Our Services
Retirement Planning
I have personally assisted hundreds of clients transition into retirement or derive an income from their portfolio while living in retirement. Retirement Planning is one of the core duties of a financial planner.
The corner stone of Retirement Planning is the cash-flow analysis. This analysis helps forecast what a household is likely to accumulate when they arrive at their target retirement age. That analysis in turn is used to forecast what can be sustainably drawn from a portfolio, so that a client can expect their savings to last their full lifetime, or target an inheritance for heirs.
Asset Allocation
For 40 years an investor who owned stocks and bonds only, enjoyed exceptional, risk adjusted returns. Now, in a moment where geopolitics are in flux, government intervention is high, legislation is selecting winners and losers, new technologies are changing society, an energy transition is occurring and industry and natural resources must serve a population larger than ever before- it is time to think more broadly about what it means to allocate capital.
Capital and savings are finite and valuable. Great care must be taken to ensure that catastrophic loss is avoided and that purchasing power is grown or preserved.
Major investment firms structure their investment approaches based on regulatory guidelines and rely on input from their legal advisors to establish standardized procedures for making asset allocation recommendations. However, these constraints can limit the level of customization available for portfolios, resulting in generic strategies that may overlook opportunities for participating in emerging value creation.
CRB Strategic Services makes asset allocation recommendations based on the unique household that it serves and educates clients about all asset classes, if our analysis suggests they will be useful for storing or growing your savings into the future.
The ultimate truth is that correlation between assets is a major risk factor.
Final thought, stocks and bonds have spent significant time, highly correlated to one another over the last 140 years, and without supplementation are insufficient to provide the highest chances of long term, investment success. Most advisors know this, yet their firms constrain their recommendations to only products they sell. This is a significant conflict of interest that does not apply to CRB Strategic Services.
Debt Management
Ratios can help us understand what the experience of having debt feels like. For example, if the total, monthly debt service payments of a household are less than 20% of income, this household is likely to accumulate savings, they will have comfort and flexibility when things go wrong (as they always, eventually do, in life). On the other hand, if debt service consumes 50% of a household’s income, this experience is likely to be characterized by stress. It would be difficult after servicing debt to accumulate savings and still have enough income to run the household and cover the other, normal, recurring expenses of living. I have personally, engaged in a process to pay off debt and I have the tools and knowledge to coach my clients how to be successful on their debt free, or debt reduction journey.
After years of working with clients, especially high net worth households, I uncovered an insight about the use of debt. Very wealthy, sophisticated, households do not have personal debts. They may own shares in enterprises that have debt, or they may participate in businesses that use leverage to enhance returns. However, sophisticated households use structures that separate them from personal liability. The truth is, when you have a lot, you have a lot to lose and that risk can be managed.
Self-Directed IRA and Real Estate Consulting
Are you looking to diversify your investment portfolio with real estate and other alternative assets? A self-directed IRA could be just what you need, and CRB Strategic Services is here to help. We specialize in helping clients invest in alternative assets through a self-directed IRA. With this approach, you can hold a wide range of alternative assets, including real estate - a time-tested asset class that can provide strong returns and hedging benefits.
We understand that navigating the complexities of investing in alternative assets can be challenging, and that's why we provide personalized consulting services to help you make informed investment decisions. With our expertise and guidance, you can consider the legal and financial requirements of investing in alternative assets, identify the right assets for your portfolio, and achieve broader diversification, potentially smoother returns, and greater resilience in the face of market volatility.
Don't miss out on the benefits of investing in real estate and other alternative assets through a self-directed IRA. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you achieve your financial goals and take advantage of this investment opportunity.
Education Funding
Did you know that if you save into a College Savings 529, and your child is awarded a qualifying scholarship, that you can draw that sum of dollars out of the 529 to be used for any purpose on a penalty free basis? In the world of finance there are a lot of hidden gems like this. Working with CRB Strategic Services will ensure you that all of your options are clear and that you make the choices that produce the highest value outcomes.
Should I use a 529, UTMA, or even a Roth IRA for college savings?
What will college cost and how much should I save per month?
Can I use my 529 for private elementary school?
Is my 529 contribution state tax deductible?
CRB Strategic Services will assist you with answering these questions and more.
Estate Planning
Estate Planning documents make it clear for heirs the vision that you have for your assets. For example, a Will describes who will serve as guardian for minor children when an individual passes unexpectedly. Trusts can help to increase privacy and avoid costly probate proceedings.
I will help you analyze which estate planning documents may be appropriate for you. Then I can educate you on questions to ask to ensure the billable hours you spend with an estate planning attorney are as productive as possible.
Then once your estate planning documents are in order, I’ll assist you with updating your beneficiaries and Transfer on Death (TOD) instructions in line with your attorneys guidance.
These are examples of services which are included in a subscription to CRB Strategic Services.
Tax Strategies
CRB Strategic Services uses knowledge of the tax code to employ tactics that can lower tax expense. For example, locating certain asset classes in specific account types, the choice to save into a tax free or tax deferred account, using an HSA, giving gifts of highly appreciated securities and converting dollars into a Roth IRA can enhance long term compounding. Greater compounding, of course translates, into more wealth for consumption or for heirs.
Additionally, I can work with your CPA to execute their recommendations, which may help to avoid alternative minimum tax, grow the size of your Roth IRA, or help to move tax burden from a high income year into a low income year.
The US tax code is complex and evolving, however, my CFP® designation and continuing education allows me to provide relevant guidance and feedback on one of the most nuanced aspects of financial planning.
Gold, Commodities, Digital Assets and Hard Assets
Many major broker dealer firms lack the infrastructure to sell alternative asset classes, which leads to their advisors being unable to intelligently address questions about them. This is in conflict with the fiduciary standard, which requires advisors to act in the client’s best interest. Even though alternative assets such as gold have a long track record of low correlation to stocks and bonds and can act as a store of value, some firms forbid their advisors from recommending them. This limitation can negatively impact a client's resilience, as they are prevented from investing in a diverse range of assets that could help protect their portfolio.
In addition to gold, digital assets like Bitcoin have also emerged as an alternative asset class that is in direct competition with the legacy financial system. While the adoption rate of digital assets is faster than the adoption rate of the internet in the late 1990s, many broker dealer firms do not have the infrastructure to sell or advise on them. This can limit investors' ability to deploy a portion of their speculative capital into an asset class that has the potential to change the way money and the financial system work. As such, it is important for clients to seek out professionals who have developed professional knowledge in areas such as digital assets, real estate, and other alternative asset classes.
Ultimately, investors should not settle for the limitations of firms that prioritize selling products, over their clients' resilience. It is important for clients to seek out advisors who have the expertise and knowledge necessary to advise on a diverse range of assets, including alternative asset classes like gold and digital assets. By doing so, investors can ensure that their portfolios are diversified and well-protected against market volatility and financial system risks.