What Makes Us Different
Since 1988 we've followed one simple rule: People first.
FAQs:
1. When should I hire a financial advisor?
The right time to hire a financial advisor depends on your goals, financial complexity, and how involved you want to be in managing your finances. Many people seek professional guidance as they approach retirement, receive an inheritance, sell a business, experience a major life change or simply want greater confidence in their financial future.
At Waterfront Advisors, we believe every situation is unique. As fiduciaries, we're happy to have an introductory conversation, learn about your circumstances and honestly discuss whether working with an advisor is the right fit for you.
2. Do I need a financial advisor if I already invest on my own?
Maybe, and that's okay.
Many of our clients are fully capable of managing their own investments but choose to partner with us because they value their time and want a comprehensive financial strategy. Successful investing is about much more than selecting investments. It involves retirement planning, tax strategies, estate planning, risk management, income planning and making informed decisions throughout every stage of life.
Whether you're a hands-on investor or prefer to leave everything to us, our role is to provide clarity, objective advice and confidence that your financial plan is aligned with your long-term goals.
3. How do financial advisors get paid?
Waterfront Advisors is a fee-only Registered Investment Advisory (RIA) firm.
We are compensated solely through a percentage of the assets we manage on your behalf.
Because we do not receive commissions, product incentives, revenue sharing or kickbacks, our advice is always focused on what is in your best interest, not on selling financial products. Our success is directly tied to helping our clients pursue their long-term financial goals.
4. How much money do I need to work with Waterfront Advisors?
Our typical minimum investment relationship begins at $250,000 - $500,000 in investable assets.
We believe this threshold allows us to deliver meaningful value through diversified portfolio management, comprehensive financial planning and ongoing advice that justifies the management fee.
That said, every situation is different. If you have less than our minimum but anticipate future growth, lack the time or desire to manage investments yourself or have unique planning needs, we're happy to have a conversation to determine whether we may be a good fit.
5. What is the difference between a financial advisor and a financial planner?
While the terms are often used interchangeably, they can mean different things.
A financial planner typically focuses on developing strategies around retirement, cash flow, savings, insurance, taxes, and other life goals. A financial advisor may focus primarily on investment management.
At Waterfront Advisors, we believe these two disciplines should work together. Our planning process is built around five key pillars: Income, Investments, Taxes, Health and Legacy, allowing us to provide comprehensive financial planning while actively managing the investment portfolio that supports your goals.
6. What happens during the first meeting?
Your first conversation is designed to help us understand you, not sell you.
You'll initially meet with a member of our team who will learn about your goals, current financial situation and any questions or concerns you may have. From there, we gather the information needed to develop a personalized financial plan.
Once your plan is prepared, you'll meet with our team to review recommendations, discuss investment strategies, answer your questions and determine whether Waterfront Advisors is the right fit.
If you decide to move forward, we'll handle opening accounts, coordinating asset transfers, and making the transition as seamless as possible.
7. How often will we meet or communicate?
As often as you'd like.
Communication is tailored to your preferences and your financial needs. During your first year, we typically have more frequent conversations as we implement your financial plan, transfer assets, establish your online access and ensure everything is progressing smoothly.
After that, relationships naturally settle into a comfortable rhythm. Some clients prefer monthly conversations, others quarterly, semi-annually or annually.
Regardless of your preferred schedule, we're always available when you need us. Whether markets are up, down or somewhere in between, we're committed to keeping you informed and providing guidance whenever questions arise.
8. Will I lose money if the market goes down?
Every investment carries some level of risk, and no advisor can eliminate the possibility of market losses.
However, your portfolio should be designed with your goals, time horizon, income needs and comfort with risk in mind. A well-diversified portfolio often includes different asset classes that may respond differently during changing market conditions.
Some investments prioritize long-term growth and naturally experience more volatility, while others focus on preserving capital and generating income.
Our job is to build an investment strategy that balances growth opportunities with appropriate risk, helping you pursue your goals while giving you confidence through changing market cycles.
9. Do you offer tax planning services?
Yes. While we do not prepare tax returns, tax planning is an important part of our comprehensive financial planning process.
We work closely with your CPA to develop strategies that help reduce your lifetime tax burden, not just this year's tax bill. Depending on your situation, this may include tax-efficient investing, Roth conversion strategies, tax-loss harvesting, charitable giving strategies, asset location and income planning.
For business owners, real estate investors and clients with more complex financial situations, we also coordinate with other professionals to ensure every piece of your financial plan is working together.
10. Can you help with estate planning?
Absolutely.
Although we do not draft legal documents, estate planning is one of the core pillars of our planning process. We work alongside your estate planning attorney to ensure your financial plan and legal documents are aligned.
We review beneficiary designations, account ownership, trust funding and asset titling to identify potential gaps that could create unintended consequences for your family.
If you don't already have an estate planning attorney, we're happy to connect you with experienced professionals we trust.
11. Can you help with college savings planning?
Yes.
We help families establish and manage 529 college savings plans as well as UGMA’s and UTMA’s as part of their overall financial strategy.
A 529 college savings plan is an excellent way to save for future education expenses while offering valuable tax advantages.
UGMA’s and UTMA’s allow for clients to transfer financial gifts to minors without a formal trust.
12. Does Waterfront work with High-Net-Worth and Ultra-High-Net-Worth Individuals?
Yes. Waterfront is very familiar with managing High Net Worth ($1-5mm), Very High Net Worth ($5mm-30mm) and Ultra High Net Worth ($30mm and up) Individuals.
At Waterfront Advisors, our fiduciary approach focuses on maximizing your quality of life by balancing robust capital preservation with strategic growth under a strict lens of tax efficiency. We know that high market returns mean very little if they are heavily eroded by taxation, which is why we build highly customized, comprehensive blueprints to protect and transition to the next generation.
Our core strategy for managing ultra-high-net-worth (UHNW) portfolios relies on four distinct pillars:
The right time to hire a financial advisor depends on your goals, financial complexity, and how involved you want to be in managing your finances. Many people seek professional guidance as they approach retirement, receive an inheritance, sell a business, experience a major life change or simply want greater confidence in their financial future.
At Waterfront Advisors, we believe every situation is unique. As fiduciaries, we're happy to have an introductory conversation, learn about your circumstances and honestly discuss whether working with an advisor is the right fit for you.
2. Do I need a financial advisor if I already invest on my own?
Maybe, and that's okay.
Many of our clients are fully capable of managing their own investments but choose to partner with us because they value their time and want a comprehensive financial strategy. Successful investing is about much more than selecting investments. It involves retirement planning, tax strategies, estate planning, risk management, income planning and making informed decisions throughout every stage of life.
Whether you're a hands-on investor or prefer to leave everything to us, our role is to provide clarity, objective advice and confidence that your financial plan is aligned with your long-term goals.
3. How do financial advisors get paid?
Waterfront Advisors is a fee-only Registered Investment Advisory (RIA) firm.
We are compensated solely through a percentage of the assets we manage on your behalf.
Because we do not receive commissions, product incentives, revenue sharing or kickbacks, our advice is always focused on what is in your best interest, not on selling financial products. Our success is directly tied to helping our clients pursue their long-term financial goals.
4. How much money do I need to work with Waterfront Advisors?
Our typical minimum investment relationship begins at $250,000 - $500,000 in investable assets.
We believe this threshold allows us to deliver meaningful value through diversified portfolio management, comprehensive financial planning and ongoing advice that justifies the management fee.
That said, every situation is different. If you have less than our minimum but anticipate future growth, lack the time or desire to manage investments yourself or have unique planning needs, we're happy to have a conversation to determine whether we may be a good fit.
5. What is the difference between a financial advisor and a financial planner?
While the terms are often used interchangeably, they can mean different things.
A financial planner typically focuses on developing strategies around retirement, cash flow, savings, insurance, taxes, and other life goals. A financial advisor may focus primarily on investment management.
At Waterfront Advisors, we believe these two disciplines should work together. Our planning process is built around five key pillars: Income, Investments, Taxes, Health and Legacy, allowing us to provide comprehensive financial planning while actively managing the investment portfolio that supports your goals.
6. What happens during the first meeting?
Your first conversation is designed to help us understand you, not sell you.
You'll initially meet with a member of our team who will learn about your goals, current financial situation and any questions or concerns you may have. From there, we gather the information needed to develop a personalized financial plan.
Once your plan is prepared, you'll meet with our team to review recommendations, discuss investment strategies, answer your questions and determine whether Waterfront Advisors is the right fit.
If you decide to move forward, we'll handle opening accounts, coordinating asset transfers, and making the transition as seamless as possible.
7. How often will we meet or communicate?
As often as you'd like.
Communication is tailored to your preferences and your financial needs. During your first year, we typically have more frequent conversations as we implement your financial plan, transfer assets, establish your online access and ensure everything is progressing smoothly.
After that, relationships naturally settle into a comfortable rhythm. Some clients prefer monthly conversations, others quarterly, semi-annually or annually.
Regardless of your preferred schedule, we're always available when you need us. Whether markets are up, down or somewhere in between, we're committed to keeping you informed and providing guidance whenever questions arise.
8. Will I lose money if the market goes down?
Every investment carries some level of risk, and no advisor can eliminate the possibility of market losses.
However, your portfolio should be designed with your goals, time horizon, income needs and comfort with risk in mind. A well-diversified portfolio often includes different asset classes that may respond differently during changing market conditions.
Some investments prioritize long-term growth and naturally experience more volatility, while others focus on preserving capital and generating income.
Our job is to build an investment strategy that balances growth opportunities with appropriate risk, helping you pursue your goals while giving you confidence through changing market cycles.
9. Do you offer tax planning services?
Yes. While we do not prepare tax returns, tax planning is an important part of our comprehensive financial planning process.
We work closely with your CPA to develop strategies that help reduce your lifetime tax burden, not just this year's tax bill. Depending on your situation, this may include tax-efficient investing, Roth conversion strategies, tax-loss harvesting, charitable giving strategies, asset location and income planning.
For business owners, real estate investors and clients with more complex financial situations, we also coordinate with other professionals to ensure every piece of your financial plan is working together.
10. Can you help with estate planning?
Absolutely.
Although we do not draft legal documents, estate planning is one of the core pillars of our planning process. We work alongside your estate planning attorney to ensure your financial plan and legal documents are aligned.
We review beneficiary designations, account ownership, trust funding and asset titling to identify potential gaps that could create unintended consequences for your family.
If you don't already have an estate planning attorney, we're happy to connect you with experienced professionals we trust.
11. Can you help with college savings planning?
Yes.
We help families establish and manage 529 college savings plans as well as UGMA’s and UTMA’s as part of their overall financial strategy.
A 529 college savings plan is an excellent way to save for future education expenses while offering valuable tax advantages.
UGMA’s and UTMA’s allow for clients to transfer financial gifts to minors without a formal trust.
12. Does Waterfront work with High-Net-Worth and Ultra-High-Net-Worth Individuals?
Yes. Waterfront is very familiar with managing High Net Worth ($1-5mm), Very High Net Worth ($5mm-30mm) and Ultra High Net Worth ($30mm and up) Individuals.
At Waterfront Advisors, our fiduciary approach focuses on maximizing your quality of life by balancing robust capital preservation with strategic growth under a strict lens of tax efficiency. We know that high market returns mean very little if they are heavily eroded by taxation, which is why we build highly customized, comprehensive blueprints to protect and transition to the next generation.
Our core strategy for managing ultra-high-net-worth (UHNW) portfolios relies on four distinct pillars:
- Capital Preservation with Growth: We design risk-managed portfolios tailored to defend your core capital against inflation and market volatility while opportunistically capturing long-term market growth.
- Tax-Free Income via Individual Muni Bonds: To generate predictable cash flow without increasing your tax burden, we build customized, laddered portfolios of individual municipal bonds that provide federally (and often state) tax-exempt income.
- Generational Wealth Transfer: We collaborate with estate specialists to coordinate the seamless movement of your assets out of the taxable estate, utilizing sophisticated trust structures to protect your family legacy.
- Advanced Tax Efficiencies: Our asset management team actively minimizes tax drag across your entire portfolio through institutional asset location, structured tax-loss harvesting, and tax-smart rebalancing.
