What types of clients do you work with?
We work mainly with individuals and families.  Our clients include professionals, business owners, corporate executives, retirees, and families needing intergenerational financial planning.  Oftentimes, new clients contact us for the first time when they are confronted with a transition of some sort, like retirement, the loss of a spouse, a career change, starting a new business, or an inheritance.  These clients benefit from our experience in developing retirement forecasts, administering estates and managing trusts, planning for family and charitable gifting, rolling over old retirement accounts, and recommending small business retirement plans.

How do you find new clients? 
Most new clients come to us through referrals from existing clients or professionals we have worked with over the years.  This referral-based growth has allowed us to develop our business steadily without losing focus on our existing clients.

Do you work with clients outside the Bay Area?
Most clients begin working with us while living in the Bay Area, but we have maintained many good relationships with clients who have moved from the area to retire or as part of a job change.  We now have clients throughout California, as well as Oregon, Colorado, New York and Vermont. 

Will you provide financial planning advice without ongoing investment management?
Financial planning and investment management are part of an integrated financial management process we have developed, and as such, we do not offer financial planning on a standalone basis.  We feel we have the greatest probability of success when we help clients in both areas.  Our standard management fee covers both financial planning and investment management. 

How often do you meet with your clients?
We need to meet with new clients more frequently to get to know each other and to develop plans.  Once the relationships are more established, we like to meet at least annually, but encourage clients to come in whenever they have a major change in their life, if they need help with a financial decision, or when they have questions pertaining to their finances. 

Who will I be working with at the firm?
We take a team approach to working with our clients.  While a primary advisor is typically assigned to each client, other professionals in the firm are involved in the relationship.  In addition to providing capable back-up for our clients, we believe that we all do our best work as part of a team. 

What types of reports will I receive for my investment accounts?
We send quarterly portfolio appraisals for each account that we manage.  These appraisals are accompanied by a letter in which we share our current view of the investment environment, the economy, financial markets, and any modifications to our strategy.  We send portfolio performance reports at the end of each year, and we prepare tax reports around February for the prior year’s activity.  In addition, our clients continue to receive monthly or quarterly brokerage statements directly from their broker. 

Will I have to sell all of my current investments to work with you?
Many clients come to us with appreciated securities that cannot be sold without capital gains consequences.  We frequently find that these holdings fit nicely into the overall investment plan for the client.  If we feel there is a need for significant or rapid change to a portfolio, it will be discussed with the client in advance.  Otherwise, we will implement the investment plans gradually over a period of months and sometimes years.