David Wheatley, CLU^®, ChFC^®

About David

David Wheatley, CLU® ChFC®, is a Senior Partner and financial advisor at Tidewater Wealth Management, specializing in retirement planning for higher education professionals, physicians, and pre-retirees across Connecticut. With over 20 years of experience in the financial services industry, David brings deep expertise in tax-efficient income distribution, retirement income strategies, and estate coordination — applied through a planning philosophy that puts your life goals first.

Before co-founding Tidewater Wealth Management, David served as a Wealth Management Advisor at TIAA Financial Services, where he managed client relationships representing over $1 billion in assets under management. His client base at TIAA was concentrated in the academic, research, medical, and cultural sectors — experience that continues to define his focus today. At Tidewater, he works closely with Yale University community members, academic medical center professionals, and educators at colleges and universities throughout Connecticut.

David’s Approach

David believes that a truly effective retirement plan does more than manage money — it maps to the life you want to live. Whether that means structuring your income around a phased retirement from academia, coordinating a physician’s complex benefit decisions, or building an estate strategy that reflects your values and legacy goals, David’s approach is holistic, collaborative, and deeply personal.

He takes the time to understand the full picture — not just the numbers, but the goals, the concerns, and the questions clients aren’t always sure how to ask. That's the foundation every Tidewater financial plan is built on.

Expertise & Credentials

• Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU®)
• Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC®)
• B.S. in Business Administration and Economics, SUNY Oswego
• Over 20 years of experience in retirement planning and wealth management
• Specialist in 403(b) planning and academic institution retirement structures
• Tax-efficient income distribution and estate coordination

Serving Connecticut

David is based in Tidewater’s New Haven office at 157 Church Street — one block from Yale’s campus — and serves clients throughout the greater New Haven area and across Connecticut. His client community includes faculty and administrators from Yale University, staff at Yale–New Haven Hospital, and professionals from academic and medical institutions throughout the region.

Beyond the Office

David is the proud father of five children — Hanna, Morgan, Sean, Ryan, and Jack. He has coached lacrosse and soccer in his community and serves as a Connecticut State Certified First Responder with the Easton Volunteer Fire Company.