The first step toward a clear retirement plan.
Book Your Swan Start Call
Answer 9 quick questions and schedule your free Swan Start Call—a 45-minute conversation designed to simplify your next steps and bring clarity, confidence, and peace to your retirement plan.
(Takes less than 60 seconds to begin.)
Meet Christopher Swan, CFP®
“As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® with over 15 years of professional experience, I’ve committed my career to helping people navigate the complexities of retirement planning. If you're looking for a trusted advisor to help you maximize your retirement dollars, I'm here to help.”
I do my best work with:
-
Couples and individuals who see their wealth as a tool for stewardship, not status. You’ve worked hard, saved diligently, and now want a plan that aligns your resources with your values.
-
Those within five years of retirement—ready to simplify complexity, secure income, and create a clear plan for what’s next. You want to know when you can confidently step away from work.
-
People who have built healthy nest eggs in 401(k)s, IRAs, and brokerage accounts but lack guaranteed income. You want to turn savings into a personal pension that lasts for life. You want to grow wisely, protect what you’ve built, and avoid unnecessary taxes.
-
You care about more than returns—you want a structured plan that protects your spouse, reduces taxes, and leaves a lasting impact on those you love.
-
Real estate agents, medical professionals, consultants, or contractors with inconsistent income and limited employer benefits. They need structure, simplicity, and a defined plan for retirement.
-
Couples entering a new life stage who want to reposition savings, re-evaluate goals, and create a steady plan for the next 20–30 years.
What People Are Saying.
Crystal A. - Customer Service Professional
“Chris has made investing and financial planning something I look forward to rather than a daunting task, if I were to go about this alone.”
Ignacio G. - Local Business Owner
“He’s very informative and takes the time to explain everything so it’s easily understood. He lays out a clear plan of progression to set you and your family up for the future. Highly recommend!”
Cornelio A. - Sales Manager
“Chris has been an amazing benefit to my financial life style.”
Matt W. - Project Management Professional
“Chris has been helping me with everything finance related for a year now. Very happy with his advice and my portfolio progress.”
Retire With Swan has not provided any compensation for the testimonials shown. The testimonials shown have been selected from among all client feedback. To our knowledge, no other conflicts of interest exist regarding these testimonials.
Why Book a Free Swan Start Call?
Retirement planning can be complex, but our Free Swan Start Call is designed to give you clarity and actionable insights. Here’s what you’ll gain:
✔️Personalized Insights.
Receive tailored recommendations based on your unique goals, concerns, and lifestyle.
✔️Confidence in Your Plan.
Understand how the Swan Song System and G.R.A.C.E. framework address your retirement challenges.
✔️Actionable Next Steps.
Learn how to optimize your guaranteed income, grow your investments, and protect your legacy.
Common Questions People Ask.
-
A relaxed 45-minute conversation (in person or virtual) where we uncover your retirement “gaps.”
You’ll see how the Swan Song System builds guaranteed income, growth guardrails, and tax-smart withdrawals—so you can retire with peace instead of pressure. -
Absolutely not. Whether we meet at a local Northlake coffee shop or talk over the phone, my focus is on giving you valuable insights, not a high-pressure sales presentation. I live and work in the community, and I stand by our “Sleep Well At Night” promise – meaning you’ll get honest advice aimed at helping you rest easy about retirement. If you decide to become a client afterward, great – but if not, you’ll still walk away with more clarity and confidence (with no pressure or obligations at all.
-
Great. Many do.
We’ll act as a second set of eyes to stress-test your plan—taxes, income sustainability, market risk, and legacy impact—using our G.R.A.C.E. framework.
Even strong plans often have blind spots that can be fixed quickly. -
It usually lasts about 30–45 minutes – roughly the time it takes to enjoy a cup of coffee. We keep it straightforward and focused on you. We can meet virtually or at a convenient spot in Northlake (near Pecan Square) if you prefer face-to-face. Either way, we’ll cover a lot of ground without taking too much of your day.
-
Texans ages 55 and up who are within 1–5 years of retirement and have saved $150k or more (not counting real estate).
If you want clarity, confidence, and income you can count on, this is for you. -
No extensive prep needed. Just bring an idea of your retirement goals and any key financial info that’s easy to grab (like account totals or income sources) – no big stack of paperwork required. If you have specific documents (e.g. a 401(k) statement or pension estimate) and you’d like to review them, that can be helpful but it’s optional. Whether we meet in my Northlake office or chat virtually, we’ll guide you through the conversation. The goal is for you to feel comfortable – just come as you are, and we’ll handle the rest together.
-
Our sweet spot is working with individuals and couples who have saved about $300,000 to $3 million and are looking to retire in the next 1–5 years. Many of our Northlake neighbors fall in that range. If you’re close (maybe you’re a Pecan Square or Harvest resident who’s been diligently saving, or a local teacher with a solid start), let’s talk – no judgment, just honest guidance. The free assessment is about finding out if we’re a good fit to help you, regardless of your exact balance.
-
These are the core of how we deliver on our promise to help you SWAN (Sleep Well At Night).
The Swan Song System is our step-by-step retirement planning process designed to take you from uncertainty to confidently sleeping well at night. It uses a “floor-and-grow” strategy for retirement income – first securing a guaranteed income floor (from sources like Social Security, pensions, or annuities) and then investing the rest in a growth portfolio with dynamic guardrails to protect you during market downturns. Alongside that, our G.R.A.C.E. framework addresses the five key pillars of a robust retirement plan: Guaranteed Income, Reserves (emergency funds and insurance), Asset & Income Growth, Comprehensive Tax Planning, and Estate & Legacy strategies. In short, we’ve built a tested process that covers all the important areas – so you can relax knowing every angle of your retirement is handled. -
Not at all. While I’m based in Northlake, TX (near the Pecan Square and Harvest communities, just off I-35W and FM 407), I proudly serve the entire Dallas–Fort Worth area and beyond. In fact, I have clients in Northlake, Justin, Argyle, Denton, Lantana – really all over Denton County and neighboring communities. Thanks to virtual planning, we can easily work together online or by phone if you’re outside the immediate area (or even elsewhere in Texas). If you are nearby, I’m happy to meet face-to-face – and if not, you’ll get the same personalized service through virtual meetings or a phone call. Either way, you’re in good hands with a local advisor who understands your needs.
-
Not at all. We understand many folks feel embarrassed or “behind” when it comes to retirement planning – you’re not alone. Our meetings are a no-judgment zone focused on helping you move forward. In fact, many of our neighbors in communities like Pecan Square and Harvest initially felt uneasy, but they soon found relief once we started talking through their finances. We’re here to provide a safe, respectful space to review your situation and find solutions, not to scold you about the past. Our goal is to encourage and empower you so you can Sleep Well At Night knowing you have a plan.
-
You only share what you’re comfortable with, and everything is kept 100% confidential. We’ll ask about key things (like your goals, an overview of savings and debts, etc.) just to give you useful advice – but you’re in control of what you reveal. All your information is handled with utmost care and privacy. As a fiduciary firm, Retire With Swan always acts in your best interest, and we follow strict professional ethics to protect your data. Bottom line: this is a trusted, private conversation – we won’t disclose anything you share, and we’ll never judge your numbers.
-
Yes – the Free Swan Start Call is absolutely free, with no strings attached. There’s no hidden charge and no obligation to buy anything or become a client afterward. We offer this service to give our Northlake, TX and greater DFW community helpful guidance upfront. If you decide you want to work with us beyond the free session, we’ll explain any fees clearly in advance (we’re big on transparency!). But that’s entirely up to you – you’ll never get a hard sell or surprise bill. In short, there’s no catch – this is about helping you gain clarity and confidence in your retirement plan.
-
“Faith-driven” means our values guide our work – things like honesty, generosity, stewardship, and treating people with respect. We weave those principles into our planning process, so you get advice that aligns with ethical, values-based practices. That said, you absolutely do not need to be of any particular faith to work with us. We welcome everyone here in the Northlake and Denton County community with the same warmth and commitment. Our faith simply inspires us to serve you wholeheartedly and do what’s right – whether that’s helping you be a good steward of your wealth or making sure your retirement plan reflects the things you value most in life.
-
If possible, yes – we encourage couples to attend together. Retirement planning works best when both partners are on the same page. It helps to have your spouse/partner hear the advice firsthand, share their concerns, and talk through goals together. We’ve found that when couples in a family plan side by side, it leads to better communication and a plan you both feel good about. If one of you can’t attend, that’s okay too – we can still start with one of you and loop the other in later. The key is making sure everyone involved in your retirement is comfortable and informed.
-
Absolutely! In fact, we love working with dedicated community professionals just like you – teachers, nurses, first responders, nonprofit folks – people who make a difference. You don’t need to be ultra-wealthy to benefit from our process. If you’ve been saving diligently (maybe in a 401(k) or a pension like TRS for teachers) and you want to retire comfortably, this free assessment is perfect for you. Many of our clients in Northlake and Denton County are hardworking folks who simply want to make the most of what they have and take care of their families. We believe those who serve our community deserve the same level of retirement clarity and peace as anyone else, and we’re passionate about helping “community heroes” like you create a secure future.

