Garret Colao, CFP®, CSLP®
Independent Financial Consultant and Partner
Garret Colao, CFP®, CSLP®
Independent Financial Consultant and Partner
Professional financial planning to free your time and build the life you love.
We help high-achieving professionals organize their finances and create a clear plan to help track and achieve their goals.
We all have financial goals—whether they’re well-defined or quietly in the background. We have a vision for what we want our money to achieve for us, our families, and our future.
Greater financial opportunity often brings greater complexity, and even the most successful professionals can feel overwhelmed by managing their entire financial situation alone.
Our team’s role is to give you back your time and mental space.
We are the objective perspective to help you clarify your financial goals, the teacher providing guidance on your options, and a financial ally helping you stay on track as life changes.
Feel secure in your financial plan and empowered to make the best choices for the future you envision.
GET STARTED
Clarify your financial goals and priorities. |
![](http://www.northstarfinancial.com/app/uploads/2024/01/arrow-icon-1.png"){kind=icon} |
Create a custom financial plan. |
 |
Execute the plan and pursue your goals. |
About
I was introduced to the financial services industry through my dad, a local insurance agent in Miami. I saw firsthand how important it is to protect what matters most—our families and our future. However, it wasn’t until I studied financial planning and investing in college that I truly realized the power of comprehensive financial planning. That’s when I knew I wanted to help others secure their future, just as I was planning for mine.
When I meet with a client, I always start by connecting on a personal level.
Working with mid-career professionals, they are tackling many financial concerns concurrently, like paying down student loans or investing for retirement, making the most of their employee benefits starting a business, and planning for children’s education while caring for aging parents.
I believe understanding the unique details of your life is key to creating a financial plan that works, and our team is well-equipped to support any financial need that life throws our clients.
Outside of work, I enjoy playing golf, flag football, hunting, fishing, and traveling with my family. I am also the past Chairman of the Board and a current board member (since 2017) for Phoenix Residence Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to creating quality living experiences for individuals with disabilities.
 |
 |
 |
Team
When you work with us, you gain access to the combined expertise of the North Star specialist team. Our professionals bring their specialized knowledge to ensure your financial plan is comprehensive, well-optimized, and aligned with your unique goals.
North Star resource team
Chase Brakke, DIA, DIF, CEPA®
Vice President of Business Owner Solutions
Jeff Landt, CFA, CFP®
Senior Vice President and Chief Investment Officer
Chris Sitek, CLTC®, CASL®, CLU®, ChFC®, RHU®, REBC®
Vice President Life and Long-Term Care
Carrie Hancock, ChFC®, CLU®
Vice President, Financial Planning Resource Center
CPA and attorney referrals
We also collaborate with trusted bankers, CPAs, and attorneys, referring clients to these professionals when needed. If you already have existing relationships with professionals, we work alongside them to ensure your plan remains coordinated and effective.
Our process
 |
DiscoveryFirst, we’ll have a brief introductory call to determine if our financial planning process aligns with your goals and needs. This conversation is all about you learning if my expertise and the services I offer are a good fit for what you hope to accomplish. |
 |
Goal clarification and data gatheringIf it makes sense to proceed, we’ll meet to discuss your current goals and answer any immediate questions you have. During this meeting, I’ll also take a deep dive into your financial situation and gather the necessary information to create your custom financial strategy. But beyond the data and facts, it’s equally important to understand your story—what money means to you, the experiences and challenges you’ve faced, and the unique background behind your financial journey. This emotional context is essential to creating a strategy that aligns with your values and goals. |
 |
Designing the planFrom paying off student loans to entering retirement—and everything in between—your financial plan will be tailored to your unique goals and timelines. Guided by your priorities, my team and I will design a clear path to help you achieve what matters most. |
 |
Execution and follow-upOnce we arrive at a financial plan you’re satisfied with, we will work through the steps of the plan one by one. We’ll hold regular check-in meetings to discuss your progress toward your goals and make any required adjustments. If any notable updates happen in legislation or the industry that would affect your plan, I will proactively reach out with updates between our scheduled meetings. If your situation changes, we’ll work together to adjust your plan, always keeping it focused on your goals. Occasionally, a big life event will merit more than a course correction, and if needed, we will run another Discovery session and start the process over with your evolving needs in mind. |
Financial planning services
Many clients come to us looking for more than what traditional financial services offer. As an independent and full-service financial planning firm, our team is equipped to address any challenge or opportunity that arises in your life or business.
Our thoughtful financial planning approach integrates solutions to optimize your financial life, while avoiding adding unnecessary complexity or services, ensuring every element of your plan drives value.
Jump to: Fee-based financial planning | Investment management | Student loan analysis | Risk management | Business owner strategies
Fee-based financial planning
Your financial plan is the cornerstone of your strategy, and we believe every other investment and insurance decision can be informed and enhanced by the work we do together in planning.
Together, we’ll create a detailed plan that outlines your goals, cash flow, tax strategies, and legacy. Then, once we have discussed each recommendation and made edits as needed, we begin plugging in our specialists to help you execute your plan and get on the trajectory of your goals.
Investment management
As part of our planning process, we take the time to understand your investing style, including your expectations, risk tolerance, and experience.
We focus on mindset and behavior to ensure you’re confident in your investment decisions, and then design a personalized, tax-efficient portfolio and reallocation strategy, helping you stay aligned with your goals and giving you confidence.
Student loan analysis
Student loans are a significant and often stressful part of the financial equation for many young professionals, especially in fields like medicine.
As a Certified Student Loan Professional, I help design a tailored repayment plan that balances your income, expenses, and savings goals, while also considering your interest rates and loan duration. If you are eligible for forgiveness, I can also help navigate the application progression and tax implications of that process.
The result is a manageable loan strategy that addresses your current needs and strategically sets you up for long-term financial success.
Risk management
Protecting existing and future assets is a fundamental component of any wealth-building strategy. As an independent firm, we coordinate with dozens of carriers across the life, disability, and property and casualty space to recommend solutions from various that meet your needs and preferences at every stage, from underwriting to placement.
Business owner strategies
For most business owners, their business is their income source and retirement asset. Our Business Owner Solutions team helps you coordinate your businesses financial plan to save money, mitigate risk, and enhance your profit potential.
Business owner solutions include:
- Constructing employee benefits offerings for businesses of any size
- Retirement plan administration
- Essential business insurance solutions
- Exit planning with a team of Certified Exit Planning Advisors, CPAs, and attorneys on call
- Acquisition strategies and financial coaching through windfalls
Office location
Garret is an investment advisor representative of Cetera Advisor Networks, LLC.