About John Macy, MBA, RICP®

Helping DIY investors make better retirement decisions without giving up control of their portfolios.

I'm John Macy, founder of FlourishingPath Financial Coaching.

I created FlourishingPath for people who want to take an active role in managing their own financial lives — but who recognize that retirement brings a new set of decisions that can be difficult to navigate on your own.

I don't manage investment accounts or sell financial products. Instead, I work with DIY investors as an experienced second set of eyes, helping them think through retirement income, taxes, Social Security, withdrawals, healthcare costs, and portfolio decisions.

I've always been interested in understanding how financial decisions fit together — not simply whether an investment is likely to go up or down, but how spending, taxes, income, risk, and long-term goals interact.

As I learned more about retirement planning, I became increasingly convinced that many people don't necessarily need someone to take over their investments. They need someone who can help them understand the trade-offs, evaluate their options, and develop a strategy they can implement themselves.

That's the role I want FlourishingPath to play.

A Different Kind of Background

My career has taken me through several fields that may seem unrelated to financial coaching—but together they shaped the way I approach financial decisions.

For more than 20 years, I worked as a business consultant, helping organizations analyze problems, evaluate alternatives, and make better decisions.

I then spent more than 12 years as a U.S. diplomat and international economic development professional, working in complex environments where careful analysis, negotiation, and clear communication were essential.

I've also lived and worked overseas for more than 13 years in five countries. That experience gives me a particularly practical perspective on the opportunities and challenges Americans experience when living abroad or considering retirement overseas.

Since 2020, I've applied that analytical and problem-solving background to financial coaching, focusing on retirement income and the decisions that matter most in the years before and after retirement.

Why Resilience Matters to Me

My years living and working overseas also shaped the way I think about financial risk. I've lived in countries that experienced severe inflation and financial instability, including periods of extreme hyperinflation, and I've seen firsthand how quickly the purchasing power of money can deteriorate and how financial instability can affect ordinary families.

Those experiences reinforced my belief that a retirement portfolio should be built for more than average returns. It should be diversified, resilient, and capable of supporting a family's financial needs through a range of economic environments — including inflation, market downturns, and periods of financial stress.

Education and Professional Credentials

Retirement Income Certified Professional® (RICP®)
The American College of Financial Services

Master of Business Administration (MBA)
University of Pittsburgh

Bachelor of Science
Carnegie Mellon University

Who I Work Best With

FlourishingPath is designed primarily for people who want to remain actively involved in their financial decisions.

You may be a good fit if you:

Manage your own investments but want an experienced second opinion.
Are approaching retirement or already retired.
Have accumulated enough assets that retirement decisions are becoming more complicated.
Want help coordinating Social Security, withdrawals, taxes, Medicare, and investments.
Want personalized analysis without paying an ongoing percentage of your portfolio.
Prefer to understand why a strategy makes sense rather than simply being told what to do.

You remain in control of your accounts. I provide the analysis, education, and guidance to help you make better decisions.

Who I May Not Be the Right Fit For

FlourishingPath may not be the right fit if you're looking for someone to take over management of your investment portfolio, sell you financial products, or provide ongoing investment management for a percentage of your assets.

My role is different. I work with people who want to remain in control of their financial decisions but value professional analysis, education, and an independent perspective.

A Personal Connection to Living Overseas

Having lived overseas for more than 13 years in five countries, I understand that financial decisions can look very different when your life crosses borders. That experience is one reason I enjoy working with Americans living abroad and people considering retirement overseas.

Beyond Financial Advising

When I'm not advising clients or staying current with financial trends, you'll find me playing tennis, traveling, or spending time with my wife and family.

Let's Talk About Your Retirement

If you're a DIY investor approaching or living in retirement and would like an experienced second set of eyes on your financial decisions, schedule a free, no-obligation Discovery Session.

Schedule a free, no-obligation Discovery Session now!

Last updated: October 2026