FAQ

We specialize in helping people aged 40 to 65 navigate big life changes. Most of our clients are young professionals, entrepreneurs, people nearing or in retirement, individuals managing a recent inheritance, or those going through a divorce.

Most of our clients have $500,000 or more to invest. However, we know everyone's situation is unique, so we are happy to evaluate and work with families below this amount on a discretionary basis.

A fiduciary is an advisor who is legally required to put your interests first. Other advisors only have to recommend products that are "suitable," which means they can suggest options that pay them higher commissions.

We charge in one of two ways:

• A percentage fee: A clear annual fee based on the amount of money we manage for you. The percentage drops as your wealth grows.
• An hourly/project fee: A set price for our extra services, like specialized tax and estate planning.

Growing your money is different from retiring on it. Because we are located inside a CPA office, we focus heavily on the tax side of your investments. We structure your portfolio to slash your lifetime tax bill, protect your estate, and make sure your money lasts.

Yes. We frequently work with couples and multi-generational families to ensure everyone is on the same page and protected.

We start with a complimentary 30-minute "Fit Meeting" in person or over the phone. It is a casual, no-pressure conversation to see if we are a good match for each other.

Yes. We can provide a second opinion to see if your current plan has hidden tax traps, overlapping investments, or gaps in your estate plan that your current advisor may have missed.

This is our biggest advantage. Since we are located inside a CPA office, we work directly with our in-house accountants. You don't have to play middleman; we collaborate under one roof to keep your taxes and investments perfectly aligned.

Texas has no state income tax, but you still have to pay federal income taxes, which can be as high as 37%. We use specific strategies to keep your federal tax bill as low as possible.

The federal estate tax is a tax on wealth passed down when someone dies. For 2026, the first $15 million for an individual (or $30 million for a married couple) is completely tax-free. Texas does not have its own estate tax, so you only have to worry about the federal rules if you are above these amounts.

A 1031 exchange allows you to sell an investment property and reinvest the proceeds into a new investment property while deferring your federal capital gains taxes. Because Texas does not have a state personal income tax, your primary savings will be on federal capital gains and depreciation recapture taxes. This keeps 100% of your equity working for you rather than losing a chunk of it to taxes upon the sale.

Yes. If you are aged 70 1/2 or older, you can instruct your IRA trustee to transfer up to $105,000 per year directly to an eligible charity. This distribution counts toward your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) for the year. The biggest benefit is money sent directly to the charity is completely excluded from your taxable income, which can also help keep your Medicare premiums lower.

Once you turn 50, the IRS allows you to contribute extra money beyond the standard annual limits to help boost your retirement savings.

• 401(k) plans: You can contribute an extra standard catch-up amount each year. (Note: If you earn over $145,000, high-income rules require these catch-ups to be made as post-tax Roth contributions).
• IRAs (Traditional or Roth): You can contribute an additional $1,000 per year.
• Ages 60–63: There are even higher "secure" catch-up limits available for individuals in this specific age bracket.

A Mega Backdoor Roth is a strategy that allows some high earners to route up to an extra $40,000+ per year into a tax-free Roth account. It works by making after-tax (non-Roth) contributions to your workplace 401(k) and immediately converting them to a Roth 401(k) or Roth IRA.

Does your plan allow it? Not all do. Your employer's specific 401(k) plan must explicitly allow two things: after-tax contributions and "in-service distributions" (or in-plan Roth conversions). We can review your plan's Summary Plan Description (SPD) to check this for you.

If you are a high-earning consultant or business owner, a Defined Benefit Plan acts like a personalized, high-powered pension plan. Unlike a 401(k) which caps your annual contributions, a Defined Benefit Plan allows you to contribute and deduct much larger amounts based on your age and income.

It is one of the most powerful tax shelters available, often allowing you to cut your current taxable income by $100,000 to $300,000+ per year while rapidly building a tax-deferred retirement nest egg.