Five Star award winner Steve Meeks, RFC®, CCFS®

Why the Right Retirement Planning Partner Matters

Retirement planning today is about so much more than just saving — it's about strategically managing what you've built to make it last a lifetime and beyond.

Whether you're approaching retirement or already retired, the right financial partner can help you create a reliable income plan, protect against rising healthcare costs, minimize taxes legally and effectively, and safeguard your legacy for future generations.

You wouldn’t build a house without a blueprint — so why step into retirement without a solid plan? A true retirement strategy isn’t just about investments; it’s about making sure your money supports your lifestyle, covers your medical needs, and works smarter to minimize the impact of taxes and unexpected risks.

At Interlinc Financial Advisors, we specialize in helping retirees and pre-retirees:

Create reliable, predictable income for every stage of retirement
Plan for healthcare and nursing care needs so future expenses don't derail your lifestyle
Reduce taxes in retirement through smart, legal strategies, keeping more of your money working for you by disinheriting the IRS and IRMAA
Design thoughtful estate and legacy plans to protect your family and avoid unnecessary burdens such as the widow's penalty
Manage financial risks — from market volatility, inflation, longevity risk, legislative risk, tax risk, to medical risk — so you can retire with confidence

Financial planning for retirement is not something to take lightly. The expertise a retirement-focused advisor brings to the table can make the difference between simply "getting by" and flourishing throughout your retirement years.

You're an expert in what you do. We’re experts in helping people like you navigate the complex world of retirement. By working together, you’ll have a clear, customized path — and one less thing to worry about.

If you haven’t created your retirement blueprint yet, now is the time. The sooner you start, the more options you have to secure the future you've worked so hard for.

At Interlinc, our goal is simple: to help you enjoy the retirement you’ve earned, with confidence, clarity, and control over your financial future.

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This award was issued on 07/01/2025 by Five Star Professional (FSP) for the time period 10/09/2024 through 05/01/2025. Fee paid for use of marketing materials. Self-completed questionnaire was used for rating. This rating is not related to the quality of the investment advice and based solely on the disclosed criteria. 4405 Dallas/Fort Worth-area wealth managers were considered for the award; 315 (7 % of candidates) were named 2025 Five Star Wealth Managers. The following prior year statistics use this format: YEAR: # Considered, # Winners, % of candidates, Issued Date, Research Period. 2024: 4,255, 342, 8%, 7/1/24, 10/10/23 - 4/30/24; 2023: 4,274, 336, 7.9%, 7/1/23, 10/10/22 - 5/5/23; 2022: 4039, 330, 8%, 7/1/22, 9/20/21 - 4/8/22; 2021: 4007, 323, 8%, 7/1/21, 9/21/20 - 4/30/21; 2020: 4374, 335, 8%, 7/1/20, 10/7/19 - 4/24/20; 2019: 3899, 393, 10%, 7/1/19, 10/22/18 - 5/3/19; 2018: 3851, 338, 9%, 7/1/18, 10/24/17 - 5/21/18; 2017: 2730, 382, 14%, 7/1/17, 9/26/16 - 4/28/17; 2016: 2471, 678, 27%, 6/1/16, 11/30/15 - 5/18/16; 2015: 2862, 684, 24%, 7/1/15, 11/30/14 - 5/18/15; 2014: 5080, 621, 12%, 7/1/14, 11/30/13 - 5/18/14; 2013: 3834, 698, 18%, 7/1/13, 11/30/12 - 5/18/13; 2012: 2688, 654, 24%, 7/1/12, 11/30/11 - 5/18/12.

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Investment advisory services offered through Interlinc Financial Advisors, Inc., a registered investment advisor. Insurance products and services are offered through Interlinc Insurance Group., an affiliated company.

Wealth managers do not pay a fee to be considered or placed on the final list of Five Star Wealth Managers. The award is based on 10 objective criteria. Eligibility criteria - required: 1. Credentialed as a registered investment adviser (RIA) or a registered investment adviser representative; 2. Actively licensed as a RIA or as a principal of a registered investment adviser firm for a minimum of 5 years; 3. Favorable regulatory and complaint history review (As defined by FSP, the wealth manager has not; A. Been subject to a regulatory action that resulted in a license being suspended or revoked, or payment of a fine; B. Had more than a total of three settled or pending complaints filed against them and/or a total of five settled, pending, dismissed or denied complaints with any regulatory authority or FSP's consumer complaint process. Unfavorable feedback may have been discovered through a check of complaints registered with a regulatory authority or complaints registered through FSP's consumer complaint process; feedback may not be representative of any one client's experience; C. Individually contributed to a financial settlement of a customer complaint; D. Filed for personal bankruptcy within the past 11 years; E. Been terminated from a financial services firm within the past 11 years; F. Been convicted of a felony); 4. Fulfilled their firm review based on internal standards; 5. Accepting new clients. Evaluation criteria - considered: 6. One-year client retention rate; 7. Five-year client retention rate; 8. Non-institutional discretionary and/or non-discretionary client assets administered; 9. Number of client households served; 10. Education and professional designations. FSP does not evaluate quality of services provided to clients. The award is not indicative of the wealth manager's future performance. Wealth managers may or may not use discretion in their practice and therefore may not manage their clients' assets. The inclusion of a wealth manager on the Five Star Wealth Manager list should not be construed as an endorsement of the wealth manager by FSP or this publication. Working with a Five Star Wealth Manager or any wealth manager is no guarantee as to future investment success, nor is there any guarantee that the selected wealth managers will be awarded this accomplishment by FSP in the future. Visit www.fivestarprofessional.com.