Cardinal Retirement Planning

What Cardinal Retirement Planning does

Cardinal Retirement Planning, Inc. is a privately held, SEC-registered investment advisory firm operating as a fiduciary. Founded in 2013 and headquartered in Chapel Hill, NC, the firm delivers personalized retirement-focused financial planning to retirees, pre-retirees, business owners, and high-net-worth individuals in North Carolina. The firm operates from three physical locations (Chapel Hill, Durham, Winston-Salem) and restricts solicitations to NC residents. Leadership comprises Doug "Buddy" Amis (Founder/President/CEO, CFP, CLU), Dr. Mike Aguilar (CIO & Co-Owner, PhD), and Dr. Anessa Custovic (PhD), making it a credentialed, research-oriented practice rather than a sales-driven broker-dealer model.

The firm's core offering spans six integrated service lines: financial planning and investment management, 401(k) plan design and management, retirement income planning, long-term care planning, tax planning, and Medicare & IRMAA guidance. Two proprietary intellectual property assets differentiate the offering. The first is Benchmark+ Portfolios, a multi-horizon, low-turnover, diversified portfolio model with optional overlays for tax efficiency, dividend income, ESG, or international exposure. The second is the QuTE (Quantile Tracking Errors) methodology, developed internally, which detects deviations between benchmark indices and live portfolio performance beyond conventional return/risk metrics. The technology stack is composed of integrated partner platforms rather than proprietary infrastructure: Charles Schwab for custody, RightCapital for financial planning, Generational Vault for secure document exchange, and Vanguard for 401(k) monitoring.

The business model is fee-based advisory revenue generated on a recurring basis under an SEC fiduciary standard; specific pricing is not publicly disclosed and engagements are quote-based. Insurance products and services are offered through an affiliated entity, DAmis, Inc. Go-to-market is sales-led and content-driven: the firm publishes an active Learning Center blog, original annual capital market outlooks, and secures recurring earned media placements (Yahoo Finance, U.S. News, Nasdaq, Financial Advisor Magazine, International Business Times, GoBankingRates). Prospective clients are acquired via content, media, and direct inquiry through website contact forms or phone, then onboarded through complimentary consultations. The firm does not disclose revenue, AUM, headcount, or funding.

Name

Cardinal Retirement Planning

Legal name

Cardinal Retirement Planning, Inc

Website

https://planwithcardinal.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Cardinal Retirement Planning is a privately held, SEC-registered fiduciary advisory firm providing personalized retirement income planning, 401(k) design, tax planning, and investment management to retirees, pre-retirees, business owners, and high-net-worth individuals in North Carolina through offices in Chapel Hill, Durham, and Winston-Salem.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Retirement Financial Advisory Services

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities (523), Finance and Insurance (52)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYFSAEAAAA

Comprehensive Financial Planning

Financial & Insurance/Financial Advisory, Brokerage & Intermediation/Investment Advisory & Financial Planning

SECONDARYFSAEABAD

Retirement Income Planning & Decumulation Advisory

Financial & Insurance/Financial Advisory, Brokerage & Intermediation/Wealth & Retirement Advisory

SECONDARYFSAEABAE

Employer Retirement Plan Advisory (401(k)/Pension)

Financial & Insurance/Financial Advisory, Brokerage & Intermediation/Wealth & Retirement Advisory

SECONDARYFSAEABAI

Retirement Benefits & Social Security/Medicare Planning

Financial & Insurance/Financial Advisory, Brokerage & Intermediation/Wealth & Retirement Advisory

SECONDARYFSAEAAAG

Estate & Legacy Planning Advisory

Financial & Insurance/Financial Advisory, Brokerage & Intermediation/Investment Advisory & Financial Planning

Keywords

• Retirement planning services
• Investment advisory
• Financial planning
• 401(k) plan design
• Wealth management

Headquarters

HQ city

Durham

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Investment Advisory Fees: The firm is registered as an SEC Investment Advisor and operates as a fiduciary. Revenue is generated through advisory fees charged to clients for financial planning, investment management, and retirement planning services. The firm also offers insurance products and services through its affiliated company DAmis, Inc.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Cardinal Retirement Planning is a fiduciary investment advisory firm that delivers personalized retirement planning, investment management, and 401(k) plan services to individuals, retirees, pre-retirees, business owners, and high-net-worth families across North Carolina. Its service catalog spans financial planning & investment management, 401(k) plan design and management, retirement income planning, long-term care planning, tax planning, and Medicare/IRMAA guidance, supported by proprietary portfolio construction (Benchmark+) and risk-monitoring (QuTE) methodologies.

Product overview

Cardinal Retirement Planning offers personalized retirement planning services as a single integrated advisory offering. The company provides six core service areas: Financial Planning & Investment Management, 401(k) Plans, Retirement Income Planning, Long-Term Care, Tax Planning, and Medicare & IRMAA guidance. These services are delivered through proprietary methodologies including Benchmark+ Portfolios (customizable multi-horizon portfolio construction) and QuTER research (for tracking deviations between benchmarks and actual portfolios). The firm operates as a fiduciary, working with individuals, retirees, and businesses through local offices in North Carolina.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Financial Planning & Investment Management Comprehensive financial planning and investment management services that explore research-based recommendations tailored to each client's unique needs; offered to individuals, retirees, pre-retirees, and high-net-worth families seeking fiduciary advisory.
• 401(k) Plans 401(k) plan services covering design, implementation, and management for businesses and self-employed professionals, including mega backdoor Roth strategies, profit-sharing plans, and employee retirement benefits.
• Retirement Income Planning Strategies for generating sustainable retirement income including withdrawal rate planning, Social Security optimization, sequence-of-returns risk management, and distribution strategies for retirees.
• Long-Term Care Planning services addressing long-term care needs and insurance options designed to protect clients against extended care costs in retirement.
• Tax Planning Tax-efficient investment management and strategic tax planning services designed to minimize tax burden across retirement, including Roth conversion planning, required minimum distribution management, and tax-overlay portfolio construction.
• Medicare & IRMAA Medicare enrollment guidance and IRMAA (Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount) planning services aimed at controlling healthcare-related costs for retirees and pre-retirees.

Quantifiable outcome

• Original research on 4% Rule and withdrawal rates using 100,000 simulated 30-year retirement paths, demonstrating failure rates for conservative portfolios in worst-case scenarios.
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Charles SchwabcoreTechnology or IntegrationCharles Schwab serves as the custodial platform for client investment accounts. Clients receive real-time access to account information through SchwabAlliance.com. The firm uses Schwab as the primary account custodian for client portfolios, enabling integrated account access and reporting.
• RightCapitalcoreTechnology or IntegrationRightCapital is the primary financial planning platform used by Cardinal. Clients link accounts to build their retirement plan and access a planning sandbox with integrated planning tools. RightCapital enables the firm to deliver collaborative, real-time financial planning to clients.
• Generational VaultcoreTechnology or IntegrationGenerational Vault provides encrypted, secure document exchange between advisors and clients. Used for confidential planning documents and communications, enabling efficient and secure client-advisor collaboration.
• VanguardcoreTechnology or IntegrationVanguard 401(k) platform integration allows clients to monitor 401(k) growth, check vesting schedules, and manage investments and contributions through My.VanguardPlan.com. Particularly relevant for clients with employer-sponsored retirement plans.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Others

• RightCapital: Financial planning software platform already used by Cardinal as its primary planning tool. Indirect ecosystem participant — a vendor partner rather than a competitor, but provides useful context on the technology stack underlying small-firm retirement advisory delivery.

Broad incumbents

• Mercer Advisors: National RIA specializing in retirement income planning, tax planning, and estate strategies for retirees and pre-retirees. Highly comparable service mix to Cardinal with significantly larger scale and broader geographic reach.
• Edelman Financial Engines: Largest independent RIA in the US combining personal financial planning with employer-sponsored 401(k) plan services. Comparable to Cardinal's combined individual + 401(k) advisory offering but at significantly greater scale.
• Carson Group: National wealth management firm offering financial planning, investment management, and 401(k) advisory to individuals and small businesses. Comparable target customer (retirees, business owners) and overlapping service mix to Cardinal.
• Focus Financial Partners: RIA consolidator with a network of fiduciary wealth management firms including retirement-focused boutiques. Comparable to Cardinal as a fiduciary RIA and a potential acquirer given its roll-up strategy.
• Mariner Wealth Advisors: National fiduciary advisory firm providing retirement planning, tax, estate, and investment management. Directly comparable service mix to Cardinal with broader scale, established RIA roll-up strategy, and institutional backing.
• Cambridge Investment Research: Large IBD supporting independent financial advisors with retirement planning, investment, and 401(k) solutions. Comparable to Cardinal's advisory + 401(k) focus area; provides an alternative model through independent advisor networks.
• Creative Planning: Large national RIA offering comprehensive financial planning, retirement, and tax services. Compares to Cardinal as a scaled, multi-service fiduciary advisory firm but with vastly broader geographic reach and significantly larger AUM.

Regional players

• BAM Wealth (BAM Advisor Services): Mid-Atlantic/Southeast-focused RIA offering retirement income and financial planning for affluent households. Comparable in retirement-specialist positioning and regional advisory footprint to Cardinal.

Direct peers

• Bison Wealth Group: Boutique fiduciary RIA in the Southeast offering retirement planning, investment management, and tax planning to individuals and small businesses. Closely comparable to Cardinal in size, service mix, and regional focus on retirement advisory.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cardinal-retirement-planning-inc

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cardinal Retirement Planning