Joel A. Estes CFP®, AIF®, CPFA®, NQPC™

Joel A. Estes, CFP®, AIF®, CPFA®, NQPC™

Financial Strategist

With 19 years of financial planning experience, Joel Estes serves as a financial strategist in our Dayton, OH office. Joel enjoys building and managing client relationships, providing life planning advice, as well as helping clients reach their financial autonomy goals. He also serves as Coordinator of Retirement Plan Services for the firm, leads our Tax & Legacy Specialized Practice Group as its specialist, and serves on the firm’s Investment Strategy Committee.

Licensing and Education

CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® Professional
Accredited Investment Fiduciary (AIF®)
Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor®
Nonqualified Plan Consultant (NQPC™)
Series 7, Series 63
Bachelor of Arts in Accounting, Cedarville University

Accomplishments and Honors

Prior to joining McKinley Carter, Joel built and managed a book of business of individual clients and managed the corporate retirement plans division at his firm. From 2005-2009, he worked as an advisor for LifePlan Financial Group.

Community Involvement

Joel is a Business Partner Member of the Miami Valley Human Resources Association. In his free time, he enjoys tapping into his creative side -- writing and arranging music, leading music, playing trumpet, piano, pennywhistle, percussion instruments, and singing. His other hobbies include landscaping and interior/exterior design, distance running, walking, and all things basketball. Joel and his wife Leah reside in Beavercreek, OH with their four children. The family is very active with sports, music and church-related activities.

Selected Resources

SECURE 2.0 Act

Joel’s Articles

Wealth Management

Bypass Probate with a Trust

Generally-speaking, any asset with a directly named beneficiary is excluded from the probate process, such as 401(k)s, IRAs, life insurance policies, investment accounts with a transfer-on-death (TOD) registration, and bank accounts with a payable-on-death (POD) registration. In the event one of these account-types fails to name a beneficiary, that account would be transferred through the probate process. There are also key advantages to using a trust to avoid probate. Learn more.

Tax Planning

Have Company Stock in Your 401(k)?

As you work through the labyrinth of decisions that move you from working and planning and working some more, to drawing an income and conserving value, it is always a welcome discovery to reduce your tax bill and, therefore, add another layer of security to your personal financial outlook.

One of the lesser-known strategies some retirees should consider applies if they have company stock within their 401(k) or Profit Sharing Plan; the special tax election is known by the label Net Unrealized Appreciation (NUA). Learn more.

Tax Planning

IRS Interest in Interest Income Ignited

Interest rates (and interest income) are significantly higher than we've seen in many years. And many taxpayers may be surprised when they see their next tax bill due from interest income earned in their taxable accounts—whether from their investment portfolio, or their bank or credit union. Be prepared.

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A women smiling in an office, meeting with a client.

Expect to Leave Invigorated.

Every conversation with McKinley Carter is an energizing experience, an opportunity to take your financial instincts and confidence to the next level—starting with the very first one.