Fiduciary · Your Interests First

Retirement Planning for Public Employees

100% free retirement planning consultations for teachers, state employees, county & city workers, school staff, and first responders. Independent fiduciary advice on pensions, investments, insurance, Medicare, and Social Security — all under one roof.

Schedule Free Consultation → Explore Services
5,000+Public Employees Helped
$40M+Assets Managed
20+Years Experience
100% Free Retirement PlanningNo cost. No obligation. No products pushed.

How It Works

Three steps to a confident retirement.

Book Your Free Call

30-min video — no cost, no pressure.

We Review Your Benefits

Pension, deferred comp, Social Security — the whole picture.

We Build Your Plan

A strategy for your unique situation.

Why We Started PERA

Public Employees Deserved Better Advice

Public employees have great benefits — pensions, deferred comp, health plans — but often no one helping them understand them. The advisors showing up in schools and government offices weren't always acting in clients' best interests. We built PERA to change that — fiduciary planning, free consultations, and your best interest by law.

Everything Under One Roof

Six Specialties. One Advisor Team.

Most people need 3-4 specialists. We handle it all.

Retirement Planning

Know exactly when you can retire — and how.

403(b) & 457(b) Management

Stop overpaying fees on your employer retirement plan.

Life Insurance & LTC

Protection your family can count on.

Investment Management

Your money, managed in your best interest.

Medicare Planning

Navigate Medicare without the confusion.

Social Security

Maximize your lifetime Social Security income.

What You Need
Typical
With PERA
Retirement
One advisor
✓ Included
403(b)/457(b)
Employer rep
✓ Fiduciary
Investments
2nd advisor
✓ Schwab/Fidelity
Life/LTC
Agent
✓ Multi-carrier
Medicare
Broker
✓ In-house
Social Security
DIY
✓ Optimized
What Our Clients Say

Real Clients. Real Stories.

Every testimonial is from a real client.

5.0 on Google
My husband and I were at some of life's major crossroads… Retirement decisions and Long-Term Care Insurance. We were in a state of fear and confusion when we ran into PERA. Josh was amazing… bringing clarity and peace without the stress of feeling pressured.
Anne — WA
Retired Teacher
Not compensated
Josh helped me find annuities that would suit my situation. Autumn was always friendly & kept in touch. No surprises or getting me in something I shouldn't be in. I felt I was heard.
Sherry — WA
School Office Employee · Retired
Not compensated
I was heading in one direction & Josh called to offer advice. He changed my mind and I couldn't be happier! I worry about nothing when it comes to retirement. Thanks Josh & Autumn!
Randy — WA
School Teacher · Retired
Not compensated
Josh found the right plan for us with a combination life insurance/long term care policy. More choices than our current agent at a reasonable premium.
Chuck — WA
Newspaper Employee · Retired
Not compensated
After my wife passed away Josh helped me close her TDAmeritrade account and reinvest the money in a way I was comfortable with. Josh walked me through everything step by step. Best customer service ever.
Greg W. — WA
Machinist · Retired
Not compensated
Google Review
I met with Josh via Zoom and we discussed my retirement nest egg and plans. He broke down my options and gave me guidance. He answered my questions and concerns… I look forward to meeting with him again.
Stephen Amy Himple
Google Review
Joshua Hipp was professional, knowledgeable, and made me feel comfortable talking about finances. He was willing to go the extra mile. I would highly recommend Fiduciary Financial Planner to anyone.
Raul Alvarado
Google Review
Josh from PERA was truly helpful. The folks at PERA have a ton of knowledge and set their clients up for success! Looking forward to working with them.
Lauren Schechter
Google Review
I was truly impressed by his genuine concern for my well-being and his clear desire to help me find the right solution.
Joel Nofziger
Local Guide
Google Review
My husband and I met with Josh Hipp to learn more about our retirement timeline and readiness. We appreciated how helpful Josh was and the valuable information he shared.
Billie Bedford
Google Review
Very professional and honest advice for retirement planning. Very low pressure experience!
Jim Schmutzler
Google Review
Very knowledgeable, answered all my questions. 5 stars!
Dj Greg
Free Retirement Guides

Your State. Your Plan. Your Checklist.

Step-by-step guides written in plain English with real numbers. Enter your info to download instantly.

🏳️ Washington
PDF · 10 Pages
TRS · PERS · SERS

WA Plan 2 Retirement Checklist

11 steps + complete timeline. Pension formula, Social Security strategy, healthcare, survivor options, and every deadline.

  • 2% × Years × AFC formula explained
  • COLA timing that saves you a year
  • Survivor benefit decision framework
Download Free Guide ↓
🏳️ Washington
PDF · 11 Pages
TRS · PERS · SERS

WA Plan 3 Retirement Checklist

12 steps + complete timeline. Pension + investment account, Voya rollover options, contribution rates, and withdrawal strategies.

  • 1% pension + investment account breakdown
  • DRS vs. IRA rollover decision guide
  • Plan 3 contribution rate analysis
Download Free Guide ↓
🌳 Oregon
PDF · 12 Pages
Tier One · Tier Two · OPSRP

Oregon PERS Retirement Checklist

13 steps + complete timeline. All three tiers covered — pension formulas, IAP options, COLA rules, Variable Annuity decisions.

  • Tier One/Two/OPSRP formulas compared
  • IAP lump sum vs. rollover analysis
  • Blended COLA calculation explained
Download Free Guide ↓
Self-Assessment

How Retirement-Ready Are You?

Check the statements that apply to you.

1. Retirement Timeline

2. Investment Confidence

3. Healthcare & Medicare

4. The Big Picture

How'd you do?

6-8 checks: Great shape — we can fine-tune.
3-5 checks: Gaps exist — a review would help.
0-2 checks: Big opportunity — let's talk.

Schedule Free Consultation →
Free Downloads

Retiring in the Next 10 Years?

Get your state-specific retirement checklist — pension formula, timeline, and every step from now to your last day on the job.

See All Free Guides ↓

No spam. Just enter your info and download instantly.

Guides Available:

  • WA Plan 2 — TRS, PERS & SERS
  • WA Plan 3 — TRS, PERS & SERS
  • Oregon PERS — Tier One, Two & OPSRP
  • Each: full pension formula + retirement countdown
  • Written by Josh Hipp, CEO
Licensed Nationwide

We Serve Public Employees in Nearly Every State

Series 65 licensed across the country. 100% virtual — your advisor stays with you wherever life takes you.

48+
States Licensed
100%
Virtual Nationwide
WA & FL
Life/Health/Medicare
OR
PERS Expertise
Fiduciary Advisors Since 2004 · 5,000+ Public Employees Served · Quarterly Reviews · 100% Virtual
Meet the Team

Your Advisors

Real people who know your name and plan.

J

Josh Hipp

CEO & Financial Planner
📍 Destin, FL & WA
WA Retirement Specialist
Series 65, Life/Health, Medicare
Since 2004

Won National Rookie of the Year at 19. Five promotions in eight years to nationwide head of sales. Founded PERA to bring fiduciary planning to public employees underserved by retirement plan salespeople. Father of 5.

Wrestling family · Fishing in Destin

R

Richie Vedder

Oregon PERS Expert
📍 Eugene, Oregon
Agent of the Year 2023
Series 65, Life/Health
15+ Years

Born and raised in Eugene. Highly awarded district manager before PERA. Specializes in Oregon PERS, income planning, and life/health insurance. Married to Jaala, three kids.

Hunting & fishing · Traeger master

K

Karyn Rowe

Financial Planner
📍 Washington
Financial Planner

Karyn brings a personalized approach to retirement planning, helping public employees understand their benefits and build a clear path to retirement.

Avid fisherwoman · Outdoors enthusiast

K

Kyle Ridley

Licensed Agent
📍 Washington
Licensed Agent

Kyle is a retired Air Force Special Forces veteran who brings discipline, integrity, and attention to detail to every client relationship. He works with public employees on insurance planning and retirement solutions.

Retired Special Forces · Built his own house

FAQ

Honest Answers

How do you make money?

Consultations are free. As a client, we earn fees on investment management through Brookstone Capital and commissions on insurance — paid by the insurance company, not you. We're legally required to act in your best interest.

Who do you work with?

We specialize in public employee retirement benefits — teachers, state workers, county and city employees, school staff, and first responders. We also help anyone with retirement planning.

Are you a real office?

We're 100% virtual by choice. You meet your advisor via video call from home. This lets us serve 48+ states.

What is Brookstone Capital?

Our RIA. Your money is held at Schwab or Fidelity. Brookstone provides compliance infrastructure for fiduciary management.

Can you help with my 403(b) or 457(b)?

It's a specialty. We review your employer retirement plan, analyze fees, and help you understand options including rolling to a lower-cost IRA.

Get In Touch

Schedule Your Free Consultation

30 min. No cost. No pressure.

We never sell your info. Privacy Policy

What to Expect

We reach out within 1 business day to schedule your video call.

Email

[email protected]

Phone

800-218-8959

Our Promise

No high-pressure sales. No obligations. Just an honest conversation.

Already a Client?

Log into Schwab, Fidelity, or your carrier. Or email us — same-day reply.

FINRA BrokerCheck: brokercheck.finra.org
Legal

Privacy Policy

Public Employee Retirement Advisors ("PERA") respects your privacy. When you submit information through our website, we collect your name, email, phone number, state, and role for the sole purpose of contacting you about retirement planning services.

We do not sell, rent, or share your personal information with third parties for marketing purposes. Your data may be shared with Brookstone Capital Management, LLC (our RIA) as needed to provide advisory services, and with technology providers (such as CRM or email systems) that help us communicate with you.

We use cookies and analytics tools (such as Google Analytics) to understand how visitors use our site. You can disable cookies in your browser settings. To request deletion of your personal data, contact us at [email protected].

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