Reflections from the families we advise

Perspectives from advisory clients

1. 01

   What matteredA five-year income runway in writing

   C01–C08

   Before retiring we had six scattered 403(b), IRA and brokerage accounts at two large firms, paying layered fund fees of over 1.4% with no real tax plan behind them. Eleanor Marsh and Daniel Okafor consolidated everything cleanly, mapped out a six-year Roth conversion window before age 73 and set up a monthly retirement deposit. Seeing a five-year income runway written down is what finally let us stop watching the market headlines.

2. 02

   What matteredThe advisory fee shown in plain dollars

   C01–C04

   Our previous bank adviser kept pitching structured notes and variable annuities we did not understand. Here the portfolio is built from low-cost institutional ETFs, losses were harvested for tax during last autumn's dip, and two planning reviews a year keep the children's 529 plans and our retirement on track. Priya Raman shows our advisory fee in plain dollars, and knowing no commission sits behind any recommendation matters more than we expected.

3. 03

   What matteredConcentrated stock sold down on a calendar

   C07–C12

   Over seventy percent of our household net worth had quietly built up in my employer's stock, and I let every trading window pass because I was not sure how AMT and capital gains interacted. Daniel Okafor built a share-lot divestment calendar alongside our CPA and paired gifts of appreciated stock with a donor-advised fund. Four years of vested RSUs and options became a diversified portfolio without a surprise April tax bill.

4. 04

   What matteredThe after-tax number known before the sale

   C01–C06

   When a regional buyer approached our distribution business, I had no idea whether the offer would really fund thirty years of retirement for my wife and me. Eleanor Marsh modelled three deal structures side by side with our deal attorney, helped us set up a cash balance plan before closing and placed the proceeds gradually through a phased Treasury ladder. Knowing our after-tax number months before the sale changed how we negotiated.

5. 05

   What matteredA flat-fee plan with no pressure to move

   C09–C12

   I manage my own index funds for now, but wanted an objective CFP® second opinion five years out from an early retirement. The team stress-tested my healthcare bridge before Medicare, caught an outdated beneficiary designation on an old rollover IRA and handed me a clear action checklist. I hired them for a flat-fee plan and felt no pressure at any point to move my accounts over.

6. 06

   What matteredEvery trust title and distribution in order

   C01–C12

   My late husband had always handled our investments, and facing custodial paperwork and tax deadlines alone felt overwhelming. Thomas Reyes and Priya Raman sat beside me at every step, worked directly with my estate attorney to update the trust registrations and set up qualified charitable distributions to the local charities we support. Nothing was rushed, and every account and required distribution is now written down for me.