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M.A. Whelan Financial Planning
Maureen Whelan founded this flat-fee RIA in 2006 after two decades at J.P. Morgan and Bankers Trust, serving Hudson Valley retirees from Cortlandt Manor.
M.A. Whelan Financial Planning
Maureen Whelan founded M.A. Whelan Financial Planning in 2006 after nearly 20 years at institutions including J.P. Morgan, Bankers Trust Co., and Republic National Bank of NY, followed by a stint at an independent RIA. She holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting and an MBA in finance, both from New York University, and completed her CFP® certification at the College for Financial Planning. The firm is a single-advisor practice serving individuals, with an explicit note on its website that it is not currently accepting new clients — signaling a deliberate capacity cap. The practice centers on three service lines: a one-time Retirement Review starting at $2,500, ongoing Retirement & Investment Management with a flat annual fee, and personal income tax preparation for select clients at a minimum of $300. Asset-class coverage spans equities, fixed income, and cash equivalents within retirement accounts, but the firm does not advertise alternatives or private markets. Geographically, the firm draws from Northern Westchester, Putnam County, Dutchess County, and western Long Island. Unlike a broker-dealer or multi-family office, Whelan Financial Planning delivers planning and investment management without product sales compensation — revenue comes exclusively from client-paid fees. Maureen Whelan is a member of the National Association of Personal Financial Advisers (NAPFA) and the Financial Planning Association, and is registered as an investment adviser in New York State. The firm operates from a single office in Cortlandt Manor, steps from the Hudson River. There are no ancillary vehicles, real-asset arms, or club memberships publicly disclosed. No hiring or leadership changes have been announced in the last 24 months, consistent with a mature solo practice that is not scaling headcount. The structural differentiator is the combination of a true solo-fiduciary model and flat-fee billing. Most RIAs of comparable size charge a percentage of assets under management, which can misalign incentives near retirement decumulation. By charging a flat annual fee for ongoing services, Whelan Financial Planning decouples its revenue from portfolio size — a model that remains rare among independent advisors. The firm’s public notice that it is not accepting new clients also distinguishes it from growth-oriented platforms, indicating a practice built for sustainability rather than accumulation.
General information
Firm type
Bank / Wealth / Trust
Year founded
2006
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Cortlandt Manor
Corporate office
2127 Crompond Road, Suite 104C, Cortlandt Manor, NY 10567
Principals
Maureen Whelan
Founder
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Is M.A. Whelan Financial Planning a single-family office?
No. The firm functions as a solo-practitioner RIA — structured as an independent, fee-only financial advisory practice under the sole control of founder Maureen Whelan, CFP®. It does not manage the wealth of a single family and bears no structural resemblance to a family office.
How does the firm's compensation model differ from a typical RIA?
The firm charges flat fees rather than a percentage of assets under management. Its Retirement Review starts at a $2,500 project fee, and ongoing services are billed at a flat annual rate. This removes the incentive to accumulate assets and can better align the advisor’s interests with clients who are drawing down portfolios in retirement.
Who runs investment decisions at M.A. Whelan Financial Planning?
All client-facing investment and planning decisions are made directly by Maureen Whelan. There are no junior advisors or investment committee — the firm operates as a single-advisor practice. Clients have direct access to Maureen without call-center gatekeeping, as noted on the firm’s website.
Does the firm participate in fund commitments or only direct securities?
The firm’s publicly described service lines — retirement planning and investment management — indicate a focus on traditional retirement-account assets such as equities, fixed income, and cash equivalents. There is no mention of private fund commitments, alternatives, or structured products.
Is the firm currently accepting new clients?
According to a notice posted prominently on the firm’s website as of mid-2026, M.A. Whelan Financial Planning is not accepting new clients due to existing client commitments. This likely reflects a deliberate capacity cap in a solo-practitioner model rather than a temporary freeze.
What is Maureen Whelan's regulatory status?
She is a Registered Investment Adviser in the State of New York, holding herself to a fiduciary standard of care. She is also a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional and a member of NAPFA, both of which impose additional competency and fiduciary obligations.
What geographic areas does the practice serve?
The firm serves clients primarily in Northern Westchester, Putnam County, Dutchess County, and western Long Island, though its RIA registration covers all of New York. The single office is in Cortlandt Manor, New York, near Peekskill.
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