Seth DealCPA/PFS Book an assessment

Retire with every decision made.

I help Washington’s public sector leaders plan the last one to three years before retirement.

Book a Retirement Clarity Assessment How it works

Seth Deal

The next 18 months hold more financial decisions than the last ten years.

  • Your pension option
  • How to draw down deferred comp
  • When to claim Social Security
  • Health coverage until Medicare
  • The tax bill on all of it

They land at the same time, and some can’t be undone.

I used to work where you work.

Before I was an advisor, I was a public employee. I know the DRS plans from the inside.

Now I’m a CPA and fee-only fiduciary. Most of my clients are city managers, county and state executives, and police and fire chiefs in their last few years of service.

Being a CPA means I plan the tax side too: a large leave cash-out in a high-income year, a separation payment, required minimum distributions later on. Most advisors have to send that to someone else.

Make the decisions in the right order and “someday” turns into a date.

A date on the calendar.

An illustration, not a projection.

  1. Pension
  2. Deferred comp
  3. Social Security
  4. Health coverage
  5. Taxes

Three steps from first call to finished plan.

Once your documents are in, you’ll have your plan in about a month.

  1. Discover

    The first conversation

    It starts with a Retirement Clarity Assessment. We look at where you stand, what you’re trying to do, and the decisions in front of you. You’ll know whether we’re a fit before you commit to anything.

  2. Design

    About two weeks after your documents arrive

    When you sign on, I gather your pension estimates, account statements, tax returns and benefits details. Then we sit down for a design meeting to work through your goals, your questions and the tradeoffs.

  3. Deliver

    About two weeks after the design meeting

    You get a video walking through every recommendation, plus a written plan to keep. One-Time Plan clients can send me questions for 30 days after delivery. Ongoing Plan and Wealth Management clients move straight into ongoing service: help putting the plan in place, two check-ins a year, and access to me in between.

What that looked like for one client.

Three ways to work together.

Every option starts with the same plan. The difference is how much help you want carrying it out. You don’t have to move your investments to work with me.

One-Time Plan

Done with you

A complete plan you carry out yourself. Good if you’re comfortable handling the paperwork and just want to know you’re making the right calls.

From $3,000One time

Ongoing Plan

Done with you, ongoing

The same plan, plus help putting it in place and advice whenever something comes up. We meet twice a year, and you can reach me in between.

From $6,500/yrBilled quarterly

Wealth Management

Done for you

I build your plan, manage your investments, and keep both current as your life changes. We meet twice a year, and you can reach me in between.

The planning fee is waived with $500,000 or more under management.

0.85% to 0.65%Of managed assets, by tier
Up to $1M0.85%
$1M to $2M0.80%
$2M to $4M0.75%
Over $4M0.65%

Fees start at the amounts shown and can be higher for more complex situations. You’ll get a quote before any work begins.

Every plan covers

  • Retirement income
  • Pension decisions
  • Tax strategy
  • Investing
  • Risk management
  • Cash flow
  • Estate planning
  • Charitable giving

About LifeFocus

  • 2005Founded
  • IndependentNo parent company
  • Fee-onlyNo commissions

My dad, Bob Deal, CPA/PFS, founded LifeFocus Financial Advisors in Walla Walla in 2005. Before that he was managing partner of a regional accounting firm, so the firm has always treated taxes as part of the plan, not an afterthought.

We’re an independent registered investment adviser. There’s no parent company, no broker-dealer, and no products to sell. We’re fee-only, so the only money we earn comes from the clients we work for, never from commissions.

Your accounts stay in your name at LPL Financial, a separate custodian. We manage them, but we never hold your money, and your statements come straight from LPL.

I joined to bring that same approach to Washington’s public employees, the people I used to work alongside.

Visit lifefocusadvisors.com