Meet Nick O’Kelly, CFP®

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Nick O’Kelly, CFP®. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Nick below.

Nick, we are so deeply grateful to you for opening up about your journey with mental health in the hops that it can help someone who might be going through something similar. Can you talk to us about your mental health journey and how you overcame or persisted despite any issues? For readers, please note this is not medical advice, we are not doctors, you should always consult professionals for advice and that this is merely one person sharing their story and experience.

I’ve lived the mental health stigmas firsthand. I was almost another tragic military suicide statistic. As a former Green Beret and Special Operations Pilot, there’s an expectation, an unwritten rule, that you push through pain and suffering. You don’t talk about the dark moments; you handle them alone in silence. And for a long time, I did exactly that.

But silence is a slow killer. I reached a point where I wasn’t just battling the external pressures of high-stakes training, progression, and missions. I was fighting my thoughts. I felt like I was alone and losing my sanity.

Fortunately, I was able to persevere and survive. I had allowed depression and anxiety to grow deep roots, and I finally reached a point of desperation when I had to choose my life over my career. Once I finally sought out help, I was able to slowly refind my strength and begin to regain my sense of optimism.

Persistence isn’t about being unshakable. It’s about facing the storm, acknowledging the damage, and rebuilding. I made it through, not because I was stronger than anyone else, but because I finally allowed myself to be honest. There is a superpower that comes with being vulnerable. My mission is to help others do the same because no one should have to fight this battle alone.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I help high-income and high-net-worth veterans take control of their financial future. Despite years of discipline and sacrifice, financial education is lacking in the military and veteran communities. Our firm, Cadence Wealth Partners, is built to change that.

As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® Professional, I specialize in tax-efficient wealth building, investment strategies, and financial freedom after service. I cut through the noise, giving veterans the tools to maximize their wealth and legacy.

Beyond finance, I’m tackling the stigma around mental health in the military, veteran, and first responder communities. My upcoming book, Stigma, dives into the unspoken battles many of us face, challenging the outdated mindset that struggle equals weakness.

Right now, I’m expanding my impact through a YouTube channel called @thrivewithnick. This channel focuses on financial education for veterans and high-net-worth individuals. My mission is simple: ensure others don’t just survive; they thrive.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

1. Adaptability
In Special Operations and business, the path to success is rarely a straight line. The ability to plan for the unexpected, adjust, and execute under uncertainty separates those who succeed from those who fail.

Advice: Get comfortable being uncomfortable. The faster you accept change and adjust your strategy, the quicker you grow. Don’t wait for the perfect plan—take action and refine as you go.

2. Calculated Risk-Taking
Every major success I’ve had—whether in the military, business, or personal—came from a willingness to take risks. Not reckless, blind risks, but informed decisions that pushed me beyond my comfort zone. Playing it safe rarely leads to significant results.

Advice: If you want to move up, bet on yourself. Do your research, assess the risks vs. rewards, and take decisive action. If you fail, adjust and go again. No one wins big by sitting on the sidelines.

3. Extreme Ownership
No one is coming to save you. If something isn’t working—whether in your career, business, or personal life—you must fix it. When you take full responsibility, you gain complete control over your outcomes.

Advice: Own your mistakes, learn from them, and move forward. The faster you take responsibility, the quicker you improve.

Who is your ideal client or what sort of characteristics would make someone an ideal client for you?

My ideal client is a high-net-worth, high-income-earning military veteran who values strategy, discipline, and execution. They’re driven, successful, and ready to optimize their wealth—but they don’t have the time or interest in figuring it all out themselves. They want a clear, tactical plan that moves the needle.

I don’t work with people looking for shortcuts, chasing quick wins, or obsessing over every market fluctuation. My clients are leaders. They know that elite results come from elite execution, and they want a financial strategy that reflects the level of success they’ve built and continue to build.

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