When Peter Miles left aviation in 2001, he turned his pilot's discipline toward financial advice. The habits of filing flight plans, using checklists, and recalculating routes in turbulence shaped an approach that frames financial planning as an adaptive journey. With a conviction that guidance should be available to anyone navigating life's financial terrain rather than being reserved for those who have already arrived, he established St. Croix Wealth Management.
According to Miles, a persistent misconception in the wealth management industry is that personalized advice belongs only to retirees and the exceptionally wealthy. Some firms, he notes, segment clients by account size, directing smaller relationships to impersonal service lines while reserving customized planning for larger balances.
"Another common misunderstanding is that financial planning is a one-time event completed at retirement, rather than an evolving process that changes with family, career, and market cycles. This idea may discourage younger savers and middle-income families from seeking help early, often leaving them to learn by trial and costly error," says Miles.
St. Croix Wealth Management confronts these fallacies through its "Financial GPS." "Just like in an automobile, the Financial GPS calculates the route, keeps clients on track, and guides them through life's ever-changing landscape," says Miles. The goal is to make financial planning dynamic and reassuring rather than intimidating and static.
St. Croix organizes services into three engagement levels, called Navigator, Co-Pilot, and Captain, to indicate stage rather than status. Navigator supports clients in building foundational savings for various future milestones. Co-Pilot guides people through transitions such as retirement by providing comprehensive strategies. Captain addresses sophisticated needs like legacy planning and concentrated wealth management. The labels signal that the firm will meet clients where they are and walk beside them as goals evolve, rather than requiring them to first clear an arbitrary asset threshold.
St. Croix also offers a comprehensive suite of services that reflects a journey-oriented outlook. From retirement and estate planning to investment strategies, insurance, and tax-planning resources, the firm aspires to position itself as the vehicle through which clients travel from aspiration to destination. It also has an exclusive plan for federal employees, which includes Thrift Savings Plan, FERS Annuity, and insurance advice.
Communication and client-education form another pillar of the firm's culture. Financial advice often arrives wrapped in jargon that may confuse clients. Miles rejects that tendency and stresses clear communication. The firm publishes videos, calculators, and brief explainers intended to translate technical tradecraft into practical options. Those resources reduce friction for first-time advice seekers and help them make better decisions sooner.
The company's origin story clarifies its cultural DNA. Miles trained and worked as a pilot before entering banking in 2001. His time in the banking sector inspired him to work independently. In 2017, he founded St. Croix Wealth Management to deliver financial services rooted in continuity and relationship rather than asset thresholds. The firm's mission embraces an inclusive promise to "help all people navigate their financial journey."
For individuals, families, or business owners seeking counsel through career shifts, family growth, and retirement transitions, St. Croix Wealth Management aims to offer navigation rather than salesmanship. Clients receive clear plans, regular reviews, and the reassurance that someone will monitor their progress. When the road bends or the weather changes, the advisor at St.Croix Wealth Management recalibrates the route and keeps the journey moving.
Securities and investment advisory services offered through Osaic Wealth, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC. Osaic Wealth is separately owned, and other entities and/or marketing names, products, or services referenced here are independent of Osaic Wealth.
