Our Experience Working with American Pilots and Families
Smith Anglin Financial is proud to work side by side with American Airlines pilots on their retirement benefits. Our professional wealth management advisors have helped them understand and maximize their plan options for over 18 years. We are specialists in the airlines’ 401k investment options and the performance of those options within the employer-provided American Airlines retirement benefits plan. We are also specialists in managing the tax issues for the deferred compensation components.
What You Should Know About Your American Airlines Pilot Retirement Plan
How to evaluate American Airlines 401k Plan’s investment options and each investment’s performance and characteristics
How to forecast taxes on your accounts
How to utilize the Market Based Cash Balance Plan (MBCBP)
How to establish and administer your Brokerage Link account hosted by Fidelity Investments
How to manage your contributions to the American Airlines 401k Plan for Pilots, with regard to IRS contribution limits
Understanding the AAL 401(k) non-elective contributions and spillover
How your profit-sharing affects your taxes and retirement plan
How to coordinate your American Retiree Healthcare Coverage Options with your Retiree Health Reimbursement Arrangement (RHRA), TRICARE For Life, survivor health coverage, and Medicare
How to manage the election choices available to you when evaluating the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) benefit and, when applicable, the Pilot B Plan, US Airways, America West, and other legacy airlines pension plan benefits
How to understand and utilize your APA-sponsored benefits, short-term/long-term disability with American Airlines, US Airways, and American West disability provisions
How to coordinate Social Security Income, Military Pensions, and VA disability Income with retirement distributions
How to analyze Roth IRA conversions and create conversion strategies to reduce Required Minimum Distribution Requirements (RMDs) and reduce taxes in retirement
How to take advantage of the In-Service Rollover (ISR) option available to you at age 59.5 and beyond
Your American Airlines Retirement Specialist
James Maher, MBA, MJ, AAMS™
Client Engagement Specialist
(817) 395-5166 Mobile
(972) 267-1244 Office
Request Your Complimentary Retirement Plan Analysis
For pilots who are nearing retirement. We can help utilize your company-provided benefits, assess the pros and cons of each major decision as it relates to your specific circumstances, and most importantly, create a plan to help accomplish what matters most to you – enjoying the retirement you have worked so hard for.
What you can expect to see in your personalized Retirement Plan Analysis:
Retirement Cash Flow Projection
Tax Impact Analysis
Investment Strategy Evaluation
Specific Scenarios for Your Situation
To get started, please complete the simple form below
401K AutoPilot℠ Program
For pilots who are ready to optimize their financial future. If you are a pilot with a 401k balance under $500k, our 401K Autopilot Program is the solution we’ve created to help optimize your financial future. Our team will help you navigate the ever-changing capital markets landscape and set up a financially savvy flight plan to help accomplish what matters most to you – building a more secure financial picture for all the years ahead.
To get started, please complete the simple form below
Request Your Complimentary Retirement Plan Analysis
For pilots who are nearing retirement. We can help utilize your company-provided benefits, assess the pros and cons of each major decision as it relates to your specific circumstances, and most importantly, create a plan to help accomplish what matters most to you – enjoying the retirement you have worked so hard for.
What you can expect to see in your personalized Retirement Plan Analysis:
-
Retirement Cash Flow Projection
-
Tax Impact Analysis
-
Investment Strategy Evaluation
-
Specific Scenarios for Your Situation
401K AutoPilot℠ Program
For pilots who are ready to optimize their financial future. If you are a pilot with a 401k balance under $500k, our 401K Autopilot Program is the solution we’ve created to help optimize your financial future. Our team will help you navigate the ever-changing capital markets landscape and set up a financially savvy flight plan to help accomplish what matters most to you – building a more secure financial picture for all the years ahead.
A long history of providing honest, compassionate, and informative service. Read what our clients are saying.
All testimonials are provided by current clients of Smith Anglin Financial. Clients were not compensated for testimonials, direct or otherwise. To our knowledge, no other conflicts of interest exist regarding these testimonials.
Request Your 401k Autopilot℠ Program Digital Brochure
If you are a pilot with a 401k balance under $500k, our 401K Autopilot℠ Program is the solution we’ve created to help optimize your financial future. Our team will help you navigate the ever-changing capital markets landscape and set up a financially savvy flight plan to accomplish what matters most to you – building a more secure financial picture for all the years ahead. To learn more, request your digital brochure today!
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14755 Preston Road, Suite 700
Dallas, TX 75254
972.267.1244 local
800.301.8486 toll free
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About Smith Anglin Financial
Founded in 1967, Smith Anglin is a wealth management practice based in Dallas, Texas. As trusted financial stewards, we provide an elevated standard of care and manage over $2.5 billion in client assets* for a select group of pilots, families, individuals, and business owners in 48 states and abroad. With deep roots in accounting, tax planning and aviation retirement readiness, our mission is to conscientiously help secure the financial well-being of our clients over the course of their lives, working diligently to help them achieve their goals, dreams and financial security.
*Data current as of 9/17/2026
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HTA Client Relationship Summary
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Hightower Advisors, LLC is an SEC registered investment adviser. Registration as an investment adviser does not imply a certain level of skill or training. Securities offered through Hightower Securities, LLC, Member FINRA/SIPC. brokercheck.finra.org