"The eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month" is the legendary phrase marking the end of combat in World War I on November 11, 1918, when an armistice between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect. This date is now commemorated as Veterans Day in the United States, honoring veterans of all wars.
And it’s a date that remains close to the heart for the many veterans employed by the financial industry who focus their practices on helping fellow military servicemen, past and present.
Mike Galloway, managing director of the public safety financial division at Modern Wealth Management, comes from a family with a history of military service, dating back to the Civil War. Galloway served a tour in the US Marine Corp, separating as a sergeant. As a veteran, he purchased his military service credits into the pension system in Arizona where he retired as a police lieutenant for the city of Mesa.
When it comes to serving veterans and their families, Galloway says he views it as an “obligation.”
“On September 6th, 2005, one of our clients was killed in Iraq during the war. He was carrying my business card with him on patrol with a note on the back asking the Marines Corps to reach out to me and take care of his family. That was a day of days.
"As a new company back then, we were not sure of everything that needed to be done. With all hands on deck, we put maximum effort in taking care of his family. His Marine Corp uniform hangs in our honor wall at the office, and his daughter, who was one year old at the time, still visits our office,” Galloway said.
Gabriel Shahin, principal and founder of Falcon Wealth Planning, offers discounted rates to veterans and helps them navigate the transition from military to civilian life. In his view, psychological adjustment is often the hardest part of the planning process.
“Many veterans have spent years away from home, some even in combat zones, and that creates a major lifestyle shift when they retire. Suddenly, they’re home every day, and that can be a big adjustment for both spouses.
"So, when we work with veterans, it’s not just about VA benefits or pensions. It’s about helping them through what I call ‘Retirement 2.0,’ learning how to structure their time, money, and purpose when they’re no longer deployed or traveling for work,” Shahin said.
Veterans often don’t realize how powerful their Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) and pension benefits can be when used strategically, according to Shahin. Once they retire from the service, the challenge for former service members becomes “career 2.0.” They want purpose again. Some throw themselves into hobbies like cars, boats, or RVs. Others start coaching their kids’ teams or doing nonprofit work.
“The real challenge isn’t just managing their money, it’s helping them channel that energy productively so they don’t spend out of boredom. Our goal is to create a financial plan that aligns their time, habits, and money toward things that build stability instead of draining it,” Shahin said.
As a Marine, Galloway saved money, but when he left the Marines, he tripled his pay after being hired as a rookie Mesa police officer. However, even with more money, he struggled paycheck to paycheck.
“In the military, housing, food and healthcare is provided. In the civilian world you have to fend for yourself. Setting up a basic financial plan is not a skill set I had been previously taught either,” Galloway said.
“Most veterans are not wealthy when they exit the military and some financial advisors don’t want to take the time. These veterans deserve the same advice as someone with a million dollars. The way I look at it, their sacrifices allow our advisory firms to prosper. It's a privilege to serve these veterans,” Galloway said.
Shahin said Falcon Wealth Planning was built as a fee-only firm so it could offer quality financial advice to veterans, even though they don’t have millions saved.
“Being fee-only allows us to work with them transparently and fairly. We can charge for advice rather than selling products or managing assets. And offering a veterans’ discount is just a simple way to say thank you. It’s to make sure they have access to the financial tools and support they’ve more than earned,” Shahin said.
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