What We Do

Financial Planning

Your financial plan is an ever-evolving process.  We use leading-edge financial planning software to develop your plan and track your success.  Best of all, you will have direct access to this information any time you want.

Through the financial planning portal, you will be able to aggregate your information from all of your banking, investment, and lending accounts.  You will have a personal statement of net worth that will be updated daily.  You will also be able to view your investment holdings and cash flow projections as well as model out various planning scenarios.

Imagine the confidence and peace of mind of having such a clear picture of your finances.

Investment Management

We provide ongoing, discretionary management of your investment portfolio through assets held in Custody at Schwab. The assets are held in your name, and you will have direct access to those assets via the Schwab Alliance Client portal.

Our investment philosophy is simple:

• We maintain a primarily passive investment strategy that provides wide exposure to all sectors of the market ensuring that you are properly diversified and your portfolio is consistent with your risk tolerance and financial goals.

• We mostly use low-cost exchange traded funds.

To reduce income taxes, we utilize a “buy-and-hold” strategy and are extremely aware of the tax-location of the various investments.

We are not market timers, stock churners, or band-wagoners. We don’t earn commissions or kickbacks. We are FIDUCIARIES. The investment decisions we make are in your best interest…period.

Social Security Timing

One of the biggest decisions you will make with respect to your retirement is deciding when to claim Social Security. It is critically important that you do not make this decision in a vacuum.

The timing of this decision should take into consideration the following income streams:

• Required Minimum Distributions

• Pension and deferred compensation income

• Rental property income

• Investment income ( i.e., dividend, interest, and partnership distributions)

• Capital gains

We will also evaluate other factors like life expectancy, health, spousal benefits, and personal preferences.

By taking your entire financial condition into consideration when making this decision, we will help you choose a strategy that will optimize your income stream and reduce your lifetime income tax liability.

Tax Planning

Income taxes could easily become one of your largest expenses in retirement. Our tax planning services aim to keep both your current and lifetime income taxes low.

We will accomplish this by:

• Doing an annual income tax projection before the end of the year

• Evaluate the possibility of doing annual Roth conversions

• Trigger or defer income when most advantageous

• Ensure assets are held in tax-efficient locations

• Tax loss harvesting

• Charitable giving strategies

• Evaluate income tax holding elections

We are CPAs. Other financial advisors say they do this. We have the credentials to back it up.

Insurance Analysis

As fee-only, fiduciary financial advisors, we do not sell insurance. We will review your coverage to make sure you are protected, and help you shop your policies to make sure you have the best policy at the best price.

We can review the following types of insurance:

• Life Insurance

• Disability Insurance

• Long-term Care Insurance

• Auto & Home Insurance

• Umbrella Insurance

• Health Insurance

If you have been sold an insurance policy that should not have been sold to you, we will analyze your options and identify the most cost-effective exit.

Legacy Planning

It has taken your entire life to amass the wealth that you have today. We will help you ensure it is used to define and preserve your legacy.

We will work with you to help you answer the important questions:

• Where would you like your wealth to go? (i.e., Family, friends, church, or philanthropy)

• What would you like to see your wealth accomplish?

• How much control do you want to have over the timing and amount of distributions?

• Would you like to create a plan to minimize the taxes on your estate?

• What would you like your children to know once you have passed on?

All too often, this facet of retirement planning is not given the attention it deserves. We will encourage you to invest the time. The clearer your intentions, the more effective your wealth will be used to create your legacy for the future.