“Only slowly do we learn what we really care about and allow our outer lives to be realigned with that gravitational pull.” - David Whyte
Retirement Planning and Investment Management.
Real Financial Planning is not about being right today; it’s about being less wrong tomorrow.
Fee only, no commissions, no sales. Fiduciary. We always act in your best interest.
I have spent a fair bit of time on the water. If someone were to ask me two questions about sailing:
“Do you plan a course before every trip?” I would say “Always.”
Second, “How often does the trip go exactly according to your plan?” Without hesitation I can say “Never.”
The wind shifts, tides change, storms roll in, maybe you decide to stop somewhere else along the way, or something breaks—there’s always something unexpected. The chart is necessary (it tells us where the rocks are!), but the journey never goes precisely as planned.
Financial planning is the same. When we build a plan that spans decades, we have to make assumptions—about markets, inflation, taxes, future goals, even how long we'll live. It’s impossible to get it all exactly right.
In fact, the only thing we know for certain the moment a financial plan is completed is that something will change. We just don’t know what—or when.
That’s why the real value isn’t in the plan itself, but in the process of planning. The course corrections, the regular check-ins, the willingness to adapt—those are what keep us headed toward our goals.
Real Financial Planning is a process, not a one-time event.
Who we are
We are are a standalone company not affiliated with any banks, brokerages, or insurance companies. We are fiduciaries and bound to always act in your best interest. Learn more.
What we do
We provide ongoing financial planning, financial advice, and investment management.
Why we are different
We proudly differentiate ourselves from typical financial advisors:
We are independent.
We are a standalone, veteran-owned company not affiliated with any banks, brokerages, or insurance companies. This allows us to offer truly comprehensive advice without restriction or pressure to make certain recommendations.
We are fiduciaries.
Unlike many advisors and financial salespeople who are affiliated with banks, brokerages or insurance companies, we're regulated solely as fiduciaries. This means we are bound always to act in your best interest.
We have clear and fair fees.
We are "fee-only," which means we don't sell products for commission and don't receive any form of compensation from anyone other than you. Furthermore, we charge only an hourly rate or a set, low, assets-under-management fee.
We work virtually.
We primarily work virtually, however, our physical presence is in Bellingham, Washington and we are more than happy to meet up somewhere to have a conversation. Regardless of how we meet, we can provide our full suite of services virtually thanks to our use of best-in-class systems and software.