It is with heavy hearts that we remember Phillip J. Cannella III, the visionary Founder of Crash Proof Retirement® and The Exclusive Crash Proof Retirement® System. Phil passed away peacefully on January 8th, 2025, at 2:30 AM, surrounded by his wife, and longtime business partner Joann Small-Cannella, and his family. He was 69 years old.

Diagnosed with Stage 4 bile duct cancer on May 2nd, 2022, Phil fought his illness, as he lived his life, with great courage, grace,  principles, and a determination to live each day to its fullest, working every day on behalf of The American Retiree to the very end.

To quote Phil: “It’s not the number of years in your life, it’s the life you put into the years you live.”

Phil’s legacy is characterized by his unwavering commitment to consumer advocacy, always guided by a steadfast belief in truth, logic, and wisdom. Phil always believed, “In a world of deception…Truth and Logic will always prevail.” Through this guiding philosophy, he transformed the financial landscape, over his illustrious 51 year career, helping over 6,000 Crash Proof® Consumers navigate their retirement future. This very philosophy also steered his remarkable journey—from founding First Senior Financial Group (which later evolved into Crash Proof Retirement®) to launching the one and only Crash Proof Retirement® Radio Show on Philadelphia’s #1 Radio Station, 1210 Talk Radio, and ultimately establishing his own media company, Retirement Media Inc.

His advocacy for the everyday American extended well beyond his client base. Phil’s philanthropic efforts touched the lives of countless Americans and patriots in need of financial and emotional support, benefiting organizations such as The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, The Vietnam Veterans of America, The Tunnel to Towers Foundation, Semper Fi, and America’s Fund, and many more. In his own words, “You can make a living from what you earn, but you can make a life from what you give.”

Although we are devastated by Phil’s passing, the most important message that we would like to leave with you is that Phil, along with Joann, took great care over the years, even before falling ill, to ensure that the safeguards, protections, philosophies, and core values that have always been the foundation of Crash Proof Retirement® will live on and that the unparalleled consumer protection provided by The Exclusive Crash Proof Retirement® System will continue to grow and thrive into the future. Phil’s legacy lives on through our executive team led by Joann Small-Cannella and our newly appointed Chief Executive Officer Traci Stillman, as well as our team of consumer advocates at Crash Proof Retirement® – all of whom share the same foundational values that made Phil the financial gladiator he was. We are forever indebted to the knowledge and passion he shared with us and our promise to Mr. Cannella is to always preserve his legacy forever. His vision continues to drive Crash Proof Retirement® forward in the pursuit of a better life for all Americans.

Thank you for honoring Phil’s memory and supporting Crash Proof Retirement® as we carry forward his mission with dedication and integrity.

With All Truth,

Joann Small-Cannella, Traci Stillman, and the entire Crash Proof Retirement® team