Frequently Asked Questions

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.

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: multiple retirement accounts, facing RMDs, 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 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. We use secure video conferencing, digital document sharing, and online portfolio access to provide comprehensive service regardless of location.

Typically 4–6 weeks from your first meeting to a completed Retirement Money Map. This includes data gathering, analysis, plan creation, and a comprehensive review meeting.

Absolutely. Starting 5–10 years before retirement gives us more time to implement tax-efficient strategies like Roth conversions and optimize your Social Security claiming strategy. The earlier we start, the more options we have.

We are fee-only advisors — no commissions from product sales. Our compensation comes through transparent advisory fees based on assets under management. Our interests are aligned with yours.

Comprehensive retirement planning, investment management, tax planning strategies, ongoing portfolio monitoring, regular review meetings, unlimited phone/email support, coordination with your CPA and attorney, and updates to your Retirement Money Map.

No. The only additional costs are internal expense ratios of investment funds (typically 0.05%–0.25%), disclosed in advance. No transaction fees, account fees, or surprise charges.

No. We don't sell products or earn commissions. If insurance or specific products are needed, we make recommendations and help you work with appropriate specialists.

A fiduciary is legally required to act in your best interest at all times. This is different from a "suitability" standard where advisors only need to recommend products that are suitable — even if better options exist.

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 from generalist advisors.

Our proprietary planning tool that creates a visual, year-by-year roadmap of your financial future — cash flow, tax projections, withdrawal strategies, and account balances throughout retirement. Not a spreadsheet — a comprehensive visual plan.

Quarterly formal reviews, with additional meetings as needed for life changes or market events. Between meetings, you have unlimited access to our team.

We develop tax-efficient strategies including Roth conversions, withdrawal sequencing, asset location optimization, and IRMAA avoidance. We coordinate closely with your CPA year-round.

Yes — analysis, paperwork, coordination with your old plan administrator, and ensuring the transfer is completed correctly to avoid taxes or penalties.

Diversified portfolios, stress testing, scenario planning, appropriate cash reserves, and bond laddering to reduce sequence of returns risk. Our withdrawal strategies are designed to weather downturns.

Primarily low-cost index funds and ETFs. We may also use individual bonds, municipal bonds, and TIPS when appropriate. We avoid high-cost products, complex derivatives, and investments with unnecessary fees.

Low-cost, diversified portfolios aligned with your retirement income needs. We focus on what you can control: fees, taxes, asset allocation, and withdrawal strategy. We don't try to time the market.

Accounts are held at major custodians (Schwab, Fidelity) with SIPC protection. Bank-level encryption for all communications. We never have the ability to withdraw funds from your accounts.

We analyze your statement and run optimization scenarios — spousal benefits, divorced spouse benefits, timing strategies, and how Social Security fits with your overall income plan.

We develop strategies to avoid IRMAA surcharges that can add thousands to your Medicare costs. We coordinate income management to keep you below thresholds and plan for Medicare's budget impact.

We coordinate with estate planning attorneys for beneficiary designations, trust funding, and tax-efficient wealth transfer strategies. We don't draft legal documents but work closely with attorneys who do.

Yes — we calculate RMDs, coordinate timing with tax strategy, handle distributions, and look for opportunities to reduce future RMDs through strategic Roth conversions.

Both. Our Lehi office for in-person, plus secure video conferences for virtual clients. Many clients use a combination — initial meetings in-person, quarterly reviews via video.