The Company
about us
Thomas C Penland Decumulation Consultants works serving 55 and uppers in communities around the country. Our mission is to provide individuals, families and businesses we serve with innovative financial strategies, solutions, and planning that result in financial clarity, security, and long-term financial health. Making strong commitments to our client-partners and building life-long relationships are tenets of success at Thomas C Penland Decumulation Consultants.
Our goal is to provide you with a lifetime of financial independence and dignity. We do this by offering innovative retirement solutions as unique as the people we work with. By putting protection first, we better know how much risk one can take and still sleep peacefully at night. We do this at your pace via our open and transparent process.
We work for you, and… more importantly, with you. Maximum success can only come from a team effort. With patience and education, you will be empowered to do your part and become confident making your own decisions. We look forward to and appreciate the opportunity to be of service.
Mission statement
From our founder
I started Thomas C Penland Decumulation Consultants to provide realistic retirement planning advice for real people leading real lives. Toward that end, we begin with the premise that planning for retirement doesn’t need to be complicated. In fact, the simpler is better. So, while other planners or advisors overwhelm you with information of dubious practical value or give the impression that you’re not serious about your retirement unless you follow every little move of the stock market or constantly on the lookout for the ‘best’ mutual fund or ETF, at Thomas C Penland / Decumulation Consultants, we will cut through the clutter and home in on what you really need to know. Specifically, we will focus on helping you get the big things right, saving consistently, investing sensibly, and judiciously managing your nest egg in accordance with your ability to withstand loss. The right strategy will maximize your spending in retirement. We monitor your plan and your progress, and we make any necessary adjustments as you go along, as life happens. In short, at Thomas C penland Decumulation Consultants we not only recognize that you can’t, or don’t want to spend every waking moment dealing with your finances: we also understand that a hyperactive approach is ultimately counterproductive. That doesn’t mean we won’t report on new research and trends that can help to make the most of your hard-earned retirement dollars. We do and we will. It is not a set-it-and-forget-it plan. If you agree with the idea that retirement planning, as with much in life, is not made better by complicating things, and if you’re up for realistic and usable retirement advice that works to make certain you have money that lasts as long as you last, let’s get started.
Thomas C Penland, RICP®
CEO/Founder
Beneath his professional demeanor lies an inspiring leader driven by passion and purpose. Here he is departing Rome for his 70th birthday cruise in the Mediterranean, Sept. ‘24. Tom has an unparalleled dedication to empowering the lives of 55 and uppers by helping them protect, grow and spend what they have worked a lifetime for. He is certain ‘that’ empowerment begins with education. As you can see, he is also committed to enjoying life.Tom says, “We are all different, and get to choose what brings maximum life to our days, regardless of age. And, for me it is waking up every day excited to help our prospects learn, to see the lives of our clients fulfilled and most importantly, to impart my 40+ years of experience to our younger advisors. I find a lot of peace knowing if I am gone tomorrow, Easton and Melony can and will… run with the ball.” He further adds, “It seems I have most always been the odd ‘financial fish’ swimming upstream. Going with the ‘flow’ is what is ‘expected’ but ‘conventional ‘wisdom’ is nothing more than a generally accepted theory or belief. Do you want to know you will not run out of money or is ‘believing’ enough?”
Beneath his professional demeanor lies an inspiring leader driven by passion and purpose. Here he is departing Rome for his 70th birthday cruise in the Mediterranean, Sept. ‘24. Tom has an unparalleled dedication to empowering the lives of 55 and uppers by helping them protect, grow and spend what they have worked a lifetime for. He is certain ‘that’ empowerment begins with education. As you can see, he is also committed to enjoying life. Tom says, “We are all different, and get to choose what brings maximum life to our days, regardless of age. And, for me it is waking up every day excited to help our prospects learn, to see the lives of our clients fulfilled and most importantly, to impart my 40+ years of experience to our younger advisors. I find a lot of peace knowing if I am gone tomorrow, Easton and Melony can and will… run with the ball.” He further adds, “It seems I have most always been the odd ‘financial fish’ swimming upstream. Going with the ‘flow’ is what is ‘expected’ but ‘conventional ‘wisdom’ is nothing more than a generally accepted theory or belief. Do you want to know you will not run out of money or is ‘believing’ enough?”
“Though wrinkles may record my journey, you will not find any in my heart. I still have the ‘spirit’ I was born with. It propels me forward.” ~T. Penland.
Mellie Trottier
financial professional
Mellie Trottier is a seasoned financial professional with over a decade of expertise in Fixed Index Annuities and financial planning. Mellie crafts personalized strategies that balance stability and growth, helping clients achieve their long-term financial goals with confidence.
A Magna Cum Laude graduate of Vanguard University, Mellie holds a bachelor’s degree in communications with a focus on Marketing and Public Relations. Her professional accomplishments include her work with Decumulation Consultants, where she is proud to serve her community. Under her leadership, Decumulation Consultants has been honored by the Chamber of Commerce and the City of Torrance for its contributions. Mellie is currently studying for her RICP designation to further enhance her expertise.
Beyond her career, Mellie finds fulfillment in supporting her children’s sports and academics, traveling, and visiting museums. Known for her positive energy and commitment to service, Mellie takes pride in empowering clients to build secure, lasting financial futures. Mellie Trottier is a seasoned financial professional with over a decade of expertise in Fixed Index Annuities and financial planning. Mellie crafts personalized strategies that balance stability and growth, helping clients achieve their long-term financial goals with confidence. A Magna Cum Laude graduate of Vanguard University, Mellie holds a bachelor’s degree in communications with a focus on Marketing and Public Relations. Her professional accomplishments include her work with Decumulation Consultants, where she is proud to serve her community. Under her leadership, Decumulation Consultants has been honored by the Chamber of Commerce and the City of Torrance for its contributions. Mellie is currently studying for her RICP designation to further enhance her expertise. Beyond her career, Mellie finds fulfillment in supporting her children’s sports and academics, traveling, and visiting museums. Known for her positive energy and commitment to service, Mellie takes pride in empowering clients to build secure, lasting financial futures.
Easton Penland
Advisor, Director of Operations
Easton Penland, son of Thomas Penland, grew up between Los Angeles, California and Roanoke, Virginia. He began his college studies at age 16 with focuses in mathematics, legal studies, and network security while working part-time as a manager at a small deli. At age 21 he enlisted in the United States Air Force as a cryptologic language analyst. A short time after enlistment, he found a new passion for finance and retirement planning after attending a military finance presentation.
Following in his father’s footsteps, he quickly began to expand his knowledge on financial strategy, investment theory, and retirement planning while working as a trilingual Analyst at the National Security Agency Headquarters, Maryland.
After four years on Active Duty and attaining the rank of Staff Sergeant, Easton proceeded to return to College at University of California: Los Angeles and commission as an Airfield Operations Officer, where he was an award-winning Airfield Operations Commander of 105 personnel and volunteered to teach finance and retirement planning classes to the newest members of the Air Force. After 4 years of service as a commissioned officer, he was selected for promotion to Captain and the prestigious duty of Officer Instructor, where he began to teach future Air Force Officers at Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA. He became the primary instructor on Officer Finance, teaching Senior Cadets about retirement planning, budgeting, and personal finance to prepare them for self-sufficiency on active duty.
At the completion of 10 years Active Duty, Captain Penland pursued a part-time opportunity with the Kentucky Air National Guard as a Contingency Airfield Operations Commander so that he could begin his finance career simultaneously alongside his father, Thomas Penland at Thomas C. Penland Decumulation Consultants. He currently lives in Salem, VA supported by his wife of 6 years, Anne Marie and pets Bleu and Bandido. A passionate teacher and service-minded advisor, he is determined to see people live their highest-quality life in retirement while protecting that which they worked their hardest to achieve.
Easton Penland, son of Thomas Penland, grew up between Los Angeles, California and Roanoke, Virginia. He began his college studies at age 16 with focuses in mathematics, legal studies, and network security while working part-time as a manager at a small deli. At age 21 he enlisted in the United States Air Force as a cryptologic language analyst. A short time after enlistment, he found a new passion for finance and retirement planning after attending a military finance presentation. Following in his father’s footsteps, he quickly began to expand his knowledge on financial strategy, investment theory, and retirement planning while working as a trilingual Analyst at the National Security Agency Headquarters, Maryland. After four years on Active Duty and attaining the rank of Staff Sergeant, Easton proceeded to return to College at University of California: Los Angeles and commission as an Airfield Operations Officer, where he was an award-winning Airfield Operations Commander of 105 personnel and volunteered to teach finance and retirement planning classes to the newest members of the Air Force. After 4 years of service as a commissioned officer, he was selected for promotion to Captain and the prestigious duty of Officer Instructor, where he began to teach future Air Force Officers at Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA. He became the primary instructor on Officer Finance, teaching Senior Cadets about retirement planning, budgeting, and personal finance to prepare them for self-sufficiency on active duty. At the completion of 10 years Active Duty, Captain Penland pursued a part-time opportunity with the Kentucky Air National Guard as a Contingency Airfield Operations Commander so that he could begin his finance career simultaneously alongside his father, Thomas Penland at Thomas C. Penland Decumulation Consultants. He currently lives in Salem, VA supported by his wife of 6 years, Anne Marie and pets Bleu and Bandido. A passionate teacher and service-minded advisor, he is determined to see people live their highest-quality life in retirement while protecting that which they worked their hardest to achieve.