Brian Bickett, CFP®, EA
Founder & Financial Planner
Helping you bring clarity to the financial decisions that shape your retirement.
In the Office
As the founder of Iron Mountain Financial Planning, I work with people approaching and living in retirement to help them make thoughtful decisions about their financial future.
Retirement planning isn’t simply about choosing investments. It’s about understanding how all the pieces of your financial life fit together—retirement income, investments, taxes, Social Security, spending, and the goals that matter most to you.
I believe my role is to help make those decisions easier to understand and less overwhelming.
My goal isn’t to tell you what you should do and send you on your way. It’s to help you understand your options, consider the tradeoffs, and make decisions with confidence.
Because ultimately, the purpose of a financial plan isn’t the plan itself.
It’s the life that plan is designed to support.
Behind the Scenes
One of the things I enjoy most about financial planning is helping people move from uncertainty to understanding. Retirement can bring a lot of questions.
- Will I have enough?
- How much can I spend?
- When should I claim Social Security?
- How can I reduce my taxes?
- How should I invest now that I’m retired?
- What happens if something doesn’t go according to plan?
You don’t have to know all the answers before you come to us. My job is to help you work through those questions, understand the choices in front of you, and develop a plan that can adapt as your life changes.
I believe financial planning should ultimately give you something more valuable than a collection of charts and projections.
It should give you confidence in what comes next.
“We each have our unique way of serving others. For me, it’s helping clients navigate the often complex and emotional process of retirement planning. My goal is to lift that weight off their shoulders, giving them the confidence to enjoy the life they’ve worked so hard to build. Because when the financial details are handled, the real focus can be on what truly matters—and that’s never just about money.”
Professional Designations & Affiliations
Brian Bickett is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Professional – Click for Verification
CFP® professionals are held to strict ethical standards to ensure financial planning recommendations are in your best interest. What’s more, a CFP® professional must acquire several years of experience related to delivering financial planning services to clients and pass the comprehensive CFP® Certification Exam before they can use the CFP® designation.
Brian Bickett is a NAPFA-Registered Financial Advisor
The National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA) is a leading professional association of Fee-Only financial advisors—highly trained professionals who are committed to working in the best interests of those they serve.
Brian Bickett is an Enrolled Agent (EA) – Click to Verify and Learn More
Enrolled Agents are federally licensed tax professionals authorized by the IRS to represent taxpayers in all matters related to taxation. This designation demonstrates a high level of expertise in tax planning and preparation, allowing Brian to help clients navigate complex tax decisions and keep more of what they’ve earned throughout retirement.
Life Beyond the Office
Nicole and I met in Gillette, Wyoming, and eventually made our way to Rapid City in search of a better work-life balance.
We quickly fell in love with the Black Hills—the beauty, the community, and the opportunities to get outside—and we’ve been proud to call the area home ever since.
These days, life outside of Iron Mountain revolves largely around our two kids, Ellie and Jackson. When I’m not working with clients, you’ll often find me spending time with family, cheering on the kids at their activities, exploring trails on dirt bikes, camping, hunting, or supporting our church family.
For me, those things are a good reminder of why financial planning matters in the first place.
Money is a tool. The goal is to use it intentionally so you have the freedom and confidence to spend your time on the people, experiences, and things that matter most.
From Engineer to Financial Planner
My path to financial planning wasn’t a straight line.
I studied mechanical engineering at South Dakota Mines and went on to work in industries ranging from mining to software consulting. Those experiences taught me to approach complex problems thoughtfully, look at how the pieces fit together, and find practical solutions—skills I still draw on today when helping clients navigate their financial lives.
The turning point came when I helped my mother navigate Social Security after my father passed away. That experience showed me firsthand how confusing and emotional financial decisions can become, and opened my eyes to the difference thoughtful financial planning can make.
In 2017, I founded Iron Mountain Financial Planning to provide advice centered on the client rather than financial products. Moving from a commissioned model to a fee-only fiduciary model was a deliberate choice, reflecting my belief that clients deserve objective advice that puts their interests first.
Today, I combine my analytical background, financial planning experience, and tax knowledge to help clients make sense of the complexities of retirement—and make decisions with greater confidence.
Start Your Journey & Retire With Confidence
You don't have to have everything figured out before you get started.
Whether retirement is still a few years away or you're already living in retirement, the right planning can help you feel more confident about the decisions ahead.