An elderly couple smiling and laughing together while looking at a tablet device.

A Financial Roadmap That Gives You Confidence

Facing sudden financial decisions after losing your spouse? You don't have to navigate this alone. Get the clarity and peace of mind you deserve with a financial plan designed specifically for your new reality.

Abstract logo with wavy lines in green, blue, and black colors.

30+ Years of Experience

Abstract logo with wavy lines in green, black, and blue colors.

Collaborative Think-Partner

A colorful abstract logo with wavy shapes in green, black, blue, and darker blue, resembling flowing water or waves.

Money-Back Guarantee

An elderly Black woman with gray, curly hair, closed eyes, and a peaceful expression enjoying nature in a lush, green outdoor setting.

Sorting out finances after a loss is not easy.

  • Are you feeling overwhelmed?

  • Afraid of making costly mistakes?

  • Paralyzed by the fear of running out of money or becoming a burden to your family?

Everyone has an opinion about what you should do with your money – sell the house, move in with your kids, buy an annuity, get married again. Much of this advice is well-meaning but often flat-out wrong.

The truth is, no one should have to become a financial expert overnight during one of life's most difficult transitions.

Areas of Financial Planning

    • Project your likelihood of achieving your financial goals

    • Develop and optimize retirement saving strategies

    • Optimize social security benefits

    • Analyze pension, IRA, and other distribution strategies

    • Strategies to minimize current and future income taxes

    • Optimize distribution strategies from retirement plans

    • To Roth or not to Roth

      *Please consult a qualified estate planning attorney to complete this process*

    • Projections on future college cost

    • Recommendations on college funding vehicles

    • Identify and develop a plan to reach your financial goals

    • Identify resources and time needed to reach your goals

    • Determine your current surplus or deficit

    • Optimize cash flow; determine appropriate cash reserves

    • Prioritize how surplus should be used and address reducing expenses if needed

    • Guidance on which debts to pay first

    • Identify wealth legacy wishes

    • Confirm beneficiary designations are current

    • Discuss gifting strategies

    • Analyze current estate plan documents

    • Suggest ways to minimize or avoid future estate taxes if necessary

    • Analyze the major risks that could have an adverse impact on your financial picture

      *Please consult a qualified estate planning attorney to complete this process*

    • Develop asset allocation strategies to meet your financial goals and risk tolerance

    • Analyze your existing portfolio and make recommendations to improve it with low-cost and better diversified investments 

    • Guidance on rebalancing your personal and retirement accounts when needed 

    • Review and analyze whether employee benefits are being maximized

    • Consider and recommend various benefit programs for business owners

    • Analyze the major risks that could have an adverse impact on your financial picture, such as premature death, disability, and possible long-term care needs

Circular badge with black and gold colors, displaying '20+ PRO BONO HOURS 2024 CFP FINANCIAL PLANNING' inside the circle.
CFP certified financial planner logo with text in black and white.
Logo of the Institute for Divorce Financial Analysts (IDFA) with a blue and green emblem and text.
Logo of the Eastern Monmouth Area Chamber of Commerce featuring stylized globe with connecting lines.
Logo of FEE ONLY NETWORK MEMBER with green and black text.
Logo for XY Planning Network featuring the text "PROUD CFP® MEMBER" above the XYPN logo, which includes a stylized green and blue graphic and the words "xy pn" with "XY PLANNING NETWORK" below.
Logo featuring a stylized globe with purple, green, and white sections, and text reading 'Climate Reality Project' with the subtitle 'Climate Education for a Sustainable Future'.
CRPC logo with mountain graphic and text 'Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor'
Logo of the Financial Planning Association New Jersey with the abbreviation 'FPA' and text stating 'Financial Planning Association New Jersey'.
Colorful map of the United States with the word 'Welcome' on it.
Black background with a thin horizontal line and a small circle in the center

Financial Advisor Services

True Wealth Financial Life Planning

  • New (or soon-to-be) widows/widowers 

  • Successful couples contemplating retirement

Social Security Planning

  • Identify Social Security claiming objectives

  • Analysis of the available scenarios and recommendations

  • Locate and inventory all financial components of your situation

  • Ensure the non-controlling spouse understands what and where everything is

  • Establish broad guidelines as to how the non-controlling spouse will gain the confidence to take charge with guidance from JSFA professionals.

Stand-by advisor

  • Let's get to know each other well enough to decide if we should work together. I will ask about your family, your values, and your attitudes regarding money, retirement and how you expect to live over the balance of your life. You will leave with an understanding of the services I provide and how much those services will cost.  You are encouraged to ask me anything. There is no charge or obligation for this visit.

  • We have decided to work together - great! After completing the paperwork (contract, disclosures, etc.), we will deepen our understanding of each other’s approach to money. We will be identifying your unique frame of reference regarding money as well as establishing and clarifying your true values. 

  • You have started to get a feel that financial planning is more than just dollars and cents.  Your life goals must be supported by your finances. Too often, we allow our finances to tug us along into a life we do not wish to lead. We are making real progress towards establishing your life goals as the primary focus of our work together.

  • We will continue to work on creating your vision for your ideal life. We will summarize & clarify values, goals, priorities, concerns & transitions. We will be presenting our financial recommendations and showing how they support your life vision.

 How It Works

Smiling man in business attire sitting in a restaurant booth with wood paneling background.

About Jersey Shore Financial Advisors LLC

Hi, I’m Tom Duffy founder and principal advisor of Jersey Shore Financial Advisors LLC.  I started this firm in 2007 as an alternative to the giant name brand advisory with the constant sales pressure telling me what I could do or not to do for MY clients.

Working with me means having a thinking partner who understands you are facing a whole new future that you probably didn’t plan for. 

Let me be your guide as you clarify, organize and prioritize your financial life decisions.