About Us

Two real advisors. No call center. No pressure.

Every call booked through this site goes directly to Eric Gaddy or Ray Brandt. Here is who we are and how we work.

Eric Gaddy

Eric has spent 33 years in financial services, from major national firms to owning his own multi-office practice before going independent. He is the author of Retire Early: What Are You Waiting For? and developed Retirement Design Architecture (RDA), his five-part diagnostic approach to retirement planning that looks at income design, tax architecture, market risk, healthcare and protection, and legacy together.

Eric's specialty is retirement income design: turning savings into a dependable paycheck that lasts. He is direct, plain-spoken, and will tell you if an annuity does not fit your plan.

Best for: Retirement income planning, FIA selection, overall retirement strategy.

National Producer Number (NPN): 6605180

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Ray Brandt

Ray spent his career as a CPA and retired his CPA license in 2025 to focus on insurance planning full time. That background changes how he looks at every annuity: not just what it pays, but what it does to your tax picture, your required distributions, and your estate.

Most annuity problems we see are really tax problems in disguise. Ray catches them before they happen. He reviews every second opinion request that comes through this site alongside Eric.

Best for: Tax questions, 401k rollovers, inherited IRAs, second opinions on existing annuities.

National Producer Number (NPN): 7108549

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Why Independent Matters

Captive agents sell products. Independent advisors shop for you.

A captive agent works for one insurance company and can only offer that company's products. Whatever your situation, the answer will come from one shelf.

We are independent. We hold appointments with many insurance companies and compare across the market. When two products track the same index, the caps, riders, and terms can differ dramatically. Independence means we can pick the contract that fits you, not the one we are required to sell.

Plain talk: Captive vs independent

A captive agent represents one company to you. An independent advisor represents you to many companies.

The Best Interest Standard

What the Best Interest standard requires, in plain language

Most states have adopted the NAIC's Best Interest standard for annuity recommendations. Under it, anyone recommending an annuity must act in your best interest, not their own. In practice, that means four obligations.

Care. Know your financial situation, needs, and objectives before recommending anything.
Disclosure. Tell you how they are paid and what their role is.
Conflict of interest. Identify and avoid or manage conflicts that could bias the recommendation.
Documentation. Record the basis for the recommendation.

We welcome this standard because we were already working this way. Ask us how we are paid on any product, and you will get a direct answer. Ask why we recommended something, and you will see the reasoning in writing.

The easiest way to start

Take the 60-second quiz and we will route you to the right person for your situation.

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