Straight answers.

Two ways, depending on how much of the picture you want us holding. Ongoing comprehensive planning is a yearly flat fee. Asset management is charged as a percentage of the assets we manage. Personalized pricing is available for households below $250,000 in income or assets.

We are fee-based rather than fee-only, and the difference is worth understanding. Most of what we earn is the fee you pay us directly. We will tell you when that applies before you decide anything, and it is disclosed in our Form ADV.

Yes — at all times, and on every recommendation rather than only some of them. We are obliged to act in your interest rather than our own, and that obligation does not change with the type of work or with how a particular product is paid for. It is worth asking any adviser the same question and asking for the answer in writing; the obligation is not universal in this industry.

Not a fixed amount. Personalized pricing is available below $250,000 in income or assets, so the answer depends more on what you need doing than on a number. The first conversation costs nothing and is the fastest way to find out — if a full planning engagement is more than your situation calls for, we will say so.

About twenty minutes, at no cost. You describe what you are trying to do and what is in the way; we describe how we work and what it would cost. Nothing is prepared in advance and nothing is signed at the end. If we are not the right people for it, we will say so, and where we can we will tell you who might be.

Charles Schwab, not us. Accounts are opened in your name at Schwab and we are granted authority to manage them — we can trade, and we can bill the fee you agreed to, but we cannot move your money to anyone else. You see the balances directly from Schwab as well as from us. That separation is deliberate, and it is worth confirming with any firm you speak to.

No. Planning and asset management are separate engagements here. Plenty of people take the plan and implement it themselves, or leave an existing portfolio where it is. If we do end up managing the money, it is because that was the better answer for you — not a condition of getting advice.

Yes, and it is a large part of what we do. Much of our client base works at technology and entertainment companies, so vesting schedules, option exercises and concentrated single-stock positions are ordinary work here rather than an exception. The questions that usually matter are tax timing and how much of your net worth sits with one employer, and both are easier to answer before a vesting date than after.

Closely at the start — we meet frequently through the first quarter, while the plan is being built and put in place. After that you will hear from us at least quarterly by email with updates and detail, and we will sit down face to face on a schedule that suits your situation: quarterly, twice a year, or annually.

Between those, we are reachable by phone or email whenever a question comes up. You should not have to chase us for an answer.

No. We are based in Los Angeles and work with clients around the country. Meetings are by video unless you would rather come in. Advisory services are offered only in states where we are registered or exempt from registration, so we will confirm that on the first call.