FAQ

A comprehensive financial plan provides context for every financial decision—from investments to taxes to risk management. Just like a fingerprint, every plan is unique. A good investment only makes sense when it aligns with your personal goals, time horizon, and risk tolerance. Planning helps you clarify what you truly want and map out a path to get there.

Yes. As both a Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA) charterholder and a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, I am required to act as a fiduciary. That means your best interests always come first—every recommendation, every strategy, every time.

Our core strengths include retirement planning, tax planning, estate planning, and risk management. We believe that no matter how strong your investment returns may be, poor tax and risk planning can significantly reduce what you actually keep. Our goal is to help you protect, preserve, and maximize your wealth.

There is no single “right” way to invest. Successful investors use the financial planning process to understand their real needs and personal values, then build investment strategies that align with those insights. We help you choose a path that fits who you are—not just the numbers on a page.

We offer flexible pricing options to meet different needs. This includes asset-based (AUM) fee schedules, annual or hourly planning fees, and commission-based compensation when appropriate. Before we begin working together, we outline all fees clearly and transparently.

Yes. We meet with many clients via Zoom. Virtual services allow us to stay accessible and responsive, whether you’re local or living across the country.

We respect the work other professionals do. That said, financial advisors—like doctors or attorneys—often have different specialties. As your wealth grows, your financial needs become more complex. We’re happy to provide a second opinion or help you determine whether your current plan truly aligns with your long-term goals.

Risk management protects your ability to reach your goals. Market volatility, taxes, inflation, and unexpected life events can all erode your wealth. A solid risk management strategy helps reduce avoidable losses and ensures your investment and retirement income plans remain stable—even in uncertain times.

The earlier, the better—but it’s never too late to start. Whether you’re ten years out from retirement or already retired, proper planning helps maximize Social Security benefits, reduce taxes, strengthen your investment strategy, and create a reliable income stream.

Yes. We frequently assist employees from companies such as Boeing, Northrop Grumman, SpaceX, SoCal Gas Co., and Tesoro. We help you evaluate pension options, 401(k) allocations, rollover decisions, and benefits packages so you can make smart, confident choices.

It’s completely normal to want time to think. However, staying in a holding pattern often delays your progress. If something feels unclear, we’ll help you identify exactly what’s holding you back so you can move forward with confidence. Remember: money is a tool to help you live the life you want—not the end goal itself.

Taxes can have a major impact on your long-term wealth. With proper tax planning, you may reduce unnecessary tax liability, increase your retirement income, and keep more of what you earn. We integrate tax strategies into your financial, investment, and estate plans to help optimize your after-tax results.

We begin with a discovery meeting to understand your goals, concerns, and financial picture. From there, we build a customized financial plan that outlines your retirement, investment, tax, and risk strategies. Once we implement your plan, we meet regularly to review progress and adjust as needed.