What do you get?
You get a financial planning advocate: someone that is on the same side of the table as you are and helping you gain financial health in multiple aspects of your life. The most successful clients view this as a relationship business, not a transaction-based business, and seek to work with a firm that is interested in long-term, authentic relationships that should grow stronger over time.
Insight, direction, analysis, and support are offered in the following components:
- Cash Flow - One of the first things to review is your income, expenses, and savings rate to ensure that you're making the most of what you earn through budgeting, cost reduction strategies, and debt management. Most clients have figured out the budgeting basics, but need guidance & strategies to maximize the excess cash left over each month.
- Investments - A good investment strategy starts with determining your risk profile and the objectives for your investments. We'll start with a review of your current holdings, and account designation mix, to develop and implement an investment strategy that aligns with your values and assists with achieving your goals. Our investment philosophy is founded in offering broad asset class exposure with a focus on global diversification; emphasizing low costs, tax considerations, and your specific circumstances.
- Tax Planning - Often times an emphasis placed on reducing your current tax situation with little consideration given to the long-term effects the decisions made today will have on your future tax liability. We'll analyze your current tax status and put strategies in place to not only reduce your current tax bill, but to also minimize your lifetime tax expense decades later. The following quote from a supreme court ruling is the cornerstone of our tax planning philosophy:
"Any one may so arrange his affairs that his taxes shall be as low as possible; he is not bound to choose that pattern which will best pay the Treasury; there is not even a patriotic duty to increase one's taxes." Gregory v. Helvering, 69 F.2d 809, 810 (2d Cir. 1934)
- Insurance - Providing objective, needs-driven insurance advice to our clients is one factor that sets us apart from other financial advisors. Due to this, an active commitment is made to our clients by not accepting any form of commission from the products our clients ultimately purchase for their insurance needs. We'll review your current coverage and recommend the appropriate polices to protect you from the adverse financial impacts an unforeseen or untimely event may have to your future.
- Employee Benefit Review - Ever get lost trying to navigate and understand all of the benefits that your employer offers during open-enrollment? We're here to help close the knowledge gap, and coordinate those benefits with your existing policies and life situation to seek optimization.
- Retirement - Planning for what's next in life is at the core of what we do; whether that's "retiring" in the traditional sense, or simply moving to the next chapter in your life, we'll help develop and implement a plan to get you there.
- Estate - Having the proper plans and documentation in place prevents any misunderstanding of your intentions. We'll review your accounts and situation to confirm that the proper beneficiary designation and documentation are in place, and help strategize if not.
Our Process
Providing the best advice tailored to your unique situation requires a deep understanding of your values, goals, and current financial standing. Our onboarding process is a series of meetings designed to do just that - we'll progress through the series from getting to know each other to plan delivery. After the initial plan is delivered, we'll create a timeline to implement the components and then meet regularly throughout the year to ensure we're on track and making progress.
How Much Does it Cost?
Our Comprehensive Financial Planning service has an annual subscription fee that starts at $2,400, plus a competitive rate for assets under our management.
| Assets Under Management | Annual Fee |
|---|---|
| $0 - $1,000,000 | 1.00% |
| $1,000,000 - $5,000,000 | 0.85% |
| $5,000,000 + | Negotiable |
* The fee may be higher if you are a business owner, own investment property, or otherwise have a lot of complexity in your financial life. We will quote you the final onboarding fee and annual fee after having an introductory call.
*The annual fee can be paid automatically from your investment accounts (if we are managing your investments) or by credit/debit/ACH. The fee is an annual fee, but is debited quarterly in arrears.