Our Bespoke clients have access to completely customized planning which can encompass:
Estate Planning
Legacy Planning
Charitable Planning
Personal Planning
Asset Allocation
Money Manager
Tax Diversification
Risk Management
Distribution Strategies
Business Planning
Marketability Analysis
Buy/Sell Strategies
Executive Compensation
Succession Planning
Exit Strategies
401(k)/SEP/SIMPLE IRA
Our SAVE Method
Using our SAVE Method, we are committed to using the knowledge, resources, and networks we've built to serve your needs. Our priority is building long term relationships and providing the highest level of customer service, and that is why our customers come to us through word of mouth instead of sales calls.
Service
Additional staff to support our client's needs.
Optional orientation session to guide you on having complete access to your financial tools.
Accountability
Annual reviews of your accounts, finances, and financial statements based on your personal preference and needs.
Review financial plan versus actual performance and update as necessary.
Value
Continual review and application of asset-allocation, risk management, tax efficiency based on your goals and changing needs.
Bimonthly updates on timely topics, relevant to you and your family.
Client appreciation events.
Education
Educational financial planning series.
Webinars and educational videos.
Technology
Individual Client Interface
Your Personal Financial Mobile Website can be accessed on the iPhone, Android, Blackberry and most other popular smart phones.
All Your Accounts on One Page.
See Your Transactions.
Get Updated on Your Investments.
Monitor Your Spending.
Track Progress Towards Your Goals.
Access Important Documents.
Personalized Financial Planning
Common Services
Estate Planning
Legacy Planning
Charitable Planning
Personal Planning
Asset Allocation
Money Manager
Tax Diversification
Risk Management
Distribution Strategies
Business Planning
Executive Compensation
Succession Planning
Exit Strategies
401(k)/SEP/SIMPLE IRA
Group Benefits
Common Services
Group Major Medical Plans
Group Disability Insurance Plans
Group Life Insurance Plans
Group Dental and Vision Plans
Flexible Spending Accounts
Voluntary Coverage
Retirement Plans
*Please consult your own tax advisor for tax advice.
**Your participation in the payroll deduction life insurance program is
completely voluntary. Since this program is not intended to be subject to the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974(ERISA), your employer cannot contribute to or endorse
any policy offered under this program.
Individual Solutions
Common Services
Estate Planning
Wealth Management
Asset Protection
Disability and Extended Care Needs
Insurance and Annuities
401(k)/SEP/SIMPLE IRA
Personalized Financial Planning
A Case Study
Oftentimes, "wealth management" is about much more than managing wealth. It's about knowing how
to make the right decisions to live your best life. It's about confidence.
One of our clients was referred to us by an attorney after her husband passed away unexpectedly.
She'd received a large sum of money and had no idea what to do with it. She felt like most people
she talked to didn't have her best interest at heart, and she wanted honest guidance about what to
do with her finances.
We met with her, and she asked us to help with everything—from negotiating a loan on her vehicle
to planning for her children's education. We talked about her goals, her budget, and helped her
develop a comprehensive plan with clear-cut next steps. She'd never had a lot of money before, and
the benefit she received wasn't massive, but because of our work together, she learned how to
spend what she had confidently. We helped her create a plan so she wouldn't run out of money. She
had the resources—we simply spent time with her, got to know her, and helped her organize
everything so she could create the life she wanted for herself and her children.
Individual Solutions
A Case Study
One of our clients approached us with questions about an annuity he'd purchased through another
company. He was under the impression he was earning more than a 10% guaranteed return on his
investment; unfortunately, after running an analysis for him, we discovered he'd made less than a
2% return on average over ten years. We called the company with him, and from there, we helped him
understand what his actual returns and guarantees were.
This client wanted a balance of long-term growth and guaranteed returns, so after helping him
uncover the facts about his current investment, we helped him create a portfolio that satisfied
his goals.
One of the most valuable financial tools you can have is knowledge, and that's why no matter what
your objectives are or where you're starting from, we'll spend time educating you about your
situation and options so you can make wise decisions.
Group Benefits
A Case Study
One of the most important aspects of implementing an effective benefits plan is understanding how
that plan works. Without proper knowledge of specific benefits and the costs involved, you as the
business owner can end up paying unnecessary fees or missing out on opportunities to help your
employees.
One of our clients had a defined benefit plan for his employees that was heavily overfunded. The
worst part was, he had no idea the overfunding created an issue–but those additional funds could
have cost him nearly 80% of the account's value in taxes and fees. So rather than the money
benefitting the employees (as it was intended to), much of it would go to the IRS.
We helped this client by educating him about the plan and helping him understand how it worked.
After conducting a thorough analysis of the plan, we helped him work with his third-party
administrator to come up with solutions to alleviate the over-budgeting issue. In the end, we
helped our client figure out exactly what he was working with and how to best use it, so his
company's plan could benefit his employees the way it was meant to.
Bespoke Financial Management
A Case Study
When you're managing substantial wealth, it's incredibly important to have someone overseeing all
the details. One of our clients came to us because they needed help with their succession
plan—they owned a multimillion-dollar company, but when they started it, the business was a small
venture with zero employees. Some of their family members were more involved in the business than
others, and we helped them navigate the details of their multigenerational wealth transfer. But
more importantly, we built a long-term relationship and oversaw their entire financial plan—and in
doing so, we discovered something very important.
As we reviewed their documents, we realized the head of the family had shifted a share of the
company to one of the sons. But when the documents were drawn up (which happened to be a year when
there was no estate tax exemption), the valuation was miscalculated—so much so that the son in
question would have owed more than $1 million in gift taxes if the problem wasn't corrected.
The family was dumbfounded. They had reviewed the transaction with their lawyer and thought
everything was correct, but now they faced a complicated—and very expensive—problem. Fortunately,
we were able to partner with two planning experts (one specializing in estate tax and the other in
law) and amend the issue.
Sometimes your wealth is so complicated, you don't know what questions to ask; other times, a
situation feels so overwhelming, you assume there's no solution. Our job is to fill in those gaps,
connect you to the right resources, and make sure everything in your financial world operates
according to your plan.
Bespoke Financial Management
More Information
When it comes to wealth management, our ultimate goal is to preserve family
unity and harmony. We've personally experienced the tension that can result from poor planning,
and we want to prevent that for our clients' families. That's why we're incredibly passionate
about helping people develop thorough plans that allow them to keep the peace and enjoy their
wealth for generations. There are countless moving parts to your financial plan, and our job is to
make sure everything moves in the right direction year after year, for generations to come.
Many of our clients begin with Personalized Financial Planning and transition
to Bespoke Financial Management as their wealth becomes more complex. When we take on a Bespoke
case, we become like your family's CFO. We oversee the big picture, coordinate with the important
people in your life—your CPA, attorneys, beneficiaries, spouse—and manage the details so you can
stay focused on what you do best. We'll help you address questions such as:
How do I make sure my estate is distributed fairly after I'm gone?
What do I do if my son or daughter doesn't want to take over the family
business?
What's the best way for me to give back to the causes I care about?
How do I make sure I'm not overlooking something important?
Where do I even start?
Personalized Financial Management
More Information
Whatever you want your life to look like, we're here to support that vision.
We do that by fine-tuning your financial GPS: your Goals, Protection, and Savings. We help you
determine exactly where you want to go, and we make sure the significant people in your
life—whether that's your spouse, business partner, or someone else—are on the same page. Then we
establish a strong foundation by protecting the assets you already have, like your ability to earn
an income. Once we've identified your objectives and minimized risks, we help you determine how
much you need to save to reach your goals. Our mission is for you to focus on saving more (rather
than spending less) so you can enjoy what you have and feel confident about your decisions.
In our years of wealth management, we've learned that most people tend to
spend their money one of two ways: like a hare or a turtle. Either they run out of money because
they spend too much, or they save it all and never get to enjoy life. But we don't want you to do
either. We help you find the perfect middle ground where you understand exactly what you have and
how to reach your goals so you can freely enjoy everything you've worked for.
As a Personalized Financial Planning client, we'll help you address questions
such as:
How much should I save to reach my goals?
How will I fund my kids' college education?
Will I be able to pay off my house?
How can I maintain my lifestyle in retirement?
Is it possible to retire early?
Individual Solutions
More Information
Some of our clients know exactly what they want when they reach out to us;
others need help nailing down the details. Whatever your situation, we'll work with you to
identify and implement the appropriate solution for you. If you need help with investment
management, we'll ask specific questions so we can understand your goals and risk tolerance. If
you're looking for help with insurance, we'll conduct an insurance needs analysis so we can help
you obtain adequate coverage.
Group Benefits
More Information
Most business owners don't have time to thoroughly review benefit plans to
ensure they're getting the best value for their investment. Consequently, many of them end up with
high-cost plans that aren't always the best fit for their needs. And their employees run into the
same problem—they don't have time to do extensive research about their benefit options, so they
might over-pay for coverage they don't need, or lack adequate resources to reach their financial
goals.
That's why much of our work with business owners focuses on removing the
planning burden from you and your team. Whether you want to offer employer-paid benefits or simply
give your employees the time and resources to choose their own, we'll help you identify the
solutions that are right for you.
Employer-Sponsored Benefits
Today's workforce is increasingly selective, and to attract top talent, you
have to set yourself apart from the competition. One of the primary ways to do that is by
offering valuable benefits to your employees—and our goal is to make that process as seamless
and simple as possible for you. When you decide to implement an employer-sponsored plan, we'll
walk you through the benefit options, explain what each one offers, and help you determine
what's beneficial, cost-effective, and appropriate for your business. Once you've decided on a
plan, we help with every aspect of implementation—we'll meet with your employees, educate them
about the benefits, and administer the plan on an annual basis.
Benefits Consultations
If you don't sponsor a plan, you can show your employees you care by
reserving time and resources for them to select their own benefits. We'll coordinate times to
meet with your employees, and we'll conduct on-site consultations or virtual meetings, depending
on what's convenient for you and your team. We'll answer any questions your employees have about
benefit options, and we'll help them determine which solutions are appropriate for them.
Whichever route you choose, we'll make sure the process
is easy and that the benefits are valuable and cost-effective for you and your team.
Forbes Top Financial Security Professionals
Lizzie is honored to make the 2024 Forbes Top Financial Security Professionals list, for the fourth
year in a row! This list is comprised of financial professionals who protect their clients' assets
through life insurance, and is populated by advisors across the country.
Neither SHOOK nor Forbes receives any compensation in exchange for placement on
its Top Financial Security Professional (FSP) rankings, which are determined independently (see
methodology). FSP refers to professionals who are properly licensed to sell life insurance and
annuities. FSPs may also hold other credentials and licenses which would allow them to offer
investments and securities products through those licenses. Ranking algorithm is based on qualitative
measures learned through telephone, virtual and in-person interviews to measure best practices. Also
considered: client retention, industry experience, credentials, review of compliance records, firm
nominations; and quantitative criteria, such as: assets under management, sales figures and revenue
generated for their firms. Investment performance is not a criterion because client objectives and
risk tolerances vary, and audited performance reports are rare. Individuals must carefully choose the
right FSP for their own situation and perform their own due diligence. SHOOK's research and rankings
provide opinions intended to help individuals choose the right FSP and are not indicative of future
performance or representative of any one client's experience. Past performance is not an indication of
future results. For more information, please see SHOOKresearch.com. SHOOK is a registered trademark of SHOOK
Research, LLC.
