By Mike Cordak, RICP®
As a financial advisor, I’ve had the privilege of guiding innumerable clients toward financial freedom. But there’s another aspect of my life that has profoundly shaped my perspective: my career as a Delta Air Lines pilot. Flying has not only provided me with incredible experiences but has also instilled valuable financial insight that I gladly share with my clients.
In this season of gratitude, I want to highlight the many reasons I’m so thankful to be a Delta Air Lines pilot.
Great Pay
I’ve been incredibly fortunate as a Delta Air Lines pilot to earn a good salary. In addition to allowing me a comfortable lifestyle, my career’s steady income has helped me save money and make smart investment decisions for my future. My salary has also been essential for providing my clients with financial advice and recommendations based on my own experience.
Wonderful Work-Life Balance
Another rewarding aspect of being a Delta Air Lines pilot is the ability to sustain a solid work-life balance. I’m grateful for Delta’s well-organized flight schedules that let me enjoy my personal life and pursue my interests outside of work.
This work-life balance has profoundly impacted my ability to provide my clients with sound financial advice because I can approach my work with positivity and clarity.
Getting Paid to Do What I Love
It’s not often in this life that we’re able to get paid for doing what we love. But my career as a Delta Air Lines pilot has provided me with a unique opportunity to combine my love of flying with my passion for helping people pursue their financial goals.
In addition to enriching both my personal and professional life, earning a salary doing what I truly enjoy has enhanced my appreciation of the importance of following your dreams.
Outstanding Retirement Account Options
Another perk of being a Delta Air Lines pilot is having access to an exceptional retirement plan. The growth potential, investment options, and generous contributions have made Delta’s retirement plan an integral part of my financial strategy.
Specifically, I have a 401(k) account that allows me to invest 98% of my funds in a self-directed brokerage account. I’m extremely grateful that this firsthand knowledge of the Delta 401(k) retirement plan has enhanced my ability to provide my clients with well-informed guidance, including catch-up plans, on their own retirement savings strategies.
Good Health Insurance
As you probably know, as people age, medical costs increase. It’s so important to have good health insurance. As a Delta Air Lines pilot, I’ve been fortunate to have access to good health insurance coverage, including low out-of-pocket costs, a broad network of providers, and coverage for an extensive range of medical services.
In addition to shielding me from unforeseen medical costs, this comprehensive health insurance has allowed me to concentrate on my professional and personal goals without worrying about medical expenses.
Ability to Experience Different Cultures
Lastly, I want to mention my gratitude for the incredible experience I’ve had traveling to destinations around the world. I’ve enjoyed firsthand insight into diverse cultures and customs I would have never experienced if I weren’t a Delta Air Lines pilot.
By immersing myself in various cultures, I’ve learned a lot about the global economy, as well as the specific financial difficulties that people from around the world often face. This worldwide perspective has enhanced both my personal outlook as well as my career as a financial advisor, allowing me to provide more knowledgeable and culturally aware advice to my clients.
I’m Here to Help
Happy Thanksgiving from Optimum Wealth Management. I hope your holidays are filled with gratitude, health, and happiness. If you need anything in this season, don’t hesitate to give us a call.
To schedule a complimentary meeting, get in touch online, call (678) 778-2694, or email mcordak@optimumwlth.com.
About Mike
Mike Cordak is founder and owner of Optimum Wealth Management, a Georgia-Registered Investment Advisor serving the financial, retirement, and wealth planning & management needs of airline pilots—from hiring all the way through the transition to retirement and beyond. As a Delta pilot himself for more than two decades, Mike’s goal is to cultivate authentic life-long relationships with pilots to help them and their families create, grow, and preserve their wealth. As someone familiar with the pilot lifestyle and their unique goals and concerns, he offers a different investment strategy than the average advisor. Combining a fee-only business model with a fact-based tactical investment management style, he creates an environment that allows him to fulfill his mission of bringing clients financial peace.
Mike received his finance degree from Gies College of Business – University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign before pursuing a career as a pilot. After losing the defined-benefit plan at his airline in 2006, he entered the financial industry, inspired to create his own firm and take control of his finances to pursue financial stability after retiring as a pilot. He obtained the Retirement Income Certified Professional® designation, which means he has a legal and ethical duty to put clients’ interests first.
Mike and his wife, now empty nesters, love getting together with their kids as often as their schedules allow. Outside of reading financial news, he enjoys flying his own plane, golfing, hiking, skiing, and playing tennis and pickleball. He also can be found enjoying good wine and food, spending time at the beach, or traveling to foreign countries. He also has an interest in the Atlanta Mission, which helps out homeless people, the Woodstock City church, and contributes to various young people going out on mission trips and working on college campuses. To learn more about Mike, connect with him on LinkedIn.
