Our niche is helping people with many "moving parts" and complex situations. Most new clients are doctors, but we also serve a number of other professionals, business owners and comfortable retirees. Most were referred to us by their friends, professional advisors or indirectly through Ron’s articles in professional publications and quotes in the press.  While we would like to help everyone, our goal is to maintain an efficient practice with very high level of personal service where every client is on a first-name basis.

We accept new clients only if we can add value to their lives. We can usually add value to financial planning clients if: 

• They have areas of concern that we can address (See Client Concerns) 
• Ability to pay our fees for Financial Planning engagements (See Compensation disclosure)

For investment management clients, we can usually add value if they have:

• Investable assets of at least $500,000 OR 
• Have a medical practice or own a successful business 

The points below also are major commonalities of our clients.

• First and foremost, our clients have goals. They seek financial security for themselves and their families. They care about their community and making the world better for the next generation.
• Our clients are busy people who want to simplify their lives and maintain their privacy and the confidentiality of their situation with us. They recognize the value of their time and of our expertise. They would rather spend their time enjoying life or producing an income than trying to sort through the financial noise and increasing complexities of personal finance.  
• Most are conservative-to-moderate risk takers, who want to make fully informed decisions about their options. Therefore, they usually call us before making financial moves. Because they value our advice, personal service and an ongoing relationship, they follow through with our advice and are willing to pay for it. 

Client Concerns

Our clients seek our counsel and services for a variety of reasons. Here are some of the more common ones.

Retirement Plan Strategies and Issues

• Retirement feasibility under a variety of assumptions
• The probability of the retirement portfolio lasting beyond life expectancy
• Pulling money out before age 59 ½ without penalty
• How to invest and manage retirement assets
• Tax-favored rollovers and withdrawals
• Naming beneficiaries to create a "perpetual IRA"
• Which type of retirement plan to select
• Which distribution option to select at retirement
• Developing an investment policy statement
• Dealing with mandatory distributions at age 70 ½
• Estate and income tax issues upon death
• Reducing fiduciary risk 

Managing the Value of the Family Business

• Family business succession strategies
• Liquidation planning
• Business continuation planning
• Getting the most tax benefits from a business

Investment Management

• Putting focus into investment strategy
• Asset allocation and diversification
• Matching risk with reward
• Full-time professional management
• Objective second opinions

Education Funding for Children and Grandchildren 

Income Tax Reduction

• Avoidance of capital gains tax on highly appreciated assets
• Reduction of taxes on investment income
• Stock option planning

Estate and Survivor Planning

• Saving Federal estate and gift taxes
• Maintaining control over assets
• Passing assets on to heirs
• Protecting the lifestyle of the family
• Passing responsibility on to family members
• Transforming financial success into personal significance
• Protection from delay and administrative expenses

Assure Lifestyle

• Working toward increasing income from assets
• Sustainable portfolio withdrawal rates 

Simplifying One's Financial Life

• Consolidated statements
• Coordinate with other advisors
• "One-stop" resource

Asset Protection from Lawsuits and Government-Directed Philanthropy

• Retaining control over gifts
• Charitable remainder trusts
• Charitable lead trusts
• Family foundations and supporting organizations

The Big Picture

The items above are all important in their own right.  But the answers to them may not have much meaning if they are out of context.  Our approach to financial planning is to address these individual issues in the context of your BIG picture.  We do this best through The Planning Vision Process® if you are concerned about any of the above items, or some not mentioned, let’s discuss them.  Between now and when we talk, please be thinking of the following:

"What has to happen in the next three years — both personally and financially – for you to feel good about your progress?"

"What is the most significant thing you would like to accomplish during the remainder of your lifetime?"

You may also want to see our December 2006 issue of our newsletter for some big context-setting questions.