Frequently Asked Questions

Below are the most common questions we hear from people considering working with us.

  • Yes, we are fiduciary in every sense of the word. We have not only a moral responsibility, but also a legal obligation, to act in the best interests of our clients, at all times, and with respect to all accounts.

  • We are a fee-only advisory firm, which means the only compensation we receive comes directly from our clients in the form of transparent advisory fees. No commissions. No referral fees. No related business entities.

  • We strive to be transparent and fair in the way we do business, and our fee structure is a reflection of that. Since our fee is not a direct percentage of assets under management (AUM), it reduces many real and perceived conflicts of interest. For example, as you face decisions such as what to do with your old 401(k), evaluating whether or not to pay off your mortgage, or how much cash to hold onto, we have no financial incentive to direct you one way or the other. We provide advice solely because it’s in your best interest.

  • Our standard services are designed for people with $1.5-5M of investable assets. In general, we’ve found this level of assets allows our clients to live the lifestyle they desire without jeopardizing their financial security. This allows us to focus our efforts on what we do best: optimize financial and tax planning to support our clients’ lives.

  • Yes. We have clients who have grown beyond assets of $5M, and we have legacy clients under $1.5M whom we continue to serve. What’s most important to us is that our clients share a similar philosophy on life and money.

    More than $5M? We work with individuals and families with net worths of $5M+, using custom fee arrangements between $15,000-$50,000/yr. Although we offer comprehensive financial planning services, we don’t provide “family office services” such as personal bookkeeping, overseeing private investments or properties, providing planning and investment management for other family members that wouldn't otherwise be clients, hosting multi-generational family meetings, etc. But for those who aren't looking to add the complexities that require a family office approach, we'll still be a great fit and value.

    Less than $1.5M? We aren’t currently taking new clients with investable assets below $1.5M, but we’d be happy to share some resources with you if you send us an email.

  • We specialize in planning for the specific opportunities and risks of individuals in retirement, and we find we work best with those who share a similar philosophy on life and money. While our clients are considered high net-worth by most standards, they tend to have middle-income values, and like us, seek simplicity. They live well within their means but buy quality goods and have some unnecessary “indulgences” but can easily afford them. While they recognize the importance of their finances, it’s not what they want to spend their days doing. They look to us as a partner to guide them and act as their advocate, wherever possible delegating the day-to-day implementation. The end result is confidence in their financial plans for the remainder of their lives and a lasting legacy for their families.

  • Mary and David work collaboratively with all clients. Mary takes the lead on most aspects of financial planning and client communication, while David manages the investment portfolios and drives tax strategy. This means you will always be working directly with those completing the work behind the scenes and won’t be passed off to an associate advisor, although we do get a bit of administrative help with paperwork. However we don’t know and can’t do everything, so we pull in outside experts (such as estate planning attorneys, tax preparers, and insurance brokers) as needed, always advocating for our clients as an independent party.

  • It’s important to work with an advisor you trust, but there also need to be objective safeguards in place. Our clients' accounts are held with third-party custodians who produce independent account statements and take direction directly from the account owner. We have a relationship with Charles Schwab that allows clients to grant Laminar Wealth a limited power of attorney (LPOA) to complete certain actions in the accounts (such as placing trades). The LPOA can be revoked by the account owner at any time. Feel free to check out our backgrounds and clean disciplinary records via our ADV, the CFP Board, and FINRA/SEC.

  • CFP®: The Certified Financial Planner™ designation is earned after completing rigorous education in financial planning topics such as retirement savings, investments, tax, risk management, estate, and education planning; passing a comprehensive exam; and working thousands of hours to gain hands-on experience. It requires a commitment to continuing education and ethical standards.

    CPA: The rigorous path to becoming a Certified Public Accountant includes earning 150 credit hours of education with a concentration in accounting; passing a series of four exams in Auditing and Attestation (AUD), Business Environment and Concepts (BEC), Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR) and Regulation (REG); and 2,000 hours of work experience. It requires a commitment to serving the public’s best interest, continuing education, and ethical standards.

    PFS: The Personal Financial Specialist credential was created for CPAs who specialize in various areas of financial planning, including tax, estate, retirement, investments, and insurance planning.

    RLP®: The Registered Life Planner® designation is earned by completing advanced multi-day workshops and a 6-month mentorship by those who wish to help their clients discover and articulate their most essential goals in life and work with them to cultivate the financial conditions necessary to live the life of their dreams.