Insurance products
We don't sell insurance, ever. We evaluate your existing policies and refer to vetted independent insurance brokers when new policies are needed. No commissions.
ACCOUNT 0001FOLIO IIISERVICES · 4 LINES
BUNDLED IN AUM · NO À LA CARTEComprehensive
by design.
Every Cornerstone client receives the full scope: investment management, retirement income planning, tax coordination, estate. We don't bundle, unbundle, or sell services à la carte — comprehensive planning is the only way it works. All four lines are bundled in the AUM fee.
ACCOUNT 0001FOLIO III.ISERVICE LINE I · INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT
6 ITEMS · BUNDLED
I.INVEST
Investment management.
Globally diversified, tax-aware, low-cost. Average portfolio expense ratio across managed assets: 0.18%. Vanguard, DFA, and a select few active managers where they earn their keep.
- INV-01
Globally diversified
U.S. + international + emerging markets equity. Investment-grade + intermediate-term bonds. Real estate + commodities where appropriate.
- INV-02
Tax-aware location
High-tax assets in qualified accounts; tax-efficient assets in taxable. Often saves clients 0.5% — 1.0% annually.
- INV-03
Low-cost · 0.18% avg ER
Vanguard, DFA, select active where it has demonstrated edge (small caps, EM, tax-managed credit). Skeptical of expensive funds.
- INV-04
Tax-loss harvesting
Systematic harvesting in taxable accounts. Reinvested in similar (not identical) holdings to preserve market exposure.
- INV-05
Tolerance-band rebalancing
Triggered by drift outside target ranges, not by calendar. Tax-aware execution; harvest losses + use new contributions to rebalance where possible.
- INV-06
Access to private markets
Qualified clients can access private credit, private equity, and venture funds through curated partner relationships. We do diligence; we don't get paid by the funds.
ACCOUNT 0001FOLIO III.IISERVICE LINE II · RETIREMENT INCOME PLANNING
6 ITEMS · BUNDLED
II.RETIRE
Retirement income planning.
From accumulation to drawdown. Monte Carlo simulation, sequence-of-returns risk, Roth conversion roadmaps, Social Security claiming, drawdown sequencing — all coordinated.
- RET-01
Confidence-based modeling
Monte Carlo simulation across thousands of return paths. Probability of success at various spending levels. Stress-tested against historical sequences.
- RET-02
Sequence-of-returns risk
Modeled explicitly. Bond ladders + cash buffers reduce vulnerability to early-retirement market drops. Re-tested annually.
- RET-03
Roth conversion strategy
Multi-year conversion roadmap to manage future tax brackets. Often a major lever for legacy planning + RMD reduction.
- RET-04
Social Security claiming
Optimal claiming age modeled given your specific situation, longevity assumptions, and spousal coordination. Often $50K+ NPV decision.
- RET-05
Pension + annuity decisions
Lump sum vs. annuity. Joint vs. single life. Survivor structuring. We have no incentive to push annuity; we just analyze the math.
- RET-06
Drawdown sequencing
Order of withdrawal across taxable, IRA, Roth. Maximizes tax efficiency over the full retirement horizon. Updated annually with the spring meeting.
ACCOUNT 0001FOLIO III.IIISERVICE LINE III · TAX PLANNING + COORDINATION
6 ITEMS · BUNDLED
III.TAX
Tax planning + coordination.
We coordinate with your CPA — we don't replace one. 2024 saved clients ~$840K aggregate in capital-gain taxes through coordinated rebalancing + harvesting + charitable bunching.
- TAX-01
CPA coordination
Direct annual coordination with your CPA. Tax planning isn't deferred to year-end; it's a quarterly conversation.
- TAX-02
Tax-loss harvesting
Systematic in taxable accounts. Reinvest to preserve exposure while harvesting losses. Documented for the CPA.
- TAX-03
Roth conversions
Multi-year strategic conversions. Bracket management. Heir-tax minimization. Modeled in the spring meeting before execution.
- TAX-04
Charitable giving structure
Donor-advised funds, qualified charitable distributions, charitable remainder trusts. Coordinated with estate plan. Bunching modeled for max deduction.
- TAX-05
Stock comp planning
RSU vesting, ISO/NQSO exercise timing, AMT modeling, 10b5-1 plans. Common for executive clients; we've handled 14 IPO-related engagements.
- TAX-06
Business sale strategy
Pre-sale tax structuring (often years ahead). Coordinated with M&A counsel + CPA. Major value-add for owner clients.
ACCOUNT 0001FOLIO III.IVSERVICE LINE IV · ESTATE + INTERGENERATIONAL
6 ITEMS · BUNDLED
IV.ESTATE
Estate + intergenerational.
Coordination with your estate attorney; trust funding; beneficiary review; family-meeting facilitation. We've coordinated 32 estate transitions in 2024 — including three across multiple generations of the same family.
- EST-01
Estate attorney coordination
We work with your existing attorney; if you don't have one, we have referrals. Annual review of estate documents alongside the financial plan.
- EST-02
Trust funding + monitoring
Most trusts fail because they're never funded. We make sure assets actually retitle to the trust — and stay there as you accumulate.
- EST-03
Beneficiary review
Annual audit of all beneficiary designations across retirement accounts, life insurance, and TOD accounts. The most common estate-planning failure.
- EST-04
Generation-skipping strategies
GST trusts, dynasty structures, intentionally defective grantor trusts. For clients with substantial multi-generational planning needs.
- EST-05
Gifting strategies
Annual exclusion gifting, gift-tax-free 529 funding, family loans at AFR rates. Modeled for tax efficiency over the long horizon.
- EST-06
Family-meeting facilitation
When the next generation needs to be brought into the picture. Cornerstone facilitates; the family attorney + CPA usually present too.
ACCOUNT 0001FOLIO IVOUT OF SCOPE · WHAT WE DON'T DO
3 SERVICES NOT OFFERED
What we
don't do.
Three services we deliberately don't offer. Each would create a conflict of interest with the fiduciary commitment, or fall outside our circle of competence. We refer to vetted partners when these are needed.
Banking services
We don't take deposits, issue mortgages, or hold accounts. Your custodian (Schwab, Fidelity) holds your assets; we're the advisor on those accounts.
Day trading or stock-picking
Not our approach. We construct strategically diversified portfolios; we don't pick individual stocks for clients.
ACCOUNT 0001FOLIO VINTRODUCTION · COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
