Frequently Asked Questions

Fee-only means our only compensation comes directly from you — the client. We never earn commissions, referral fees, or kickbacks from the sale of financial products. This removes the conflicts of interest that exist at many traditional financial firms and ensures our advice is always in your best interest.

A fiduciary is legally required to act in your best interest at all times. Not all financial advisors are fiduciaries — many operate under a lower ‘suitability’ standard, which only requires that recommendations be suitable, not necessarily the best option for you. As a registered investment advisor, we are held to the fiduciary standard in everything we do.

Our office is at 123 N Seguin Ave, Suite 202, in downtown New Braunfels, Texas. We serve clients locally in the New Braunfels, San Antonio, Austin, and Hill Country areas, as well as across Texas and nationwide. Most meetings happen over Zoom, and our planning process works seamlessly whether you’re across town or across the country.

Yes. About half of our clients are in Texas and the other half are spread across the country. We meet virtually via Zoom, and our planning process is designed to work just as well remotely as it does in person.

It starts with a free 15-minute conversation. We’ll hear what you have going on, answer your questions, and see if we can help. There’s no pressure or obligation — it’s just a conversation to see if there’s a fit.

If we’re a good fit, we meet for an hour to go deeper. Then we send you three introspective homework questions — not about your tax returns, but about who you are and what you value. That becomes the foundation. From there, we map your full financial picture and build a simple, actionable plan with specific action items. Then we work through those items together in focused 30-minute sprints.

We meet proactively every February and August for comprehensive reviews. But that’s not a cap — it’s a floor. We’re available whenever life and money decisions come up in between. See a property you want to buy? Call us. Open enrollment at work? Send us your benefits guide. We also reach out proactively when we see opportunities — new tax law changes, business strategy ideas, nontraditional investments, and more.

Always. We encourage both spouses to be part of every conversation. When both partners understand the full financial picture, decisions become clearer, communication improves, and the plan is stronger for it.

We offer two fee structures. The first is a recurring monthly planning fee based on the complexity of your financial situation, ranging from $0 to $1,250 per month. The second is an assets under management (AUM) fee for clients with investable assets exceeding $500,000 — in which case the monthly planning fee is waived. Your specific fee is always discussed and agreed upon before we begin working together.

Your fee is based on the complexity of your financial situation — not a one-size-fits-all formula. We consider factors like your income sources, tax complexity, real estate holdings, business interests, net worth, and whether multi-generational planning is involved.

For clients with investable assets exceeding $500,000 that we manage, the monthly planning fee is waived and you pay only the AUM fee. All comprehensive planning services remain included. For clients who don’t need direct asset management, the monthly planning fee covers everything.

The earlier the better — but it’s never too late. If you’re within 10 years of retirement, now is the time to get serious about building a detailed plan. If you’ve already retired, a plan ensures your wealth lasts and your legacy is protected.

Roth conversions can be a powerful tax strategy — but the timing, amount, and approach matter. Converting too much in one year can push you into a higher tax bracket. We run multi-year tax projections to determine if and when Roth conversions make sense for your specific situation.

It depends on your health, your spouse’s situation, your other income sources, and your overall retirement plan. Claiming at 62 versus 70 can mean a difference of hundreds of thousands of dollars over your lifetime. We model multiple scenarios to help you find the optimal strategy.

Ideally, 3 to 5 years before you plan to sell or transition. Exit planning isn’t just about finding a buyer — it’s about maximizing business value, minimizing the tax hit, and making sure the proceeds translate into lasting personal wealth and freedom.

Through proactive planning — not just filing. We look at entity structure, retirement account contributions, the Section 199A QBI deduction, cost segregation on real estate, charitable strategies, and multi-year tax projections to reduce your total tax burden over time.

Absolutely. We coordinate with your existing professional team — CPA, estate attorney, business attorney, insurance advisors — to make sure every decision is aligned. No one operates in a silo.

Financial independence is the point where your wealth generates enough income to cover your lifestyle — making work optional. It doesn’t necessarily mean retiring early. For many of our clients, it means having the freedom to choose how they spend their time.

No. Financial independence isn’t about deprivation — it’s about alignment. It’s making sure your spending reflects what actually matters to you and cutting the things that don’t. Our clients live well. They just do it intentionally.