Frequently Asked Questions
Get answers to common retirement planning questions and learn more about our services.
Getting Started
We work with families who have saved $500,000 or more for retirement. This allows us to provide the comprehensive planning and personal attention our clients deserve. Our services are most beneficial for families approaching or in retirement with substantial savings that need strategic management.
If you're within 10 years of retirement, already retired, or have accumulated significant retirement savings, you can benefit from professional planning. Key signs include: having multiple retirement accounts, facing required minimum distributions, considering Roth conversions, optimizing Social Security, or planning for Medicare.
Bring recent statements for all retirement accounts (401k, IRA, pensions), Social Security statements, recent tax returns, insurance policies, and a list of your monthly expenses. Don't worry if you don't have everything - we'll help you gather what's needed.
Yes, we serve clients nationwide through virtual meetings and digital planning tools. Our local Utah expertise combined with national reach allows us to help families anywhere. We use secure video conferencing, digital document sharing, and online portfolio access to provide comprehensive service regardless of location.
Fees & Services
We are fee-only advisors, which means we don't earn commissions from product sales. Our compensation comes directly from our clients through transparent advisory fees based on assets under management. This structure ensures our interests are aligned with yours - we succeed when your portfolio grows.
Our fee includes comprehensive retirement planning, investment management, tax planning strategies, ongoing portfolio monitoring, regular review meetings, unlimited phone and email support, coordination with your other professionals (CPA, attorney), and updates to your Retirement Money Map as needed.
No. We believe in complete transparency. Our fee structure is clearly outlined in our advisory agreement. The only additional costs are the internal expense ratios of the investment funds we use (typically 0.05% to 0.25%), which are disclosed in advance. We don't charge transaction fees, account fees, or surprise charges.
No, we don't sell products or earn commissions. This is a key part of our fiduciary standard - we provide objective advice without conflicts of interest. If insurance or specific products are needed, we'll make recommendations and help you work with appropriate specialists.
Our Process & Approach
We specialize exclusively in retirement income planning and tax optimization. Our proprietary Retirement Money Map process, fiduciary commitment, and focus on Utah families sets us apart. Unlike generalist advisors, we understand the unique challenges of retirement income planning and have developed specific expertise in this area.
Our proprietary planning tool that creates a visual, year-by-year roadmap of your entire financial future. It shows your cash flow, tax projections, withdrawal strategies, and account balances throughout retirement. This isn't just a spreadsheet - it's a comprehensive visual plan that helps you understand exactly how your money will work.
We typically meet quarterly for formal reviews, with additional meetings as needed for life changes or market events. Our goal is to stay proactive in managing your financial plan. Between meetings, you have unlimited access to our team for questions or concerns.
We develop tax-efficient strategies including Roth conversions, withdrawal sequencing, asset location optimization, and IRMAA avoidance. We coordinate closely with your CPA to implement these strategies and provide detailed documentation. While we don't prepare returns, we're actively involved in year-round tax planning.
Investment Management
We use diversified portfolios, stress testing, and scenario planning to prepare for market volatility. Our withdrawal strategies are designed to weather market downturns without derailing your retirement plan. We also maintain appropriate cash reserves and use bond laddering to reduce sequence of returns risk.
We primarily use low-cost index funds and ETFs to build diversified portfolios. We may also use individual bonds, municipal bonds, and TIPS when appropriate for your situation. We avoid high-cost products, complex derivatives, and investments with unnecessary fees or complexity.
No one can guarantee investment returns, and we believe anyone who promises specific returns is being dishonest. What we can guarantee is that we'll work diligently to optimize your portfolio for your specific situation, keep costs low, and adjust strategies as markets and your needs change.
We'll evaluate your current investments as part of our analysis. Some may fit well in your optimized portfolio, others may not. We'll explain our recommendations clearly and implement changes gradually when appropriate. The goal is optimization, not unnecessary turnover.
Retirement Planning Specifics
We analyze your Social Security statement and run optimization scenarios to determine the best claiming strategy for your situation. This includes considering spousal benefits, divorced spouse benefits, timing strategies, and how Social Security fits with your overall retirement income plan.
We help you understand Medicare options and, more importantly, develop strategies to avoid IRMAA surcharges that can add thousands to your Medicare costs. We coordinate income management to keep you below IRMAA thresholds and help you plan for Medicare's impact on your budget.
We coordinate with estate planning attorneys to ensure your financial plan aligns with your estate plan. We help with beneficiary designations, trust funding, tax-efficient wealth transfer strategies, and ensuring your retirement plan supports your legacy goals. We don't draft legal documents but work closely with attorneys who do.
Long-term care planning is integrated into our comprehensive planning process. We help you understand costs, insurance options, and plan for how care needs might impact your financial plan. This includes asset protection strategies and ensuring your spouse's financial security.
Working Relationship
We don't prepare tax returns, but we coordinate closely with your CPA to implement tax-efficient strategies. We provide detailed documentation and strategy recommendations to your tax preparer. If you need a CPA referral, we can recommend qualified professionals we work with regularly.
You can terminate our relationship at any time. We don't believe in locking clients into long-term contracts. If you decide to leave, we'll provide a smooth transition including transferring your accounts and providing copies of all planning documents. Our goal is to earn your business every day.
We use email, phone calls, video conferences, and in-person meetings based on your preferences. You'll have direct access to your advisor team and we typically respond to emails within one business day. For urgent matters, you can always call our office.
Absolutely. We regularly coordinate with CPAs, estate planning attorneys, insurance agents, and other professionals. We believe comprehensive planning requires a team approach and we're happy to work with your existing advisors or help you find qualified professionals when needed.
Still Have Questions?
We're here to help. Contact us to discuss your specific situation and how we can help you achieve your retirement goals.
Initial consultations are complimentary for qualified families.