Michael Brady didn’t take the conventional route into financial advising. His journey started in music, playing in bands and chasing a dream that, as he puts it, “was going nowhere.” By 21, he knew he needed a new path. That path eventually led him to finance—a career that not only gave him financial stability but also a mission: to help others gain financial clarity.
“I grew up in a rough neighborhood where you locked the doors at stoplights,” Michael recalls. “My dad always thought winning the lottery was the way out. That gave me my first lesson in financial planning—there had to be a better way.”
Building a Career, Then Breaking Away
Michael cut his teeth in the industry working for a firm with a strong focus on recruiting and life insurance sales. While he built a book of business, it wasn’t until the COVID pandemic that he had the time to reflect on what he really wanted.
“I kept meeting independent advisors, and I was super attracted to that path,” he says. “I started listening to The Advisor Journey podcast from Altruist, and I became obsessed with learning about independence.”
That learning quickly turned into action. By early 2024, Michael had launched Clarity Advisors. The transition wasn’t easy; his former employer immediately cut off his access to client records, but he pressed forward.
“I got approved by New York State two days later and called Christine Miller at Altruist. I basically said, ‘Please take me!’” he recalls. “She connected me with a dedicated resource, and the transition was seamless.”
A Client-First Approach (Without the Red Tape)
For Michael, independence means serving clients better.
“At my old firm, when clients would ask about estate planning, the answer was, ‘We don’t handle that.’ But why wouldn’t we? We fought so hard to earn their trust, only to tell them to go talk to someone else,” he says. “I knew I needed to offer a more complete service.”
Clarity Advisors was built to provide just that: holistic financial planning with no barriers. His clients range from everyday investors rolling over 401(k)s to business owners preparing for multi-million-dollar exits.
“My ideal clients are business owners looking to exit,” he says. “I’ve watched clients leave money on the table because they didn’t plan properly. I want to make sure that doesn’t happen.”
Why Altruist?
Michael knew he needed a custodial platform that wouldn’t just support his vision, but accelerate it.
“Altruist was an easy choice,” he says. “The tech is incredible, but it’s the service that really won me over. When I was transitioning, Danny Ellison at Altruist treated every single account—big or small—like it mattered. I moved 60% of my clients over in just 90 days, despite my former custodian requiring physical signatures. This transition more than doubled my monthly income.”
Beyond the transition, Altruist’s efficiency has freed up time for Michael to focus on clients rather than back-office headaches.
“Opening accounts in minutes, live chat support—those things make a difference,” he says. “I even showed one of my skeptical clients the live chat feature in person, and she was blown away. She’d spent years being on hold with legacy custodians.”
The Future of Clarity Advisors
Michael has big plans for his firm. Locally, he dreams of owning a classic brick building that houses Clarity Advisors, his wife’s Italian market and wine bar, and an event space for client education.
“Hospitality is a big part of who we are,” he says. “I want clients to feel like they’re part of something special.”
On a larger scale, he envisions Clarity Advisors expanding to serve clients nationwide. “I’ve seen the ‘dial-for-dollars’ culture, and I want no part of it,” he says. “I want to build a team of true professionals who are great at what they do.”
Advice for Breakaway Advisors
For those thinking about independence, Michael’s advice is clear:
“It’s scary. You will wonder if clients will follow. You will worry about losing income. But the moment you make the leap, you’ll realize it was all worth it,” he says. “With the right partners, like Altruist, you’re not alone.”
