Meet the professionals who can help you
Achieve Your Goals
We help individuals and families pursue their ideal retirements.
About Us
At Retire Once Financial Management, our mission is simple: to help you retire with confidence and peace of mind. We believe everyone deserves the opportunity to live the retirement they’ve always envisioned–and we’re here to help make that possible.
Once we understand your unique financial situation, our team of professionals will work with you to create a personalized strategy that fits your needs, goals, and concerns. By combining a wide range of investments and insurance solutions, we design plans that provide clarity, protection, and confidence for your future.
Whether you’re just beginning to plan or approaching retirement, we serve as your one-stop shop for retirement planning. With Retire Once Financial Management, you’ll have a trusted partner by your side every step of the way–helping you prepare, protect, and enjoy the retirement you’ve worked so hard to achieve.
Our Story
More than a decade ago, Vincent and Zach met while working at Edward Jones through its Financial Advisor Career Development Program. From the beginning, they shared a vision of one day joining forces to build a boutique financial planning firm founded on the belief that great financial planning should be both comprehensive and deeply personal.
For years, that vision remained a conversation between two friends and colleagues. Even as their careers took different paths, they stayed close, often speaking weekly, if not daily, about their shared vision and the kind of firm they hoped to build together someday. In the years that followed, each built a career of his own. Vincent rose to become president of his prior firm, while Zach built and operated his own successful practice, Buettner Retirement Strategies. Their paths were different, but the vision remained.
Then, in 2026, after more than a decade of persistence, preparation, and careful planning, the idea they had talked about for so many years finally became a reality. They joined forces as the owners of Retire Once Financial Management.
We believe there is something meaningful about that journey. Great things are rarely built overnight. They are built through years of thorough planning, preparation, persistence, and a willingness to keep moving toward a vision before you can see exactly where it will lead.
That is the same philosophy we bring to our work with clients.
Today, our commitment is simple: to make your retirement planning as thoughtful and intentional as the journey that brought us here. Ultimately, our story is not really about us. It is about guiding and empowering you to create the retirement you want to live.
Because retirement is not the end of the journey. It is the beginning of a new one.
More than a decade ago, Vincent and Zach met while working at Edward Jones through its Financial Advisor Career Development Program. From the beginning, they shared a vision of one day joining forces to build a boutique financial planning firm founded on the belief that great financial planning should be both comprehensive and deeply personal.
For years, that vision remained a conversation between two friends and colleagues. Even as their careers took different paths, they stayed close, often speaking weekly, if not daily, about their shared vision and the kind of firm they hoped to build together someday. In the years that followed, each built a career of his own. Vincent rose to become president of his prior firm, while Zach built and operated his own successful practice, Buettner Retirement Strategies. Their paths were different, but the vision remained.
Then, in 2026, after more than a decade of persistence, preparation, and careful planning, the idea they had talked about for so many years finally became a reality. They joined forces as the owners of Retire Once Financial Management.
We believe there is something meaningful about that journey. Great things are rarely built overnight. They are built through years of thorough planning, preparation, persistence, and a willingness to keep moving toward a vision before you can see exactly where it will lead.
That is the same philosophy we bring to our work with clients.
Today, our commitment is simple: to make your retirement planning as thoughtful and intentional as the journey that brought us here. Ultimately, our story is not really about us. It is about guiding and empowering you to create the retirement you want to live.
Because retirement is not the end of the journey. It is the beginning of a new one.
Our Team
Vincent Tizono, CFP®, RICP®, EA
President | Owner | Financial Advisor
Vincent Tizono is a dedicated financial advisor who simplifies complex financial topics into clear, actionable steps for his clients. He takes pride in helping clients feel informed, empowered, and confident about their financial futures by managing the intricacies of financial planning—allowing them to focus on what matters most.
Vincent Tizono, CFP®, RICP®, EA
Before joining Retire Once Financial Management, Vincent gained valuable experience at Edward Jones and ran his own business providing contract services to financial professionals. While at Edward Jones, he completed the firm’s Financial Advisor Career Development Program. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Rocky Mountain College, graduating summa cum laude, holds a Series 65 securities license, along with life, accident, and health insurance licenses, and is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional.
Vincent is also an Enrolled Agent; a federally authorized tax practitioner admitted to practice before the IRS under the authority of the U.S. Treasury. Enrolled Agent status is the highest credential awarded by the IRS, and—like attorneys and Certified Public Accountants (CPAs)—it confers unlimited practice rights, allowing representation of any taxpayer, handling of any tax matter, and appearance before any IRS office. Individuals who earn this elite status must adhere to strict ethical standards.
Complementing his deep tax expertise, Vincent also holds the Retirement Income Certified Professional® designation from The American College, which focuses on developing comprehensive retirement plans for near-retirees and retirees.
Zach Buettner
Vice President | Co-Owner | Financial Advisor
Zach Buettner is a financial advisor dedicated to serving the retirement income needs of his clients since 2015. He creates customized strategies to help create a retirement income stream, plan for taxes and legacy issues, as well as review Medicare and Social Security options.
Zach Buettner
Vice President | Co-Owner | Financial Advisor
Zach Buettner is a financial advisor dedicated to serving the retirement income needs of his clients since 2015. He creates customized strategies to help create a retirement income stream, plan for taxes and legacy issues, as well as review Medicare and Social Security options.
Offering personalized service in an honest, thorough and caring way, he prides himself on leaving no stone unturned when designing each client plan. He does his best to simplify the complex to create a sense of ease so that clients feel comfortable in moving into the retirement phase of life.
Drawing inspiration from his father and grandfather, Zach grew up watching the two entrepreneurial men make a difference by providing needed services and helping others in the community.
“When families are financially protected, happiness increases, which leads to being better neighbors and ultimately strengthens the overall community,” said Zach. “Through my business, I want to help strengthen my community, one family at a time.” Buettner believes it’s more important than ever for Americans to take a good look at their plan for retirement. “Americans are facing issues with their wealth every single day, whether it be inflation, taxes, fear about retiring comfortably, needing long-term care, etc.
Many investment firms only focus on growing your assets. Few focus on providing income, protecting your principle or lowering your tax burden. And even fewer yet do all three of those together,” said Zach.
When Zach is not work, he enjoys spending time with his wife Hillary and daughter Briar. He coaches 7th grade Junior high basketball, plays golf, hunts and loves to try new restaurants in the St Louis area. Zach is also a graduate of Missouri State University, where he studied finance.
Karen Rosenblum
Administrative Assistant
Karen has been in love with numbers for as long as she can remember. In fact, she loves numbers so much that she taught math for 13 years after obtaining an education degree from UMSL. After finishing her workday at Retire Once Financial Management, Karen tutors children who need extra assistance in math.
Karen Rosenblum
Administrative Assistant
Karen has been in love with numbers for as long as she can remember. In fact, she loves numbers so much that she taught math for 13 years after obtaining an education degree from UMSL. After finishing her workday at Retire Once Financial Management, Karen tutors children who need extra assistance in math.
Karen resides in Wentzville with her husband Mark and their two Golden Doodles, Dexter and Dobby. Their daughter Emily recently retired from the Navy.
During her leisure time, Karen enjoys gardening, reading, playing board games, and making beautiful greeting cards in her craft room.
In the office, Karen has been dubbed “the queen of the Excel spreadsheets and checklists”, keeping us more organized and highly efficient.
Emma Buckman
Administrative Assistant
Emma hails from the great Midwestern state of Iowa, where she still returns for family visits. After receiving a BA in Studio Art from the University of Iowa, she moved a tad south to become an Assistant General Manager for Drury Inn in Columbia, MO, where she excelled in leadership, customer service, and organization.
Emma Buckman
Administrative Assistant
Emma hails from the great Midwestern state of Iowa, where she still returns for family visits. After receiving a BA in Studio Art from the University of Iowa, she moved a tad south to become an Assistant General Manager for Drury Inn in Columbia, MO, where she excelled in leadership, customer service, and organization.
Now at Retire Once Financial Management, Emma still uses her superior customer service skills, along with being tech savvy.
When Emma’s not assisting our clients with their accounts or completing advisor requests, she’s using her eye for color and her passion for design to decorate a new home in Warrenton built in 2025. She resides with her husband Jonathan and their son Hudson, along with a dog named Goose.
David Graham
Advanced Estate Planning Specialist
David has 25 years’ experience in advance planning situations including Estate Planning with Estate Tax Mitigation, Life Insurance Liquidity Funding, Business Planning for Executive Compensation & Succession Planning and Trust and Asset Protection Planning.
David Graham
Advanced Estate Planning Specialist
David has 25 years’ experience in advance planning situations including Estate Planning with Estate Tax Mitigation, Life Insurance Liquidity Funding, Business Planning for Executive Compensation & Succession Planning and Trust and Asset Protection Planning.
Dave graduated from the University of Denver Business, Law and Tax Schools and is a member of the Colorado Bar. He holds a CLU and ChFC® designation from The American College.
Dave is an employee of Financial Independence Group.
Hamilton Morales
Medicare Supplement and Tax Programs Specialist
Hamilton has been in the financial services industry since 2001 both as a wholesaler and producer. He currently holds the NSSA (National Social Security Advisor) designation.
Hamilton Morales
Medicare Supplement and Tax Programs Specialist
Hamilton has been in the financial services industry since 2001 both as a wholesaler and producer. He currently holds the NSSA (National Social Security Advisor) designation. His experience and background include guest speaking on radio shows, public seminar talking about issues and concerns around Social Security. Hamilton now oversees FIG’s Medicare Supplement and FIG Tax programs.
Hamilton is an employee of Financial Independence Group.
Alecia Barnett
Long-Term Care
Specialist
An Appalachian State and Gardner-Webb alumna, Alecia is a national speaker with over 20 years of care planning experience, highlighted by her Certification for Long-Term Care (CLTC).
Alecia Barnett
Long-Term Care Specialist
An Appalachian State and Gardner-Webb alumna, Alecia is a national speaker with over 20 years of care planning experience, highlighted by her Certification for Long-Term Care (CLTC).
Alecia began working as the Health Marketing Director at The Insurance Center in Charlotte, NC in 1995. Three years later, The Insurance Center and Financial Independence Group, Inc. merged; overseeing the entire transition and bringing our health insurance business to unprecedented heights. Now the Senior Vice President in the Care Planning department, Alecia’s 20+ years of experience is evident to financial professionals across the country.
Specializing in providing asset-based LTC case designs to highly successful agents, Alecia’s main purpose is to assist agents in protecting their clients and their client’s families from the physical and emotional consequences of unexpected care needs.
Alecia’s use of holistic approaches and strong ethics – along with her desire to grow and solid commitment – make her an invaluable asset to any financial professional seeking care planning assistance. When she’s not helping agents protect their clients, you can find Alecia running, traveling, or boating on Lake Norman.
Alecia is an employee of Financial Independence Group.
Tony Parish
Chief Investment Officer
Tony Parish serves as Chief Investment Officer at Alphastar Capital Management, where he chairs the firm’s Investment Committee and helps guide investment policies, money manager partnerships, and portfolio model offerings.
Tony Parish
Chief Investment Officer
Tony Parish serves as Chief Investment Officer at Alphastar Capital Management, where he chairs the firm’s Investment Committee and helps guide investment policies, money manager partnerships, and portfolio model offerings.
Tony brings extensive experience in quantitative strategy, portfolio management, product development, and financial journalism. Prior to joining Alphastar, he served as Director of Quantitative Strategies at Sage Advisory Services in Austin, Texas, helping manage the firm’s $14 billion in assets under management. His previous experience also includes roles with Deutsche Asset Management, Credit Suisse, and OppenheimerFunds in New York City.
Specializing in quantitative modeling of multi-asset portfolios, Tony is passionate about applying financial data science to investment strategy. He holds a B.F.A. from Concordia University, an MBA in Finance from Fordham University, a Certificate in Data Science from the University of Washington, the Chartered Financial Analyst designation, and the Certificate in Quantitative Finance.
Outside of the office, Tony enjoys watching movies with his wife Bethany and son Robert, as well as recording R&B bass tracks with his Rickenbacker bass.
Investment Advisory Services are offered through Alphastar Capital Management, LLC, an SEC Registered Investment Adviser.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Retire Once Financial Management get paid?
At Retire Once Financial Management, our primary compensation comes from an asset-based fee for managing your investments. This fee is calculated as a percentage of the assets we manage on your behalf and is billed monthly. This approach helps align our interests with yours – we succeed when you succeed.
In certain situations, we may also receive commissions from insurance companies when clients purchase insurance products such as life insurance, annuities, or long-term care insurance. These commissions are paid by the insurance carrier and do not result in a separate charge to you.
Additionally, we may charge a separate fee for estate planning-related services or financial planning projects, depending on the scope of work involved. We believe in complete transparency. All fees and compensation arrangements are disclosed in advance, and detailed information is available in our Form ADV and client agreements.
Is Retire Once Financial Management a fiduciary?
Yes. Retire Once Financial Management acts as a fiduciary, meaning the firm is legally required to prioritize your best interests when providing financial advice. This commitment ensures transparent, objective recommendations that are aligned with your financial goals not influenced by commissions or conflicts of interest.
What makes Retire Once Financial Management different from other advisors?
