Financial Planning, Oriented Around One Question.
Every area of financial planning rotates around a single core question: what are your goals and when do you need the money? Get that center right, and the seven surrounding disciplines fall into place.
The Center: Goals & Timeline
Before we talk about stocks, bonds, Roth conversions, or pension options, we ask two questions:
- What are your goals?
- When do you need the money?
A 35-year-old saving for a house in 2030 is playing a completely different game than a 62-year-old retiring in 2027 who needs income for 30 years. Same advisor, same tools, opposite strategies. The center dictates the outer ring.
The Seven Planning Areas
💰 Cash Flow & Debt
Monthly income vs. expenses. Emergency fund of 3–6 months. Debt snowball or avalanche. Home down payment, car, credit cards. The foundation — if cash flow is broken, everything else is theater.
🏖️ Retirement Income
Defined benefit plans (CalSTRS, CalPERS, LAPD/LAFD, cash-balance), 403(b), 401(k), IRA, Roth IRA, annuities, Social Security timing. Drawdown strategy. Sequence-of-returns risk. Monte Carlo stress testing. Pension max →
📊 Tax Strategy
Roth conversions during 62–72 window. RMD management. Withdrawal order. QCDs for charitable retirees. IRMAA management. Tax-efficient withdrawal →
📜 Estate & Legacy
Revocable trust, pour-over will, POA, healthcare directive, beneficiary designations. Avoiding CA probate. Step-up basis. SECURE Act planning. Estate planning →
🛡️ Risk & Insurance
Term + permanent life. Long-term care. Disability. Umbrella. Property. Five types of life insurance. Income replacement. Life insurance → · LTC →
🎓 Education Funding
529 plans, Coverdell ESAs, UGMA/UTMA, scholarships. FAFSA strategy. Balancing your retirement vs. their college. "You can't borrow for retirement, but you can borrow for college."
🏠 Major Purchases
Home, second home, car, business, wedding. Mortgage strategy. Interest-rate sensitivity. Timing vs. compounding tradeoffs. Mortgage guide →
Portfolio & Risk (Cross-Cutting)
Modern Portfolio Theory. Efficient frontier. Risk tolerance. MPT → · Sequence risk → · Risk quiz →
Defined Benefit Plans — The Most Underrated Pillar of a Plan
Most Americans only have a 401(k) — a defined contribution plan where you bear the market risk, the longevity risk, and the drawdown decision. A defined benefit (DB) plan flips that: the plan sponsor promises a specific monthly check for life, and the sponsor carries the investment and longevity risk. For the right client, layering a DB plan on top of everything else is the single highest-value planning move we make.
Public-Sector DB (CalSTRS, CalPERS, LAPD, LAFD)
If you're a teacher or public employee, you already have a DB plan — and the election you make at retirement (Unmodified, Option 2W, Option 3W, Option 4, lump-sum cash-out) is a one-time, irreversible decision worth six or seven figures of lifetime income. Our pension max framework compares the spread between the max benefit and the joint-survivor benefit against the cost of a term life policy that replaces the same survivor income. Done right, it can add $100K+ of lifetime income to the household.
Private-Practice / Business Owner DB
If you're a high-income professional — doctor, dentist, attorney, consultant — a cash-balance defined benefit plan layered on top of a 401(k) lets you deduct $200K–$350K per year pre-tax (age-dependent, actuarial). For a 50-year-old doctor in the 37% bracket, that's $75K–$125K/yr in federal tax savings alone, while building a guaranteed retirement income stream. We coordinate with your TPA to build the actuarial projection and integrate it with the rest of the plan.
Example: Same Advisor, Three Clients
| Client | Goal | Timeline | Strategy Rotates To |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teacher, age 38 | House down payment + long-horizon wealth | 3 yrs (house) / 27 yrs (retire) | HYSA + short Treasuries for the house fund. Passive dividend portfolio (SCHD/VYM core + quality-dividend ETFs) for the CalSTRS supplement bucket — reinvest distributions for 25+ yrs. |
| LAPD, age 54 | Retire at 57 with $8K/mo for life | 3-yr decumulation start | Defined benefit pension election (Option 2W/3W joint-survivor vs. Unmodified + life) + pension max + bond ladder + 70/30 portfolio for the taxable supplement. |
| Doctor, age 42 | $5M at 65 + kids' college | 23 years | Cash-balance defined benefit plan (own practice, ~$200–300K/yr tax-deductible contributions) + aggressive 529 + backdoor Roth + 90/10 equity. |
Start where every plan should start.
Book a 15-minute discovery call. We'll map your goals and timeline first — then every other conversation becomes useful. No sales pitch, no product push. Just clarity about the center of your plan.
