What does Full-Service Wealth Management Include?

At Wealthstone, we pride ourselves on offering Full-Service Wealth Management, our most comprehensive and esteemed level of service. This service encompasses an array of meticulously crafted financial planning elements, ensuring that every aspect of your financial life is carefully considered and managed. Our Full-Service Wealth Management includes:

• In-Depth Financial Planning: We delve into key areas such as Estate, Tax, and Retirement Planning, Risk Management, Insurance Reviews, Cash-Flow Analysis, Asset Protection, Social Security & Medicare, Education Planning, and Philanthropy. We also provide expert guidance on Business Exit Strategies.

• Custom-Tailored Investment Strategies: Aligned with your financial plan, these strategies are implemented with accounts and trades executed at Charles Schwab.

As part of our ongoing commitment to your financial success, Wealthstone clients receive:

• Monthly Portfolio Performance Reports: Delivered via email for up-to-date insights.

• Annual Comprehensive Financial Plan Updates: Includes tracking of goal progress to keep you on course.

• Wealthstone Private Wealth Management Client Newsletter: Stay informed with our expert insights and market analysis.

• Regular, Pre-Scheduled Portfolio & Plan Reviews: Ensuring your financial strategy remains aligned with your goals.

• Charles Schwab Client Portal and Monthly Account Statements: For transparent and convenient access to your financial information.

• Exclusive Invitations to Local Client-Only Events & Webinars: Opportunities for engagement and enrichment, open to all clients (Friends and Family on a limited basis.)

• Direct Access to Our Team: Reach us via telephone, email, or text for personalized support.

• Collaborative Approach: We work in tandem with your other financial professionals, including CPAs, Lawyers, and Bankers, ensuring a cohesive financial strategy.

• Family Householding Option: This service aggregates family assets for a discounted advisory rate across all accounts, while maintaining individual privacy and asset separation.

Full-Service Wealth Management at Wealthstone is designed to provide you with a seamless, comprehensive, and personalized financial experience, tailored to meet and exceed your unique wealth management needs.

What are your fees?

This is an important question, and it’s imperative that we take a moment to breakdown “Fees” in the industry, so that the rest of this answer makes sense. There are 3 types of fees or expenses that you should be aware of:

1. Advisory Fees: Usually, a percent of assets under management.

2. Expense Ratios: These are the underlying fees for a particular investment vehicle, such as Mutual Funds, ETFs, or SMAs.

3. Commissions: These fees can be charged per trade (buy and sell.) At Wealthstone, we do not charge our clients commissions for stock and bond portfolios. A firm that charges commissions is known as “Fee-Based” and a firm that does not charge commissions is known as “Fee-Only.”

Wealthstone Private Wealth Management is a Fee-Only firm, meaning, we do not charge commissions for trades or individual products. We charge an annual advisory fee, which is percentage based, and the percentage is determined according to your “Assets Under Management” (AUM.) For families who choose to consolidate their assets at our firm, we provide Household-Based pricing, allowing you to pool your assets together to reduce your fee percentage, while maintaining complete privacy and separation of accounts and information. The advisory fee is billed out of your accounts automatically every month. Prior to beginning your relationship with us, we’ll provide complete transparency about exactly what your fees will be.

For a portfolio of stocks and bonds, our highest possible all-in fees would come out to 0.90% (annual). This is the all-in figure, which means there are no additional expense ratios, or commissions that will be charged to you. Please keep in mind that 0.90% is the highest possible fee our clients would pay for our traditional investment portfolios, based on your AUM, it’s possible that your total cost would be significantly lower.

For comparison, according to SmartAsset, in 2023, the average Financial Advisor advisory fee was 1.02%. In addition to the advisory fee, it’s not uncommon for us to review a prospective client’s portfolio, to find that their advisor has invested their assets into mutual funds with high expense ratios. Remember, expense ratios are another layer of fees in addition to the “advisory fee.” We often see expense ratios ranging between 0.50% and 1.25% for actively managed mutual funds. Therefore, when comparing to our fee structure and investment expense ratios, we often find that our full-service wealth management expenses are significantly less expensive than the industry average.

Excessive fees can significantly reduce your total wealth. Here’s a basic example (illustrative purposes only, not a guarantee of returns.)

• Wealthstone Portfolio: $2MM, invested over 25 years, with a return of 6.9% (.90% all-in expenses.) Ending Balance: $8,583,741.44 (compounded annually)

• Non-Wealthstone Portfolio: $2MM, invested over 25 years, with a return of 6.9% (1.40% all-in expenses.) Ending Balance: $7,626,784.70 (compounded annually)

Additional .50% of annual expenses cost: $956,956.74

Our firm is focused on providing a competitive, fair advisory fee, and utilizing low-cost index funds, individual stock models, and direct indexing strategies, which help to keep your all-in expenses low, with the goal of creating more total wealth for you and your family.

What are the fees for Alternative Investments?

Alternative Investments are complex investment strategies, and they may not be appropriate for all investors. If we believe that a particular alternative investment, such as private equity, private credit, real estate or venture capital should be in your investment portfolio, we’ll schedule a 45 minute - 1 hour meeting solely focused on that particular topic. We’ll explain who the fund manager is, the purpose of the fund and underlying strategy, risks, fees, liquidity, tax-treatment and our conviction in the strategy. These meetings are dedicated to answering any questions you may have about these complex investment strategies, so that you can make an informed decision. Fees and expenses for alternative investments vary widely, however, there is generally an annual management fee and performance fee involved.

How can I request a proposal?

Click “Schedule Consultation” below. Please be prepared to provide information about your total wealth, and overall financial goals.