FAQs

• Has amassed first generation wealth ($1M-plus net worth) and is looking to maximize what they have accumulated, while avoiding costly mistakes
• Values having a team of experts proactively working on their behalf so they can spend their time enjoying the areas of life that bring them passion
• Wants to have a meaningful relationship with their advisory team.

Stine Tax & Wealth Management is a fee-based firm, allowing us to offer an open architecture of investment strategies and products to meet the best interest of our clients. At Stine Tax & Wealth Management, there is a set cost of managing our affluent client's wealth, which generally ranges between 0.30% — 1.0% of the assets under management (AUM), depending on the amount invested with our firm. This fee is deducted right from your investment advisory account on a monthly basis.

We feel this approach can often be the optimal approach for an investor seeking comprehensive and tailored financial guidance. This fee structure aligns our firm’s interests with our client’s financial success, creating a mutually beneficial relationship that prioritizes long-term growth and prudent decision-making.

We feel that one of the key advantages of this fee model is its incentive for the advisor to generate favorable returns. Since the firm’s revenue is directly tied to the value of the investor's portfolio, there's a built-in motivation to make well-informed investment decisions that yield positive outcomes. This ensures that the firm’s recommendations are aligned with the investor's financial goals, as both parties share in the gains and losses.

Additionally, the percentage of AUM fee structure encourages a long-term perspective. This approach is especially beneficial in times of market volatility, as the firm’s compensation remains linked to the investor's overall portfolio performance, fostering a commitment to weathering market fluctuations together.

Furthermore, the fee structure fosters a sense of transparency. Investors can clearly see the direct relationship between the firm's fees and the growth of their assets. This transparency can encourage open communication between the advisor and the investor, as both parties understand that their interests are closely intertwined.

We have developed and refined a holistic planning process — The Bucket Plan® — that puts all the pieces of the financial puzzle together as your life unfolds and needs evolve. As you go through our financial planning process, you gain insight and education into what you own, how it aligns with your goals and objectives, and what you can do to improve your situation.

You’ll receive a written plan of exactly how your assets should be positioned, our strategies and recommendations, and modeling showing your progress towards your goals.

If compared to building a house, tax planning is working with the architect on a blueprint; tax management is hiring the builder for the initial construction and ongoing maintenance of the home; and tax preparation is the inspection to make everything is up to code.

For our wealth management clients, tax management is a year-round activity in which we are constantly looked at tax savings strategies and then proactively implementing those on behalf of our clients. This could be things like deduction creation through investment tax harvesting, market-timing Roth conversions, stock option exercise strategies, as well as charitable giving.

We feel that communication is the cornerstone of a successful relationship and is a two-way street. As a major part of every financial decision you face, you can expect to speak with us at least twice per year — we generally meet with most clients between three to 10 times annually. We make sure to touch base in the beginning of the year to map out the road ahead, as well as towards the end to solidify any decisions that may have an impact on the tax year. In addition to our routine meetings, we pride ourselves on availability to suit our clients' needs — we’re never more than a phone call, zoom meeting, or email way!