Welcome to Incline Financial Planning LLC, where I, Joe Schmitt, am proud to serve as founder and owner. Pittsburgh, PA, is not just our location but our cherished home, where my wife, our five children, and I reside happily.

With a background as an airline pilot for American Airlines and my wife's career as a professor at the University of Pittsburgh, we realized the increasing complexity of our financial situation as our careers advanced. Recognizing the potential consequences of mismanaging our financial future, we decided it was time to seek professional help.

We were looking for a professional who could not only help us define our goals but also paint a vivid picture of our potential future based on our careers and salaries. We wanted a partner who would walk alongside us, hold us accountable, and help implement our plan.

Unfortunately, the guidance we initially received was fraught with hidden conflicts of interest, and lacking in tailored advice that considered our unique circumstances and aspirations. Instead, we encountered generic recommendations seemingly designed to benefit the advisor rather than us.

The options presented were unsatisfactory - either investing in products that yielded significant commissions for the advisor or a simple offer to manage our investments for a percentage of our assets. Dissatisfied with these options, we sought a professional willing to be compensated solely for their time, devoid of conflicts, but unfortunately we were unable to find an advisor that met our needs.

During the pandemic-induced downturn in the airline industry, I seized the opportunity of partially paid leave to provide the type of service we had been seeking: comprehensive, individualized financial advice at a reasonable flat fee. After completing the education requirements for the CFP® and attaining my series 65 license, I founded Incline Financial Planning in May 2022.

At Incline Financial Planning, our mission mirrors that of Pittsburgh's iconic incline - to elevate our clients from uncertainty and limited visibility, akin to standing at the river's edge, to a place of clarity and limitless potential, reminiscent of the view from atop Mount Washington. With careful financial planning, we aim to guide our clients toward a future filled with opportunity, all for a straightforward, flat fee.

I invite you to join us at Incline Financial Planning. Let's embark on this financial journey together.