Skinner Wealth Strategies

Financial Planning for Pre-Retirees & Gartner Employees

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What We Do

Our Services

Pre Retirees and Retirees

We help successful, industrious people maximize their savings and create intentional strategies for their financial futures. Our services include:

Investment Management

  • Keep investment cost low
  • Focus on Quality
  • Build the right mix, based on established research, aligning with your income needs
  • Own Tax efficient investments

Social Security Strategy

  • Analyze filing age specific to your plan
  • Understand how social security will be impacted by your other income sources
  • How to protect a spouse’s survivor benefit

Retirement Income

  • Optimize for taxes
  • Implement academically proven approach based on income guardrails and investment buckets
  • Protect your nest egg in case you need it later it life
  • Maximize income so you can enjoy retirement to its fullest
  • Reduce portfolio risk
  • Taking all income sources into account, to get the most from each

Tax Planning

  • Review annual tax return and provide analysis
  • Roth conversion planning annually
  • Planning to avoid your Medicare premium spiking
  • Coordination and timing of different income streams
  • Health Insurance Tax credit to significantly offset the cost health insurance if you want to retire before 65

Retirement Planning

  • Retirement readiness analysis
  • Scenario planning
  • Tax planning at every step, reducing your bill
  • Coordinated investment strategy to make the money last
  • Bringing together a lifetime of pieces, into one plan
  • Strategies for a hybrid retirement to get you started early, but out of a stressful late career role

Insurance Optimization

  • Review your risk exposure
  • Help you save money and improve coverage
  • Introduce you to qualified outside resources to shop it when you need to

Our Services

Current and Former Gartner Employees

We help successful, industrious Gartner employees maximize their savings and create intentional strategies for their financial futures. Our services include:

Investment Management

  • Keep investment cost low
  • Focus on Quality
  • Build the right mix, based on established research, aligning with your income needs
  • Own Tax efficient investments
  • Options other than cookie cutter target date strategy in the 401k

Optimization of Gartner Benefits

  • Implementing our specialized knowledge of Gartner benefits on your behalf
  • Optimal usage of the 401k plan, ESPP, Deferred Comp, HSA and Equity comp
  • Savings strategy for high earners
  • Maximization of Gartner Life, LTC and Disability benefits to protect your family

Retirement Income

  • Optimize for taxes
  • Implement academically proven approach based on income guardrails and investment buckets
  • Protect your nest egg in case you need it later it life
  • Maximize income so you can enjoy retirement to its fullest
  • Reduce portfolio risk
  • Taking all income sources into account, to get the most from each

Tax Planning

  • Review annual tax return and provide analysis
  • Roth conversion planning annually
  • Planning to avoid your Medicare premium spiking
  • Coordination and timing of different income streams
  • Planning for Health Insurance Tax credit to significantly offset the cost health insurance if you want to retire before 65

Retirement Planning

  • Retirement readiness analysis
  • Scenario planning
  • Tax planning at every step, reducing your bill
  • Coordinated investment strategy to make the money last
  • Bringing together a lifetime of pieces, into one plan
  • Crafting a Hybrid Retirement to transition earlier from a busy corporate life

Insurance Optimization

  • Review your risk exposure
  • Help you save money and improve coverage
  • Review group coverage offered by Gartner
  • Introduce you to outside resources to shop it when you need to
  • If you’re a high earner – how to protect your family

Brian P. Skinner

Brian P. Skinner, CFP®, CRPC®

Financial Planner

Professional Philosophy

Brian is a dedicated financial planner who is passionate about retirement and investment planning. He is internally driven, every day, to make the experience and the firm, the best in the industry. He specializes in tax-sensitive retirement and income distribution planning for individuals and families aged 50+, helping them navigate the transition from saving for retirement to spending in retirement. His approach integrates investment management, risk planning, and tax-efficient strategies into comprehensive financial plans tailored to clients’ unique goals.

He believes deeply in the value that linking investment, tax, and income planning together provides in his pursuit of helping clients attain financial flexibility and retire confidently.

Industry Awards & Designations

Brian’s expertise and dedication have earned him notable recognition within the financial planning industry. In 2024, he was honored with the Forbes Best-in-State Next Gen award for financial advisors in Connecticut. He holds the prestigious Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®) certification and the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC®) designation, underscoring his commitment to professional excellence and fiduciary responsibility.

The Forbes ranking of Top Next-Generation Wealth Advisors, developed by SHOOK Research, is based on an algorithm of qualitative and quantitative data, rating thousands of wealth advisors born in or after 1980. Advisors are interviewed by telephone and in person to evaluate service models, investing process, experience levels and integrity. Additional factors considered include compliance record, client retention, revenues produced for their firms and assets managed. Portfolio performance is not a criterion due to varying client objectives and lack of audited data. Neither Forbes nor SHOOK receives a fee in exchange for rankings.

Education & Background

Brian grew up with his family in Orange, CT, moving through the local school system and eventually graduating from the University of Connecticut; he actively expands his industry knowledge through daily continuing education efforts, ensuring he remains at the forefront of financial planning strategies. His passion for educating others extends beyond his practice; he has taught classes on retirement planning, tax strategies, and smart investing across numerous towns in Connecticut.

Personal Passions & Community Engagement

Brian resides in Milford, CT, where he is deeply involved in the community. He is an active member of the Milford Rotary Club and has served as Corporator of Milford Bank and formerly as Corporator of Milford Hospital. Beyond his professional endeavors, Brian enjoys reading, perfecting his golf swing, and spending time with his wife, Kristine, and their son, Graham Skinner. He loves to put Graham in the hiking backpack to get outside to explore and embrace nature. Brian’s commitment to community involvement reflects his belief in fostering meaningful personal and professional connections.

Brian with his wife and their son at 4 month old
Brian hold his son with snow
Brian with his wife and their son as a toddler with Santa
Brian feeding his young son
Brian with his son in a hiking kid backpack on a hiking trail
Brian with his wife at a wedding
Jeff Costa

Jeff Costa, CFP®

Financial Planner

At Skinner Wealth Strategies, we understand that navigating the world of finance can be overwhelming. That’s where Jeffrey comes in. As a Certified Financial Planner with a passion for crafting tax-sensitive financial plans and investment strategies, Jeffrey is dedicated to helping you achieve your financial goals.

Jeffrey joined the Skinner Wealth Strategies team in February 2025, bringing with him a wealth of experience from his previous roles. He served as a financial advisor and portfolio manager at Scholtz and Co, enhancing his expertise in managing investments for diverse client needs. Before that, he honed his skills as a Trust & Investment Officer at First County Advisors for four years, and started his career in 2009 at Barnum Financial Group, where he first discovered his passion for guiding clients through their financial journeys.

Holding a B.A. in Economics and Political Science from the University of Connecticut, Jeffrey has been a Certified Financial Planner since 2017. His extensive knowledge and approachable demeanor make him an invaluable resource as you make important decisions about your financial future.

Outside of work, Jeffrey balances his professional drive with family life in Fairfield, CT, where he combines his love for travel, cooking, and water sports. He understands that life is about creating memorable experiences and is committed to helping you fund those dreams.

Jessie Morotto

Jessie Morotto, FPQP®

Operations Manager

Jessie joined the team in 2017 and has had experience in the insurance industry since 2014. As a licensed Operations Manager, her focus is on assisting clients during their financial planning and asset management experience. She is our first point of contact, handles many different service requests and keeps everything running smoothly.

Jessie is an avid traveler, when you meet her ask her about where she’s been and where she plans on going. When she’s not working or on an airplane, you can typically find her doing yoga, reading, or with her friends and family.

Margo Bivins

Margo Bivins

Relationship Manager

Margo joined the team in 2022 and has had 23 years of experience in the insurance industry.

As our relationship manager, her focus is to bring the highest level of service to our clients assisting you however she can. Her goal is to “WOW” you with our service.  Margo looks forward to building meaningful and productive client relationships.

 Margo enjoys traveling. For her, a good day is a beach day, with great friends. She loves spending quality time with family and friends and always enjoys a great Zumba or HITT workout.

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