Goals and Objectives

Our ultimate goal is providing you with world-class financial direction that helps your dreams come to fruition. We do so through the variety of services you see on the diagram to the right, such as Estate Planning and Income Tax Planning.

Within these broader areas of focus, we’ll do the little things that add up to a healthy ‘big picture’ financially:

• Reducing estate taxes;
• Reducing personal and/or corporate income taxes;
• Protecting family income in the event of death or disability;
• Maximizing retirement income;
• Maximizing fringe and pension benefits;
• Minimizing health care costs;
• Planning for business succession and/or exit strategies;
• Creating a plan for business continuity;
• Maximizing investment return and reducing risk;
• Providing investment banking services to the middle market arena; and
• Eldercare planning.

Whether you’re seeking a comprehensive financial plan that encompasses virtually every aspect of your financial life, or specific expertise in one special area, we can take the worry out of reaching your monetary objectives.

Estate Planning

Our thorough approach to Estate Planning starts with a thorough review of your current documents, followed by some preliminary feedback on our part. We’ll then make calculated projections related to your estate taxes and cash flow, and coordinate with a team of our top advisors to put together a detailed plan of attack.

Specific strategies and services within our Estate Planning division include:

• Wills & Trust Review-Initial & at implementation;
• Asset Titling, Insurance Evaluation;
• Durable Powers of Attorney;
• Health Care Powers of Attorney/Living Wills;
• Gifting Techniques/Strategies;
• Leverage of Unified Credit, Annual Exclusion;
• Family Limited Partnerships;
• Limited Liability Companies;
• Valuation Discounts;
• Grantor Trusts;
• Asset Protection Trusts;
• Offshore Trusts;
• Qualified Personal Residence Trusts;
• Charitable Planning;
• Wealth Replacement Trusts;
• Family Income Trusts/Incentive Trusts;
• Family Wealth Counseling;
• Irrevocable Insurance Trusts/Living Trusts; and
• Elder Law Planning.

Business Continuity Planning

Our Business Planning leaves no stone unturned as we kick off by clarifying your goals and reviewing your current business plan. After a thorough evaluation, we’ll recommend appropriate strategies and structure that will maximize your chances at success. We can also analyze fringe benefit opportunities and gaps, and coordinate with other advisors on estate, income, retirement and business plans. We additionally provide some of the best implementation assistance in the industry.

Other services and strategies within our business planning division include:

• Evaluation of Business Agreements;
• C vs. S Corp status;
• Business Valuation considerations;
• Family Limited Partnership vs. Limited Liability Co.;
• Valuation Discounts;
• Deferred Compensation;
• Key man Insurance/Split Dollar;
• Buy-Sell Funding-Death or Disability;
• Disability Income Protection;
• Qualified Plans/Shelters from tax;
• Group Benefits for Employees; and
• Using Corporate Dollars for Personal Benefits

Fringe Benefit Planning

We begin with a concise review of your current benefits package, savings and investment plans, followed by a comprehensive analysis of your pension and retirement options. The next step is analyzing and auditing your various insurance policies. Then we can look for the best ways to maximize benefits for owners and key employees, and determine cost-effective strategies to protect your assets. We can also coordinate your current business plan, and help you implement it in the most effective manner possible.

Other services, products, and strategies within our fringe benefit planning division:

• Life, Disability, Health Insurance, Dental;
• 401 (k) and other qualified plans;
• Traditional IRA/Rollovers;
• Roth IRA;
• Annuities;
• Deferred Compensation;
• Split Dollar;
• Flexible Spending Accounts;
• Cafeteria Plans; and
• Payroll Deduction Programs.

Insurance Planning

After a meticulous review and analysis of your current insurance contracts and personal and business insurance needs – plus an evaluation of your Human Life Value – we can coordinate the most tax-efficient game-plan for insurance holders and their beneficiaries. Implementing the ideal plan following its coordination is another strength we pride ourselves on.

Additional products, services and strategies under our Insurance Planning umbrella include:

• Life Insurance/alternatives/company evaluations;
• Disability Income Products Long Term Care Insurance Planning;
• Second-to-die Insurance;
• Term, Whole Life, Universal Life, Variable Life;
• Business Buy-Sell Insurance;
• Business Overhead Insurance;
• Group life, disability, health insurance;
• Disability Buyout;
• Split Dollar/Deferred Comp/Key Person;
• Property and Casualty-Review and recommendations;
• Annuities;
• Insurance alternatives for uninsurables; and
• Rated products review.

Investment Planning

After a scrupulous examination of your existing portfolio, and determining your objectives and tolerance for risk, we can identify the ideal investment opportunities for your situation. We’ll check your asset allocation for tax efficiency, and closely monitor the performance of your portfolio. Implementation assistance, risk reduction services, and coordinating your investments with your current estate or retirement plan are additional areas of focus.

Our Investment Planning division also provides the best in:

• Mutual Funds;
• Stocks and Bonds;
• Managed Accounts
• Private Money Managers;
• Proprietary Investment Accounts;
• Traditional IRA and Rollover;
• Roth IRA;
• Educational Funding;
• Annuities- Fixed, Variable, Indexed; and
• 401(k) investment alternatives.

Income Tax Planning

We can review your current planning efforts, evaluate and recommend the best alternatives – with a focus on reducing taxes and increasing cash flow. Implementing your plan, and coordinating your tax planning with your estate, retirement, or business plan, are other areas of expertise.

Other Income Tax Planning options include:

• Tax efficient investment planning;
• Reducing Income Tax through Charitable giving;
• Tax efficient strategies for qualified plan distribution;
• Asset transfer techniques that focusing on tax reductions; and
• Using lower tax brackets to leverage personal needs.

College Funding Planning

Following a solid review of current college costs, and projecting for future growth and inflation, we can evaluate your existing funding program for its time horizon, risk, and potential return. Then an accurate determination can be made regarding the annual savings, lump sums, and ideal investment approach for each child; we can of course assist in implementing the plan as well.

Additional products and strategies within our College Funding Planning division:

• Mutual Funds;
• Bonds;
• Stocks;
• Annuities;
• UGMA;
• UTMA;
• US Savings Bonds;
• Education IRA; and
• College Savings Plans (529 Plans).

Retirement Planning

Our first step towards your happy retirement is analyzing your current game-plan and means, then discussing your specific goals, desired lifestyle, and time line. We’ll review the resources and recommend distribution techniques for qualified plans, and can also coordinate with your current estate, retirement and business plans. Implementation assistance is another service we provide.

Other strategies and services include:

• Retirement plan analysis, recommendations;
• Deferred Compensation;
• Annuities;
• Mutual Funds;
• Managed Accounts;
• Private Money Managers;
• Stocks and Bonds;
• Proprietary Investment Accounts;
• Roth IRA's;
• Life Insurance;
• Long Term Care Insurance; and
• Cash Flow Models.