We help credit unions strengthen leadership and retention through Executive Financial Strategy — a fiduciary service that goes beyond traditional asset management to bring focus, confidence, and alignment to every decision your leaders make. By supporting executive financial wellness, we help leaders stay centered on what matters most — advancing the credit union’s mission.
Credit union executives face financial complexity that most advisors simply don’t understand. From 457(b) and 457(f) plans to split-dollar arrangements and incentive compensation, every decision affects taxes, timing, and long-term flexibility.
ACT Advisors is a fee-only fiduciary firm specializing in this world. We coordinate benefit plans with each executive’s broader financial goals—helping them make the most of what their credit union provides while giving boards a confident, focused leadership team.
For the executive, that means clarity, tax-efficient coordination of benefits, and a strategy that connects personal goals with professional rewards.
For the credit union, it means fewer distractions, stronger retention, and leaders free to focus on members and mission.
ACT Advisors complements your existing advisory relationship by focusing on what traditional financial advisors may miss:
Specialized knowledge of credit union plans like 457(f), 457(b), and CASD
Experience coordinating executive benefits as employer-sponsored strategies, not just individual investments
Visibility across CU peer benchmarks, provider norms, and regulatory shifts
A collaborative approach that aligns your personal plan with your credit union’s mission and continuity goals
Executive Financial Strategy from ACT Advisors is designed for credit unions that want to support their leaders with fiduciary clarity—without adding administrative burden or sales conflicts. Our Strategic Framework evaluates every area of an executive’s financial life to identify risks, tax opportunities, and actionable next steps. Each engagement builds from the same foundation; the difference lies in how it’s delivered.
ACT Total Solution is a full-service model that combines comprehensive financial planning with ongoing investment management. Built to minimize executive distraction and help leaders coordinate their personal financial strategies with complex benefit plans.
Credit Union Value: Helps senior executives stay focused and effective by turning complex financial decisions into clear, actionable strategies—and managing the ongoing implementation so nothing falls through the cracks.
ACT on Demand is a subscription-based planning service that brings fiduciary guidance to the broader executive team. Each participant works through quarterly planning modules that coordinate benefit plans, tax strategy, and personal goals—without replacing existing advisors.
Credit Union Value: Expands access to fiduciary planning across the leadership team, improving financial wellness and reducing distraction through structured, goal-driven guidance executives can act on right away.
See how our financial planning and investment management has helped credit union executives and C-suite leaders optimize 457(b), CASD, tax strategy, and retirement planning—driving clarity for themselves and strength for their credit unions.
Full-service financial planning and investment management for the CEO and the executive team. Over nine years, our work has addressed key complexities including 457(b), CASD, retirement timing and income strategy, tax planning, and risk management. Through an ongoing fiduciary partnership, we’ve helped the leadership team uncover and resolve issues such as:
The result: a more efficient, coordinated financial structure that supports both the CEO’s clarity and the credit union’s executive retention strategy.
Pam and her husband, Jim, had built a strong foundation—401(k), CASD, 457(b), taxable portfolio, and a history of charitable giving. But nearing retirement at 62, their income, tax, and estate decisions had become increasingly complex. Working with ACT Advisors, they gained:
The result: coordinated financial clarity that supports Pam’s retirement goals while reinforcing leadership continuity and focus within her credit union.
Executive Financial Strategy helps credit unions reduce distraction, improve retention, and give their leaders the clarity to focus fully on members and mission.
The challenges facing credit unions won’t be solved with yesterday’s playbook. Our podcast “CU on the Show” brings you unfiltered insights, future-focused strategies, and conversations that matter—so you can lead with clarity and keep your credit union ahead of the curve.
How can credit unions use CUSOs (credit union service organizations) and FinTech partnerships as intentional tools for growth instead of one-off “shiny object” deals? In
In this C.U. On The Show conversation, host Doug English talks with Andrea Argueta of Glia about approaches credit unions are using to incorporate AI
In this episode of C.U. on the Show, host Doug English sits down with Lee Silber—author of The Credit Union Way—to explore why stories of
Navigating executive benefits and complex financial decisions isn’t simple.
These are the questions we hear most often from credit-union leaders exploring Executive Financial Strategy.
ACT Advisors is a fee-only fiduciary firm—we don’t sell 457(b), 457(f), or CASD plans. Our role is to analyze and coordinate the plans your credit union already provides, aligning them with each executive’s broader financial goals to improve clarity, efficiency, and long-term results.
No. We believe executive advice should remain fully independent from plan sales. We provide analysis and guidance so executives understand the fine print, identify tax and timing opportunities, and integrate those plans into a cohesive strategy.
Executive Financial Strategy is designed to work alongside, not replace, personal financial advisors. Our role extends well beyond investment coordination—we help executives evaluate and integrate every aspect of their financial life, including estate planning, tax strategy, risk management, and benefit optimization. For executives who already have an advisor, our analysis provides the clarity and structure their advisor can build on. For those without one, our framework delivers the comprehensive guidance they need to make confident, informed decisions.
Often, yes. Many credit unions treat Executive Financial Strategy as part of their leadership-development or retention budget. We can help outline models where the institution sponsors full-service planning for senior leadership and subscription-based planning for the broader C-suite.
Absolutely. We regularly assist CEOs in presenting Executive Financial Strategy as a strategic investment in leadership continuity and focus—not a personal perk. From outlining how our work reduces distractions to showing how it strengthens executive retention, we’ll help you frame the conversation in terms your board cares about most.
That’s great — many of our CU clients do. Most traditional advisors offer valuable personal financial guidance, but they’re often not equipped to handle the complexities unique to credit union executives.
ACT Advisors complements your existing advisory relationship by focusing on what traditional financial advisors may miss:
Specialized knowledge of credit union plans like 457(f), 457(b), and CASD
Experience coordinating executive benefits as employer-sponsored strategies, not just individual investments
Visibility across CU peer benchmarks, provider norms, and regulatory shifts
A collaborative approach that aligns your personal plan with your credit union’s mission and continuity goals
Give your leadership team the clarity, confidence, and fiduciary support to make the most of the benefits you’ve already invested in.
Our team will walk you through how credit unions are implementing this service and help design a version that fits your goals and budget.
Member assets and membership figures are based on client-reported data as of January 2024.
The testimonials and examples presented on this page are from current ACT Advisors clients. No compensation was provided for these statements. Individual results vary and are not guaranteed.
ACT Advisors compensates the Carolinas Credit Union League for certain referrals under a formal referral agreement. This arrangement does not influence the firm’s fiduciary obligation to clients or the advice provided.