Independence.
Cornerstone is independent. We don't sell products, don't earn commissions, don't have proprietary funds, don't take referral fees from outside firms. The advice on the engagement letter is the advice you'll get.
ACCOUNT 0001FOLIO IIOUR APPROACH · MAY 2026
FIDUCIARY · INDEPENDENT · FEE-ONLYSix principles.
One foundation.
Wealth management as a long-term partnership. We don't pitch products. We don't time markets. We build comprehensive plans, implement them with discipline, and adjust as life changes. The six principles below describe how, not what.
ACCOUNT 0001FOLIO IITHE FOUNDATION · INDEPENDENT + FIDUCIARY
REGISTERED RIA SINCE 1998
The
foundation.
Two non-negotiables. Independence (no product sales, no commissions, no proprietary funds, no referral fees). Fiduciary (registered RIA since 1998, audited annually). Everything in our practice flows from these two.
Fiduciary by registration.
Fee-only Registered Investment Adviser since 1998. Sworn fiduciary on every engagement, every decision. Form ADV publicly filed; we'll point you to it during introduction. Audited annually by an outside firm.
ACCOUNT 0001FOLIO II.IPRINCIPLE I · PLAN FIRST, PRODUCTS SECOND
1 OF 6
I.
Plan first, products second.
Most wealth managers lead with portfolio construction. We lead with: 'What does your life require?' The portfolio comes from the plan, not the other way around. Spending, taxes, longevity, family obligations — those drive the math, not last quarter's market.
ACCOUNT 0001FOLIO II.IIPRINCIPLE II · TAX PLANNING IS PART OF INVESTING
2 OF 6
II.
Tax planning is part of investing.
Tax-aware portfolio construction. Location strategy across taxable + retirement accounts. Roth conversion timing. Charitable giving structured for after-tax efficiency. We coordinate with your CPA — we don't replace one.
ACCOUNT 0001FOLIO II.IIIPRINCIPLE III · BEHAVIOR IS THE BIGGEST RISK
3 OF 6
III.
Behavior is the biggest risk.
Markets aren't the threat — emotional reactions to markets are. Most of our value is helping clients not make the wrong move at the wrong time. We've talked clients out of selling at the bottom three times in 28 years; that's the work.
ACCOUNT 0001FOLIO II.IVPRINCIPLE IV · INDEXED WHERE APPROPRIATE, ACTIVE WHERE IT EARNS ITS KEEP
4 OF 6
IV.
Indexed where appropriate, active where it earns its keep.
Most of our portfolios are indexed. We use active management where it has demonstrated edge (small caps, EM, tax-managed credit). We're skeptical of expensive funds; the expense ratio compounds against you for decades.
ACCOUNT 0001FOLIO II.VPRINCIPLE V · COORDINATE WITH YOUR TEAM
5 OF 6
V.
Coordinate with your team.
CPA, estate attorney, insurance broker, business advisor — we coordinate. We're the financial-planning hub; we don't replace specialists. Annual offsite usually involves your CPA + estate attorney by Zoom.
ACCOUNT 0001FOLIO II.VIPRINCIPLE VI · LONG-TERM RELATIONSHIPS
6 OF 6
VI.
Long-term relationships.
Average client tenure: 14 years. The right relationship deepens over time as we know your family + your situation evolves. We've coordinated three estate transitions for the same family. The compounding is in the relationship as much as the portfolio.
ACCOUNT 0001FOLIO IIITHE PROCESS · INTRODUCTION TO ONGOING
6 STAGES · INDEFINITE
How we
work.
Six stages from introduction to ongoing engagement. Most clients are 10+ years in. The first 12 weeks are intensive (discovery + plan + implement); after that, the cadence is quarterly review + annual offsite.
- P-01
Introduction · 60 min · no cost
We meet, you tell us your situation, we tell you ours. No obligation. About 30% of introductions become engagements; we don't pressure on the call.
- P-02
Discovery · weeks 1 — 4
We gather statements, tax returns, estate documents. Build a comprehensive picture. You meet a senior advisor + the client-services associate who'll know your file.
- P-03
Plan · weeks 4 — 8
We build the plan. Cash flow, tax projection, retirement model, estate review, insurance audit. Present in week 8 with a written deliverable.
- P-04
Implement · weeks 8 — 12
If you engage, we implement. Account openings, transfers, investment, beneficiary updates. Your CPA + estate attorney coordinated as needed.
- P-05
Quarterly review
Quarterly check-in (typically Zoom, sometimes in person). Portfolio review, tax projection update, life-change discussion. Annual offsite is in person, typically a half day.
- P-06
Ongoing · indefinite
Most clients stay 10+ years. We've handled three generations for some families. The relationship is the compounding asset.
NOTE TO FILE · Andrea Reyes · Senior Advisor
The introduction is the most-asked-about stage. It's a 60-minute conversation — no slides, no pitch deck. We tell you about us, you tell us about your situation, we both decide whether the practice fits the family. About 30% of introductions become engagements; that's by design.
ACCOUNT 0001FOLIO IVOUTCOMES · ROLLING 5-YR
AUDITED · COMPOSITE
14 yrVS. 4 — 6 YR INDUSTRY
MEDIAN CLIENT TENURE
97%ROLLING 5-YR AVG
ANNUAL RETENTION
3LONGEST RELATIONSHIP
GENERATIONS · ONE FAMILY
028 YEARS
COMPLAINTS · SEC FILED
ACCOUNT 0001FOLIO VINTRODUCTION · NO COST · NO COMMITMENT
