What does peace of mind mean to you?

Debra Brede

So, you’re considering retirement. If you have come here from my book, You’re Retired—Now What? you already know that understanding what peace of mind means to you is my first priority. I figured that out not with the sort of generic risk-tolerance questionnaires typically used by the financial services industry, but by taking the time to understand what matters most to you.

The problem with those other retirement questionnaires is that they don’t account for emotion—and emotions drive everything we do. I, therefore, must understand what drives you – what you fear, what excites you, and how you want to live in retirement – or I simply can’t know if we’re a good fit for each other.

Your thoughtful replies to the following questions will help us both figure that out. Your completed questionnaire is held in the strictest confidence, and its submission is secure.

Disclosures

Services are offered through Focus Partners Wealth, LLC (“Focus Partners”), an SEC registered investment adviser with offices throughout the country. Registration with the SEC does not imply a certain level of skill or training and does not imply that the SEC has endorsed or approved the qualifications of Focus Partners or its representatives. Prior to January 2025, Focus Partners was named The Colony Group (“Colony”), LLC. Focus Partners has been part of the Focus Financial Partners partnership since 2011. In December of 2019, D.K. Brede Investment Management Company merged with and into GW & Wade, LLC (“GWW”). On 03/01/24, GWW merged with and into The Colony Group, LLC. Clients of GWW assigned their advisory agreements to Colony. Information contained herein is general in nature and is provided for informational purposes only. Financial and investment advisory services are provided only through a formal advisory relationship. Awards listed are those received by Debra Brede, as applicable, at D. K. Brede Investment Management Company prior to the time GWW merged with Focus Partners Wealth. GWW paid a fee to Barron’s, Forbes, and Five-Star for use and promotion of the rankings, but not to be considered for the awards. No compensation was paid with respect to the other awards. The criteria and year(s) for each award listed above are as follows:

  • Forbes Top Women Advisors - Criteria: Award is based on an algorithm of qualitative and quantitative criteria, including a minimum of 7 years of experience, and factors such as revenue trends, AUM, compliance records, industry experience, and best practices. Debra Brede received the award in February 2024 based on data as of September 30, 2023. She also received the award from 2017 through 2023.
  • Forbes Best-in-State.Criteria: Award is based an algorithm of qualitative criteria, mostly gained through telephone and in-person due diligence interviews, and quantitative data, including years of experience, revenue trends, AUM, compliance records, client retention, best practices, and approach to working with clients. Debra Brede received the award in February 2024 based on data as of September 30, 2023. She also received the award from 2018 through 2023.
  • Forbes Top 250 Wealth Advisors.Criteria: Award based on an algorithm of qualitative criteria learned through telephone, virtual and in-person due diligence interviews, and quantitative data such as revenue trends and assets under management. The algorithm additionally weighs factors such as service models, compliance records and industry experience, and focuses on those that encompass best practices in their approach to working with clients. Debra Brede received the award in April 2024 for the twelve months ending 06/30/23. She also received the award from 2016 through 2023.
  • Barron’s Top 100 Women Financial Advisors.Criteria: Barron’s proprietary analysis of the following qualitative and quantitative criteria: a minimum of 7 years of financial services experience, acceptable compliance record, client retention, assets under management (AUM), revenues generated, and the quality of the advisor’s practice. A portion of the ranking considers a sampling of a financial advisor’s clients. Debra Brede received the award in July 2024 for the twelve months ending 03/31/24. She also received the award from 2006 through 2023.
  • Barron’s Hall of Fame Advisor.Criteria: The award recognizes advisors who have ranked for ten or more years on any one of following Barron’s Top Advisor lists: Top 100 Financial Advisors, Barron’s Top Women Financial Advisors, or Top 100 Independent Advisors. Debra Brede received the award in 2019.
  • Barron’s Top 1,200 Financial Advisor.Criteria:Barron’s creates its ranking based on a formula that takes into consideration three major categories, including assets, revenue, and quality of practice. Barron’s also considers a wide range of qualitative factors, including the advisor’s experience, their advanced degrees and industry designations, the size, shape, and diversity of their team, their charitable and philanthropic work and their compliance record. Debra Brede received the award in March 2024 for the twelve months ending 09/30/23. She also received the award from 2017, 2021 and 2022.
  • Financial Times 400 Financial Advisors.Criteria: FT recognized Debra Brede as a FT 400 Financial Advisors 2020. Financial Times creates a numeric score that is based on AUM, asset growth, compliance record, experience, credentials, and accessibility. AUM and AUM growth accounted for over 85% of the score. Although the survey was completed while Ms. Brede was at Commonwealth Financial Network, Focus Partners Wealth reasonably assumes the survey makes it equally easy for participants to provide both positive and negative responses. No fee was paid to FT 400 Financial Advisors to participate in, or to promote these rankings. Leadership Council Membership: FT recognized Debra Brede as a FT 400 Financial Advisors 2020. As a result of this recognition, Ms. Brede was invited to be a member of the Financial Advisor IQ Leadership Council for subsequent years. The leadership council is a membership that requires completion of surveys for research purposes and not qualification purposes. No fee was paid to be a member of this council.
  • Five Star Wealth Manager.Criteria: Credentialed as an IAR, FINRA-registered rep, a CPA, or a licensed attorney; at least five years in the financial services industry; favorable regulatory and complaint history review; meeting firm’s review standards; accepting new clients; one and five-year retention rates; assets administered; number of households served; and education and professional designations. Debra Brede received the award on 02/01/24 for the time period 05/23/23 through 01/06/24. She also received the award from 2012 through 2023. Barry Morgan received the award on 02/01/24 for the time period 05/23/23 through 01/06/24. He also received the award from 2020 through 2023.
  • Financial Times 400 Financial Advisors.Criteria: FT recognized Debra Brede as a FT 400 Financial Advisors 2020. Financial Times creates a numeric score that is based on AUM, asset growth, compliance record, experience, credentials, and accessibility. AUM and AUM growth accounted for over 85% of the score. Although the survey was completed while Ms. Brede was at Commonwealth Financial Network, Focus Partners Wealth reasonably assumes the survey makes it equally easy for participants to provide both positive and negative responses. No fee was paid to FT 400 Financial Advisors to participate in, or to promote these rankings. Leadership Council Membership: FT recognized Debra Brede as a FT 400 Financial Advisors 2020. As a result of this recognition, Ms. Brede was invited to be a member of the Financial Advisor IQ Leadership Council for subsequent years. The leadership council is a membership that requires completion of surveys for research purposes and not qualification purposes. No fee was paid to be a member of this council.

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Debra Brede