About My Practice

As a professional financial coach, Joe Downs, CFP®, can assist you in developing a real-life game plan that helps you:
- Set clear financial goals
- Manage your money
- Measure your progress
- Achieve financial planning success
He is president and principal of Reality Financial Planning Services, LLC (RFPS), a Florida Registered Investment Advisor. RFPS is a fee-only financial planning firm with no minimum asset or net worth requirement. Fee-only means no commissions or third-party compensation is ever accepted. The firm is dedicated to providing individuals, families and small businesses with independent, objective advice. The focus is generally placed on:
- Cash management
- Investment selection
- Tax Planning
- Retirement Planning
- Estate planning
Because no commissions are ever received from any product or service providers, the firm is free to provide the widest array of options to meet their clients' need and objectives as they work to achieve their financial dreams. Quite fittingly, their motto is "Real Solutions for Real People."
Experience
A CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERTM practitioner, Joe received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Lindenwood University, St. Charles, Missouri. He is a member of the Financial Planning Association and the Garrett Planning Network, a group of professionals committed to providing objective, affordable advice to people from all walks of life and income levels. Services are offered on either an hourly-as-needed, specific topic or ongoing retainer basis - whichever is more appropriate for the client.
Joe has over twenty five years experience in the financial services industry - the last seventeen in the securities and financial planning field. From 1993 to 2001, he provided retirement planning expertise to state and local government employees, law enforcement and education professionals in the St. Louis, Missouri, area. Since moving to the Florida gulf coast, Joe started and was vice president of the Advisory Services program for a local credit union in Sarasota. Realizing that there is a large segment of the population whose financial planning needs are being underserved and/or neglected, Joe founded RFPS to help this critical segment realize their economic potential.
Joe is on the Board of Directors for the Suncoast Chapter of the FPA and is a member of NAPFA and the Garrett Planning Network.
When you are ready for Real Solutions, call Joe at Reality Financial Planning Services, LLC.
CFP® and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERTM are certification marks owned by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. These marks are awarded to individuals who successfully complete the CFP Board's initial and ongoing certification requirements.
Registrations, Licenses, Certifications & Affiliations
Securities Registrations or Exam Qualifications
Series 7, 63, 65
Insurance Licenses
Life insurance: FL, Health/disability insurance: FL, Fixed annuities: FL, Variable annuities: FL
Designations & Certifications
- CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®)
Broker-Dealer Affiliation
None/NA
I will provide a free initial consultation to prospective clients so we may determine if their needs and my practice are well-matched.