About Tim Hayes, Financial Advisor
I help public employees, federal workers, and nonprofit staff navigate retirement without sales pressure — you get me, not a junior associate.
A note of transparency
One significant drawback of becoming my client is that I operate as a one-person business. If anything were to happen to me, or if I decide to retire within the next ten years, you would need to find a new financial advisor.
I have considered hiring an assistant to take over in the future, but I don't feel comfortable with that approach for my clients. I prefer the direct accountability of our 1-on-1 relationship.
Tim Hayes, AIF®
Independent Fiduciary · Massachusetts
Independence Standards
"
A truly independent financial advisor is self-employed and has no financial or business incentives to sell a company's financial products. Therefore, the advisor rejects all subtle attempts to influence their behavior, such as invitations from companies to free dinners or ball games. To remain independent, the advisor must conduct much of their own research, including finding objective tools and sources, staying up to date on new rules and regulations, and recognizing that it is human nature to feel an obligation to reciprocate such gifts.
— Tim Hayes
Credentials & Professional Designations
Securities Licenses
- Series 7 Exam, taken 07-20-2005 Qualifies to trade all securities products, including corporate securities, options, mutual funds, and variable contracts.
- Series 66 Exam, taken 12-18-2012 The combined state-law exam for investment adviser representative and securities agent registration, taken alongside the Series 7.
- Series 6 Exam, taken 02-23-1989 Covers the sale of mutual funds and variable annuities.
- Series 63 Exam, taken 03-22-1989 Required by nearly every state for securities agent registration.
Additionally licensed for Fixed Annuities, Life, Health, Disability, and Long-Term Care.
Professional Designations
- Accredited Investment Fiduciary (AIF®)
- Chartered Retirement Plans Specialist (CRPS®)
- Certified Tax Specialist (CTS™)
- National Social Security Advisor (NSSA®)
- Accredited Portfolio Mgmt Advisor (APMA®)
- Certified Estate Specialist (CES™)
- Certified Annuity Specialist (CAS®)
- Accredited Wealth Mgmt Advisor (AWMA®)
- Certified Fund Specialist (CFS®)
- IRMAA Certified Planner (IRMAACP™)
- Federal Retirement Consultant (FRC℠)
Based in Boston — Serving Clients Statewide via, In-Person, Phone, Zoom, & Email.
Professional Background
Working in Your Best Interest—Not Someone Else's Agenda
Earlier in my career, I worked with United Resources and later MetLife Resources. Over time, I became increasingly uncomfortable with the industry’s emphasis on product sales over personalized planning and financial advice.
I didn’t want to be limited by a company’s priorities. I wanted the freedom to put your financial goals first—with no pressure to sell a specific product or meet quotas.
Through my relationship with Cambridge Investment Research, I now provide transparent, fiduciary advice that puts your needs at the center—free from sales incentives or corporate constraints.
How We Work Together
Work directly with me, Tim Hayes. You get one point of contact for planning and guidance — backed by Cambridge Investment Research for paperwork, trades, and records. No junior associates, no call centers.
Track 1
Hourly Planning
Targeted retirement and income planning billed at $200 per hour. You keep your accounts where they are and leave with a written action plan.
Track 2
Ongoing Advisory
Custom portfolio management and scheduled check-ins, typically 1% or less per year under a fiduciary standard. For clients who want proactive involvement.
Track 3
Commission-Based Implementation
One-time product or rollover help when ongoing management isn't needed. Often best for smaller accounts and some 403(b) plans.
Independent—But Not Alone.
Securities offered through Cambridge Investment Research, Inc., Member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory services through Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, Inc., a Registered Investment Adviser. Cambridge and Tim Hayes are not affiliated.
View Towns & Cities (A–W)
A
- Abington
- Acton
- Amesbury
- Andover
- Arlington
- Ashland
- Attleboro
- Avon
B
- Bedford
- Bellingham
- Belmont
- Beverly — I grew up in Beverly
- Billerica
- Boston — I live in the South End
- Boxford
- Braintree
- Brookline
C
- Cambridge
- Canton
- Carlisle
- Carver
- Chelmsford
- Cohasset
- Concord — My sister-in-law lives in Concord
D
- Danvers
- Dartmouth — Office in Dartmouth
- Dedham
- Dover
- Duxbury
E
- Edgartown — Served from Dartmouth via New Bedford Ferry
F
- Fall River
- Fairhaven — Family in Fairhaven
- Foxborough
- Framingham
- Franklin
- Freetown
G
- Georgetown
- Gloucester — Good Harbor Beach favorite
- Groton
H
- Hamilton
- Hanover
- Harvard
- Haverhill — Lived there five years
- Hingham
- Holliston
- Hopkinton
- Hudson
I
- Ipswich
L
- Lexington
- Lincoln
- Lowell
- Lynnfield
M
- Malden
- Manchester-by-the-Sea
- Mansfield
- Marblehead — Worked at Corinthian YC in college
- Marion
- Martha's Vineyard — Served via Ferry or Cape Air
- Marshfield
- Mattapoisett — Served from Dartmouth
- Maynard
- Medfield
- Melrose
- Merrimac
- Methuen
- Middleborough
- Middleton
- Milton
N
- Nantucket — Served via Ferry or Cape Air
- Natick
- Needham
- New Bedford
- Newburyport
- Newton
- North Andover
- North Attleborough
- Northborough
- North Reading
- Norton
- Norwell
- Norwood
P
- Peabody
- Plymouth
- Provincetown
R
- Randolph
- Reading
- Revere
- Rockland
- Rockport
S
- Salem — Lived there after college
- Sandwich
- Saugus
- Scituate
- Sharon
- Sherborn
- Somerville
- Southborough
- Stoneham
- Stoughton
- Sudbury
- Swampscott
T
- Tewksbury
- Topsfield
- Tyngsboro
W
- Wakefield
- Walpole
- Waltham
- Wareham
- Watertown
- Wayland
- Wellesley
- Wenham
- Westford — My brother used to live in Westford
- Weston
- Westport — Served from Dartmouth
- Westwood
- Weymouth
- Wilmington
- Winchester — My first boss was from Winchester
- Woburn
Licensing Flexibility
Being dual-licensed means I have the flexibility to help you in the way that fits best. If you want a long-term partner to manage everything (Fiduciary), I can do that. If you just need a one-time solution for a specific goal without a long-term contract, I have the licenses to handle that, too. You don’t get forced into a ‘one size fits all’ fee structure.
Read More: IAR Meaning
Common Questions from New Clients
Are you a fiduciary?
Yes. As an IAR, I am held to the Fiduciary Standard—meaning I am legally required to put your interests ahead of my own at all times. While newer regulations have raised the bar for everyone, I’ve operated this way by choice for years.
Do you have experience advising clients on Social Security decisions?
Yes. I help public employees understand Social Security rules and their restored benefits after the repeal of the Windfall and Government Pension Offset. However, I do not provide specific tax advice.
Action: Get Your Social Security Timing Reviewed — Book a Financial Planning Consultation ($200/hr).Who are your typical clients?
A typical client is recently retired or planning to retire soon—often a public employee, widow, or someone seeking total clarity about their long-term financial decisions.
How do you get paid?
I offer straightforward fee options: an hourly rate of $200/hour for targeted planning, fee-based asset management for ongoing portfolios, and occasional commissions when appropriate for specific rollover products. I am completely transparent about fees before any work begins.
How will you choose investments to recommend?
I use professional tools, conduct due diligence, and draw from 35 years of experience to tailor recommendations to your needs and risk comfort.
Do you have any conflicts of interest?
Commission vs. fee can be a potential conflict. I avoid outside influences—like company-paid dinners or incentives—and always put the client first.
What are our “all-in” costs?
It’s hard to give a precise “all-in” estimate, as costs vary depending on services and strategies. That said, I work to keep overall costs low and transparent.
What makes a good advisor?
Knowing what to ignore.
Three Generations
“Tim has been our financial advisor for many years. He knows our family and has aligned his expertise with our goals. He has our best interest in mind and goes above and beyond in strategizing our portfolio in this ever changing landscape. We entrust him with three generations in our family and value our relationship.”
The Bryk Family
Clients
Testimonial Disclosure: Testimonials are based on individual client experiences and may not represent the experiences of all clients. They are not a guarantee of future performance. Each client’s situation is unique. No compensation has been provided for these testimonials.