Financial Advisor
.Armed Forces & Veterans
Business Planning
Tax Efficient Planning
Healthcare Professionals
Retirement Planning
Business Owners
After retiring from the U.S. Army, I continued my commitment to serving others by helping individuals, families, retirees, and business owners navigate important financial decisions with confidence. As a Financial Advisor and Certified Exit Planning Advisor® (CEPA), I help clients create personalized strategies that align their finances with their goals, values, and future.
My career has always been centered on service. From my time in the Army to my work today as a financial advisor, I have been driven by a desire to help people move forward with confidence.
I understand that financial decisions can feel overwhelming, especially during major life transitions. That's why I enjoy helping clients simplify complex choices, understand their options, and develop a strategy that reflects what matters most to them.
Nothing is more rewarding than seeing a client gain clarity, feel confident about their future, and know they have a trusted partner they can rely on along the way.
I work with individuals, families, retirees, and business owners who want a trusted partner to help them make informed financial decisions.
For individuals and families, that may include retirement planning, investment strategies, life insurance, long-term care considerations, and creating a plan designed to support their goals and priorities.
As a Certified Exit Planning Advisor® (CEPA), I also help business owners think strategically about growth, succession, protecting business value, and aligning business decisions with personal financial objectives.
My approach is educational, relationship-focused, and built around understanding what matters most to you before recommending solutions.
My professional background includes military leadership, banking, program management, logistics and financial planning. Those experiences taught me the importance of preparation, discipline, communication and making thoughtful decisions when the stakes are high.
Today, I bring that same approach to helping clients navigate retirement planning, investment decisions, risk management, business planning and legacy goals. I believe every financial strategy should begin with understanding your priorities, identifying opportunities and creating a roadmap designed around the life you want to live.
As a Certified Exit Planning Advisor® (CEPA), I also help business owners think strategically about the future of their businesses and align business decisions with personal financial objectives.
My goal is to provide clear guidance, help simplify complex decisions and serve as a trusted resource through every stage of your financial journey.
Financial decisions often come with important questions, opportunities, and challenges. Whether you're preparing for retirement, evaluating your investments, planning for your family, or building the future of your business, you don't have to navigate those decisions alone.
My goal is to provide thoughtful guidance, honest conversations, and a planning process centered around your goals, values, and priorities.
I would welcome the opportunity to learn more about your story and explore how I can help you move forward with confidence.
Let's start a conversation.
✉️ Email me: michael.austin@thrivent.com
📞 Call me:828-760-3895
- Bachelors of Organizational Security and Management, Ashford University
- Certified Exit Planning Advisor®
- Series 7 - General Securities Representative
- Series 66 - Investment Adviser Representative
- Securities Industry Essentials
- Alabama
- Arizona
- California(Insurance Lic. #4463684)
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Louisiana
- Michigan
- Mississippi
- New York
- North Carolina
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Virginia
- Washington
- Wisconsin
Insights
Office locations
Licensing is available through your State Insurance Department’s website, which can be located through the National Association of Insurance Commissioners website.
Thrivent and its financial advisors and professionals do not provide legal, accounting or tax advice. Consult your attorney or tax professional.
Thrivent financial advisors and professionals have general knowledge of the Social Security tenets. For complete details on your situation, contact the Social Security Administration.
Thrivent provides advice and guidance through its Financial Planning Framework that generally includes a review and analysis of a client’s financial situation. A client may choose to further their planning engagement with Thrivent through its Dedicated Planning Services (an investment advisory service) that results in written recommendations for a fee.
Designations
For additional information on professional designations and the requirements to earn them, visit https://www.thrivent.com/designations
Thrivent and its financial advisors and professionals do not provide legal, accounting or tax advice. Consult your attorney or tax professional.
Thrivent financial advisors and professionals have general knowledge of the Social Security tenets. For complete details on your situation, contact the Social Security Administration.
Thrivent provides advice and guidance through its Financial Planning Framework that generally includes a review and analysis of a client’s financial situation. A client may choose to further their planning engagement with Thrivent through its Dedicated Planning Services (an investment advisory service) that results in written recommendations for a fee.
Designations
For additional information on professional designations and the requirements to earn them, visit https://www.thrivent.com/designations