Jared Shaft is a retirement plan advisor focused on ERISA plans and Managing Director at Accelerate Retirement. I work with businesses on their 401(k), 403(b), 457, and pension plans.
In 2022, Jared’s life took a sharp turn after encountering a surfing accident in Puerto Rico, leaving him paralyzed from the chest down. He is now wheelchair-bound, but that moment changed more than just his mobility—it reshaped his mindset. It forced him to slow down, refocus, and make a conscious choice to stay positive. These days, Jared lives by one simple rule: control what you can, let go of what you can’t, and make the most of every single day. That perspective has made him sharper, more grounded, and even more driven to help others take control of their financial future.

Jared started his first business at 18, running bike taxis and golf carts along the beach in Orange County, giving free rides while promoting small local restaurants and shops. He then sold that company by the age of 24, but that hands-on, small-business spirit stuck with him. Today, Jared helps businesses design retirement plans that actually work—for the owners, the employees, and everyone in between. He acts as both a 3(21) and 3(38) fiduciary, simplifying the complex, striving to reduce the risk, and focusing on better outcomes across the board.
A big part of Jared’s business is education. While many employees have never had access to a real financial advisor, he takes the time to sit down with them, explain their options in plain English, and help them make confident decisions—sometimes right on the spot. It’s one of the most impactful parts of his work.

On the individual side, Jared works with successful professionals — business owners, executives, retirees, and young individuals still building toward retirement. Creating an investment portfolio? That’s the easy part. Anyone can plug numbers into a model and sell you a strategy. The hard part—the part that sets me apart from “the guy down the street” or your neighbor’s finance guy—is taking time to understand your goals and build a strategy around them.

Jared’s investment style is grounded in the wisdom of Warren Buffett’s principle, “If you don’t understand it, don’t buy it”— this is built on transparency, tax efficiency, and long-term alignment with each client’s unique goals. He often uncovers strategic opportunities, such as implementing advanced tax planning tools like cash balance plans, which can lead to significant savings.