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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
I work primarily with high-income professionals ages 40–65, including both W-2 employees and business owners, who want a clear, tax-smart path to building wealth and preparing for retirement.
Many of my clients are in their peak earning years managing:
• Significant W-2 or business income
• Equity compensation or deferred comp
• Growing investment accounts
• Competing priorities (career, family, aging parents)
They value:
• Evidence-based investing
• Tax-aware strategy
• Clear communication
• Responsive service
If you’re looking for stock tips or one-off advice, I’m probably not the right fit.
If you want a clean, coordinated financial plan, we should talk.
I am headquartered in North Jersey (Bergen County) and serve clients throughout New Jersey and nationwide via secure virtual meetings.
My office is based in North Jersey, and I serve clients across New Jersey and the United States.
Most clients meet with me virtually using secure video conferencing. For those local to North Jersey, in-person meetings are available by appointment.
I provide comprehensive financial planning and investment management, including:
• Retirement income planning
• Tax-efficient strategies and Roth conversion analysis
• Social Security and Medicare guidance
• 401(k) and IRA rollover planning
• Equity compensation strategy
• Coordination with CPAs and estate planning attorneys
• Ongoing portfolio management
My approach integrates investments with tax planning, retirement strategy, and estate coordination so your financial decisions work together.
The CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® designation requires rigorous education, testing, and ongoing fiduciary responsibility.
Working with a CFP® professional means:
• Advice that considers your entire financial picture
• A fiduciary standard that prioritizes your interests
• Expertise across investments, taxes, retirement, insurance, and estate planning
• Ongoing continuing education to stay current
I have been advising clients since 2009 and earned my CFP® designation in 2015.
Three things:
1. Focus. I specialize in helping high-income professionals and business owners build wealth and prepare for retirement.
That focus allows me to understand the unique tax, compensation, and retirement-planning challenges that come with the peak earning years, especially here in Bergen County and North Jersey.
2. Tax-aware strategy.
Many advisors focus primarily on investments.
I integrate investment management with tax strategy, examining how portfolio decisions impact your tax return, retirement income, and long-term wealth.
That includes proactive planning around:
• Lifetime tax reduction strategies
• Roth conversions
• Distribution sequencing
• Capital gains planning
• Coordination with your CPA
3. Clear process and implementation.
You won’t just receive recommendations.
I follow a structured process, from initial analysis to implementation and ongoing review, so decisions are executed properly and adjusted as your life and tax laws evolve.
A plan only works if it’s implemented and regularly reviewed.
It’s a straightforward 3-step process:
1. Intro Call to Determine Fit - A brief conversation to understand your goals and confirm we’re a good fit.
2. Data Gathering & Plan Design - We review your accounts, taxes, and priorities, then build a coordinated, tax-aware plan.
3. Implementation & Ongoing Review - Once we agree on the plan, we execute it and monitor progress, making adjustments as life, tax laws, and markets evolve.
I use transparent, tiered assets-under-management (AUM) pricing:
• $0–$500k: 1.25%
• $500k–$3M: 0.85%
• $3M–$10M: 0.70%
• $10M+: 0.50%
Fees are tiered by total household assets under management, meaning each portion of assets is billed at its corresponding rate. Before any engagement, we review your exact fee structure in detail so you understand precisely what is included.
For clients who prefer financial planning without ongoing investment management, I also offer project-based consulting. Comprehensive planning engagements begin at $1,500, depending on complexity.
Yes. I act as a fiduciary and put your interests first. Recommendations are aligned with your goals and delivered with full transparency.
Client investment accounts are typically held at Charles Schwab, one of the largest independent custodians in the United States.
Schwab provides:
• Independent account custody
• Online account access
• Secure statements and reporting
• Institutional-level protection and oversight
You maintain ownership and transparency at all times.
Yes. Most clients meet via secure video from anywhere in the U.S.
Local, in‑person meetings are available in North Jersey by appointment.
Absolutely. Financial planning works best when investment, tax, and legal strategies are aligned. I regularly collaborate with CPAs and attorneys to ensure coordinated decisions.
No problem. Grab the High‑Earner Financial Clarity & Optimization Checklist or join the email list for ongoing insights. (https://stevebalch.com/#newsletter)
Reach out when the timing is right.
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