Lucas Mann

Welcome! I’m Brett, and I’m glad you’re here. I’m a proud born and raised Buffalonian passionate about helping others make the most of their money and their lives as they navigate the transition into retirement. In 2019, I founded Eudaimonia Wealth; a fee-only financial planning firm in Buffalo, NY dedicated to helping local families retire on their terms by providing independent, objective advice. At Eudaimonia Wealth, we realize we can’t be all things to all people and don’t pretend to be. We specialize in helping people who are at or near retirement and need help putting the pieces together. We partner with families to help them generate income from their savings, optimize their investments, and create a tax-efficient distribution plan that supports their needs. Eudaimonia (pronounced you-day-mo-nia) is a term from Greek philosophy used to describe an ultimate state that could be achieved by living a life of meaning, purpose, and fulfillment. It was considered to be a state of “peak performance in the art of living,” and represents to the core what I believe real financial planning is all about.

I am so glad you are here! My name is Jeff Arber, the founder of Triple Play Planning. I am a lifelong Western New Yorker with a knack for helping people organize and plan out their complex financial life. Money was always important to me. While I can’t quite pinpoint why, I knew that when I grew up, I didn’t want money (or lack thereof) to be a problem. About 15 years ago, I decided to investigate a career switch to financial services. Those years of experience through the various channels of financial advisement has led me to this point. I am very excited to introduce you to the type of firm I have always wanted to create. What I hear most often from clients I work with is that they are happy they have someone to help guide them to through the gradually increasing complexity of their financial lives. Several of us set up our 401k’s one time and forget about it. Set up a 529 plan when the kids were born, but haven’t looked at it since? Should I consider a Roth contribution over a 529 plan? What are the tax consequences of these decisions? Restricted stock options, what are those? These are all the things we talk over and help you navigate. Of all the things in my life, my family is the most important. I am the proud husband of an awesome wife, Brooke, and the proud Dad of Nolan and Everett. Brooke and I came from different money philosophies. We have worked hard to find a common ground and have a system that works for us both. Nolan is headed to college soon, and Everett will be there soon enough as well. If any of these things resonate with you, let’s chat about it. I am always happy to pass on my life experiences and learnings to help you get on track.

I founded Capital Insights Group of WNY, an independent Registered Investment Advisory (RIA) firm offering fee-only financial planning and investment management, located in downtown Buffalo, NY. I act as a fiduciary for all of my clients and provide financial guidance that is unique to their needs and situation. Please contact me at chris@cigwny.com or (716) 517-0140 to arrange for a complimentary one-hour meeting to discuss your goals and circumstances.

Blake Dougherty is a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in Williamsville, New York. Since joining the firm in 2015, he has focused on understanding the priorities of individuals, families, and businesses to provide personalized attention and customized investment management strategies. Blake leverages the investment capabilities of Merrill Lynch Wealth Management alongside the banking resources of Bank of America to support clients in addressing various aspects of their financial lives. Blake works closely with clients to identify key goals such as education funding, tax minimization, retirement planning, and wealth preservation. His expertise encompasses corporate benefits, executive compensation, family wealth management, liquidity management, and retirement income strategies, among other areas. His approach involves crafting disciplined strategies aimed at helping clients build, manage, and preserve wealth for current and future generations. Blake earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from Bentley University in Waltham, Massachusetts, where he also played Division I Ice Hockey for four years. He holds professional designations including CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Benefits Consultant (RBC). Outside of his professional life, Blake enjoys football, golfing, ice hockey, watching movies, and practicing yoga.

Daryl Planter is a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He began his career in financial services in 1992 and has since focused on managing individual wealth through various market cycles. Daryl is experienced in advising clients on a range of areas including divorce transition planning, family wealth management strategies, portfolio management services, small business strategies, individual and corporate investment strategy, tax minimization, and retirement income. Daryl holds multiple professional designations, including CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). He earned a bachelor's degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo. Known for his comprehensive approach to wealth management, Daryl emphasizes understanding each client’s individual goals to develop tailored strategies. He is also a frequent speaker on investment planning for retirement, which remains a primary focus for his practice. In addition to his professional activities, Daryl participates in community service through volunteering with local organizations.

Chris Sebastian is a Wealth Management Advisor and Managing Director at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He began his career with Merrill Lynch in 1991 and currently leads a 14-person team that provides a family office-like experience to a diverse client base, including executives, doctors, attorneys, and entrepreneurs. As managing partner of the group, Chris oversees the team’s strategic initiatives and the execution of its business plan. With over 30 years of experience, Chris focuses on serving affluent individuals and their families by designing tailored strategies that address their unique financial circumstances. His expertise includes executive compensation, equity compensation services, family wealth management strategies, institutional consulting, liquidity management, personal retirement planning, portfolio management, tax minimization, and retirement income planning. Chris and his team emphasize intellectual rigor, customization, and committed service to help clients manage the complexities and opportunities of substantial wealth. Chris holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business from Clarkson University and holds the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation. Outside of his professional role, he has personal interests in gardening, softball, and tennis.