Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to work in tech?
No, you do not need to be in tech to work with us!
However, we have deep experience in tech, both from growing up as the son of a software engineer in the Silicon Valley during the dot-com boom and also as a software engineer in the San Francisco Bay Area myself through the 2010’s. I have firsthand experience with the issues that are common in both tech and the Bay Area and strive to model my practice in a way that resonates with those concerns.
Do I have to move my investments?
No, you don’t have to move your investments to work with us. Our pricing is the same whether we manage your investments or we don’t.
If you would like to keep your money at your current custodian, you can. Together we can take a holistic view of all your accounts to design a portfolio that you can then implement.
Do you have any account minimums?
We do not have any account minimums as we don’t charge based on a percentage of assets under management.
However, our ongoing services are best suited for those with $250k+ household income, $500k+ assets, and/or equity compensation complexity.
Are you a fiduciary?
Yes, I am a fiduciary financial planner who is legally and ethically obligated to act in your best interest and put your interests ahead of my own. I have signed a Fiduciary Oath with XY Planning Network and I hold myself to the fiduciary standard by holding myself out as a Candidate for CFPⓇ Certification after having completed the coursework and exam. I am thus required to disclose and manage any conflicts of interest and provide transparent information about my services.
Why “fee-only”? What about "fee-based"?
As a fee-only firm, we are compensated exclusively by fees paid by those whom we serve for services provided.
We do not receive commissions, referral fees, or other third-party compensation. We aim to provide objective and unbiased advice that is solely in your best interest.
Fee-based means that you pay a fee for advice but may also contribute additional compensation to your advisor through commissions on financial products such as insurance and mutual funds.
Why “flat-fee”?
As a flat-fee firm, we charge a fixed dollar-amount fee rather than charging a fee based on a percentage of assets managed or receiving commissions on products sold.
We believe in providing an all-inclusive service that ensures you will never have to worry about getting billed for an extra hour or two of work when you want to ask us a question.
We aim to provide the most transparent pricing possible. While there is no “perfect model”, we’ve done our best to come up with a reasonable model for all parties.
Are you a Certified Financial Planner (CFPⓇ)?
I have passed the Certified Financial Planner coursework and exam, have submitted the Ethics Declaration, and am currently working on tackling the experience requirement for the designation.
A few thousand down, a few thousand more to go!
Do you meet with clients in the San Francisco Bay Area?
We are based out of the San Francisco Bay Area but we typically meet with clients virtually.
What is your investing philosophy?
For equity allocations, we primarily utilize passive, low-cost index funds. We do, however, believe in tax-efficient asset location and utilizing tax-loss harvesting when appropriate.
We understand that you may have preferences about employer stock or other individual securities, and can incorporate these in your investment plan.
If you have ethical preferences, we can build a plan to incorporate this in your portfolio.
Can you do my taxes?
Tax planning is a crucial aspect of financial planning, in our opinion, as virtually every financial decision has tax consequences. It is a huge part of our value-add.
However, we do not currently offer tax preparation services but will work together with your tax preparer to ensure that your taxes are filed correctly in accordance with your plan and we’ll review them after they’ve been filed.
How do you feel about debt?
Debt is a tool that can benefit or harm. That said, I do lean more debt averse in my own financial life and am likely not the planner for you if you plan to take on a high degree of leverage in yours.
How do you store and safeguard my data?
We take your data and privacy seriously.
Please read our Privacy Policy and reach out to us via email or phone below if you have further questions about specific technology solutions.
