OUTSIDE COUNSEL FOR YOUR FINANCES

Your financial situation changed. Things are way more complicated. You are afraid to make the wrong move.

Choices: How much to save in the 401k, switching jobs, picking benefits for next year.

BIG choices: Buying a home, exercising stock options, having kids, saving for retirement.

How do you know you’re making the right call? How does everything work together?

Gain confidence you are heading in the right direction.

Financial Planning

Our relationship is holistic: we address anything money touches in your life and where you want to go in this world. We systematically touch every facet. Whatever is top of mind is our starting point.

  • We follow evidence based investing principles. We are financial planners, not stock pickers. You can expect unbiased recommendations based upon your needs.

    Stock Options: We coordinate between the investing and tax implications of your equity compensation, so one doesn’t negatively impact the other.

    Implementation: You can implement our investment recommendations on your own or with us, your choice. Most clients use us to simplify life.

  • The heart of all sound financial planning. Our goal is to reduce your lifetime tax bill, not just the current year’s taxes.

    Stock Options: Coordinated with the investment advice (see above), because it matters.

  • This is the most important meeting, in our opinion. Every other meeting hinges on this because everything is based on what you want and who you are. If we hone in on that, every decision is clear. Promise.

  • Worry-free Retirement planning is more than just money; it’s about life, fulfillment, and enjoyment. You can enjoy life today even while saving for retirement. Life is now. And if you’re saving more than you need, we’ll show you.

  • If you’re over/under insured, we will tell you. Even beyond basic life insurance recommendations: do you need your own attorney malpractice policy? With inflation, is your home still covered under your old policy?

    Implementation: For personal insurance needs, you can purchase policies on your own from an agent or we can coordinate with our friends at LLIS if you need more coverage. Again, your choice.

  • We can help set aside the emergency money you need and gain control over your spending. No shame allowed :)

  • This goes well beyond drafting a will with your attorney. Let’s address potential issues before they become a problem.

  • Something comes up before our next meeting? Let’s connect ASAP. We are here to walk with you on the journey.

  • Based on your skills and experience, are you getting the market rate? Let’s review your income against the job market and double check.

    Protect the value of your stock options even if you switch employers - let us help you figure out how much you need to be made whole if you switch employers. And let’s assess the new company’s benefit package to see how it compares.

  • Fully use benefits to compound your net-worth, lower taxes, and contribute to your goals.

    Did you know some employers will reimburse you for financial planning or tax planning? Ask your HR person to confirm.

  • JD Mortgage: You qualify for a special mortgage with a lower down payment. Does it make sense to do it?

    All About Roths: Backdoor Roths, Roth Conversions, etc. You’ve read about them, but should you do it? Does it make sense based on your tax bracket?

    Lower Taxable Income: Let’s find every possible way to legally reduce your taxes, both now and later in retirement.

    Charitable Strategies: Want to help others AND lower your taxes? We have some cool stuff to show you.

    Direct Indexing: You can use investments to potentially lower taxable income? Yup. There are several caveats and this strategy won’t apply to everyone, but it sure is cool. Here’s an example.

Meeting Flow - How and When We Connect

We work with clients on an ongoing basis. Because your time is precious, we structure our process to get as much done as possible per meeting. And what if something else pops up? Psssh, just schedule a meeting. We would love to connect.

New Clients: Four Initial Meetings

  1. Tax Planning

  2. Investment & Retirement

  3. Insurance & Estate Planning

  4. Goals & Life Planning

These can take as long/short as you need to go through them (average is between 12-18 months)

Onboarded Clients: Two Ongoing Meetings

  1. Tax Planning (Spring Time)

  2. Investment Review (Fall) + Insurance & Estate Planning

Insurance, Estate, and Life Planning are then reviewed every 2-3 years, during the fall (unless life happens, then we address sooner)

Open Door

Did something happen, or do we need to talk through anything? Let’s connect.

Fiduciary Approach

You give unbiased advice to your clients. Shouldn’t you receive the same?

No Product Sales: We don’t sell investments or insurance products and we don’t get a kickback for any recommendations.

Fee Only: Our only compensation is a flat fee that comes directly from our clients.

All-Inclusive: Together we design a holistic strategy to take every aspect of your finances into account, including who you are at your deepest self and what you ultimately want out of life.

Unlimited Access: We can connect as often as necessary. Some years we will meet a lot (“my company is about to IPO…”), while other years a handful of times.

Relationship Transcends Death: If something happens to you, we will still be there to help your spouse, children, their guardian, and any beneficiaries.

Virtual Support: You are highly mobile and the great pandemic reshuffle escalated it. Whether you are moving from California to New York, or anywhere in between, we are here.

We mutually agree to a flat fee before working together. We provide a quote by our second meeting. The quote is based on your income, your assets, the complexity of your situation (IPOs, etc), and other any relevant factors.

As of 2023, our minimum quarterly fee is $2,500.

How Much It Costs

Clients can pay for their fee in three ways:

  1. From investment accounts (if we manage for them)

  2. From cashflow (ACH or Credit Card)

  3. Combination of the two

How to Pay

  • Unlike most firms, we do not require management of your investments in order to work together. Nor do we require a minimum asset level to work together. We can work together even if your investments are tied up in workplace plans (401ks) or stock options.

  • We can/do help manage assets if it would make your life easier, your choice (most do to simplify things)

Special Note

We are not the only financial planning firm, but we are a reliable one.

  • Corporate counsels with equity compensation (RSUs, Restricted Stock, Options, etc)

  • Around 200k of household income OR $500k of investments OR combination

  • Millennial age range (not required, but most are)

  • Lovely people. We have a no-jerks-allowed rule. You’d be surprised :)

Who We Work Best with:

Wondering if we are a good fit?

Let’s find out together.