FAMILY ENDOWMENT FAQ
1. What do you mean by a “Family Endowment”?
A way to approach your finances the same way great institutions run their endowments: define what must matter now and decades from now, build decisions around those priorities, and keep planning and investing connected over time.
2. How is this different from a traditional “retirement plan”?
Traditional planning can be myopic, and while many plans are “fine,” they often overlook the broader aspects of a family’s wealth. An endowment approach centers on continuity—downstream purpose (next‑generation priorities) and seek protection against upstream needs (unexpected care or major shocks)—with a defined decision structure you can use repeatedly.
3. Who is a great fit — and who isn’t?
Great fit: families who value structure, steady decision‑making, and long‑term continuity.
Not a fit: those who aren’t interested in advice, focus on market timing or fast returns, or aren’t responsive when we need information to make informed recommendations.
4. What if I already have an advisor?
Many families do. What most people want to know is whether their current plan is built to support what must still matter decades from now. If you want more structure, more clarity, and a long‑term approach that keeps planning and investing connected, I can take over both with an endowment‑level discipline.
5. What are your minimums?
Planning engagements begin at $500K total net worth. Investment management begins at $500K in investable assets.
6. Where do we start?
A 20‑minute introductory call. If the fit makes sense, we move to planning. Planning always precedes portfolio changes.
7. Do I need everything organized before we talk?
No. Bring what you have. We’ll organize as part of the work.
8. How are fees handled for planning vs. investment management?
My services are not complimentary, and there are fees for both planning and investment management. The cost depends on the scope of the engagement. We’ll cover the fees during the 20‑minute introduction call, and I’ll clearly explain them before any work begins.
9. What exactly happens in the planning process?
• Information & context: a planning intake and key documents, plus conversation to give numbers real‑world meaning.
• Analysis & structure: organizing decisions, tradeoffs, and priorities into a plan you can use.
• Recommendations: clear next steps, mapped to near‑term actions and long‑term direction.
10. What documents should I bring?
Recent statements for banking and investment accounts, estate documents, insurance coverages, equity comp summaries, debt schedules, key employer benefits, and any major upcoming decisions or transactions.
11. How long until I receive a plan?
After the intake and document review, typical delivery is measured in weeks, not months, depending on complexity and response time.
12. How often do we update the plan?
Formally at least annually, and whenever life or markets introduce a meaningful decision. The plan is meant to be a living document adjusting as your life changes.
13. How do you connect planning to the portfolio?
The plan defines risk, cash‑flow needs, constraints, tax considerations, and priorities. The portfolio is then built to serve that structure—core strategy first, satellites where warranted, with monitoring tied to the plan.
14. What’s your investment philosophy in one paragraph?
I start with risk because you can’t remove it, but you can understand it. The goal is to build a portfolio that manages downside risk first and keeps you aligned with the long‑term direction of your plan. That may mean you don’t outperform the markets in every stretch, but over time the focus is on risk‑adjusted outcomes — the kind of discipline that supports families across full market cycles and over generations.
15. Do you use alternatives or market‑linked investments?
For clients who meet the regulatory requirements and when the plan supports it, yes. These are tools I use selectively, based on your risk budget, liquidity needs, and long‑term direction—not as a stand‑alone strategy.
16. What happens in volatile markets?
Generally speaking, market volatility doesn’t change the strategy by itself. The strategy changes when your life or goals change, or if there’s a structural issue in the markets that we need to work around. Otherwise, we plan for cash reserves so short‑term volatility doesn’t force decisions, and we keep the focus on long‑term goals rather than market timing.
17. Do you trade with discretion? Who holds my assets?
Yes. For advisory accounts, I manage the portfolio with discretion based on the plan we’ve built. Your assets are held by Wells Fargo Clearing Services as the custodian, and you have full visibility through Wells Fargo’s online access and statements.
18. How do you work with my CPA/attorney?
With your permission, I will coordinate with them on tax and legal questions and strategies when appropriate.
19. How do you help with long‑term care or “upstream” risks?
We quantify potential scenarios, evaluate funding options, and integrate protection choices into the plan so downstream goals aren’t unintentionally sacrificed later.
20. What if I’m not ready to move assets yet?
Then planning alone may be the right engagement. We can discuss how this works and any associated costs.
21. Do you work remotely or only in person?
Both. I work with families in more than 20 states, and most prefer video because it’s easier on their schedule. That said, I’m always able and willing to meet in person when it makes sense.
22. Are you a fiduciary?
For advisory accounts, yes — I serve in a fiduciary capacity and put your interests first when providing ongoing investment advice and portfolio management. For brokerage accounts, the relationship is different and does not create an ongoing fiduciary obligation. As a CFP® professional, I’m also held to a fiduciary standard when giving financial advice, regardless of the type of account.
Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Center for Financial Planning, Inc.owns and licenses the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER®, and CFP® (with plaque design) in the United States to Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc., which authorizes individuals who successfully complete the organization’s initial and ongoing certification requirements to use the certification marks.