​Reality Financial Planning Services, LLC (RFPS), is a State of Florida Registered Investment Advisor. RFPS is a fee-only, financial planning firm with no minimum asset or net worth requirements. "Fee-only" means no commissions or third-party compensation is ever accepted. The firm is dedicated to providing individuals, families and small businesses with independent, objective advice.
​All staff have taken an oath of fiduciary commitment as a requirement of being CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professionals. The firm has always proudly complied with all fiduciary requirements.  Fiduciary mandates commit financial advisors providing guidance to clients give their advice in the "best interests" of the client, disclose how they are reasonably compensated, and provide appropriate disclosure and transparency about the products and compensation involved – including any potential conflicts of interest.
In addition to the specialties listed below, Joe and John have extensive experience advising clients enrolled in the Florida Retirement System (FRS), including teachers, government employees, police, and fire workers. We specialize in creating retirement income plans that incorporate a combination of FRS (or other pension), Social Security, IRAs, and employer-sponsored plans like 401(k)s and 403(b)s. Our goal is to collaborate on a plan that provides financial stability and peace of mind, both pre and post retirement.


​Joe Downs, CFP®
​Joe Downs has over thirty years of experience in the financial services industry – with over twenty years providing investment, insurance and financial planning services.  From 1993 to 2001, he delivered retirement planning expertise to state and local government employees, law enforcement and education professionals in the St. Louis, Missouri, area.  Since moving to the Florida gulf coast, Joe started and was vice president of the Advisory Services program for a Sarasota credit union.  Realizing that there is a large segment of the population whose financial planning needs are being underserved and/or neglected, Joe founded RFPS in 2007 to help this critical segment realize their economic potential. Joe is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Professional and a member of The Financial Planning Association® (FPA®). 
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​John Cunningham III, CFP®
​John Cunningham is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Professional with over ten years of experience in financial services. A Florida native, his career started in banking after graduating from The University of Florida. It was banking where he first developed a love of helping individuals, families, and small business owners achieve financial success. John then transitioned to a role that gave him the opportunity to create comprehensive financial plans for clients on a daily basis. For the past two years, he has been delivering income, risk, incapacity, and estate planning to education, medical, and non-profit professionals in Sarasota. He joined RFPS because the firm’s fee-only financial planning focus allows him to always put his clients’ best interest first. John is also a NAPFA Registered Financial Advisor and member of The Financial Planning Association® (FPA®).
RFPS most commonly assists individuals, families, and small businesses with the following:​
  • Setting clear financial goals
  • Managing your money
  • Measuring your progress
  • Achieving financial planning success
  • Cash management
  • Investment selection and management (if requested)
  • Tax planning
  • Retirement planning
  • Estate planning
Real Solutions!
Email or call today. Let’s Get Acquainted
inquire@realityfinancialplanning.com
​ 941-366-5700
CFP® and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ are certification marks owned by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. 
​These marks are awarded to individuals who successfully complete the CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements.