David L. Blaydes, MS, CFP^®, AIF^®, BFA

David L. Blaydes, MS, CFP®, AIF®, BFA, is the founder and CEO of Retirement Planners International, Inc., (RPI), and has been successfully engaged in the financial planning industry since 1977. His background and experience allows him to offer comprehensive financial life planning to help people live their life by design instead of default. Mr. Blaydes' emphasis is on transition planning whether it be to another job or into retirement, most often in conjunction with outplacement services. He has assisted many Fortune 500 companies’ through seminars and webinars as well as one-on-one meetings to help people live their one best life with financial security. 

David earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Business from Olivet, as well as a Master's of Science in Personal Financial Planning from the College for Financial Planning. Additionally he is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP® ), an Accredited Investment Fiduciary (AIF®), certified Behavior Financial Advisor (BFA) and is a member of the Financial Planning Association (FPA). Whether you are in between jobs, working through an outplacement firm, or transitioning into retirement, he understands the importance of a goals-based planning process and will be guiding your decisions based on an educational plan based approach. You will always feel as if you are his client, not your money. 

David and the RPI team have shared their knowledge with multiple appearances on several TV shows such as The NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw, and Smart Money; on WLS Radio as co-host of American's Wealth Management show, and has been highlighted in newspapers such as Crain's Chicago Business, the Daily Herald and The Chicago Sun Times. In 2013, Mr. Blaydes was named Financial Planner Pro Bono Planner of the Year * landing him on the cover of Financial Planning magazine. He is also the author of, I Just Lost My Job, Now What, a Guide To Financial Survival After Losing Your Job. 

David resides in Naperville, IL with his wife Susan. They have lived in Naperville since 1985, raising their four children Bridgette, Lauren, Megan and JD and are proud grandparents of Brooke, Dylan, Owen & Levi. 

*Award receipt is not indicative of investment performance.