BW Wealth Management

The BW Wealth Process

Financial planning is never a straight line from point A to point B.

We start with where you actually are, not where the plan was supposed to be.

What we do

A plan built for you, then kept current.

At BW Wealth Management we build custom financial plans to meet your individual needs. Our process begins by looking at your current situation — examining where you have saved, how you are being taxed, and evaluating your current investment strategy.

Together we will discuss your risk tolerance and investment objective to develop a plan made specifically for you, including developing an estate plan and assuring that your wishes are followed. Financial planning is never a straight line of point A to point B. It requires adaptability to economic changes, global events and unforeseen life circumstances. With careful monitoring and adjustments, we're here to guide you in this ongoing journey.

How do you want to be taxed?

Every dollar you own sits in one of three buckets.

Managing your money not only involves making important decisions about how to invest it, but also how you want to pay taxes on your investment earnings.

  • Tax free

    Money is invested with after-tax dollars, grows tax deferred, and withdrawals are tax free.

  • Taxable

    Money is invested with after-tax dollars. You pay taxes on interest, dividends and capital gains.

  • Tax deferred

    Money is invested with pre-tax dollars, lowers your taxable income, grows tax deferred, and withdrawals are taxed as ordinary income.

Most people have never been shown their own split. Working out what it is, and what it should be, is where a tax strategy starts.

How the work runs

Discovery

We look at where you actually are.

Our process begins by looking at your current situation — examining where you have saved, how you are being taxed, and evaluating your current investment strategy. Not what the plan was supposed to be. What it is.

The three buckets

We sort what you have by how it is taxed.

Every dollar you own sits in one of three buckets, and the bucket decides what it costs you to use it. Taxable money is invested with after-tax dollars and you pay on interest, dividends and capital gains. Tax-deferred lowers your taxable income now and is taxed as ordinary income later. Tax-free is invested with after-tax dollars, grows deferred, and comes out untaxed. Most people have never been shown their own split.

Risk & objective

We agree the risk before we agree the plan.

Together we will discuss your risk tolerance and investment objective to develop a plan made specifically for you. That conversation comes before any recommendation, because a portfolio you cannot hold through a bad quarter is not a plan.

The build

We build it in five levels, from the bottom up.

Essential needs first — income for day-to-day living. Then discretionary needs: travel, entertaining, hobbies, charity. Then accumulating wealth, the growth assets you do not need now. Then preserving wealth through tax-efficient investing, life insurance, long-term care and structured investments. Wealth transfer sits at the top, and only stands up if everything under it does.

Ongoing

We stay in it, because the plan will need to change.

Financial planning is never a straight line of point A to point B. It requires adaptability to economic changes, global events and unforeseen life circumstances. With careful monitoring and adjustments, we're here to guide you in this ongoing journey.

Three-tier income strategy

Sorted by when you need it, not by what it is.

  • Tier 1SafeTo provide immediate income for emergencies or short term goals, with assets invested in safe liquid investments.
  • Tier 2Growth + incomeTo provide growth and income over a medium time period, while also being relatively more resistant to market fluctuations than long term investments.
  • Tier 3GrowthFocused on long term growth, with the investment objective of providing capital appreciation to support income needs for later in retirement.

The full instrument list for each tier is on the investment advisory page.

Building your financial security

Five levels, and the top only stands if everything under it does.

  1. 05

    Wealth transfer

    Estate planning: trusts, medical and financial power of attorney.

  2. 04

    Preserving wealth

    Tax-efficient investing, protecting your assets through life insurance, long-term care and structured investments.

  3. 03

    Accumulating wealth

    Growth investments: assets you don't need now and want to grow for later in retirement.

  4. 02

    Discretionary needs

    Traveling, entertaining, hobbies, and charity.

  5. 01

    Essential needs

    Income needs for day to day living.

Important disclosures

Contributions to a traditional IRA may be tax deductible in the contribution year, with current income tax due at withdrawal. Withdrawals prior to age 59 ½ may result in a 10% IRS penalty tax in addition to current income tax.

A Roth IRA offers tax deferral on any earnings in the account. Qualified withdrawals of earnings from the account are tax-free. Withdrawals of earnings prior to age 59 ½ or prior to the account being opened for 5 years, whichever is later, may result in a 10% IRS penalty tax. Limitations and restrictions may apply.

All investing involves risk including loss of principal. No strategy assures success or protects against loss.

Next step

Start with a conversation, not a pitch.

An initial conversation, at no cost and no obligation. We look at what you have and how it is currently taxed before anyone recommends moving anything.

Scottsdale and the greater Phoenix valley · Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm