At Incline Financial Planning, financial success isn’t just about growing numbers — it’s about building freedom, protecting your family, and creating options long before mandatory retirement.

I’m Joe Schmitt — husband, father of five, American Airlines pilot, financial planner, CRPC®, and founder of Incline Financial Planning. I understand the unique challenge of balancing a demanding flying career with long-term financial security. High but unpredictable income, irregular schedules, and career risk mean generic financial advice simply isn’t enough.

Built by a Pilot, for Pilots

Incline Financial Planning exists for airline pilots who want clear answers, a disciplined strategy, and a plan built around the realities of this career. Over the years, I’ve flown with hundreds of pilots and heard the same frustration: “I’m doing everything right — so why does this still feel fragile?”

Many pilots follow advice that ignores furloughs, lost medical certificates, sudden medical events that can trigger long-term disability, contract delays, or forced career resets. I know how real that risk is. A routine call from my doctor about blood work became a Type 1 diabetes diagnosis — and suddenly I was leaving a trip mid-sequence, flying home, and wondering what this meant for my career and my family.

Combined with industry shocks from 9/11 to COVID-19’s collapse of air travel, it reinforced a simple truth: pilots need financial planning built for their profession, not generic assumptions.

Our Approach

We combine lived airline experience with fiduciary financial planning — practical, technically sound advice grounded in real airline careers.

Our planning focuses on:

• Paying down consumer debt and building margin

• Creating durable cash flow systems

• Designing disciplined investment strategies

• Managing high-income tax exposure

• Protecting against career and life risks

• Building retirement or “work-optional” timelines

• Coordinating benefits, insurance, and estate planning

Everything works together as one integrated system — not disconnected recommendations.

A Fee Structure Built for Every Career Stage

Our pricing is designed to support pilots at every phase of their career — from a new-hire First Officer paying down debt to a senior Captain refining a wealth strategy.

On average, our fees run about 25% below industry norms. That efficiency comes from specialization: we understand pilot contracts, compensation, and lifestyle realities, allowing us to work smarter and pass those savings directly to our clients. The focus isn’t asset gathering — it’s delivering the right advice at the right time as your career evolves.

Straightforward, Conflict-Free Advice

We operate on a fee-only model with transparent pricing. No commissions. No hidden incentives. No pressure to buy products.

Our job is simple: help you make better decisions with your money.