Sean David Harvey
Director of Financial Education
With over 25 years of financial writing and advisory sector experience, I have name-authored or ghost-written some 17 traditionally published books, along with over 900 investment- and retirement-centric articles, which have been featured in outlets such as Forbes, InvestmentNews, Kiplinger, CNBC.com, and others. I recently completed 13-years as the senior writer and head of PR for one of the 10 largest Registered Investment Advisors (RIA) in America, before moving on to serve as the Director of Financial Education and head of PR for award-winning, Sacramento-based, ProsperPlan Wealth, a partner-firm of NewEdge Wealth, one of the five largest RIAs in the country.
Experience
15+ Years of Experience
National Media Tours
Award-Winning Nominations
Education
Multiple Subject Teaching Credential
BA | Sacramento State
15+ AI Certifications
All CFP Coursework
Professional Highlights
Authored 1000+ articles and four books
Featured contributor to leading outlets including Forbes, Barron’s, Nasdaq, InvestmentNews and The Financial Times
Specializations
Financial Education & Literacy
Wealth Management Writing
Retirement & Investment Concepts
Behavioral Finance
Public Relations
A 25-Year Legacy in Writing & Client Education
With over 25 years of writing, communications, and public relations experience, I have name-authored or ghost-written some 17 traditionally published books, along with over 1,000 articles, which have appeared in outlets such as Forbes, InvestmentNews, Kiplinger, CNBC.com, and others. My professional writing career began in earnest in 1995 at a Manhattan celebrity literary agency, later led me to a five-year stint at a boutique publishing house that was twice named The New York Times’ Small Publisher of the Year, and most recently brought me full circle when I returned to California and began a 13-year career as the senior writer and head of PR for one of the largest Registered Investment Advisors in America.
“Choosing a financial advisor is about trust. My role is to bring clarity, protect what matters most, and give you confidence in every financial decision you make.”
No Quotas, No Conflicts: Redefining Wealth Management
Having previously authored a book on financial planning and personal finance, along with hundreds of financial planning articles on practice management, I’ve been exposed to virtually every type of wealth management business model. With that in mind, why do I believe so strongly in the advantages offered by fee-based, independently owned firms? Because they are not beholden to the bureaucratic, cost-cutting demands of third-party private equity, nor is their success measured by the typical quotas that clients often fall victim to with other large, high-volume wealth management companies.
With complete fiduciary independence, ProsperPlan Wealth answers to you. This not only makes me proud of the work I do, but as my career has clearly illustrated, the client-centric advisory approach can often result in a far more satisfying outcome for you as the client.
What inspired you to become a financial advisor?
I always thought I’d become a teacher or a nurse. I loved the idea of teaching, helping, and caring for others. But life had other plans. I stumbled into wealth management by accident, taking a temporary job with a financial advisor – and it changed everything.
That was twenty years ago, and from the moment I saw how financial guidance could transform lives, I was hooked. I found a way to combine what I loved most – teaching, helping, and nurturing – with the world of finance. Since then, I’ve devoted my career to helping people make confident decisions, build lasting wealth, and create lives filled with meaning and stability.
What do you enjoy most about working with your clients?
I love the relationships I’ve built with my clients. Many of them I’ve walked beside through their entire retirement journey and beyond. Over the years, we’ve developed a deep sense of trust, respect, and genuine care for one another – the kind of bond that only comes from long-term partnership and shared purpose.
How would you describe your approach to financial planning?
There’s both an art and a science to financial planning. The science is in the numbers – the tax strategies, investments, and structure. The art is understanding people. It starts with learning what brought a client to seek help and what they truly want their money to do. Once you understand their goals, values, and worries, you can create a plan that fits their life – not just their finances.
What’s one piece of financial advice you find yourself giving most often?
The advice I give most often is to focus on what you can control – your savings and spending, your taxes, your time horizon – and stop reacting to what you can’t. Financial freedom comes from consistency and clarity, not from chasing trends.
Outside of work, what do you enjoy doing?
I actually love routine. I find a lot of solace in maintaining a daily rhythm with my family – playtime with my daughters, walks with our dogs, and cozy evenings watching Netflix together. Sundays are sacred family days in our house; we make no other plans. It’s our time to rest, reset, and just be together. I’ve learned that joy doesn’t come from constant motion – it comes from presence, peace, and the little moments that make life feel full.
How do you help clients feel confident about their financial future?
I actually do it through visuals. I’m a big believer in using financial tools that bring clarity to complex financial situations. You can think of it like turning on a light in a dark room – once clients can see their plan clearly, the anxiety fades. I use interactive charts, projections, and visuals to show how income, investments, and taxes work together over time. When clients can visualize their path – not just hear about it – they feel empowered and in control of their financial future.
experience
How can I help?
These are my areas of specialization.