WHAT WE DO.
HOW WE DO IT.
We start with a personal meeting where we get to know each other, explore your goals, and determine how we can help you achieve those goals.
FINANCIAL PRODUCT
RESEARCH
Everyday we receive new information on financial products offered by various companies. We review this information to see if these products can help reach your goals.
COMPANY RESEARCH
We only work with companies that are highly rated by independent rating services. We also consider their history of service to customers and agents.
PERSONAL RETIREMENT INCOME PLAN
Using the information we have gathered, we then start building a retirement income plan focused on your retirement journey.
MEET OUR TEAM
DONALD WALES
Founder
Don was born and grew up on Long Island, N.Y.
After graduating high school, he studied at State University of New York for two years while also serving his community as a member of the fire departments Hook and Ladder Company. Donald then enlisted in the United States Air Force and served four years earning the rank of Staff Sergeant. He was commended for organizing and leading teams of Air Force Personnel in responding to Hurricane Camille and for supporting a Security Police callup to Birmingham, Alabama.
After his military service Don completed his college education with bachelor’s degrees in Business and Political Science, minoring in accounting.
After graduation from college Don worked for a national accounting firm in Illinois and was then promoted to a Director of Marketing in Kansas City. In 1987 Don started his own accounting firm in Overland Park, Kansas and in 1988 added insurance services to the firm. In 1991 he saw the need for his clients to prepare for their financial needs in retirement and focused on recommending safe solutions to meet those goals. In 2009 Don sold the accounting practice and has since focused entirely on helping clients plan for their retirement income and legacy needs and founded Protecting Your Retirement, LLC. In Prairie Village, Kansas. In August 2022, Don sold Protecting Your Retirement to long time associate, Joy Peterson. Don remains retained by the firm as an independent agent in Prairie Village.
Don has three adult children and they have blessed him with twelve grandchildren of which three are adopted from foster services and four from South Korea.
Don with his family and friends spend time enjoying his lake home and activities at Table Rock Lake. Don also likes to travel domestically and internationally and enjoys being active with memberships in The Sons of the American Revolution, The Heartland Miata Club of Kansas City and is a Lifetime Member of the National Rifle Association. Don is also a Season Ticket Holder of the Kansas City Chiefs.
JOY PETERSON
Owner
Joy Peterson started her radio broadcasting career in 1992 and has been heard on WDAF-AM, KFKF, WKKG, and WWWY. She is currently the co-host of Protecting Your Retirement Radio with Don Wales on KCMO 710 and KCMO 103.7, Saturday afternoons from noon-1:00 PM.
Having spent several years learning about retirement planning through the radio show, Joy enthusiastically joined the Protecting Your Retirement team full-time in March of 2018. In August of 2022, Joy bought the practice from Don and is now the owner of Protecting Your Retirement. She is a fully licensed annuity, long term care, and life insurance agent in the states of Kansas and Missouri.
Joy lives in Kansas City, Kansas with her husband, two children, and two dogs.
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
AND RECOGNITIONS
INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIPS
Don Wales has several times qualified for membership in Million Dollar Round Table, The Premier Association of Financial Professionals and has attained both Court of the Table and Top of the Table the two highest levels of MDRT.
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR FIXED ANNUITIES
Don Wales is a member of the National Association of Fixed Annuities and has participated in educating members of The House of Representatives and United States Senate in Washington D. C.
NATIONAL ETHICS ASSOCIATION
Don Wales and Joy Peterson are both members of The National Ethics Association. National Ethics Association conducts background checks on all applicants for membership.
PROTECTING YOUR RETIREMENT AFFILIATIONS
BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU
Protecting Your Retirement has attained the A+ rating, the highest rating of the Better Business Bureau.
INSURED RETIREMENT INSTITUTE
The Insured Retirement Institute is an organization promoting financial choices for retirement that are insured by large life insurance companies. The institute distributes well researched articles and publications that share how the choice of safe financial products enhances consumers guaranteed lifetime income. The Insured Retirement Institute has academic as well as industry members.
ALLIANCE FOR LIFETIME
The Alliance for Lifetime Income is an organization involved in providing consumer and industry education and support on the benefits of selecting financial choices that are designed to provide lifetime income for retirees. Several of the Insurance companies and marketing organizations that we work with are founding members of the Alliance for Lifetime Income.
