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LET'S MAKE A PLAN.

your finances have gotten so complex that advice from co-workers and google searches no longer help. You HAVE SOARING INFLATION, INTEREST RATE HIKES, AND A POTENTIAL RECESSION eroding your wealth. in addition, you have some big decisions to make. there’s COLLEGE TO PLAN FOR, maybe INVESTMENT ACCOUNTS to consolidate. Let us help.

Foundational Work

We start our partnership with a process designed for couples preparing for college, retirement, and everything in between. That said, our process is simply a tool to get us to the right place; it’s not gospel.

Whatever is urgent for you is always the most important thing for us to plan around. If you have college to plan for and need a plan, we do that. If you have investment accounts here and there, we can work on consolidating them. And if you want to figure out the best way to create income in retirement, we do that. That is the essence of our relationship: here when you need us.

Here when you need us...

MEETING ONE

DISCOVERY

We learn a little bit about you. You learn a little bit about my team. This is going to be a big relationship in both of our lives, and we want to start it off right.

MEETING TWO

GETTING ORGANIZED

We need an insane amount of data to fully understand your financial situation. You ideally have all that information nicely organized or know where to easily get it.

MEETING THREE

OPPORTUNITIES & CHALLENGES

After gaining clarity over your finances, I will share your financial opportunities, as well as challenges that threaten your success.

MEETING FOUR

INVESTMENTS & EQUITY COMP.

You will walk away knowing how we propose to invest your money, how your company stock works, and a written strategy for it all.

MEETING FIVE

PLAN PRESENTATION

Perhaps for the first time, you get a consolidated overview of your total financial picture.

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MEETING SIX

WHAT ELSE?

If we didn’t cover it in previous meetings, it needs its own dedicated time.

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Our foundational work usually takes three to six months, though it can take as long as you need. Once we finish the foundational work, we move into ongoing care.

TRANSITION TO
ONGOING CARE…

ONGOING CARE

The impact of the foundational work is felt more and more over time, as we can more effectively help you navigate life’s choices and opportunities.

Each year we will reach out to you to schedule two meetings, springtime and fall. We want this face-to-face time primarily so we can continue unearthing who you are, who you’re becoming, what’s happening in your life, and the life you want to fashion for yourself.

In addition to those two meetings, several times throughout the year we will review a technical part of your financial situation. Between the two, throughout the year we will cover all the important technical parts of your financial life.

We also expect you to reach out to us when you need guidance in anything that has come up in your life. A new job offer? Want to buy a home? Having a baby? Company going IPO? We will address these issues either via email or additional meetings, depending on what’s most helpful.

Don’t forget, we also work with our clients’ kids up until Age 30, or until they get married.

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM US

You can expect us to meet with you several times a year. Outside of meetings, you can expect us to work on technical aspects of your financial life behind the scenes (open enrollment, tax return review, insurance review, estate planning review, etc.), reaching out to update you or when we think you need to do something.

You can also expect us to be here when you need us. This is the essence of our relationship: here when you need us.

What else you can expect:
  • Spring meeting, focused on cash flow
  • Fall meeting, focused on taxes, charitable giving, stock compensation, and a review of your plan.
  • Written strategies for the parts of your financial life (stock compensation, insurance, etc.)
  • Investment management and advice
  • Client email newsletters, bringing you up to speed on the stuff that can affect you.
  • WHAT WE EXPECT FROM YOU

    Our work together is a partnership.

    Everything that goes into a good partnership is what we want in our relationship with you: respect, open communication, and participation.

    And please reach out to us when life happens. We want to help!

    My financial practice is primarily virtual, so we conduct our meetings via Zoom meetings. However, we do offer home visits to comprehensive planning clients. Outside of meetings, we communicate by email.

    MY ANNUAL ADVISORY FEES ARE "ALL-IN-ONE"

    YOU GET BOTH COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL PLANNING + INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT

    WHY DO WE INVEST YOUR MONEY?

    You’re smart, intelligent, and most likely highly educated. We’re sure you can figure out how to invest and grow your money without our help. 

    Unfortunately, DIY investors tend to underperform the markets, and sometimes by a considerable amount. A recent Dalbar study shows that DIY investors underperform by as much as a 5% difference. So much for avoiding paying an advisory fee.

    Because we want all the tools at our disposal to help you live your ideal life, investment management—to the extent you have investments to manage—is a required part of our work with you.

    HOW DO WE INVEST YOUR MONEY?

    We believe that the best way to achieve your investing goals is to invest in a broadly diversified, simple, and low-cost portfolio, and to match the choices of investments to the timeframe of your goals and to your attitude about risk.

    If you’ve never had anyone else manage your investments for you, that’s okay! We have plenty of conversations before actually doing anything.

    HOW MUCH IT COSTS

    We agree to a flat, annual fee at the beginning of our work together. You pay it either monthly or quarterly.

    We provide you with your quote—stated in dollars—after our initial call.

    We review the fee every 12 months. If your financial circumstances have changed, your fee will also change.

    HOW FEES ARE CALCULATED

    The fee is calculated based on assets under management (i.e., the size of your investment portfolio, which we manage for you). Significant complexities in your financial situation—navigating an IPO, highly concentrated position in a single stock, etc.—can add to that fee.

    Last updated: 7/27/2022

    Case studies

    Gary & Cindy

    Our daughter is a Junior in high school. What colleges can we get in, and how much can we expect in financial aid?

    Donald & Sarah

    Are we in a position where Donald can retire early at 62, and maybe transition to a part-time job?