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Successfully Navigating the Seas of Retirement

The Imperfect Storm

Whether or not you have a savings and/or retirement plan in place, the financial seas not only can get rough, they’re guaranteed to get rough since we average a recession every six to seven years. Is your financial ship prepared to weather the imperfect storms of retirement when every 1 to 2 percent misstep you make related to an investment, tax, or allocation may represent many thousands of dollars of financial pain? This book was written to help you safely navigate through the little storms as well as the big doozies, using gripping stories featuring my father—a swordfisherman who captained the Andrea Gail until just months before it sank in the Perfect Storm. I hope this unexpected page-turner grabs your attention even as it guides you on the financial front.

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Accolades

“The Imperfect Storm is a relatable, down-to-earth book about steps to take to ensure a secure financial foundation and a satisfying, worry-free retirement. To describe this journey to long-term financial security, author and financial advisor Derek Reed employs what is surely a unique point of view for a book about financial planning: that of a fishing boat captain. He has obviously been inspired by watching what it took for his own father to become one. To illustrate the practical steps outlined in the book, he blends stories from his father’s experiences on the water with tales from his own life and the lives of some of his clients. The result is a very entertaining book full of strategies and good examples of how to align your money and values to live a life of purpose and meaning and to leave in your “wake” a legacy that touches people long after you are gone.”

Susan Turnbull, founder and principal, Personal Legacy Advisors

“I’ve seen Derek navigate challenges in his life with wisdom and grace. This is a great book about your retirement journey, during which you may encounter challenges, too. I wholeheartedly recommend you read and apply its principles to increase your chances of smooth sailing in the years to come.”

Caleb Callahan, CFP®, CKA, CEPA, president, Valmark Financial Group

“As a Gloucester fisherman’s daughter and someone who has known Derek for decades, I can attest to his, his dad’s, and his entire family’s authenticity and grit. In addition to being long-term friends, I’m also a long-term client. As such, I’ve experienced the care and professionalism he brings to his work and his involvement as a respected community member. His book, The Imperfect Storm, puts all that and more on display as it teaches us how to navigate the potentially turbulent seas of retirement.”

Ann-Margaret Ferrante, Massachusetts State Representative

“Derek masterfully navigates the waters of retirement planning, casting complex principles into clear, practical lessons. Like a seasoned fisherman, he equips readers with the tools to chart their financial course and reel in a secure future. A compelling and valuable resource for anyone ready to set sail on their retirement journey.”

Alexander Lowry, professor of finance and executive director, Master of Science in Financial Analysis, Gordon College

“Insightful, informative, and practical, this is a book I wish I’d had access to years ago because countless people I know would have benefitted from it. In fact, as I consider what lies ahead for me, this will be my go-to guide! An absolute must-read.”

Sandro Forte, president of the Million Dollar Round Table Foundation

“Derek is the proud son of Captain Charlie, a retired Gloucester sword fisherman who is a role model of giving, courage, and action. These stories of his time at sea and their relevance to financial planning will inspire you. Reading The Imperfect Storm will encourage you to chart your unique course for financial independence, a meaningful retirement journey, and a personal legacy even as it warms your heart.”

Tom Guzzardo, spirit-led Top Leaders Business Coach, speaker, and author of Building Organizations of True Excellence

About Author Derek J. Reed

I’m a partner at Beauport Financial Services in Gloucester, Massachusetts. Specializing in financial planning, investment counseling, and insurance consultation, I’ve provided investment and insurance solutions since 1997. In addition to being a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) and a Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU®), I’ve earned the CAP® designation as a Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy. I’m a member of the Essex County Estate Planning Council, the National Association of Insurance, and Financial Advisors Boston Chapter, and a qualifying member of the MDRT organization as a Top of the Table member.

A proud native son of a Gloucester commercial fishing family, I am the product of steadfast teenaged parents who are still committed to one another and their family more than 50 years later. Raised in a gritty, loving, and supportive community with amazing friends, extended family, and many wise mentors, I remain as committed to my family as my parents are to theirs. Just like the ocean beyond Gloucester Harbor provided opportunity to my dad, the sword captain who captained the Andrea Gail until just weeks before it sank in 1991’s Perfect Storm, I was always encouraged to dream, to travel, and to seek meaningful experiences over the A. Piatt Andrew Bridge leading out of town. But my roots, a growing business, and my family ground me to this special place on the North Shore of Boston.

My work as a wealth advisor committed to helping individuals, families, business owners, and community organizations remains my highest priority. Captaining the financial ships of big-hearted, caring clients is the biggest responsibility and honor. At Beauport, we care about you, and we believe deeply in the Golden Rule, which leads us to support the local communities of Cape Ann and beyond with our company Donor Advised Fund.

Discover more about how we help you retire with confidence and how we serve our community at beauportfinancial.com.

WHERE CARE MEETS CRAFT™

Inspiring Impact: The Power of Strategic Giving

Philanthropy isn’t just about generosity—it’s about making a meaningful difference. With an estimated 4 million Baby Boomers turning 65 this year, a 2024 Fidelity Charitable® study reveals that more than half of pre-retirees and retirees ages 50-80 are committed to giving, with 78% saying that charitable giving plays a significant role in their lives. Proof that purpose-driven generosity is a powerful force! As a managing partner at Beauport Financial Services, I’m passionate about helping individuals and organizations turn their giving goals into lasting impact.

Through our Philanthropy in Action curriculum, I give many presentations to nonprofits in order to equip charity development directors and donors with strategic giving ideas that maximize their contributions. Each December, I deliver a keynote on gratitude and philanthropy at our annual open house. In 2024, I was honored with Pathways for Children’s Sue Todd Service Award and shared a heartfelt presentation based on The Starfish Story, emphasizing that even small acts of kindness can create ripples of change.

Beyond that, I’ve guided financial advisors on celebrating with clients by throwing a party with a purpose, establishing corporate Donor Advised Funds for tax and charitable benefits, and working with our local Community Foundation to promote giving locally—because philanthropy should be as strategic as it is heartfelt. Whether speaking to donors, advisors, or nonprofit leaders, my goal is to inspire action and help people give with intention.

Ready to make your giving more impactful? Let’s connect.

Public Speaking & Workshops

In addition to frequent public speaking engagements with nonprofits about Philanthropy in Action—Beauport’s curriculum for elevated giving and strategic ways to be charitable using one’s financial assets—my presentations have ranged from speaking to colleagues on the power of using our business for good to teaching a master’s-level course at Gordon College as an adjunct professor on investment portfolio construction & risk mitigation. Each year, I also give a Financial Planning 101 talk to graduating engineers at Boston’s Northeastern University so those students can get started on the right financial footing.

Critical basics I can address in a public presentation include:

  • The Power of Compounding: Even small, consistent contributions can grow significantly over time, so it’s important to start early.
  • Retirement Goals and Timeline: How to set realistic retirement goals (e.g., travel, hobbies, lifestyle) and create a timeline for achieving them.
  • Understanding Your Current Financial Situation: The importance of assessing current income, expenses, and debts to create a solid financial foundation for retirement, followed by income planning to build a secure retirement.
  • Calculating Retirement Costs: How to accurately estimate the expenses you'll face in retirement, including healthcare, housing, and travel.

  • Retirement Savings Options: An overview of common retirement accounts (401(k), IRA, Roth IRA), their benefits, and how to maximize contributions.
  • Pension Plans: The benefits and drawbacks of employer-sponsored pension plans, and how to understand your potential pension income.
  • Investment Strategies: Basic investment principles, diversification, and the importance of tailoring investments to your risk tolerance and time horizon.
  • The 4% Rule: How this can help with retirement income planning.

  • Retirement Risks: Potential risks like inflation, market volatility, and longevity, and how to mitigate them.
  • Healthcare Costs: The importance of planning for healthcare costs in retirement, including Medicare and long-term care insurance.
  • Tax Implications: Understanding the tax implications of different retirement accounts and strategies, along with how to minimize your tax burden.
  • The Transition to Retirement: The emotional and practical aspects of transitioning from work to retirement, and how to stay active and engaged.
  • Retirement Lifestyle: Envisioning your ideal retirement lifestyle and planning accordingly.
  • Estate Planning: The importance of having a will and other estate planning documents to ensure your assets are distributed as desired.

Retirement planning and philanthropy can be strategically integrated to work toward both financial security and the ability to support meaningful causes through donations, legacy planning, or other charitable activities.

My public speaking and workshop topics on this front include:

  • Determine Your Philanthropic Goals: Identifying the causes you care about and the type of impact you want to make.
  • Consider Charitable Giving Strategies: The gifting of highly appreciated securities.
  • Direct Donations: Donating directly to charities from your retirement accounts (e.g., Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) from traditional IRAs).
  • Estate Planning: Including charitable bequests in your will or create charitable trusts to support your causes after your passing. The options to change beneficiaries or gift IRAs and life insurance plans.
  • Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs): Making a large, tax-deductible donation to a DAF and then distributing grants to your chosen charities over time.
  • Maximize Tax Benefits: Utilizing tax-advantaged giving strategies to reduce your tax burden and increase the impact of your donations.
  • Plan for Long-Term Impact: Your philanthropic activities can create lasting change and legacy.
  • Seeking Professional Advice: The advantage of consulting with a financial advisor and estate planner to develop a comprehensive plan that integrates both retirement planning and philanthropy.

  • Personal Fulfillment: Engaging in philanthropy can bring a sense of purpose and meaning to your retirement years.
  • Financial Benefits: Strategic charitable giving can lead to tax savings and potentially increase the value of your estate.
  • Legacy: Creating a lasting impact on the causes you care about and leaving a positive legacy for future generations.

Media Kit

A media kit is available here

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Let’s Connect!

Are you interested in learning more or booking a speaking engagement? Contact me today.