Who We Are
Partners you can trust to focus on your goals and objectives,
allowing you to stay focused on your life and success
This is about a lot more than just your finances
We Care About All Our Clients, Taking Into
Account Their Entire Well-being
And Not Just Money
We are Eric McClain and Phil Walker, and we created Approach Retirement as a fee-only retirement planning and investment management firm with a focus on working with you to develop strategies that will help you approach retirement with confidence. We love nothing more than helping people make the most of their financial resources. Our goal is to help retirees and people approaching retirement simplify their financial affairs and invest in the next stage of their lives, helping them free up precious time and energy to focus on what they value most.
Our Compass
The Core Values That Guide Us
Approachable
Think of us as just regular guys who happen to know a lot about retirement planning.
Transparent
We don’t sell products and have no hidden agendas. We simply offer honest and effective advice.
Authentic
You’ll never feel like another number with us. As a boutique firm, we know your goals, expectations, and values because we know you.
Meet Eric McClain, CFP®
At 13, a friend’s grandmother beat me in arm wrestling – twice. Lacking physical prowess, I turned toward intellectual pursuits, and money in particular. I liked making it and spending it!
At 18 I joined the Navy to see the world, work on airplanes, and stay out of trouble, mostly.
Next was college, which seemed to take forever, but went by oh so quickly.
I married the love of my life, Bridget, at 27 and finished college at 28. We welcomed the first of our three girls, Riley, in 2006, then Phoebe in 2008, and surprise - Reese in 2014. We have an old French bulldog, two baby chihuahuas, and a rescue rabbit.
I lost a great business partner, mentor, and friend in 2021. We had worked together for about 8 years and this loss caused a fundamental shift for me. Since then, focusing on helping retirees make the most of their time, taking care of their families, and planning their futures, has become my primary objective.
Favorite Hobby
Raising kids and chasing chihuahuas
Favorite Food
Coffee
Interesting Fact
I love to sing in the shower
Meet Phil Walker, CFP®, JD
After working several years as an accountant and almost a decade as an attorney, I pivoted in 2009 to pursue the craft of retirement planning. It has become my mission to help clients maximize their resources to better provide for themselves and those about whom they care.
I married the love of my life, Susie, at 27. After 20 years, we added our daughter, Jane, and a little over 2 years later, we added our son, Sam.
After almost 10 years of operating as a solo advisor, it has been great to partner with another advisor who shares my desire to empower retirees and near-retirees to live life to the fullest.
Favorite Hobby
Raising kids
Favorite Sports Team
Kentucky Wildcats
Favorite Food
Fish tacos and coffee. Lots of coffee.
Our Admin Team
Behind every good advisor, is a great Admin team.
DeDe
Originally from Indiana, Dede Marshall lives in the Tampa area with her husband, Matt. They are very much involved with serving their small group within their church. Before moving to Florida, Dede was a Senior Manager at an auto manufacturing company in Indiana. She has worked with ARA since August, 2021 helping to streamline and improve processes behind the scenes.
Rita
Rita Bird has lived in the Birmingham area since 2005 with her husband, Nathan. She has two busy kids, Jack and Ellie, who fill her days with sports and school extracurricular activities. Prior to working with ARA, Rita worked in multiple roles in the insurance industry. Rita came on board in January 2022 and focuses on providing an excellent client experience.
Jenn
Jenn Lawson has resided in the Pensacola area with her husband, Matt, since 2014. They have two boys, Ben and Julian who keep them busy with sports and piano lessons. Prior to working with ARA, Jenn was a social worker, where she was a foster care case manager and in-home therapist for several years. Since joining the ARA team, she has enjoyed learning a new field and growing her skillset.
