FAQ

Fee-only means our entire revenue is comprised of flat fees and asset-based fees paid by you, our client. This matters because it means the way we are compensated is fully aligned with your best interests. If we do well, you’re happy to pay. If we do poorly, you fire us. There are no hidden sales fees or backdoor commissions. We only work for you.

Plainly, a fiduciary is someone who manages your money and is bound by law to place your interests first and make careful and prudent decisions. This is the top standard in our industry and should be something you’re looking for. Compare this with a stock broker or an insurance agent: they are non-fiduciaries selling financial products, not an advisory/management service.

We are fiduciaries. We manage your wealth and provide financial advice in an ongoing relationship. As a Registered Investment Advisor (RIA), we are strictly bound by the SEC’s Investment Advisor Act of 1940 which lays out the fiduciary standards:

(1) a duty of loyalty—your interests must come first

(2) a duty of care—making informed, diligent decisions with prudence.

Here’s our Form ADV.

Our practice is entirely driven by our Core Values. Integrity, excellence and dignity permeate all of our work and thinking. That said, words can be cheap. The only way to truly find out if we are different is have a conversation with us and see whether we measure up to our own high standards—see if we the right fit for you.

We believe that everyone deserves access to quality planning and investments, so we have formal no minimums.

That said, our service is not appropriate for everyone. We build intricate strategies and institutional-grade portfolios, so we are most effective for those with >$250k household income or >$1M in investable assets. Read more about who we serve best on our Clients page.

If you don’t meet those thresholds, we’ll still be happy to speak with you. A quick phone call or consult might be all you need to get you the advice you want. We also offer limited engagement contracts for those with specific tactical needs. Schedule a Consultation and let’s see how we can help you.

Financial planning, investment management & ongoing partnership. We believe that everything starts with strategy accompanied by precision execution and follow through.

We always recommend starting with establishing a financial plan (strategy) and then executing on that plan via quality investment management (execution). Implementing the rest of the plan requires ongoing partnership (execution cont’d); keeping you on a path to success over the long haul. Find out more on our Services page.

Yes. Your plan and investments don’t exist in a vacuum. Your wealth is best served when your trusted team works together. We optimize tax moves with your CPA and estate strategies with your attorney. If you’re just starting to build your team, we’ll help you vet.

With care. Taxes are burdensome at the higher end, so tax strategy is critical. We deploy strategies like tax-loss harvesting, Roth conversions, and tax-efficient asset placement to minimize your tax bill. We also make detailed recommendations regarding deferred and equity income, charitable giving, and estate optimization. Unmanaged taxes can cost you a small fortune over a lifetime. We’ll make sure you keep it.

Everyone feels like a pro in a bull market. The trick is when things get crazy. During the dot-com bubble, the NASDAQ lost 77% from its peak over two short years. During the 2008 financial crisis, the S&P lost 53% and took five years to recover.

Is your portfolio ready for the next crisis? Can you handle the psychological stress? The loss aversion affect is difficult to fight. We are disciplined professionals. This is what we do, all day, everyday.

We build our portfolios from the ground up. We customize based on your unique needs. We monitor markets and developments daily and execute disciplined trading rules to maximize your returns and minimize risk. We combine active and passive strategies to go from strength-to-strength. We deploy advanced strategies like hedging, options, convexity overlays and alpha capture to ensure our portfolios are top-flight.

We never outsource. We don’t do one-size-fits-all or passive buy-and-hold when your situation demands more. We build bespoke strategies and actively manage risk. We earn our fee.

We’ll answer this, but some housekeeping is in order.

First, if an advisor talks about their investment returns before understanding your situation, that’s a major red flag. Only salespeople do that.

Second, we are not a hedge fund where everyone gets invested in the same portfolio. We are personal investment advisors. Historical and projected returns must be contextualized against your plan and goals. Are your investments designed with enough upside risk to reach those goals?  Are they hedged with enough downside buffer to protect your plan in a severe crisis? These are crucial questions that must be answered first.

We will answer the question of returns (any good investment advisor should!), but we need to know more about you first. Only then can we discuss percentages. Schedule a consult and let’s talk.