ServicesWealth Management
Wealth Management in Rumson
We bring your investments, retirement accounts, taxes, insurance and estate wishes into one coordinated plan, then manage it with you over the years. Every account rule, contribution limit and required distribution is explained in plain terms, so you always know why a decision was made.
What wealth management covers, and when it makes sense
Wealth management is ongoing work, not a single report. We look after the portfolio, but we also watch how it connects to your tax return, your retirement timeline, your insurance and what you want to leave to family. When one piece moves, we check what it does to the others.
It tends to be the right call once your finances have more than a few moving parts: several retirement accounts from past employers, a business, company stock, an inheritance, or a spouse with a separate set of accounts. If you mainly want a one-time roadmap, our financial planning service may fit better, and we will tell you so.
Much of this work sits inside rules set by the IRS and securities regulators. We are Series 7, Series 66 and SIE licensed, and we take the time to show you which rules apply to each account and what they mean for your money.
What our wealth management includes
- Every account on one page
- We gather statements for brokerage, retirement, bank and business accounts and lay them out together. Many clients see their whole balance sheet in one place for the first time.
- Ongoing investment management
- Your portfolio is built around your goals and time horizon, then monitored and rebalanced. We explain each change before it is made.
- Tax-aware decisions
- We consider which account holds which investment, when to realize gains and how withdrawals affect your bracket. We work alongside your CPA rather than around them.
- Retirement and distribution timing
- Contribution limits, Roth conversion windows and required minimum distributions are tracked on a calendar so deadlines do not slip by.
- Beneficiary and titling review
- We compare beneficiary designations and account titling against your wishes and share notes with your estate attorney when you ask us to.
- Insurance check-ins
- We look at whether existing life and disability coverage still matches what your family would need.
Signs it may be time for wealth management
Accounts scattered across firms
An old 401(k), an IRA at one firm, a brokerage account at another. Nobody is looking at how they work together.
A large change in your finances
The sale of a business, an inheritance, vesting stock options or a sizable bonus. Choices made in the first year can shape your tax bill for many years after.
Retirement is getting close
The order you draw from accounts, when to claim Social Security and how to handle required distributions start to matter more than picking funds.
Surprises at tax time
If capital gains distributions or a large withdrawal keep catching you off guard, your investments and tax planning are likely working separately.
Beneficiary forms you have not checked
If you have not reviewed them since a marriage, divorce or new child, they may not reflect what you want. These forms usually override a will.
What shapes the cost of wealth management
Fees depend on the size and complexity of what we manage and on how we are paid for it. We explain our fee structure in the introductory meeting and put it in writing before you commit to anything. You should never have to guess what you are paying.
Assets we manage
Ongoing relationships are often priced on the value of the portfolio under management. Larger portfolios usually carry a different rate than smaller ones.
Complexity
A business interest, stock options, trusts or accounts held in several names add work, and that is reflected in the fee.
Scope of services
Investment management on its own is priced differently from full coordination with tax, retirement and legacy planning.
Underlying investment costs
Funds carry their own expense ratios apart from our fee. We show you these so you see the full cost of your portfolio.
How we work with you
- 1
Introductory meeting
The first conversation can take place in person at our office, over the phone or on a video call, whichever is easiest for you. We start by listening to what you want your money to accomplish. Then we lay out how we work and how we are paid, so nothing is unclear later.
- 2
Discovery and document review
We gather statements, tax returns, insurance policies and estate documents. For each account we record the rules that come with it, such as early withdrawal penalties, required distributions or limits set by an employer plan.
- 3
Your written plan
Our recommendations come to you in writing and in plain language, showing what we suggest changing and the reason behind each change. Nothing moves forward until you decide it should.
- 4
Putting it in place
We take care of account transfers and the paperwork that goes with them. Any form that needs your signature, we go through with you line by line.
- 5
Regular reviews
We meet on a schedule that suits you, and sooner when something in your life changes. Each review looks at performance, tax items for the coming year and any rule changes that affect your accounts.
Wealth management questions
How is wealth management different from financial planning?
Financial planning often produces a plan at one point in time. Wealth management is ongoing: we manage the investments and keep the plan current as tax law, markets and your life change. Some clients start with planning and move to ongoing management later.
Do I have to move my accounts to work with you?
For us to manage investments directly, accounts generally need to be held where we can oversee them. Some accounts, like a current employer 401(k), usually stay where they are, and we can still guide you on them. We explain each transfer step and any fees involved before anything moves.
What do your licenses actually mean?
The SIE is the foundational securities industry exam. Series 7 covers a broad range of securities products, and Series 66 covers state securities law and advisory work. Together they mean we are qualified to discuss and work with the investments in your plan, and we hold ourselves to the rules that come with them.
Will you work with my CPA and estate attorney?
Yes, with your permission. We share the information they need and coordinate on items like Roth conversions, charitable gifts and funding a trust. Their roles stay with them; ours is to keep the investment side aligned with their work.
Do you work with clients outside Rumson?
Yes. We meet clients from Fair Haven, Red Bank, Middletown and elsewhere in the area at our office, and by phone or video for anyone who prefers it.
Start with an introductory meeting
Bring your questions and a rough list of your accounts. We will listen, explain how we work and how we are paid, and you can decide from there.