Joel J. Garris, CFP®
Joel J. Garris
CFP® · JD · Certified Financial Fiduciary™ · FINRA Registered Representative · Nelson Ivest Brokerage Services, Inc.
25+
Years in retirement planning
Vision 2050
Continuity plan Joel personally built to carry firm through a 3rd & 4th generation
CFP® + JD + CF2®
Credential combination held by almost no other advisor in Central Florida
JOEL'S FOCUS
Bringing every piece of a client's financial picture into focus - retirement income, tax minimization, investment strategy, and legacy planning - handled by one team that has completed specific training and is legally and ethically bound to act in your best interest at all times.
Joel J. Garris is the President and CEO of Nelson Financial Planning, Inc. — the Central Florida firm founded in 1984 by his late father-in-law, Jack Nelson. Joel joined in December 1999 with a background most financial planners simply don't have: he practiced as a securities law attorney at Dickstein Shapiro LLP in Washington, DC, advising Fortune 500 companies on IPOs, mergers and acquisitions, and debt financing. Before law school, he worked as an engineer at Central Maine Power. That combination — engineering precision, legal clarity, and financial planning expertise — is genuinely rare in this industry, and it shows in how Joel approaches the work.
As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® Professional and Certified Financial Fiduciary™, Joel's focus is on making sure every part of your financial life is working together — not just your investments in isolation. As he puts it on the Dollars and Sense podcast, taxes are probably the single biggest expense most people pay throughout their lives, and they're also the most underplanned for. That's why retirement income, tax strategy, and investment management are handled as one integrated plan at Nelson Financial Planning, not as three separate conversations with three different people.
Under Joel's leadership, the team has grown to 16 professionals — each with a distinct area of expertise, from IRS Enrolled Agent and CPA on the tax side to Social Security and IRMAA specialists on the Medicare side. He's also built what he calls a Vision 2050 continuity plan, a roadmap designed to carry Nelson Financial Planning through a third and potentially fourth generation of leadership. At a time when roughly 50% of financial advisors in the U.S. are expected to retire over the next decade, that kind of long-term thinking matters to the clients who are counting on the firm being there when they need it most.
What "fiduciary" actually means for you
Every Nelson advisor has completed specific educational training and passed an exam to earn the Certified Financial Fiduciary™ designation. That means they are legally and ethically bound to act in your best interest at all times — not just when it's convenient, and not just in certain contexts.
This isn't an industry standard. Most advisors operate under a "suitability" standard — they can recommend anything that's merely suitable for you. A Certified Financial Fiduciary® is different. It's a higher bar, and our firm is one of the few that voluntarily committed to this standard.
DOLLARS & SENSE RADIO SHOW & PODCAST
Joel is the current host of Central Florida’s longest-running radio show, which was started in 1984 by Jack Nelson. “Dollars and Sense” is heard live from 9:00 am to 10:00 am every Sunday on WFLA 93.1FM/540 AM. The show is also available on its own YouTube channel and on a wide range of podcast platforms where it has been named one of the Top 25 financial planning podcasts on the World Wide Web. Previously, Mr. Garris was the host of “Moneywise”, a financial call-in talk show on WORL 660 AM, for five years. Mr. Garris also taught a personal enrichment class entitled “Analyzing and Solving Life’s Financial Matters” through Orange County Public Schools.
OUTSIDE THE OFFICE
Joel married Stephanie Nelson on February 13, 1999. Mrs. Garris is the Executive Director of Grace Medical Home and previously served as the Executive Director of the Orlando Metro Area for the American Cancer Society. She is also a past President of the Junior League of Greater Orlando. They have three sons: Nelson is a graduate of Auburn University, Ethan is a graduate of the University of Virginia, and Connor is a graduate of Northeastern University. In his free time, Joel enjoys running, fishing, traveling, and boating.
COMMUNITY & SERVICE
Boy Scouts - Assistant Scoutmaster, Troop 24
Delaney Park Little League - Youth Coach
Literacy Volunteers of America
Veteran's Administration - volunteer
Mensa
YMCA and Upward sports coaching
What Joel Helps Clients With
Building a retirement income plan that coordinates Social Security, investments, and RMDs into one clear strategy
Tax minimization - integrated into the plan, not treated as an afterthought or outsourced to someone else
Investment portfolio analysis - what you own, why you own it, what it's costing you, and whether it's doing the job
Estate and legacy planning - making sure beneficiary designations, wills, and account titles all point in the same direction
Ready to see the full picture of your retirement?
Our conversations are completely free. No account minimums. No pressure. No obligation - just a real conversation about your situation.
Cash flow planning - confirming you can actually live the retirement you've been building toward
Behavioral coaching through market volatility so emotions don't derail long-term decisions
Florida Retirement System (FRS) planning for state employees and educators
Qualified charitable distributions (QCDs) - one of the most important tax tools most people have never heard of
FREE RESOURCE
Next Gen Dollars & Sense Book & Workbook
Written by Joel Garris, CFP® — 21 chapters covering every stage of your financial life, plus a companion workbook with real-life exercises you can actually work through. Both are free.
In the Media
Good Morning Orlando: Beneficial Ownership Report
Confused about the Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) reporting requirement? In this interview on Good Morning Orlando, Joel Garris of Nelson Financial Planning breaks down the latest updates on this hotly debated mandate. From the Corporate Transparency Act's origins to recent legal twists and turns, Joel explains what small business owners need to know about this potentially burdensome filing.
Learn about why the BOI requirement is currently voluntary, how it affects small businesses with fewer than 20 employees and under $5 million in revenue, and the simple steps for filing.
Joel Garris - Featured Author at Festival of Books
Joel Garris was a featured author at Los Angeles Times Festival of Books - the biggest literary festival - for his book Next Gen Dollars & Sense.
Unlock the secrets to financial success with Joel J. Garris' insightful book, designed to equip you with the essential tools and strategies needed to take control of your financial future. Whether you're just beginning your financial journey or approaching retirement, this book offers a comprehensive guide to help you build a solid financial plan that aligns with your goals.
Dollars & Sense - WFLA 93.1FM / 540 AM
Live Sundays · Central Florida's longest-running financial radio show — started by Jack Nelson in 1984
Top 25 Financial Planning Podcast
Started in 1984 by Jack Nelson and carried forward by Joel Garris and the team at Nelson Financial Planning, Dollars & Sense is one of Central Florida's longest-running financial radio shows and a Top 25 Financial Planning Podcast (Feedspot). New episodes every Sunday on WFLA 93.1FM / 540AM — and wherever you listen. Real advice from real people who answer the phone.
Joel on his Dollars & Sense Financial Podcast
Why Your Portfolio Is Changing Without You Knowing | Russell Index Reconstitution 2026
Stop Overpaying Taxes & Unlock the Most Powerful Retirement Account (HSA Explained)
The Dirty Secret Behind "Smart" Investments Like ETFs & Hedge Funds
Market Boom & Social Security Shakeup |
What It Means for YOUR Retirement
Are Tariffs Wrecking the Economy or Saving It? The Truth You Need to Know!
Annuities EXPOSED: The Costly Mistake You Can’t Afford! & How to Fund Life’s Big Events
Credentials & Designations
Certified Financial Planner®
CFP®
The most recognized credential in financial planning. Requires completion of a rigorous education program, 6,000+ hours of professional experience, a comprehensive board exam, and ongoing continuing education. CFP® holders are held to the fiduciary standard — legally required to act in the client's best interest.
CF2®
This isn't just a title — it requires completing specific educational training and passing an exam. CF2® holders are legally and ethically bound to act in their clients' best interests at all times, not just some of the time. Every advisor at Nelson Financial Planning holds this designation — not because they're required to, but because they chose to.
J.D. · Boston University
Series 7 · 24 · 27/28 · 51 · 66
General Securities Representative, General Securities Principal, Financial and Operations Principal, Municipal Fund Securities Principal, and State Securities Law. Registered with Nelson Ivest Brokerage Services, Inc. and Nelson Advisory Services, Inc.
University of Maine
Mechanical and Electrical Engineering. Prior career as an engineer at Central Maine Power Company. The analytical rigor from engineering shapes how Joel stress-tests retirement scenarios and constructs income plans built to last.
Vision 2050
Joel has built a firm-wide continuity plan — Vision 2050 — designed to carry Nelson Financial Planning through a third and potentially fourth generation of leadership. With roughly 50% of financial advisors expected to retire over the next decade, knowing your advisor's firm has a plan matters as much as knowing your advisor does.
Joel J. Garris is President and CEO of Nelson Financial Planning, Inc. and a FINRA Registered Representative with Nelson Ivest Brokerage Services, Inc. Investment advisory services through Nelson Advisory Services, Inc., a State of Florida registered investment advisor. Content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute personalized investment, tax, or legal advice.
