Common Questions

We operate as a Fee-Based firm. While these terms sound similar, the distinction is important for regulatory transparency.

"Fee-Only" advisors are prohibited from receiving commissions of any kind. Because we believe insurance products (such as annuities or life insurance) can occasionally play a vital role in a secure financial plan, we maintain the licenses required to service or recommend these products. When we handle these specific assets, a commission may apply.

However, the core of our business is built on advisory fees, meaning our success is directly tied to the growth and preservation of your wealth, not the sale of products.

We believe in Counter-Cyclical Investing. Many of our clients—whether they are mining executives or business owners—already have significant wealth tied to a single, volatile source (their career, their company stock, or their business).

Therefore, we do not treat your investment portfolio as a place to take excessive risks. We view it as your "Safe Harbor." Our primary goal is to build a diversified, liquid portfolio that acts as a counterbalance to your career, protecting your purchasing power regardless of what commodity cycles or the local economy are doing.

We utilize a hybrid approach.

• Core Markets: For efficient markets (like large U.S. companies), we often use low-cost, passive vehicles (ETFs) to keep expenses low and capture market returns.
• Strategic Satellite: In areas where special expertise is required (such as tax-free municipal bonds or specific defensive sectors), we may utilize active management to manage risk or seek enhanced returns.

We believe in having a complete toolkit to serve our clients. While we favor low-cost investments, there are specific scenarios where insurance products offer protections that standard markets cannot—such as guaranteed income streams or principal protection.

Additionally, many of our clients come to us with "legacy" policies—annuities or insurance purchased years ago elsewhere.

• Servicing Existing Policies: Rather than forcing you to sell these (which could trigger taxes or lose valuable guarantees), we can act as the agent of record to manage them as part of your broader plan.
• Holistic Planning: By maintaining these licenses, we can advise you on all your assets, not just the ones in a brokerage account.

Transparency is one of our core values.

• Advisory Fees: These are calculated as a percentage of the assets we manage for you and will be clearly listed on your statements.
• Product Costs: If an insurance product is utilized or maintained, we will disclose any commissions or internal costs to you in plain English before you make any decisions.

You will never have to guess what you are paying us or why.

Absolutely. In fact, we prefer it. Executive planning requires a team approach. We act as the "Personal CFO," coordinating directly with your tax and legal professionals to ensure your equity compensation strategy aligns with your tax filings and estate goals.

We believe in Counter-Cyclical Planning. Because your human capital (salary) and equity compensation are leveraged to the resource sector, your investment portfolio shouldn't be. We build "all-weather" portfolios designed to provide stability and liquidity even when commodity prices are volatile. Our goal is to ensure your personal financial security is not solely dependent on the spot price of the resources your company mines.

We specialize in untangling complex compensation packages common in the resource sector. We don't just look at the stock price; we look at the tax implications and vesting schedules.

• Tax Optimization: Helping you decide when to exercise options to manage your tax bracket.
• Vesting Strategy: Creating a plan for Restricted Share Units (RSUs) and Performance Share Units (PSUs) as they vest.
• Diversification: Systematically reducing exposure to your employer’s stock to secure your gains.

We understand the pressure executives face to hold company stock, as well as the blackout periods and insider trading restrictions you must navigate. We help you implement structured selling strategies (such as 10b5-1 plans) that allow you to divest shares systematically and compliantly over time, regardless of market noise, ensuring you capture value while adhering to corporate governance.

Generally, no. Since your career and current equity are already heavily exposed to the mining sector, doubling down in your personal portfolio increases your risk profile significantly. Our job is to be the diversifier. We invest your assets in the broader global economy—technology, healthcare, consumer staples, and fixed income—to ensure you have a "safe harbor" distinct from the volatility of the resource sector.

We are accustomed to the lifestyle of resource executives. We utilize secure digital vaults for document sharing and flexible video conferencing to accommodate site visits, travel schedules, and remote work. You do not need to be in our local office to receive high-touch service.

Absolutely. While we have a deep specialization in the resource sector, the core of what we do is Managing Complexity. The strategies we use for executives—tax-efficient withdrawal planning, managing lumpy income streams, and protecting wealth against volatility—are universally applicable. We successfully serve business owners, medical professionals, and retirees who want the same level of rigorous, "counter-cyclical" planning that we provide to our corporate clients.

Working with executives requires a high degree of precision regarding taxes and risk management. Because we are accustomed to navigating complex compensation packages and volatile market cycles, we bring a "stress-tested" approach to every portfolio we manage. Whether you are selling a business, planning for retirement, or managing an inheritance, you benefit from the same disciplined, risk-aware philosophy we apply to our most complex cases.