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SERVICES
Successful planning requires a partnership between you and our advisor team. Our objective is to determine the optimal course, identifying areas of opportunity while mitigating areas of risk.
Our team works in tandem with our clients in order to provide a unique solution map that will get you to your desired destination. Our philosophy is to always put our clients’ interests first. With our client-centered approach, we seek to offer objective advice focused on you.

WEALTH PLANNING

The TrueWealth Plan starts with a detailed roadmap to achieve your financial goals. Whether you are on the road to financial independence or you are already there, a detailed plan outlining short, intermediate and long-term goals is essential to be the “rudder” of the investment portfolio. The planning process includes the following major steps:

1) Schedule Initial Consultation
Generally two members of the advisor team will meet with you and your significant other (if applicable) to determine your current situation and whether our services are a fit for your needs.
2) Identify Goals and Objectives
The next step is to identify your dreams and goals and quantify the Why? of your plan. It’s important to know where we intend to go in order for us to build the map to get there.
3) Gather Pertinent Financial Information
When you are comfortable, we ask you to share your information with us so we can have a clear understanding of your complete financial picture. This is essential to properly identify areas of strength and weaknesses in order to develop the right plan of action. We seek to understand the What? so we can move on to the How?.
4) Develop and Present the Written Financial Plan
Our next step is for our team to work together to develop a clear plan of action. We utilize sophisticated planning software that takes into account potential cash flows, investment, retirement spending, taxes, health care costs, inflation and legacy planning goals to ensure your portfolio is optimized for your needs. We are able to compare your current allocation with our recommended allocation, in addition to your current plan, to any number of possible alternatives to best determine your next step. This process is essentially providing you with information to make confident decisions. This plan is ever-changing and will be updated as your situation changes.
5) Implement Recommended Strategy
The next step is to determine whether you would like to hire Gardius to be your ongoing advisor. After signing on, Gardius will meet periodically to review your investment performance, update goals and present additional scenarios, if warranted. Your TrueWealth Plan will evolve and change as your life circumstances dictate.

PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

While the TrueWealth Plan is the rudder of the ship, you need an experienced captain at the helm. Determining the appropriate risk profile, portfolio mix and individual investments are fundamental to long-term success.

1) Determine Risk Profile
Our team will work closely with you to determine a risk profile that fits you. Through review of your current investments, prior experience and conversations about your expectations, we will determine the proper allocation for your portfolio.
2) Develop Allocation
Based on your risk profile and goals, we will build your portfolio utilizing a mixture of our strategies that incorporate individual stocks, bond mutual funds, equity mutual funds and/or ETFs. Our allocation could include passive strategies with rebalancing, individual stock-picking based on a valuation methodology, and/or tactical strategies using a combination of technical and fundamental analysis to determine when and where to allocate the investments. There is not one methodology that is the “best;” instead, Gardius believes that a combination approach is important for long-term success.
3) Discuss Expectations for Your Portfolio
It is essential that the upside potential and downside risk is understood, both by our advisor team and you. Communication is key. Investments do not just go up; there will be periods where your portfolio will experience losses. Determining the proper risk profile will impact the upside potential and the downside risk. We want you to understand what your portfolio contains and how it might respond to certain market conditions.
4) Review, Review, Review
We will call you periodically to set up an appointment, at least annually and as often as quarterly, to review your plan and your portfolio. Prudent management requires a steady hand with incremental adjustments. Communicating these adjustments to you is a very important part of the portfolio management process.
  • The Future of Pensions

    The traditional corporate pension, where workers get a set amount sent to them through retirement, is disappearing. Only 13% of private-sector workers were participating in such a plan in 2014, according to the Employee Benefit Research Institute. In 1979, the rate was nearly triple that, at 38%. Source: USA Today, published Oct. 31, 2017.

LEGACY PLANNING

As it becomes more apparent that our goals will be more than met, our focus shifts to the next generation. A proper plan is imperative to meet wealth transfer and philanthropic goals. We work closely with estate planning attorneys to ensure that your legacy goals are met.

Estate Planning

Working with a qualified estate planning attorney is crucial to ensure you have the proper documents in place. We have recommendations for attorneys in our area or we can work with your attorney if you already have one. While we do not provide legal advice, we often sit in on the meetings with the attorneys and offer suggestions in regards to how you might be able to achieve your legacy goals. The attorney will draft the legal documents in order to implement these plans.

Once your documents are drafted and signed, we will ensure you have the proper titling and beneficiary designation on your investment accounts and other titled assets, if needed. The “funding” of your trust is critical to be sure your plan is implemented.

Your Estate Plan can help you achieve your legacy goals. Clients often have goals in one or more of these areas:

1) Wealth Transfer
Ensuring a smooth transfer of assets during a most difficult time is one of the most important goals of a successful estate plan. Proper funding of your trust and beneficiary designation is critical to ensure your plan is carried out as you intended.
2) Generation Skipping
Oftentimes clients wish to leave assets to their grandchildren. With the proper documents, this can be accomplished through a generation-skipping trust. The use of a qualified estate planning attorney is essential to be sure the documents are drawn up properly.
3) Charitable Giving
Clients also have end-of-life giving goals. Working these goals into the overall estate plan can save the estate taxes, if done properly. With the help of a qualified estate planning attorney, assets can be directed in the most tax-efficient manner, benefitting both the charity and the heirs.
4) Estate Tax Minimization
Some clients need advanced planning in order to minimize or eliminate the estate tax that is owed. This sophisticated planning requires use of a qualified estate planning attorney and often, a competent CPA. We help to quarterback the process to ensure that all your goals are met. There are many different techniques that can be used, depending on the client’s situation. Ask us today about your situation.
If you would like Gardius to investigate a specific area (beyond thes scope of service outlined here) as it relates to your situation, please contact us.