Ongoing management of your investment accounts, with the tax consequences considered before the trade, not after.
Most portfolios aren't badly built. They're built in isolation — without regard to the tax return they'll show up on, the retirement income they'll eventually fund, or the other accounts sitting somewhere else. Stonewell manages the money with those things in view.
How your money is divided among stocks, bonds, and cash is the decision that we believe drives most of your long-term result. We set that mix against your timeline and what you actually need the money to do based on your goals and objectives.
A portfolio only works if you can hold it through a bad year. We'd rather build something slightly more conservative that you'll stay invested in than something optimal on paper that you abandon at the worst possible moment.
Spreading holdings across companies, sectors, and geographies so that no single position determines your outcome. It's unglamorous and it's most of the job.
Left alone, a portfolio drifts. Strong performers grow into an outsized share and quietly increase your risk. Rebalancing resets the mix back to target. We strive to be mindful of the tax bill, so that your portfolio is treated with care.
Not just what you own, but which account owns it. Holdings that generate taxable income belong in tax-deferred accounts where possible; assets you expect to grow substantially may be better in a Roth. Same investments, different tax outcome, no change in risk.
When a position is down, selling it can create opportunities to realize losses while maintaining your portfolio's intended allocation, when appropriate. Losses realized in one position may offset gains elsewhere.
Your 401(k) at work is usually the largest account we can't hold directly. We build around it rather than ignoring it, so the allocation you're paying us to design accounts for everything you own — not just the part at Schwab.
This information is general in nature and should not be considered tax advice. Investors should consult with a qualified tax consultant as to their particular situation.
Decisions here don't stop at the portfolio. Roth conversions and withdrawal sequencing are handled in retirement planning, and coordinated with your tax preparer through tax planning.
Bring what you're already holding and we'll talk through how it's put together, where the tax exposure sits, and what we'd do differently.
