When people ask why I became a financial advisor, the easy answer is that it fit my education and background. But the truth is, it’s more than that.
I didn’t begin this career driven by a passion for financial planning. Early on, it was about stability — good pay and a solid path forward. By my junior year of college, I was already licensed, setting myself up for an early start in the financial services industry.
Discovering my work’s purpose
But along the way, something shifted. When I joined TIAA, an organization known for serving educators and nonprofit professionals, I saw firsthand that retirement planning could be about more than numbers. It could be about values. About families. About helping people who dedicate their lives to others feel secure about their own futures.
Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of working with hundreds of families, providing personalized wealth management strategies and guiding them toward confident retirements. Some of my proudest moments as an advisor have been helping clients achieve milestones they once thought were out of reach — like purchasing a second home in retirement or ensuring their loved ones would be cared for through life’s hardest transitions.
Co-Founding Tidewater
In 2021, I co-founded Tidewater Wealth Management with my colleagues-turned-friends-turned-partners Bill McDonald and Tim O’Shea, with the goal of creating a firm rooted in service — one that values deep relationships, customized strategies, and the balance between financial success and personal fulfillment.
That same balance is central to my own life. As a father of five, family is at the heart of everything I do. Coaching my kids’ lacrosse teams, volunteering as a firefighter, skiing together, or rafting down the Grand Canyon — these moments shape how I see the role of money: not as an end, but as a means to build a meaningful life.
After more than 20 years in financial services, I’ve come to realize that true financial planning isn’t about chasing wealth for wealth’s sake. It’s about aligning resources with what matters most.
For me, that’s family, community, and service. And that’s why I chose this career — and why I continue it with purpose every day.
About the Author
David Wheatleyis a founding partner and senior wealth management advisor at Tidewater Wealth Management with more than 28 years of experience in financial planning and portfolio management. He holds multiple professional licenses and advanced designations, including Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) and Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU). Before Tidewater, he advised clients at TIAA Financial Services, where he managed portfolios totaling over $1 billion and developed deep expertise in tax-efficient income distribution strategies.
Outside of his career, David is a proud father of five and an active member of his community. He has coached local lacrosse and soccer, serves as a Connecticut State Certified First Responder with the Easton Volunteer Fire Company, and enjoys outdoor pursuits like boating, SCUBA diving, skiing, and staying active.