Learn more about our comprehensive services included in our free financial plan offer
Longevity Planning
“I want a plan to maximize my lifestyle, providing financial security and guidance on making informed decisions to enjoy my retirement to the fullest.”
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Preparing for the Retirement Phases
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Addressing Longevity Challenges
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Ongoing Guidance and Monitoring
Retirement is not a destination but rather the start of a new journey. One that is divided into distinct phases, each with its own joys and challenges. We're here to listen, to understand, and to guide you through these phases, not just as financial advisors but as partners in planning your future.
Individuals devote their working lives so that they can enjoy retirement but without prudent planning, the retirement dream can quickly unravel. We believe that true planning is about more than numbers and charts. It’s about you and the life you envision for your later years. While financial security is always top of mind, Longevity Planning starts with the essence of what makes life worth living: purpose and connections.
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Investment Management
We provide a tailored investment approach, aligning your portfolio with your unique financial goals and risk tolerance, while balancing your short-term needs with long-term aspirations.
For those nearing or in retirement, we traditionally utilize a 'Bucket Strategy' customized to your personal situation. This strategy combines a core portfolio for growth with income protection to cover short and intermediate term needs. In doing so, individuals are insulated not if but when a market drop occurs
Client portfolios are dynamically managed, blending a strategic core with a tactical overlay responsive to market and economic conditions. Featuring a diversified mix of low-cost ETFs and other securities, a heavy focus is placed on maximizing cost-effectiveness and tax efficiency.
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“I need an investment strategy that balances growth with income protection, tailored to my financial goals and risk tolerance.”
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Resilience Against Market Corrections
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Regular Portfolio Review
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Strategic Buying & Selling
Retirement Planning
"I want to know if I can fund my goals and not run out of money."
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Social Security Planning
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Medicare Implementation
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Outlined Retirement Timeline
Our retirement planning services are designed to provide you with a seamless and effective transition into and through your retirement years. We take a dedicated approach that starts with understanding your objectives and needs. Through our retirement readiness assessment, we analyze your financial standing and perform a gap analysis, identifying any potential income shortfalls and strategies to bridge the gap.
Our comprehensive planning solution includes an in-depth review of your Social Security and Medicare benefits. Understanding these benefits, how and when to enroll, and which strategies to implement is critical as the wrong decision can often result in tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of dollars lost in lifetime benefits and/or additional premiums.
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Income Planning
Individuals often focus primarily on the accumulation stage when preparing for retirement, failing to properly plan for the equally, if not more, important distribution stage.
Income planning is a two-step process: 1) Identify your expenses; and 2) Evaluate both fixed and variable income sources to cover these expenses. While this may seem simple in theory, tailoring the optimal strategy to your specific needs can be quite difficult without professional oversight.
Our expertise lies in merging detailed financial analysis with an understanding of your individual preferences and tendencies. We develop a strategy that's not just effective but also personalized to your situation. Most importantly, plans are regularly reviewed and dynamically adjusted to ensure you do not run the risk of outliving your savings.
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"I want to have a reliable income stream in place that ensures my necessary expenses are covered.”
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Ongoing Monitoring of Monthly Income
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Fixed vs Variable Income
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Accumulation and Distribution Planning
Tax Planning
"I would like to have my Accountant and Financial Advisor be on the same page so I don't have to worry about reducing and filing my taxes."
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Managing Tax Buckets in Retirement
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Annual Tax Savings Analysis
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Coordination With Your Accountant
We take a holistic approach when it comes to tax planning, paying careful attention to how all your accounts (taxable/tax-free/tax-deferred) pair collectively with one another. Using Roth conversions, tax-efficient withdrawals, gifting strategies, and more, our goal is to maximize your wealth to fit your goals. Considerations include not only income tax implications but also the net effect on other matters such as Medicare premium surcharges (IRMAA), Required Minimum Distributions, wealth transfer to heirs, etc.
Furthermore, we conduct an annual in-depth review of your tax return to uncover any potential opportunities for additional savings. With your permission, we’ll establish a direct line of communication with your accountant to ensure everyone is on the same page and your taxes are filed timely.
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Estate Planning
Creating a lasting legacy is fundamental to life's journey. While our legacy is about much more than just material wealth, the importance of estate planning is paramount in preserving your core values and securing the financial well-being of your family.
This starts with ensuring key documents and directives are in order. While we are not attorneys, we provide the assistance needed to ensure your estate is organized and up to date, working collaboratively with your estate attorney or introducing you to a trusted legal professional if you do not already have one.
As your trusted advisor, we also work directly with you to identify your estate planning goals, assess asset distribution, and explore options for efficient wealth transfer to reduce tax implications, legal fees, and the emotional burden on loved ones.
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“I want peace of mind that all of my financial affairs are in place for my family.”
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Organizing your Estate Records
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Tax-Efficient Wealth Transfer
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Coordination with your Attorney
Insurance/Risk Planning
"I need to make sure my family will be protected should something ever happen to me."
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Risk to Income Streams
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Self-Funding and LTC Analysis
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Strategies for Enhanced Asset Location
Risk planning involves a thorough review of your entire financial picture, including any existing insurance policies, to identify areas of high-risk exposure or opportunities for improvement. We adopt a collaborative approach, educating you on the significance of insurance and the various strategies available.
While we review all types of policies, our primary focus tends to lean towards life, annuity, Medicare, and long-term care policies, as these offer strategic planning opportunities for individuals approaching or in retirement. As licensed professionals in these areas, we provide our wealth management clients with the option to receive quotes for, and/or purchase, these policies directly through us. That said, our objective is not to sell insurance; instead, we aim to provide informed, unbiased advice to enhance your overall financial well-being.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Do I need to live near you to work with you?No, our firm is designed to be fully virtual. That said, for those who wish to have in person meetings, we do have office space in Chapel Hill, NC to accommodate.
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Are there account size minimums to work with you?Yes, our minimum is $250,000 of investable assets for investment management. For comprehensive financial planning, our minimum is $500,000 of investable assets.
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Are your recommendations in my best interest and are you a fiduciary?Yes, we are a fiduciary. Therefore, we believe in placing your best interests first and are proud to commit to the following five fiduciary principles: We will always put your best interests first. We will act with prudence; that is, with the skill, care, diligence, and good judgment of a professional. We will not mislead you, and will provide full and fair disclosure of all important facts. We will avoid conflicts of interest. We will fully disclose and fairly manage, in your favor, any unavoidable conflicts.
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Will I be locked into a contract?No, our commitment to a Value-First Approach means there are no contracts or fees during the free financial planning process. Additionally, should you choose to engage our services as your advisor, our Risk-Free Onboarding ensures peace of mind. Regardless of the circumstances, we guarantee to reimburse your most recent quarter's fees should you decide to terminate our services within three months. Your satisfaction and financial well-being are our top priorities.
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Will I be working with a CFP®?Yes, your advisor will be a CFP®. Only 25% of U.S. financial advisors are CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Professionals. *Source: www.cfp.net
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Are there any hidden fees?Our transparent fee schedule is exactly what you will pay. See the details of our fee schedule below: Investment Management Fee’s First $1,000,000: 1.00% Next $1,000,000: 0.90% Next $1,000,000: 0.80% Next $1,000,000: 0.70% Next $1,000,000: 0.60% Over $5,000,000: 0.50% Comprehensive Financial Planning Fee First year: $4,000 Then: $2,000/year Included for households with over $3,000,000 of investable assets. *Planning fees can be reduced at TrustStone Wealth Partners discretion.