Philosophy
I act in a fiduciary and fee-only capacity to provide comprehensive financial planning and investment management
I am dedicated to helping my clients live their best lives.
Through experience and academic research, I love to go deep when helping clients explore their values; going beyond monetary goals to pursue the freedom to live the life they want to live.
It starts with a foundation of financial security. This is not necessarily financial independence [yet], but the confidence that you know that you are saving enough to reach your future goals.
Once you are confident you are on track, the next level is to figure out what makes you happy and fulfilled. Instead of waiting for retirement, what will help you enjoy the journey?
A common question I am asked is
Should I sell out of my company stock and move to a more diversified portfolio?
The most common answer among advisors is
The concentration risk of having so much of your net worth in a single stock is very high and that you can actually increase the likelihood of achieving a future goal in a diversified portfolio. Monte Carlo simulations show that while the this reduces the potential upside, the probability of success goes up.
Another question I get is
Should I take money out of my investments and pay off my mortgage?
The most common answer among advisors is
As long as the growth rate on their investments was greater than the interest paid on their mortgage, the wealth maximization strategy is to keep the mortgage and the investments.
These are the prudent recommendations, and they just so happen to be aligned with how most advisors get paid.
Fees on assets under management (AUM).
But just because these recommendations are prudent, doesn’t necessarily make them “right”. Keeping the investments and the mortgage isn’t the “right” thing to do. It does help maximize wealth, but it actually is a more aggressive strategy. Paying off the mortgage is the safer strategy.
It isn’t right vs. wrong, it’s more aggressive or more conservative. Keeping company stock vs a diversified portfolio is similar.
It’s higher risk/higher reward vs. lower risk/lower reward. Financial planning isn't black and white; it's everything in the gray area.
Graystone Advisor is designed to help answer your questions and help you live your best life without ever pressuring you into something you don’t feel comfortable with.
If you like investing in rental real estate, your 401k, and betting on your company stock, we can design a long term plan around this without touching those investments.
If you prefer to rely on my experience and due diligence to manage your investments as I manage my own money, I would be happy to do so.
WITH NO CHANGE IN MY FEES.
I am the first person my clients contact
with any financial questions.