.
Their strategy was successful. I shared this with my boss, but he was reluctant to get on board.
Frustrated and stuck, I became determined to make a move. This became the catalyst for me to venture out on my own.
A Step Toward the Fee-Only World
2010-2018
I signed with an independent broker-dealer who allowed me to run my business without the constraints of W2 employment. I enjoyed the freedom to market my business as I saw fit.
The weekend my new role started, I contacted as many of my clients as possible and traveled to Delaware on a Monday to meet with some of them in person. Many of them stuck with me, which supported the foundation of my business today.
Looking back, I see that I was heading in the right direction, working with clients on a fee-only basis.
Note:
Fee-based: Where you hold a broker-dealer license and can still sell questionable investments (if inclined).
Fee-only: Where you assist clients solely on a fee-only basis with no bias.
Taught My First Adult Education Class
2010
2017
Teaching in-person at schools and later moved some classes online. I loved sharing my retirement planning knowledge.
Morrissey Wealth Management Is Born
It was only a matter of time before I became aware of the limits of a larger firm's emphasis on prescribed business methods. I began to feel increasingly inspired by the benefits of a fiduciary model and its potential to transform financial advising.
It was time to build my own practice centered around the fiduciary model, where I could provide truly customized advice that put clients first.
Recorded episode #1 of the Retire With Ryan Podcast
2020
2023
Bringing my excitement for teaching successful retirement to earbuds everywhere, I recorded the first episode — How To Make The Most of Your Health Savings Account Ep #1.
Launched the Retirement Readiness Review Marketing System
An online system where I teach Financial Advisors my strategies for growing their business with retirement education classes. I’ve been teaching since 2010. In 5 years from 2018 to 2022, I grew from $30M to $80M AUM by teaching just 4 classes a year.
Created & Launched The Retirement Readiness Review Course
2023
To help as many people as possible plan their ultimate retirement, I created this step-by-step video course.
Nothing frustrates me more than to hear about retirees making destructive decisions with their money because they didn't know better or were given bad advice from a biased advisor. I only share reliable, trusted, and proven retirement planning tools.
Fiduciary: What Clients Should Demand from Their Financial Advisors, is for those planning to retire and want to understand exactly what their financial advisor should be telling them about their investments.
And because I mentor other advisors on growing a fee-only practice, it will help them better serve their clients in the long-run.
Published my first book
2023
At the Forefront of the People-First Movement
Today, I’m honored to bring you the lessons I’ve seen first-hand from over two decades in the financial field.
As the financial industry continues to evolve, I’m proud to play a role in leading the movement that puts client experience first. I’m enthusiastically growing my wealth management practice, podcast, and speaking to continue my effort in being part of positive change giving clients the unbiased expertise and guidance they need to achieve their financial goals and ensure a secure future.
Work with me
Advisors — Get the Retirement Readiness Review Marketing System
Tired of cold-calling and waiting for referrals? Get everything you need to provide unbiased education to attract potential clients.