Paladin Wealth Services · Naples, FL
Fiduciary Financial Advisor in Naples, FL
Independent guidance built around your family, your future, and your legacy. Paladin Wealth Services helps pre-retirees, retirees, and legacy-minded families coordinate retirement, investments, taxes, estate planning, and the financial decisions that shape the life they are building.
100% family-owned. Independent. Fiduciary. No outside shareholders influencing how your family is served.
Complimentary introductory conversation. No obligation. An opportunity to see if we are the best fit.
Matthew A. Chlopek, CRPC®
Founder & Wealth Advisor
Our Allegiance is to Your Dreams
Who We Help
You May Be in the Right Place If You Are Asking...
These are the questions that bring families to Paladin Wealth Services. If any of them sound familiar, the sections below describe how we help.
"Have I saved enough to retire?"
"How do I turn my investments into retirement income?"
"Am I overlooking tax opportunities?"
"Is my estate plan coordinated with my financial plan?"
"How do I prepare my children to inherit responsibly?"
"Does my current advisor really understand the whole picture?"
Meet the Advisor
Meet the Advisor Behind Paladin
After working inside some of the country's largest financial institutions, Matthew founded Paladin Wealth Services to build the kind of advisory relationship he believed families deserved: independent, deeply personal, comprehensive, and built around their interests rather than corporate priorities.
His career includes experience at Bank of America Merrill Lynch and Fidelity Investments, where he led a team serving high-net-worth clients. Those years revealed both the strengths and the limitations of the large-firm model, and ultimately inspired him to create something different.
Most advisory firms are built for scale. Paladin is built for depth.
Matthew A. Chlopek
Founder & Wealth Advisor
Read Matthew's Story"We take the necessary time to understand what matters most to you, from your family and values to your finances, concerns, goals, and legacy, so your plan is personal, purposeful, and built around your life."
The Paladin Approach
Depth over scale. Independence over conformity. Your family over corporate priorities.
How We Help
Comprehensive Guidance for Naples Families
Paladin Wealth Services helps evaluate, coordinate, and align the major areas of your financial life. Each engagement is tailored to your values, goals, and legacy objectives.
Retirement Planning
Retirement income strategies, Social Security timing, and withdrawal planning designed to support your lifestyle.
Tax Planning
Tax-aware strategies including Roth conversion analysis, charitable giving optimization, and withdrawal sequencing.
Investment Management
Customized portfolio construction using an open-architecture approach.
Estate Planning
Coordination with estate attorneys on wills, trusts, beneficiary designations, and wealth transfer strategies.
Legacy Planning
Aligning financial decisions with family values, charitable intent, and generational wealth transfer goals.
Cash Flow Planning
Budgeting, debt management, and spending analysis designed to help your daily financial decisions support long-term goals.
The Paladin Difference
The Paladin Standard
Most advisory firms are built for scale. Paladin is built for depth. Understanding the difference helps you evaluate which model fits your family.
Paladin
- Family-owned, no outside investors influencing recommendations
- Built for depth, not scale
- Open architecture: evaluates solutions across multiple providers
- Fewer relationships, greater depth per family
- Advice centered on your family's best interest
- Next-generation support and education
Traditional Large-Firm Model
- Shareholder-owned with quarterly profit targets
- Built for scale and efficiency
- May face incentives to use proprietary or affiliated products
- Larger client rosters across branch network
- Corporate priorities may also influence the model
- Often account-focused rather than relationship-focused
This comparison describes general business model differences. Individual advisors at any firm may act ethically and in client interests regardless of firm structure. Paladin Wealth Services can reduce certain compensation-related conflicts; conflicts may still exist. Review Form ADV and ask about fiduciary status before hiring any advisor.[1]
Service Area
Proudly Based in the Heart of Naples
780 Fifth Avenue South, Suite 200, Naples, FL 34102
Serving families throughout Naples, Marco Island, Bonita Springs, Pelican Bay, Port Royal, Grey Oaks, Park Shore, Quail Creek, and communities across Collier and Lee counties in Southwest Florida.
Getting Started
Your First Conversation
Many people wonder what happens after they reach out. Here is what to expect.
Tell Us What's On Your Mind
We learn about your family, goals, concerns, and what prompted you to reach out. This is a conversation, not a sales pitch.
Explore the Bigger Picture
We discuss where you are today and where greater coordination or clarity may be valuable across retirement, investments, taxes, estate, and legacy.
Decide Whether We're a Fit
There is no pressure to move forward. The goal is simply to determine whether Paladin is the right partner for your family.
Complimentary introductory conversation. No obligation.
Understanding Fiduciary Duty
What Is a Fiduciary Financial Advisor?
A fiduciary financial advisor is a professional legally required to act in the client's best interest at all times. Under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, registered investment advisers owe a federal fiduciary duty to every client, which includes a duty of care and a duty of loyalty. This standard requires the advisor to disclose conflicts of interest, avoid self-dealing, and provide recommendations supported by appropriate analysis.[1]
Florida's Office of Financial Regulation similarly requires investment advisers registered in the state to act in the best interest of clients, avoid conflicts, and provide full and fair disclosure.[2] Paladin Wealth Services operates as an independent, fiduciary advisory firm in Naples, FL. The firm is 100% family-owned, with no outside investors or shareholders influencing how clients are served.
Due Diligence
How to Evaluate a Financial Advisor
Before hiring any financial advisor, ask direct questions and verify their answers independently. The SEC requires registered investment advisers to file Form ADV, which discloses fee structures, conflicts of interest, disciplinary history, and business practices. You can look up any adviser's Form ADV through the SEC's Investment Adviser Public Disclosure system.[1]
Red Flags to Watch For
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a fiduciary better than a financial advisor?
Not all financial advisors are fiduciaries. A fiduciary is legally required to act in your best interest, while some advisors operate under a suitability standard, meaning recommendations only need to be "suitable" for your situation. The fiduciary standard is generally considered a higher level of client protection, though fiduciary advisors may still have conflicts that require disclosure. Ask any advisor whether they serve as a fiduciary at all times and request that commitment in writing.
What is the average cost of a fiduciary financial advisor?
Financial advisor fees vary by firm, service model, and account size. Common structures include a percentage of assets under management (typically ranging from approximately 0.5% to 1.5% annually), flat fees for specific planning engagements, or hourly rates for project-based work. Florida does not impose additional state-level fees on advisory services. Paladin Wealth Services discusses fee arrangements transparently, customizing pricing for each family's needs.
Is $500,000 enough to work with a financial advisor?
There is no universal minimum asset level for working with a financial advisor. Some firms set minimums based on their service model and capacity, while others serve clients at various wealth levels. The value of advisory services often depends more on the complexity of your financial situation, your goals, and the comprehensiveness of the planning provided than on a specific account size. Contact Paladin Wealth Services to discuss whether the firm's services align with your needs.
What is a red flag for a financial advisor?
Red flags include guarantees of specific investment returns, pressure to purchase proprietary products, reluctance to provide Form ADV, vague explanations of compensation, and unwillingness to put a fiduciary commitment in writing. Additional warning signs include disciplinary history on the FINRA BrokerCheck or SEC records, and promises that any investment is "risk-free." Verify an advisor's registration status and disciplinary record through the SEC's Investment Adviser Public Disclosure system before hiring.
What is the downside of using a fiduciary?
Fiduciary advisors are held to a high legal standard, but that does not eliminate all conflicts of interest. A fiduciary must disclose conflicts, but some may still exist depending on how the advisor is compensated, what products they recommend, and their business structure. Additionally, fiduciary status does not guarantee specific investment outcomes, and fees for fiduciary advice may be higher than those of some non-fiduciary alternatives. The key is to understand how your advisor is compensated, what conflicts exist, and whether you receive a written fiduciary commitment.
What does a fiduciary financial advisor do?
A fiduciary financial advisor provides comprehensive financial planning and investment management services while being legally obligated to act in the client's best interest. Services typically include retirement income planning, tax-aware strategy development, portfolio management, estate planning coordination, and cash flow analysis. The fiduciary standard requires the advisor to disclose conflicts of interest, avoid self-dealing, and ensure recommendations are impartial and supported by appropriate analysis.
Is it worth paying for a financial advisor?
Whether advisory services are worth the cost depends on your individual situation, the complexity of your financial life, and the value you place on professional guidance. A financial advisor may help with retirement income planning, tax strategy, estate coordination, and investment management, though no advisor can guarantee specific outcomes. For many families, the value lies in having a coordinated plan and a professional to consult during significant financial decisions. Others may find that self-directed approaches suit their needs.
Get Started
Your Financial Life Deserves More Than a Template
Whether you are approaching retirement, navigating a major financial decision, or simply wondering whether there is a better way to coordinate your wealth, a conversation is a good place to begin.
No pressure. Just an opportunity to discuss what's important to you and determine whether Paladin may be the right fit.
780 Fifth Avenue South, Suite 200, Naples, FL 34102 | Welcome@PaladinWS.com
Our Allegiance is to Your Dreams
Sources: Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and SEC registration guidance (sec.gov); Florida Office of Financial Regulation (flofr.com); FINRA BrokerCheck (brokercheck.finra.org); Florida tax data via Perplexity Finance, as of August 2026. SEC registration thresholds current as of August 2026 per 17 CFR 275.203A-1.
Not Ready for a Conversation Yet?
Take your time. Explore what Paladin is about, and come back when you are ready.