About our Firm


Here’s our story. We look forward to hearing yours.

Meet the President


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Jim Braun
President | Certified Financial Fiduciary® (CF2)

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Jim Braun is the president of Tri-State Retirement, Inc. and one of the region’s most experienced retirement income specialists.

Since entering the financial services industry in 2006, Jim has personally conducted more than 21,000 retirement-focused client meetings and helped thousands of individuals, families, and business owners navigate the financial decisions that define retirement.

As a Certified Financial Fiduciary® (CF2), Jim is committed to a fiduciary standard that places the client’s best interests first. His practice focuses on retirement income planning, Social Security optimization, Medicare strategies, tax-efficient retirement distribution planning, asset protection, and wealth preservation.

Jim has become known for helping clients solve the challenges that threaten retirement success: excessive taxation, market volatility, rising healthcare costs, longevity risk, and inefficient income planning.

His insights have been featured in more than 30 national and regional media publications, and his retirement planning process has been refined through thousands of real-world client situations rather than theoretical models alone.

Today, successful retirees, pre-retirees, and business owners seek out Jim for one reason: experience. When retirement assets, income security, and family legacy are at stake, they want guidance from a professional who has spent thousands of hours helping clients make some of the most important financial decisions of their lives.

Jim holds life and health insurance licenses in Kentucky, Ohio, and Indiana and earned his bachelor’s degree in business from Northern Kentucky University.

Schedule a Meeting

To schedule a time to discuss your financial future and the possible role of insurance in your financial strategy, contact us at [email protected] or call us at 859.905.0233 today!

Meet our Team


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Nick Maggard Estate Planning Attorney

As the founder of Maggard Elder Law, Nick Maggard provides comprehensive estate and long-term care planning for clients. He focuses his practice in utilizing revocable and irrevocable trusts and legal strategies to protect assets from nursing home costs and probate. Nick’s deep understanding of the Uniform Trust Code allows him to offer high-level, technical solutions that integrate seamlessly with a client’s long-term financial goals.

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Richard VarnellTax Expert

As a professional tax and financial planning consultant for 30 years, Richard has had extensive experience in helping hundreds of people prepare and plan to have their wills and trusts prepared. He has B.A. Equivalent in Business Administration from California State University, San Bernardino, CA.

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