Wealth Management in Los Angeles
Financial Advice Focused On What You Keep
Driving better results by being singularly focused
on maximizing your after-tax results
Tax-Smart Investing
Defining tax-smart investing:
A wealth management focus on after-tax outcomes of investments. This includes but is not limited to investment accounts: ordinary income, interest income, capital gains, and dividend income; retirement accounts: tax-deferred and tax-favored; types of investments; location of investments; allocation of investments by type and category; timing of distributions by type and category; trust considerations; deductions by type and category.
Your current advisor and your investment statements likely only focus your performance on pre-tax figures, leaving you to sort out the actual after-tax results.
Our focus is on after-tax, so you’ll have the solution before it ever becomes a problem. Schedule a conversation regarding your wealth management in Los Angeles HERE.
Our quest is to be unlike other advisors, by focusing on being the perfect fit for the select few
Our firm began out of the lack of discussions of tax implications by most financial planning and wealth management firms. Tax-loss harvesting is not enough. Only your CPA gives tax advice, but if your financial advisor isn’t discussing the tax implications of all financial considerations, they are doing you a disservice.
Investment performance shown in pre-tax dollars is fiction. Having discussions to better your tax position by teaming with your CPA is not a means by which financial advisory firms are compensated, so often those suggestions rarely occur. We believe they are vital to your financial well-being.
Fee-only advisors avoid conflicts of interest, yet they refer you to someone else if you do need an insurance solution for a trust to benefit a future taxation concern. That other party, in turn, will “sell” you whatever benefits their contractual obligation with a specific insurance carrier. How is this in your best interest? We believe that being a fiduciary doesn’t have a limit in responsibility based on your needs.
We believe that you should be able to have an annual review that discusses performance, changes in your life, your business, or your goals…, but also what your true, overall savings were from tax strategies that were implemented. Gains are a great measure of success, but savings on top of those gains are more valuable.
If you wish to see your financial decisions through an ever-present tax lens, and have deeper, more meaningful conversations to uncover strategies that you can benefit from, then we welcome the opportunity to start a conversation.
Who Are The Clients We Support
Our principal priority is to our client’s current and future tax implications in all personal and business-related financial decisions.
Our strategies benefit clients through financial advice directed at tax-efficient wealth development, optimizing workplace retirement plans, creating the ideal structure for wealth preservation, and upon crossing the finish line, a tax-savvy approach to retirement income.
Wealth management should address the tax implications of your financial decisions
The U.S. Government Accountability Office indicates that taxpayers overpay an estimated $1 billion annually due to unrealized tax reduction opportunities.
Tax professionals focus on reducing tax liability. Their role is to utilize the tax code to benefit your return at tax time, and as proficient as they may be, they do not have the time to be “tax architects” of their client’s investments, nor do they prefer to be.
Accountants prefer to stay focused on accounting principles and partner with trusted financial planners that align tax implications with accumulating and preserving wealth, aligning with their and their client’s objectives. The problem is that most financial advisors and firms do not consider overall tax implications their concern.
Financial stress doesn’t have an income threshold. We show you how to develop a crystal clear understanding of how to position yourself for long-term success.
Client focused wealth management = Results, in after-tax dollars
The vast majority of wealth advisors, and firms consider wealth management to be focused solely on performance. Tax-smart investing benefits you by considering tax implications just as important as investment performance.
Taxes are typically not a discussion until placed in the capable hands of your CPA or accountant at tax time, for them alone to do the heavy lifting and create the best outcome.
With investments, there are fund fees and management fees. How about the governmental fees (taxes) that you pay in the way of capital gains on the results of your investments? The majority of wealth management advisors discuss your fund fees and management fees, but rarely the “third fee” (taxes).
What is your true performance once you factor in your capital gains? Imagine your investment performance in after-tax results. That is what we do for clients.
We advise clients through a proactive, year-round strategic tax planning process designed to apply the most appropriate strategies to create opportunities to reduce the tax drag of your investments to reduce capital gains for better after-tax outcomes. Working in alignment with your CPA, we provide the best wealth management in Los Angeles.
How We Support Our Clients
Financial decisions take on very different views depending upon your stage of life. We each make financial decisions based on the moment we are in, the resources available to us, and our point of view looking forward. Predicting your future for some, is a matter of following a detailed, unwavering plan with the utmost discipline. Given that the majority of us are mere mortals, life, and the choices that we make, have a way of being detoured from their original plans.
We consider it our duty and honor to be your financial advocates to help support the financial opportunities and challenges that life may present. We also understand that you will encounter requirements that are within our expertise, as well as those that benefit from introductions that we can help facilitate. Our goal is help you navigate your financial journey with prudent advice, so that you may achieve your goals with better clarity, and less undue financial stress.
Early Financial Decisions
Career Related Financial Decisions
The foundation of your finances revolves around your career. Your choice of career, earnings, self-employment or W2, and even when to promote or change careers are principal factors in where you live, how you invest, and when and how you retire. Understanding the financial and tax implications at each stage of your career can give you an edge over whatever the next stage holds. We are here to help you at every step by providing the following services:
Major Financial Decisions
Unexpected Curveballs
2020 served up circumstances causing us all to face a myriad of unexpected personal, health, professional, and financial challenges. This represents a macro example of how factors outside of our perception of control can affect our lives. No one wants decisions made for them. Wealth management with a long-term focus at each stage in life can help prepare for the unexpected to keep an unwavering eye on the ball. Our wealth management in Los Angeles serves you with clarity and understanding so we are always prepared to navigate the next challenge or opportunity.
Longevity Related Financial Decisions
Legacy Related Financial Decisions
Benefiting from early financially responsible decisions, you become focused on preserving what you have accomplished and preparing for life after a working career. In most cases, your investments become less aggressive and asset accumulation evolves into a distribution strategy. A healthy, comfortably sustained retirement with minimized tax concerns becomes your priority. Retirement planning in Los Angeles is here to ensure you achieve your goals.
In all of our engagements, our goal is to listen
The financial advisory industry has a habit of categorizing individuals and businesses into boxes by assets. We prefer to focus on understanding your “big picture” goals, instead of presenting a generic menu of options. It’s only then we can begin to examine the appropriate ‘how’ to fit your unique ‘why’ and the applicable wealth management and tax strategies best suited for your needs.
Initial conversations don't need to be awkward...
You don't want to be judged for not having the "right" financial habits, saving enough, or spending too much.
You don't want to open up to a STRANGER about your finances.
You don't want to be told what to do instead of having a navigator, presenting you with options around what matters most to you.
We have no agenda and believe in truly listening first, and advice second. We begin with a phone conversation, lend actionable advice, and promise no follow-up unless you ask.
You are welcome to send us a message on the right, schedule a conversation, or give us a call. We are here to support your concerns, provide clarity, and lend perspective.
Drop us a line
Please let us know what questions you have