James Estep
CFP®, CPPT
Everest Financial Advisors
Financial Advisor
James Estep
CFP®, CPPT
Everest Financial Advisors
Financial Advisor
As a fee-only financial planner, my focus is to offer unbiased financial advice to help you achieve your life goals. - James Estep, CFP®, CPPT
Fee-Only financial planner located in Cooper City, FL, serving clients locally and across the country

James Estep, CFP® is the second of two principals at Everest Financial Advisors in Cooper City. Mr. Estep specializes in financial planning for public sector employees. He holds his Series 3 and 65 licenses that are administered by FINRA. He also holds a BA from Barry University in Miami. James is active among the defined benefit community and holds the designation of Certified Public Pension Trustee.
James started his first career at a young age in the public sector as a firefighter in 1996. Years later as a result of his interest and involvement with his pension plan, a second career quickly emerged as a trusted financial advisor. “As someone that devotes his life to helping others, it only made sense that I continue this mission but just in a different way”, James explains. James enjoys helping individuals with their finances by providing comprehensive financial advice. James further explains that most of his clients are brothers and sisters in the fire and police service as well as teachers, in the Tri-County area. His in-depth experience and knowledge of Defined Benefit plans provide an advantage to his clients above other advisors across the country. “By focusing on clients that have a defined benefit plan we are able to provide our clients the value and quality they expect”, states James.
James currently resides in Cooper City, FL with his beautiful wife and his two energetic sons. He is still an active firefighter, currently occupying the position of Battalion Chief with the Miramar Fire Department. James is also the Chairman of the pension fund for the Miramar Firefighters. Early on as a trustee of the pension board, James knew that his love for financial services was something that could be shared with others. This led to James’ decision to get the formal education required to become a financial advisor.
In 2010 James had already received some experience as an advisor, but decided it was time to provide advice specifically to firefighters, police officers, and teachers by opening an independent firm with one other partner. Establishing this new firm would allow them to provide conflict free advice to their clients without having to “sell” products such as mutual funds or life insurance policies. In order to hold him and his firm to a higher standard, Mr. Estep embarked on becoming a Certified Financial Planning™ professional and successfully met the rigorous qualifications of the CFP® Board of Standards in 2012.
James continues to grow the firm mostly by word of mouth referrals. Mr. Estep explains that “financial planning involves a lot of trust in the advisor”. Mr. Estep feels that this is where he is different than every other advisor that he knows. The fact that he is a firefighter and he has chosen to be a CFP® professional provides a unique experience to the client.
James Estep is a Member of the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors

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.
NAPFA members live by three important values:
- To be the beacon for independent, objective financial advice for individuals and families.
- To be the champion of financial services delivered in the public interest.
- To be the standard bearer for the emerging profession of financial planning.
Our focus is increasing financial awareness and developing sustainable retirement income strategies for our clients.
Our process is designed to address the most pressing needs for Municipal, County, and State workers as well as healthcare providers during their accumulation years or transitioning into retirement. We understand that everyone’s situation is unique and we are prepared to help you address this. Whether you are in the first half of the game or the second half, we are prepared to give you the advice that best suits your needs.
Our expertise in Defined Benefit Pensions, DROP, and 457/403b plans allows us to develop tax-efficient, predictable, and sustainable income streams to meet the needs of each and every client. We welcome you to our site and look forward to working closely with you to achieve all your financial goals and dreams.
Fee-Only, Fiduciary, Independent: Three Important Criteria to Consider When Choosing a Financial Advisor.
Specialties
- Comprehensive Financial Planning
- Retirement Income Planning
- Investment Management
- College Education Planning
- Tax Planning
Ideal Clients
- Retirees and Near Retirees
- Growing Families
- Business Owners and Executives
- Sudden Money Situations
- Novice Investors
Working Together
- In-Office Meetings
- Virtual Meetings
- Clearly Defined Fees
- No Product Sales
- Complimentary Initial Consultation
Professional Designations & Affiliations
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James Estep 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.
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James Estep 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.
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James Estep is a Member of the XY Planning Network
The XY Planning Network is the leading organization of fee-only financial advisors who are focused on working with Generation X and Generation Y clients. Our mission is to connect consumers with best-in-class financial advisors who specialize in working with clients just like you.
Contact James Estep
Office Locations:
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9720 Stirling Rd
Suite 107
Cooper City, FL 33024